Bored on linux, (please help)

[Furox]

well, hi (how was christmas and hope you have a great new year)

anyway, to get to the point, im pretty bored on linux, ive done quite a few things in the past weeks (in total been on linux for about 5 weeks) and well (although liking linux) i have nothing better to do than play OpenArena (i could do homework or coursework but ..... nahhh )
my interests (tinkering, programming (to some extent), gaming and anything else to do with computers :P )
on windows i used to do quite a lot of things, (i would find a new game every week or so, and that would take quite a load of my boredom, )

so basically my question to all you guys is that, hmm, what can i do to surpass my boredom (dont say go out, because all my friends are either on holiday or playing some console, :( )
lol,

thanks

p.s. im thinking of going for a dual boot setup (just to waste time lol, because windows takes quite a bit of time to set-up into a proper desktop OS (unlike ubuntu which btw rules )

[rlozano]

if you are a gamer, then you may not find that much games in Linux just like in windows, but surely you can try to run those games in Linux, by either using Wine or Cedega (and that will keep you busy. LoL).

for programming stuff, if you like programming, man, you have alot of tools for programming in linux. what do you exactly use in your prgramming chores? we maybe able to suggest better things for you.

dual boot? not a bad idea, specially if you have not really set your mind to linux totally. but just a note, don't keep looking things you have seen or experienced from windows in linux. if you do, you just keep whining at the end of the the day. ;-)

[Furox]

hmm your right about

but just a note, don't keep looking things you have seen or experienced from windows in linux. if you do, you just keep whining at the end of the the day.


as for programming, you see when i said i have an interest in programming, i know the basics of quite a few languages but i have no inspiration, and therefore after learning the basics i get bored and just leave programming then probably in a month or two i regain interest, (hmm i need to find an article or guide on how ,'not to lose interest in things' lol , off to http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/ ) lol anyway back to the point, ive pretty much tried all the games (that i apply to my interests) on linux, as for the cedega/wine compatible (lol trust me ive tried every single one ) (just like programming i get bored with games pretty quickly )

lol, i guess the problem with me is that i need something exciting todo and find a subject that i will not lose interest in.

keep the suggestions coming in ;)

[pay]

You could try playing warzone 2100

[Furox]

hmm seems interesting,ohh what the heck,
ill give it a go,
thanks

but still keep those suggestions coming in

[bonzodog]

There are lots of things you can do - Linux in the CLI has quite a steep learning curve.
Try doing things like installing beryl or compiz, or try other window managers - there over 20 of them and there are themes for all of them.
Add to this, modifying gtk themes is fun, playing with the png/xpm files in GIMP. GIMP is a whole learning curve on it's own.
Learn how to build big programs from source, or if you are feeling braver, recompile the kernel so that it's lean and mean.
Linux has SO much to learn - I've had it as a sole OS for 10 years on the main home computer, and I am still learning new things.
I am currently doing a bit of openbox/gtk theming and learning perl scripts for IRC.

[Shay Stephens]

Once you ween yourself off gaming and start using the computer to produce content, your need to relieve boredom will vanish. If I may be so bold, gaming is wasting your time and talent. The sooner you start producing something, the better off you will be.

[angryfirelord]

If I may be so bold, gaming is wasting your time and talent. The sooner you start producing something, the better off you will be.

I object! :D But he is 100% right.

If you need a good multiplayer game, you can't go wrong with bzflag.

I only know some C++ and Java.

[Furox]

hmm some interesting ideas (especially compiling a kernel)
right now im half way though my dual boot (got XP set -up competly with other programs needed) ubuntu will come tomorrow.
however as you said, to drop gaming (that was going to be my new years resolution)
but being only 17 and most of my friends being gamers, it was going to be too hard to acomplish that resolution however i am very confident, as soon i as hit university,
with studies and part time jobs, gaming will become limited if not eliminated.

i guess my linux adventures will start in uni (cant wait till uni, wooo)

thanks everyone

[den benne]

you can try tons of games on linux:
http://freegamer.blogspot.com/
http://gaming.gwos.org/ + http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Native_Games

[ButteBlues]

I bought a console to game - that alleviates my problems. ;)


(A Wii, just in case you were wondering)

[Furox]

i wanna wii :evil: :( ](*,)

but the problem is where to plug it in, i havent got enough space in my room to put a tv and the living room tv is always being used.
well, currently posting this through windows, (first time after 5 weeks ~ longest period ever)
lol what a daunting experience, already missing ubuntu.
hmm as for games, its better if i cut down.

anyway i want to know what most of your linux activities consist of
if you say gaming (state the most played games)


thanks

[ButteBlues]

Everyday usage.

eg. listening to music, touching up photos, browsing the web, chatting via IM.

[Furox]

ok, that was a bit stupid of me,
the un-everyday things, by that i mean what makes that activity unique/special on linux

[ComplexNumber]

well, hi (how was christmas and hope you have a great new year)

anyway, to get to the point, im pretty bored on linux, ive done quite a few things in the past weeks (in total been on linux for about 5 weeks) and well (although liking linux) i have nothing better to do than play OpenArena (i could do homework or coursework but ..... nahhh )
my interests (tinkering, programming (to some extent), gaming and anything else to do with computers :P )
on windows i used to do quite a lot of things, (i would find a new game every week or so, and that would take quite a load of my boredom, )

so basically my question to all you guys is that, hmm, what can i do to surpass my boredom (dont say go out, because all my friends are either on holiday or playing some console, :( )
lol,

thanks

p.s. im thinking of going for a dual boot setup (just to waste time lol, because windows takes quite a bit of time to set-up into a proper desktop OS (unlike ubuntu which btw rules )
don't take this as an offence or anything, but the problem of boredom lies with yourself, not linux.

[bobbybobington]

Explore some of the software in the repositories, mess around with themes, dont forget to give superkaramba a go. Theres always the internet too, its hard to get bored with that.

[BarfBag]

Get Beryl up and running. That's a great boredom killer. I sit here and rotate the cube when I can't think of anything to do. :mrgreen:

Another thing to check out is Battle for Wesnoth. It's definitely the best Linux game ever made. You can play it for hours and not get bored. Hope you like RTS.

[Furox]

don't take this as an offence or anything, but the problem of boredom lies with yourself, not linux.

too true, i admit the boredom lies with me, not in linux (but by mentioning linux, i get a much quicker response which aids the field becuase the it is when im using linux the boredom lies within me (thats a bit confusing hmm :-k )
but these suggestions, and the ability to follow through them allows me to get rid of my boredom.

p.s. my total respect for windows has just been lost, after battling with a crashed firefox (then everything else following that ](*,) ) arghhh im going to install my 2nd part of dual boot, the ubuntu partition.
woo wasting time is sooo fun. ;)

thanks

[christhemonkey]

I have exactly your problem and sentiments (although minus the gaming part, never been able to afford the whole gaming thing (and dont particlarly want to get back into donwloading things illegally).

Maybe try some programming in something you can see rewards in fairly quickly like python?
Or if your a musical sort you could try an make some music with linux, that takes an amount of setup and reading around the subject (plus if you want kernel recompilation and all sorts of complex things!)

Or you could get yourself a tv tuner card an play around with mythtv so you can watch tv on your pc (and across network etc),

there is always plenty to do!


Although for some strange reason i always end up just listening to music an feeling bored...

[ComplexNumber]

too true, i admit the boredom lies with me, not in linux (but by mentioning linux, i get a much quicker response which aids the field becuase the it is when im using linux the boredom lies within me (thats a bit confusing hmm :-k )
but these suggestions, and the ability to follow through them allows me to get rid of my boredom.

p.s. my total respect for windows has just been lost, after battling with a crashed firefox (then everything else following that ](*,) ) arghhh im going to install my 2nd part of dual boot, the ubuntu partition.
woo wasting time is sooo fun. ;)

thanks
don't look to linux to cure your boredom. take a break and do something else.

[finferflu]

Go for The Battle for Wesnoth (http://www.wesnoth.org)!! Or try out some games at happypenguin.org (http://www.happypenguin.org)

[Furox]

don't look to linux to cure your boredom. take a break and do something else.

and another person who is right (are many ubuntu users, psychiatrists, they seem to understand the human mind and its dealings, hmm ohh well,)
ahh but you see the thing is, well.... i dont know what else todo (dont say sport, ) i don't watch tv, (news is bought to me by Digg.com 8) ), and i watch shows online (not illegally, but ones like diggnation, ctrl+alt+chicken and robot chicken etc etc)
other than i do practice origami, (and i would if anyone can recommend good drawing-on-pc books)
thats why gaming fills in a lot of my time, i could just get all my work (school work) out the way in one go, but i can't be bothered lol,

keep the suggestions coming in,

p.s. back on ubuntu, now this when your suggestions come into play (p.p.s why is automatix website, :( )


Go for The Battle for Wesnoth!! Or try out some games at happypenguin.org

already on it, thanks :P

[hartz]

Suggestions:
1. Look for a worthy and interesting project on sourceforge.org. Then dedicate yourself to solving some of their problems - you can contribute code, art-work, music, project management skills, whatever you are good at. Set realistic and achievable goals so that you cannot become lazy. Make promises to people about what you are going to contribute, remind yourself of those promises, and make good on them.

Then when you are done, write your contributions done in on your CV.

2. Gaming: Set some time aside for gaming, so that it doesn't become a waste of time. It is neccesary to have work time and relaxing time. When relaxing with my computer, I play sudoku, and I play in an email RPG. When I don't feel motivated for whatever project I am working on, I take a few minutes off and complete a couple of Sudoku boards, and after work, I usually play for a little while, just to do something relaxing for a bit. But You sound a bit like me: Computers cannot be your whole life, both work and hobby, you need some relaxation in between (My new hobby is RC planes ... when the weather allows)

3. Realy get going on re-compiling your kernel. Remove some parts you don't need, make it compact and optimized and sleek. Once you have a nice lean kernel, you'll be surprised by how much you learned about Ubuntu.

4. Spend time answering people's questions on the forums. That way you contribute to the community. Make sure you read their questions and be sure that your answer is correct, or if you are unsure, add the words "I think" to your solutions.

What I use Linux for:
The daily stuff: Video editing. In particular, I take people's personal videos from VHS and convert them to DVD with menus, transition effects, etc. Besides that the normal web browsing, IM, email, word processing, music, etc.

The un-usual stuff: I like to tinker with my own instalation, try out software and tools, always downloading a new piece of software just to see what I can learn from it.

How this helps your boredom problem some.

[Shay Stephens]

What I use Linux for:
The daily stuff: Video editing. In particular, I take people's personal videos from VHS and convert them to DVD with menus, transition effects, etc.

What programs are you using? I am interested because I also do some video work and DVD authoring. It's nice to run into someone doing so. I am at the early stages of doing this in ubuntu.

[Furox]

Suggestions:
1. Look for a worthy and interesting project on sourceforge.org. Then dedicate yourself to solving some of their problems - you can contribute code, art-work, music, project management skills, whatever you are good at. Set realistic and achievable goals so that you cannot become lazy. Make promises to people about what you are going to contribute, remind yourself of those promises, and make good on them.

Then when you are done, write your contributions done in on your CV.

2. Gaming: Set some time aside for gaming, so that it doesn't become a waste of time. It is neccesary to have work time and relaxing time. When relaxing with my computer, I play sudoku, and I play in an email RPG. When I don't feel motivated for whatever project I am working on, I take a few minutes off and complete a couple of Sudoku boards, and after work, I usually play for a little while, just to do something relaxing for a bit. But You sound a bit like me: Computers cannot be your whole life, both work and hobby, you need some relaxation in between (My new hobby is RC planes ... when the weather allows)

3. Realy get going on re-compiling your kernel. Remove some parts you don't need, make it compact and optimized and sleek. Once you have a nice lean kernel, you'll be surprised by how much you learned about Ubuntu.

4. Spend time answering people's questions on the forums. That way you contribute to the community. Make sure you read their questions and be sure that your answer is correct, or if you are unsure, add the words "I think" to your solutions.

What I use Linux for:
The daily stuff: Video editing. In particular, I take people's personal videos from VHS and convert them to DVD with menus, transition effects, etc. Besides that the normal web browsing, IM, email, word processing, music, etc.

The un-usual stuff: I like to tinker with my own instalation, try out software and tools, always downloading a new piece of software just to see what I can learn from it.

How this helps your boredom problem some.

this was an extremely useful reply, thank you,
your right time management, is a thing i need to master, setting goals, deadlines is what i need to, just to say that post was very inspirational and it sounds like it, you were in some sort of similar position but luckily you got your act together, which i need todo,
time management is my next step now, hmm to the google-mobile lol :cool:

[angryfirelord]

3. Realy get going on re-compiling your kernel. Remove some parts you don't need, make it compact and optimized and sleek. Once you have a nice lean kernel, you'll be surprised by how much you learned about Ubuntu.

Now I'm just curious but I assume you mean going to kernel.org and using one of their kernels?

[WinterWeaver]

How about you give Blender 3d a go. Blender is a brilliant 3d animation and rendering tool, and I love it! Plus its easy to install, cause it comes standard with Ubuntu =D (well not completely standard, you still have to actually install it through synaptic)

I also like fooling around with other apps, like KStars. (lol... actually I was thinking of buying a expensive USB telescope, just so that I can fool around with KStars even more :P )

okies... have fun!

WW

[~LoKe]

You can kill time by trying to form a sentence without using so many parenthesis. :D

[IYY]

While Linux doesn't have many huge commercial games, the amount of small yet incredibly awesome games in the repositories is surprisingly large. Games like Battle for Wesnoth, Frozen Bubble, Beneath a Steel Sky, Wormux, SuperTux, Pingus, Barrage, lbreakout2 ... They are addictive, fun, and great to kill boredom. I also like the game xbill. Scourge is a game similar to Neverwinter Nights that's not finished yet but is very playable. If you like that kind of stuff, you can help by making textures and models for it.

[Furox]

aha cool, ive always favoured gameplay > graphics.

[CameronCalver]

I used to play PlaneShift when i was bored but then its gets boring when you find a glitch in the game and become the richest person in the game :)

[RAV TUX]

well, hi (how was christmas and hope you have a great new year)

anyway, to get to the point, im pretty bored on linux, ive done quite a few things in the past weeks (in total been on linux for about 5 weeks) and well (although liking linux) i have nothing better to do than play OpenArena (i could do homework or coursework but ..... nahhh )
my interests (tinkering, programming (to some extent), gaming and anything else to do with computers :P )
on windows i used to do quite a lot of things, (i would find a new game every week or so, and that would take quite a load of my boredom, )

so basically my question to all you guys is that, hmm, what can i do to surpass my boredom (dont say go out, because all my friends are either on holiday or playing some console, :( )
lol,

thanks

p.s. im thinking of going for a dual boot setup (just to waste time lol, because windows takes quite a bit of time to set-up into a proper desktop OS (unlike ubuntu which btw rules )Ksudoku

[macogw]

hmm your right about


as for programming, you see when i said i have an interest in programming, i know the basics of quite a few languages but i have no inspiration, and therefore after learning the basics i get bored and just leave programming then probably in a month or two i regain interest, (hmm i need to find an article or guide on how ,'not to lose interest in things' lol , off to http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/ ) lol anyway back to the point, ive pretty much tried all the games (that i apply to my interests) on linux, as for the cedega/wine compatible (lol trust me ive tried every single one ) (just like programming i get bored with games pretty quickly )

lol, i guess the problem with me is that i need something exciting todo and find a subject that i will not lose interest in.

keep the suggestions coming in ;)
See if you can find an app someone wants that you think you can write. Even if you think you can only write part of it, it's a start! Someone else can pick up and write what you can't. there's a long list of suggestions here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1960981&postcount=13 Anything you can take a shot at? (I'm thinking about that alarm clock one...I'm not easy to wake up).

[Johnsie]

Get the stumbleupon plugin for Firefox.... That always helps when I'm bored :-)

http://stumbleupon.com

You wont regret it...

[slimdog360]

- learn python and then go nuts.
- learn gimp (and its extensions), oh and also get a camera so youve got plenty of photos to work on. I personally like making panoramas.
- try new desktop environments and different configurations, enlightenment, fluxbox, kde, icewm, fvwm-crystal to name a few.
- get an old pc and turn it onto a file server. One which you can access from school or where ever. That way youve got porn on the move.

[DjBones]

maybe im the only addicted to robots,
not quite sure haha

[karellen]

well, hi (how was christmas and hope you have a great new year)

anyway, to get to the point, im pretty bored on linux, ive done quite a few things in the past weeks (in total been on linux for about 5 weeks) and well (although liking linux) i have nothing better to do than play OpenArena (i could do homework or coursework but ..... nahhh )
my interests (tinkering, programming (to some extent), gaming and anything else to do with computers :P )
on windows i used to do quite a lot of things, (i would find a new game every week or so, and that would take quite a load of my boredom, )

so basically my question to all you guys is that, hmm, what can i do to surpass my boredom (dont say go out, because all my friends are either on holiday or playing some console, :( )
lol,

thanks

p.s. im thinking of going for a dual boot setup (just to waste time lol, because windows takes quite a bit of time to set-up into a proper desktop OS (unlike ubuntu which btw rules )

why not go outside, have a date, meet interesting new people and so. computers are not everything, you know...