is an NUC a decent investment for Ubuntu

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Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#165725 18-Feb-2015 14:56

I have a decent Windows computer to which I play all my games on. I do however really like ubuntu, if I could play all my games on ubuntu I wouldn't use Windows.

I normally just partition my PC when I want to mess with the latest version.

Recenly I saw that NUCs were on special at PB tech and I like the idea of having a NUC running ubuntu vesa mounted to the back of my Monitor so I just switch inputs when I want to use ubuntu.

I could easily build a big ugly PC out of the spare parts I have in my house if I really wanted a ubuntu computer but a NUC is nice and small.

Should I get one? Should I look into NYC alternatives? Should a build one using a raspberry pi? Thoughts / advice and discussion would be greatly appreciated

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#1241703 18-Feb-2015 15:12

Why not just build an ubuntu VM with vmware player and run on that? You can probably have that start up by default.

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Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1241705 18-Feb-2015 15:18

Build a VM? E

If you could elaborate that would be grand.

Killerkiwi2005

374 posts

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#1241710 18-Feb-2015 15:22

Also steam on ubuntu can stream games from PC,

davidcole

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#1241711 18-Feb-2015 15:22

M00S3: Build a VM? E

If you could elaborate that would be grand.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11287/how-to-run-ubuntu-in-windows-7-with-vmware-player/

Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1241722 18-Feb-2015 15:26

Oh a virtual environment over windows? Ive never been such a fan of them, but ill consider it, certaintly cheaper.

I think a part of me wants the NUC, or an NUC type device and Im more wondering if the NUC is value for money or is their other options to pursue for a small ubuntu machine.

alexx

867 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1241742 18-Feb-2015 15:40

It depends what you want to do with it.
You can learn a lot and use a lot of applications in a VM environment.

There are some cheaper alternatives to the NUC that might need your needs.
Take a look at this thread:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=150486

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CYaBro

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#1241751 18-Feb-2015 15:43

It used be a problem getting Linux running on a NUC as it didn't have drivers for all of the hardware.
That may not be the case anymore but you may want to look into that before you go out and buy one.

I do know that Linux runs fine on the Gigabyte Brix units as I've done a couple of those.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

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afe66

3181 posts

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#1241752 18-Feb-2015 15:43

?dual boot.

I've been doing that for 12.04 and Windows 7 Home for last couple of years. Grub setup to load Ubuntu unless I select Windows partition at boot screen. That way all computer resources spent running Ubuntu rather than virtual machine.

Like you most of my time is spent in Ubuntu except when want to print nice documents are printer driver bit messy for me.

A.

afe66

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#1241776 18-Feb-2015 16:00

Intel website also has specific instructions on how to install ubuntu and mint on their NUC machines.

A.

Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1241799 18-Feb-2015 16:39

Interesting, Dual booting might be the cheap and sensible option, the Gigabyte Brix seem to be hard to get in the country and the oens I can find are like $800 when Im looking at the lowe powered machines.

TwoSeven

1624 posts

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#1241848 18-Feb-2015 18:02

If you have windows 8.1 then you don't require any extra software to create a VM as it has Hyper-V built in. Just remember that virtual machines by default are not graphics oriented with regards to performance (you need to connect using remote desktop).

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CYaBro

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#1242014 18-Feb-2015 21:44

M00S3: Interesting, Dual booting might be the cheap and sensible option, the Gigabyte Brix seem to be hard to get in the country and the oens I can find are like $800 when Im looking at the lowe powered machines.

Which model were you interested in?

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.