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Community weekly poll: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS?
- 2/8/07 10:33 AM
Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 2/8/07 10:33 AM
-- Yes (What's holding you back?)
-- No (Why?)
-- Maybe (What's holding you back?)
-- I already do (How do you like it?)
-- I don't know (Why not?)
In fact I'm on PCLinuxOS 2007 RC1 right now.
by R. Proffitt - 2/8/07 10:45 AM
In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
But I can't switch entirely because my software and income is hitched to Windows. That's not a bad thing.
The problem I see is that while the "distros" are getting better some areas such as Nvidia's driver policy stops big distros from including it. And the install of said driver is not a "click here" proposition.
Bob
Video Cards
by fliptail - 2/9/07 7:23 PM In reply to: In fact I'm on PCLinuxOS 2007 RC1 right now. by R. Proffitt
Nvidia and ATI are fully supported on SuSeOSS with installs right off the program mamangement. Both ATI and Nvidia make drivers for Linux now so you need to check the latest support. Since you do not state which distro you are using I am sure if you go to Nvidia site there are now Linux drivers.
Already do for most things
by 3rdalbum - 2/9/07 2:36 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I originally started using Linux as a replacement for Mac OS on PPC, then I bought an x86 computer and used Linux as a replacement for Windows.
I'm using the Ubuntu distro, but I think PCLinuxOS is quite good.
It's great to use Ubuntu on the internet and feel completely invulnerable - viruses, spyware, trojans and worms can't touch me when I'm booted into Linux. And there are so many exciting developments in the Linux desktop that you can try out whenever you want. I've only been using Linux for a year, but 12 months ago the Linux desktop was much less fancy.
I've only ever experienced Windows' instability on other peoples' computers (I keep my Windows offline), but I can tell you right now that Linux is much more efficient. Its multitasking capability is amazing, even intelligent. It rarely needs rebooting (generally only after massive security updates, which are fairly rare), always provides you with enough information to troubleshoot any problem, and lets you customise the system to use as few or as many services as you want.
And, although many people say that Linux is hard, I actually find Windows to be difficult to use.
Unfortunately, I need a couple of programs that aren't available on Linux and don't run through WINE, but that doesn't stop me from doing most of my stuff in Linux. It shouldn't stop you either.
Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows?
by Radio_Flyer - 2/9/07 4:00 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I attempted to use Linux Red Hat about 4 years ago and I could not find enough drivers to get my system working. Back then there were many versions to choose from so it was just a guess as to the one I wanted. There wasn't nearly the support then, as there is now. So I switched back to Windows and decided to wait for a better time. Is this the time? Which ver. is best?
Linux has come a very long way
by NICU28 - 2/9/07 8:09 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows? by Radio_FlyerI wanted to give a message to everyone that Linux has come a very long way in the last few years, even in the past 6 months. If you tried Linux a year or two ago then you do not understand how far they've come with the help of OpenSUSE and Ubuntu. These two distrobutions are easier to install and use than Windows XP. I have been using Ubuntu at home for over a year now and its gotten easier with each release.
If you have heard horror stories from years ago you have to realize that it has changed a ton and with Ubuntu's Live CD you can test out Linux without changing a thing on your PC.
I gave up on Linux two years ago
by martinbe - 2/9/07 4:22 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello everybody
I tried two distributions of Linux (Red Hat and Suse) in various versions until two years ago I experienced a total loss of data with Suse. An install procedure ran wild and destroyed the file system. This was a decisive moment for me. I never encountered anything like that with Windows. The only other time something like that happend when a harddisk failed.
Drivers have been a permanent issue. I understand that the situation has improved a lot in the past years, but back then the simple task of setting up a printer could take some time even with standard products. I decided that I donot want an operating system that requires that much tweaking and twiddling.
Windows XP is running fine on my machine and I can do everything I want to do without thinking much about the OS. I will just stay with it until some rational reason comes up to go for Vista.
Greetings
Would I use Linux. No!
by moronblue - 2/9/07 4:36 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I set up Suse on a spare Hard Drive and later Ubuntu as a second
O/S on m usual one. Both presented me with significant problems with drivers and setting up. What made me give up on both was the sheer arrogance of the zealots on help forums. Most don't want to help you and consider Linux is exclusivley their domain, even the moderaters telling you how to spell instead of offering their know how.
Good luck if you want to try it but allow yourself three months minimum learning curve before you're likely to be halfway proficient and if you're not a techie the much longer. I'll go on lining Mr Gates pockets if that's what it takes. Computing should be made simpler by the day. Linux doesn't do that!
not that big of a learning curve...
by hersheys07 - 2/9/07 1:27 PM In reply to: Would I use Linux. No! by moronblueok it doesn't take 3 months to become half-way proficient in linux, and people on forums DO offer help. Over the summer I successfully reconfigured my computer to be dual boot XP and Fedora 5 without any prior experience or help from friends, and without having to reinstall windows. Yes I did feel lost at first, but after a month or so of intermittent use I had learned my way around it and it was in a useful state. I could do word processing, surf the web using firefox with both flash and java, connect to a wireless network, access my windows partition, print and scan photos, play my music (except for that with content protection), and even play a couple simple games. It was also a life-saver that I had installed linux since a few weeks after installation Windows got a piece of stubborn malware that messed it up so badly that it was barely usable, and because I was in the middle of a semester at college, I didn't have time to reformat.
Linux
by shaz53 - 2/9/07 4:38 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have heard others talking about Linux and would consider it but I really don't know that much about it. I am frustrated with Windows and can't afford a Mac
Linux
by Dorvaldude1 - 2/9/07 4:53 AM In reply to: Linux by shaz53I've had Macs since 1987 and am waiting for OSX Leopard to come out to get a new iMac; this means I will have, in the same machine, the ability to run Vista, OSX and Linux. In fact, when I run OpenOffice.org on my G4, X11 is booted; I believe it is a Linux underlayer, but not sure...
In any case, the cost of Macs has come down to the point where, feature for feature, a Mac outperforms PCs when you add up everything. As for using Linux, I am too busy running websites and Photoshopping to sit down even longer at the computer to learn a system I don't really need. In fact, the only reason I presently use Virtual PC is to access the internet in XP mode to check the appearance (in IE) of the web pages I upload.
I'm leaving Linux to the tekkies.
Bob R
Mac makes me happy
by Larry Launstein Jr - 2/9/07 5:19 AM In reply to: Linux by Dorvaldude1I switched to a Mac Mini last summer, and I love it.
I use it to run both Mac and Windows programs using XP.
The real question here should be whether one would consider running Windows Vista instead of the Mac OS-X or Linux.
And there was a whole discussion about whether people wanted to upgrade to Vista. And my answer is not yet, because there are bugs and licensing issues that need to be sorted out.
money!
by thelazer2003 - 2/9/07 4:58 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If I didn't have the money for an OS, then I'd get a Linux OS. But, if I do have the money I'd definitely get xp or osx
Usining Linux less and less...
by beaulanger - 2/9/07 5:09 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've tried 5 boot CD distros and ended up installing Ubuntu. There was a learning curve for me but the forums are extremely helpful and supportive. There is also plenty of documentation online.
Many hardware manufacturers are reluctant to provide Linux drivers. My ATI graphics card has no drivers for Linux so I don't have 3D acceleration. ATI, wake up! Works fine otherwise though. My Canon iP300 printer isn't supported so I have to use some generic driver that is only good for text. My scanner is not recognized at all. To use my fairly recent 256mb ATI card, scanner, and color printer I have to reboot into Windows XP. Tis is a major hassle. I am not about to go out and buy all new hardware. I may be dumping Linux, unfortunately because I really really love it. In a few years when I get a new computer I will make sure it is compatible.
To all that are contemplating Linux download a few distros (distribution) like Ubuntu and Kbuntu and just boot with them. See how you like them and if your hardware is detected. If you decide to permanently install it is easy with the CD to make a partition for a duel boot system.
Was going to try BUT
by mcnea - 2/10/07 11:17 PM In reply to: Usining Linux less and less... by beaulangerI was going to try linux on laptop we have sitting around the house, but after reading all the coments, no go !
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