GIMP on Linux... - DPChallenge Forums

03/07/2007 11:42:36 PM · #1

OK...So I switched over to linux (again) and I have no idea how to get GIMP up and running. I have SUSE version 10 and it was like 4.5 gigs worth of installation, so I'm thinking it might have come with it. I have no idea how to find it though.

I was just going to install it, but everywhere I look on the internet, you have to download like 10 pages worth of tar.gz's or something and God only knows what I'm supposed to do with those binaries or whatever. Then I look for the forums and everything's in words I can't really comprehend yet...like compile the binaries...I mean I understand that it means to create an executable program from something that isn't necessarily an executable program at that point.

Anyway, is there anywhere I can download and install GIMP by say downloading a big .exe (or I guess .rpm for linux) to the desktop, clicking on it, and boom it's done? And if this thing did come with it, where the heck would I find that at?

--

PS -- It took me like 2 hours to realize why when I set my date to 03/07/2007 I was getting July 3rd on the bottom right of the screen lol. So I need like some serious walking through this process if I have to compile the binaries. Anyway, I am running Suse Linux 10 enterprise edition if that means anything. I guess my computer is i386...at least that's the firefox 2.0.2 I got haha.

Thanks.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

03/07/2007 11:48:45 PM · #2

oh yeah...also, porn isn't working on firefox...so if you know of an easy way to tackle that little hurdle, that would be great too...preferably with streaming support. Man I really appreciate Windows Media Player 10 at this point.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

03/07/2007 11:55:48 PM · #3

well MPlayer might ease your woes. Second goto gimps website. Download the RPM version SUSE typically uses Red Hat Package Manager for installations along side its own installer. I dont think the Debian Packages work at all.

Last suse i used was 9.1 had netscape and firefox running dont remember what sepcific issues i had.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/07/2007 11:58:49 PM · #4

Thanks...I checked out that mplayer thing...it seems all complicated to get it installed. It said I needed the binaries...compile them...then get the codecs and install those, then get skins (if I wanted a GUI -- who the hell doesn't want a GUI when they're going to be watching movies anyway...what am I going to do, watch the 1's and 0's???) and install those...too complicated haha.

I'll try the RPM red hat thing for GIMP though.

asimchoudhri

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

03/08/2007 12:03:50 AM · #5

any particular reason you chose suse? i use it at work because one software package i need is optimized for it, but otherwise it may not be the best for the home environment. if you have flexibility, consider red hat... or if you don't need a formal linux distribution, the bsd versions (freebsd is probably my favorite) have their strengths.

be prepared for a bunch of followup posts saying that if you don't know how to get started in linux you shouldn't be using it. my advice isn't that blunt, however i think that instead of addressing specific questions it would be helpful to get a general foundation. if you can't find a good overview website, i would buy a basic linux book (either linux for dummies or something like that) and read it. a lot of the compiling that you are wondering about you can get around for most major packages for the larger linux distributions. you still have the option of compiling, but the major linux distributions take care of a lot of this for you.

while getting going with linux isn't super-easy, it isn't extremely difficult either if you are motivated to learn about it (which apparently you are).

03/08/2007 12:09:46 AM · #6

I chose suse because my original choice, ubuntu wouldn't work...it installed fine but every time I'd start up my computer, the monitor would twitch and then it would just go 100% dark.

I wanted gnome over KDE because it sounded like it would suit my needs better.

I was reading and some people said suse 10 was like the best release so I went for it. That's one thing I don't like about linux so far...no matter what, you never feel like you have what you want being that there are so many different options.

Heck, I'd consider myself a Windows pro...like top 5 percentile...and back in windows 3.1, I didn't know anything about it...so you gotta start somewhere.

I don't think I'd buy a book though because if I tinker with things long enough and search enough on the internet, I'll get there eventually.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

03/08/2007 12:13:37 AM · #7

Originally posted by asimchoudhri:

be prepared for a bunch of followup posts saying that if you don't know how to get started in linux you shouldn't be using it.

Oh...and anyone that says that is just ignorant and well, honestly, stupid in my opinion. No one knows everything about everything they start, or there wouldn't be any reason to get into new things to learn...you'd already know it all.

Sure, these questions seem stupid to people that are experienced in linux, but I find most questions people ask about their cameras pretty stupid, but I certainly wouldn't belittle anyone for their choice of camera because they don't know how to switch between AFC and AFS their first day using it...and if anyone would tell me that I have no business using linux, then I'd think they were a moron.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

03/08/2007 12:15:12 AM · #8

asimchoudhri SUSE 9.1 was a 45 minute CD install (10 is like a 5 CD or 1 DVD install) But i mean for me its a hell of alot easier then Debian and has a more dual boot friendly setup then Fedora Core.

The USB plugger is great.

asimchoudhri

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/08/2007 12:49:41 AM · #9

Originally posted by deapee:

i didn't want to come across like that. the main reason i was asking why you chose suse was if there was a specific need that you had. the lack of a streamlined installation process and well written manuals are reasons that linux hasn't taken off. suse works really well for me at work, but it's the only suse installation we have (since i need it for a software package that i use). VLC works well on suse, and may hopefully address your multimedia needs :-)

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/08/2007 01:33:39 AM · #10

With Ubuntu, does the monitor go dark right away, or does it initially start up and then fade out? What kind of video card do you have?

Does the Live CD boot?

~Terry

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/08/2007 01:58:55 AM · #11

I had a lot of success with Fedora Core 4 when I was running it. The only problem is that Fedora tends to do things a little differently for some things and sometimes they include propietary versions of their own stuff. (big example is Java). I found installing stuff with Yum was pretty easy though.

In general, you will need patience with any distro of Linux. Take the time to read. Slow down and try to figure things out. I found that once I got everything installed properly, it was really easy to use. I actually found when I switched back to Windows (for stupid games) there was soooo much I missed about Linux. As a matter of fact, my fiancee wondered why the heck I switched back because she didn't mind Linux at all once I got everything put together.

So um..in summary. Patience my son. Patience. Books will help but time and patience will lead to understanding.