Advice on using Linux in web design please!

General Discussion
1

Hello fellas, not sure where I should post this but feel free to move to the right section.

I am going to do a training course in web design you can see it here:

It’s called Website Design and Marketing. The training summed up for the end result when completed it is:

[i]What career opportunities does this course provide?
Completing the course leads you to many possibilities, you will be able to enter the marketing industry with the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed for roles such as:

Web Designer
Business Support Coordinator
Brand and Communication Executive
Marketing and Business Associate[/i]

Notice that they have a course “Cyber Security and Linux” too, so they give the impression that they are Linux friendly!

At the moment my main laptop is an HP Chromebook, but since the course requires 8 GB of RAM, and my Chromebook is 4 GB of RAM they will lend me a laptop to do the course. More than likely a Microsoft one, but as you can all understand, when I come to buy one for web design work I want to buy a good laptop ( professional Dell probably ) and have Peppermint on it.

I noticed that there are some providers online which seem templates one uses virtually to create websites. I know in the early days it was software one had to download- am I right? I was wondering if any of you chaps know a lot about web design and how well I could use a Linux laptop to do this.

Any advice is very welcome!

If you can help me to not have to buy a Microsoft laptop in the near future I’d be very pleased and grateful. I have so many memories of the blue screen of death. Don’t want that again!

Of course if I got work with a company who supplied the Microsoft laptop, and want me to use it, that is up to them.

2

Ok, so I have a question - why use a laptop?
Generally, laptop pro’s;

  • Portable
  • Portable
  • …

Con’s;

  • Very expensive in terms of bang for buck
  • Very expensive and/or difficult to upgrade
  • Small screen
  • Sub-optimal keyboard
  • Prone coffee damage
  • Relatively fragile compared to a desktop
  • Difficult / impossible to repair
  • It’s easy to get RSI or similar from using it in the ‘wrong’ place or position
  • … (I could go on)

Recommendation - don’t use a Laptop.
My core desktop machine is a 12-core Ryzen machine with 32G Ram, 512Gb M2 @ 3G/sec and
a dual 4k fanless graphics card. (which will outperform most laptops @ 3,4,5x the price)
Case aside, build cost was around £600 a couple of years ago.
I do a lot of web design work and find two 4k screens invaluable, so would recommend a desktop over a laptop every day of the month. 8G RAM might be a recommended “minimum”, but it’s not want you’re going to “want” if you’re web designing for a living.

Some people may tell you that it’s possible to work effectively in a coffee shop or on a beach hence you must have a laptop … pinch of salt + my comments in “con’s” :wink:

3

The 8 GB of RAM is required for the course. Must walk before one can run! I haven’t anywhere to put a desktop computer as I only live in a one bed flat.

You can upgrade laptops- Mark Greaves recommended Dells. He used to add RAM and SSD drives etc to his.

I do have a monitor that can be plugged into a laptop if I need a huge screen!

But I find laptops better for close working for my eyes to be honest.(I do a lot of typing and reading online as I am writing a book ).

This article says you can use laptops for web design.

I do appreciate your points, but I haven’t the space to put one. They are big and cannot be put away like laptops.

4

Ok, so there are plenty of desktop machines with a smaller footprint than a laptop so if you have a larger screen and space to set it up, then maybe you do have space for a desktop :wink:

In terms of software “web designing” is no longer really a “thing” as such and has become rather more specific. If you want to get an idea of the frameworks currently in fashion, take a look at; https://themeforest.net/ … Wordpress in particular have between 40-50% market share and if you want a Template, this is a good place to start.

Getting into the industry these days is hard because there seems to be a never-ending stream of things you need to know, IMO your best bet is to put your own website up and set your own scope (everything you need is available via Google) … and starting with something like Wordpress (that does quite a lot for you) is probably good in terms of getting tangible results from a limited amount of effort.

For what it’s worth the vast majority of web designers I come across work on Apple kit, M2’s seem to be very popular. I have an M2 here, nice bit of kit, no problems thus far. Best Linux laptops I’ve seen people use recently, Dell XPS.

5

Ok, so there are plenty of desktop machines with a smaller footprint than a laptop so if you have a larger screen and space to set it up, then maybe you do have space for a desktop :wink:

I’m not sure what you mean by “smaller footprint” MP. Can you enlighten me? Regarding the monitor: I have used it on occasions when I only had my little Asus netbook (runs on Peppermint). I would connect it up so I could watch online videos on the large screen. The netbook was on my sofa and the monitor on a small coffee table in front of the sofa. This set up would not be good for working on.
I really have no space to put a big desktop computer and a desk in my small flat. I only have one sitting room with no spare wall to put a desk with a desktop sitting on it ( The other rooms are a tiny bathroom, reasonable sized kitchen but there is no place to work there and it is a dark room, and a dark cold bedroom with again no wall space to put a desk with a desktop computer).

In terms of software “web designing” is no longer really a “thing” as such and has become rather more specific. If you want to get an idea of the frameworks currently in fashion, take a look at; https://themeforest.net/ … Wordpress in particular have between 40-50% market share and if you want a Template, this is a good place to start.

Getting into the industry these days is hard because there seems to be a never-ending stream of things you need to know, IMO your best bet is to put your own website up and set your own scope (everything you need is available via Google) … and starting with something like Wordpress (that does quite a lot for you) is probably good in terms of getting tangible results from a limited amount of effort.

I know WordPress well! I have a blog on there. Well, it’s no big deal for me if the course doesn’t lead to a job directly. The skills will be good to have ( even if just for my knowledge), and I don’t have to pay for it. They have lots of other I.T courses, and they allow people to do more than one with them. Fact is, I am semi disabled ( mobility not full due to a fracture last year) and so I need to get some new skills to work remotely (even if it’s just freelance/hustling). I plan to write more books after the one I’m doing is finished and published but royalties are usually paid a couple of times a year so I want to find other avenues.

For what it’s worth the vast majority of web designers I come across work on Apple kit, M2’s seem to be very popular. I have an M2 here, nice bit of kit, no problems thus far. Best Linux laptops I’ve seen people use recently, Dell XPS.

I did have a Google over this and yes seems folk like Mac and Dells (with Linux distros) in web design.

6

Ok, so there are plenty of desktop machines with a smaller footprint than a laptop so if you have a larger screen and space to set it up, then maybe you do have space for a desktop :wink:

I’m not sure what you mean by “smaller footprint” MP. Can you enlighten me? Regarding the monitor: I have used it on occasions when I only had my little Asus netbook (runs on Peppermint). I would connect it up so I could watch online videos on the large screen. The netbook was on my sofa and the monitor on a small coffee table in front of the sofa. This set up would not be good for working on.

I really have no space to put a big desktop computer and a desk in my small flat. I only have one sitting room with no spare wall to put a desk with a desktop sitting on it ( The other rooms are a tiny bathroom, reasonable sized kitchen but there is no place to work there and it is a dark room, and a dark cold bedroom with again no wall space to put a desk with a desktop computer). Also they are heavy and I can’t lift those into a taxi to take to computer shops for upgrades etc.

In terms of software “web designing” is no longer really a “thing” as such and has become rather more specific. If you want to get an idea of the frameworks currently in fashion, take a look at; https://themeforest.net/ … Wordpress in particular have between 40-50% market share and if you want a Template, this is a good place to start.

Getting into the industry these days is hard because there seems to be a never-ending stream of things you need to know, IMO your best bet is to put your own website up and set your own scope (everything you need is available via Google) … and starting with something like Wordpress (that does quite a lot for you) is probably good in terms of getting tangible results from a limited amount of effort.

I know WordPress well! I have a blog on there. Well, it’s no big deal for me if the course doesn’t lead to a job directly. The skills will be good to have ( even if just for my knowledge), and I don’t have to pay for it. They have lots of other I.T courses, and they allow people to do more than one with them. Fact is, I am semi disabled ( mobility not full due to a fracture last year) and so I need to get some new skills to work remotely (even if it’s just freelance/hustling). I plan to write more books after the one I’m doing is finished and published but royalties are usually paid a couple of times a year so I want to find other avenues.

For what it’s worth the vast majority of web designers I come across work on Apple kit, M2’s seem to be very popular. I have an M2 here, nice bit of kit, no problems thus far. Best Linux laptops I’ve seen people use recently, Dell XPS.

I did have a Google over this and yes, it seems folk like Mac and Dells (with Linux distros) in web design.

7

I have an old Asus netbook here too, they’re tiny. Smaller footprint; an M2 is smaller than my netbook. After having lived in a tiny one-bedroom flat in London, I know what it’s like to be short of space. How you use that space however, is kind of up to you … (!)
Re; Apple kit, you “can” run Linux on Apple kit, I think most people tend to stick with Apple’s OS. Personally I find MacOS very problematic as a developer. I use it for testing cross platform applications to make sure they also work on Apple.

8

The Asus netbook was given to me by my brother as he didn’t need it so I was grateful for that. My old Chromebook I had at the time had died. Mark Greaves kindly put Peppermint on it for me. It works fine. Has never crashed or got viruses on it etc. The only problems with it are that it has a very small processor so it takes time to boot up, web pages are slow to load, small screen, and the battery is dead so it needs to be plugged in to the mains. I keep it mostly for using my scanner and if I want to use Audacity for editing mp3s/creating mp3s.

When you mention M2, do you mean a Macbook?

Well I cannot get rid of the necessary furniture I have to line a wall with a computer desk and desktop computer. I haven’t even any room for one of those fold up desks and a computer chair. I have nowhere to store them when not in use. My hallway is extremely small and narrow. I most certainly would if I had the space.

I’m not keen on Apple. Can’t really justify the price of it when Linux does the job just as well and mostly for free! (Just have to pay someone to add the distro).

Anyhoo, I think some remote IT companies/organisations supply the equipment because they want to monitor the work done, have secure log ins, and ensure adherence to GDPR etc. They would prob supply a high end professional Dell laptop.

By the way, the monitor sits on the floor in my bedroom slotted in a tiny space by the wardrobe. Haven’t even got cupboard space for it.

9

Apologies, I’ve seen too much M2 in the press recently and I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s the Mac Mini M1 I’m referring to, the M2 is dues out anytime about now. Mac mini - Apple (UK) It’s not a laptop, it’s a desktop, just add keyboard, mouse and screen … but it’s about the size of a netbook, i.e. much smaller than a laptop. Performance it pretty good, fine for web design work.

Anyway, the point was that if you’re going to do “web design” in any context, a desktop solution will be a lot more cost effective than a laptop, regardless of the Operating System. However if hardware isn’t a choice for you at the moment, then whatever you have + themeforest is a good place to start.

If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, these are the top three JS frameworks you would probably want to look at re; commercial website solutions;

10

Apologies, I’ve seen too much M2 in the press recently and I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s the Mac Mini M1 I’m referring to, the M2 is dues out anytime about now. Mac mini - Apple (UK) It’s not a laptop, it’s a desktop, just add keyboard, mouse and screen … but it’s about the size of a netbook, i.e. much smaller than a laptop. Performance it pretty good, fine for web design work.

It has good performance but it still is a desktop in that the user would still need to attach a monitor, external keyboard and need to work from a desk! I only am able to work from a laptop on my knee, sitting on my sofa. There is honestly no space anywhere in my little flat to set up a desk and desktop computer.

I have spent plenty of time typing ( I’m writing a book as I mentioned) working on my knee on my sofa, and it’s very comfortable for me, but I am getting a lap table for computers at some point in the near future). I am also a graduate and did my whole degree work (and dissertation) working on a laptop off my knee, well the 2nd and 1st years. The 1st year we were still allowed to submit handwritten assignments! Desks are not always necessary!

Anyway, the point was that if you’re going to do “web design” in any context, a desktop solution will be a lot more cost effective than a laptop, regardless of the Operating System.

That’s as may be, but there is no space for one in my flat. A laptop it will have to be. Anyway, even if did have room for a work desk, I currently can’t sit at a desk/table for too long due to physical constraints (broke a knee last year).It gets painful. I can manage to sit at my kitchen table to eat for 30 mins, that’s it. And before you ask, no I cannot set up a desktop computer there, because the table has kitchenware on it, plus it is not the right height for computer work, and the kitchen is dark (due to north facing an old Victorian yard). Plus, as I said sitting at tables is uncomfortable for me. I do eat off a big plate sitting on my sofa in the lounge sometimes, but I don’t like risking spilling food on the sofa itself or the floor, so that is more for having oat crackers or something else snacky.

[i]However if hardware isn’t a choice for you at the moment, then whatever you have + themeforest is a good place to start.

If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, these are the top three JS frameworks you would probably want to look at re; commercial website solutions;

https://angularjs.org/[/i]

Thanks. The course starts at the very end of this month. I expect the tutor will also be advising the students on packages, laptops/computers, progression into work afterwards etc etc.

11

Hello MP. They are changing me to the Cyber Security course (they actually have 3, but of course I have to start at the first level). This is more interesting and better career wise!

12

Mmm, be interested to hear what they cover, typically CS courses tend to be very expensive.

13

Well if you scroll up and read my first 2 posts on this thread you’ll see that I linked the company website, plus a direct link to the Cyber Security and Linux Level 3 course. :wink: And I wrote that they are funded by various organisations. A student can do two courses funded. Employers also pay them to train their staff in I.T. They are I.T training specialists.

Of course a student has to do the Level 2 Cyber Security course first, which is what I’m doing.

They have two Level 3 Cyber Security courses. I think I might choose the Linux one. We’ll see after I have completed the Level 2.