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Community weekly poll: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS?
- 2/8/07 10:33 AM
Now we may be getting somewhere
by LionsMike - 2/11/07 12:23 PM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows by LoboStrollsYou are the first to post this information.
Do you still run all of the apps that I must have?
Outlook Express
Outlook
Excel
Explorer
MS Word
Windows Media Player
MS Publisher
MS Powerpoint
MS Streets & Maps
MS Works
Adobe Acrobat
Delorme Street Atlas
Picture it express
MS Notepad
Norton System Works
If there are any of them that you do not run or have had problems with please let me know.
Now we may be getting somewhere
by LoboStrolls - 2/11/07 3:53 PM In reply to: Now we may be getting somewhere by LionsMikeOutlook & Outlook Express - Evolution and thunderbird have worked great for me.
Excel-I use spreadsheet out of Open Office 2.0. Works great cross-platform and can store as an Excel document.
Explorer - Only use Firefox or Opera (both work excellent!)
MS Word - Use Open Office Word Processor for same for cross platform and safe in various text formats including Word Perfect.
Windows Media - I use Mplayer, RealPlayer 10 or XMMS
MS Publisher and Powerpoint - still stay with Open Office again with Presentation and Impress. Please note that the MS Works are just subcontracted cut down version and can be read by Open Office products.
Adobe Acrobat now has a Linux Version out that I personally have not used. For PDF's I use XPDF Viewer and have to look up the program for making PDFs. The new Flash 9 product just put out by Adobe last month works great for me.
Have not tried Delorme Street Atlas.
Picture it Express - haven't tried it though I use Gimp and F-Spot Photo Manager.
MS Notepad - I have notepad though it isn't MS. Works exactly the same to me.
Norton System Works - Don't have it, don't need it. Please let others buy it!
Open Office 2.0 also has a database that works great.
Apologize to everyone for the long post.
Perhaps we are getting nowhere
by LionsMike - 2/11/07 7:17 PM In reply to: Now we may be getting somewhere by LoboStrollsIf you have answered any of my questions the answer would have to be that LINUX IS NOT WORTH ANY THING AT ALL
I have tens of thousands of files in the applications that I mentioned. I know ( I have had people send me files generated in some of the programs that you mentioned)that files from those programs do not run well in Microsoft programs.
I exchange files with people who use the same programs that I do.
ANY ANY ANY OPERATING SYSTEM THAT I WOULD USE MUST MUST MUST MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MICROSOFT APPLICATIONS.
THE THOUGHT OF PRINTING OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES AND THEN MANUALLY TYPING THEM BACK INTO OTHER APPLICATIONS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE THOUGHT OF RUNNING TWO OPERATING SYSTEMS IS INSANE.
SHORT AND SWEET DO ANY OF THE MICROSOFT APPLICATIONS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS RUNNING IN LINUX
IS THERE EVEN ONE PERSON OUT THERE WITH SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED AT THE LACK OF ANSWERS TO SUCH SIMPLE QUESTIONS
Here you go..
by justwally - 2/11/07 9:18 PM In reply to: Perhaps we are getting nowhere by LionsMikeThis is a compatibility layer you can rely upon for proprietary file types...
http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/toplists/
If you absolutely _must_ run Windows applications then don't switch and STOP yelling.
Thank You Wally
by LionsMike - 2/11/07 9:57 PM In reply to: Here you go.. by justwallyThat site makes it very clear that the switch to Linux in my case would be technical suicide.
Perhaps the people who keep saying that Linux is so much better should say that it is better for people who do not use Windows applications. About 75% of my time on the computer is spent on applications which came up with untested, poor, or fair ratings.
I should go back and change my vote to an absolute NO WAY
I would like to know exactly what the Linux users find to be superior to Windows. I answered "I probably would change" because my natural curosity leads me to want to know what it is like and how it is different. I have had people come to me for help with problems in Linux, and I can not help them.
With all of that said, When I do rebuild this computer to 64 Bit and install Vista, I will probably take the guts out of this one, put them into an old tower, and format and start clean with Linux just to see what it is like. There is too much risk to convert my working computer to Linux but my curosity has to be satisfied EVEN MORE AFTER THIS FORUM
Mike
Choice is good
by justwally - 2/11/07 10:37 PM In reply to: Thank You Wally by LionsMikeYeah, there is absolutely nothing on the Linux side that will deal with an MS Publisher file.
You can run Windows XP under Linux for some of those programs <http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/64/125/>, but at that point you might as well dual-boot.
LiveCD's are cheap and good to play with (they won't mess up your work system).
Choice is good (yay, choice!).
If there were any apps that weren't "tested," or that the results weren't clear, feel free to give me a yell. I have gmail and I'm justwally there.
As for what "Linux users find to be superior to Windows," there are as many answers as there are flavors of Linux (or Linux users).
Perhaps we are etting somewhere
by LoboStrolls - 2/11/07 11:41 PM In reply to: Perhaps we are getting nowhere by LionsMikeLooks like we come from the same generation if PDP-8 and 11 are any clue. I help elderly people all the time with all versions of Windows though I started out as a mainframer because personal computers weren't out yet. As far as the products not working, I've used them without anyone knowing where the documents came from so I feel they passed the test. Security is another main concern and one of the most important as far as I am concerned.
Good luck in your hunt.
Pops
We sure did Baby Boomer
by LionsMike - 2/12/07 10:29 AM In reply to: Perhaps we are etting somewhere by LoboStrollsYou had mentioned in your post that Security was one of your main concerns.
I do not consider it to be much of a factor. Many people seem to believe that Windows Operating Systems are far more vulnerable than Linux.
I would argue that some of people who run Windows are far more vulnerable than most of the people who run linux. It comes down to a question like who is safer in a collision with an automobile, The person in the Sherman Tank, or the person in the Abrahms Tank. and the answer is; it depends on which one is inside their tank and which one is outside standing between the automobile and their tank.
I moderated the AOL Anti-Virus chat room for a long time. It was amazing how many people had nearly brand new (less than 5 year old) anti-virus programs which had never been updated and were run at least twice a year, and somehow they got infected after downloading adult videos.
I am on line 24/7 and active for several hours every day, surfing through all kinds (I MEAN ALL KINDS)of web sites. In over 15 years I have had Trojans, Worms, and Viruses blocked. I had one trojan that got in but was immediately quarantined.
Good anti-virus software is one tool for protection, but good computer practices are the most important tool.
The rumor that hackers do not write malware for Linux is absured. If I were to write a virus to satisfy my ego, I would be far more inclined to write one that targets the greater challenge. All of the boasting that Linux is Virus-proof would inspire the hackers to show their abilities.
Do you paid for all of your software?!
by Francisco Costa - 2/12/07 8:18 AM In reply to: Perhaps we are getting nowhere by LionsMikeI would how much of your computer software was paid and is currently licensed for you to use? If you paid for all your software how much did it cost and will cost in the future?!
That could make a difference
by LionsMike - 2/12/07 9:24 AM In reply to: Do you paid for all of your software?! by Francisco CostaI have purchased some of my software, but not much. I do not use my software for business. I do volunteer work with it. I do Lions, LEOs, Scouting, Church, Family, Friends and other Not-for-Profit work.
So by the letter of the law I can use what would otherwise be considered pirated programs without breaking any laws.
Software lisences do not have annual renewal fees. If a friend or family member has purchased and lisenced a program and after 2 years decides to buy a newer version, It is perfectly legal to move it to your machine when he or she installs the newer version on theirs.
If a company is selling off their one or two year old computers, (lots of companies do) and you buy one, the bundled lisenced software in the computer is still lisenced.
There are lots of people, companies, and organizations out there who would rather buy you a software package, so that you can do some work for them than to pay an outrageous price to get the work done by an "expert".
There are computer shows all around the country selling older versions of programs for deep discounts.
There are lots of ways to aquire software without paying the full price. Most importantly More people have Windows programs, so they are more available, and therefore easier to come by.
There are legal ways to get Windows software without having to pay the outragous prices they ask for them.
Where do you go to buy (get for free)the software that runs on Linux? There are several Dollar stores around but I don't recall seeing and free stores.
Every two or three years, I purchase a new Norton System Works. I purchase the previous years version shortly after the new years version is released. I DO SPEND THE MONEY to renew my update subscription.
I have AdAware and SpyBot. I went to their sites and made donations, a few times to each because I appreciate the value of those programs.
Linux software
by Francisco Costa - 2/16/07 2:30 AM In reply to: That could make a difference by LionsMikeI see you've made your point about software, its possible to buy old computers with licensed software already. About Linux you will find over the internet that there is lots of software and most of the distributions come already with most of the things you might need, for example a web browser, an office suite, a contacts and events manager, an image manipulation software. If you're looking for more specific software there is a site that has lots of interesting stuff www.sourceforge.net. What is coming clear to me is that Linux can also do what Windows does, it only requires that you get used to new things... Open your mind...
Linux for the Serious Stuff
by ethyrdude - 2/11/07 5:17 PM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am currently running a dual boot system, one hard drive is for Windows XP and one has Debian Linux on it.
First, my reasons for not using one exclusively: Windows is for games, for those in doubt, go to any computer store and try and buy a game that will run on Linux. Yes there are plenty of games for download that run on Linux but the games I happen to prefer aren't available. Any actual work I want to do I can do as easy in Linux and I don't need a huge bank account for software. Even the operating system is free.
Now for some comparisons. As I was raised in the world of DOS, I know a fair bit about how programs work. Lately, I upgraded my computer hardware and I decided to reinstall Windows and Debian Linux, to make sure I had no conflicting Windows Drivers and that my Linux kernel supported my hardware as my custom kernel was rather selective and didn't include support for some of my new hardware.
I reinstalled both OSes, it took the better part of a day to get windows running and fully up-to-date with the latest anti-virus software, directx, anti-spyware software. I decided to wait with installing my programs until after I installed Linux on the other drive.
The latest version of Debian Linux Sid took the better part of 2 hours, plus included all my applications that I need. I did spend a few hours making sure that everything worked but I did have it fully installed in a fraction of the time that it took to install Windows. I did use the new Debian Etch installer, which made things easier, the most daunting of doing a Linux install is setting up the drive partitions, most distros prefer a three partition approach, root(system)/SWAP(memory)/Home(user space) but Debian includes the simple "use the whole drive as one partition" choice for those who haven't a clue.
Linux isn't for the 'casual' user who prefers to buy a computer with the operating system already installed complete with drivers. You do need to know more than how to copy and paste. However, if you can install Windows, then you can install Linux also.
I haven't mentioned Mac because I have never installed it, nor have I ever owned one. I can't justify spending more money to get what I consider less.
What was the question?
by moronblue - 2/11/07 9:11 PM In reply to: Linux for the Serious Stuff by ethyrdudeHey Lee,
You should have known better than asking a question like that.
In every forum I've ever seen referring to Linux, even a simple question like 'Do you like it?' results in lengthy diatribes being expounded with regard to 'What I've got', 'What I run', 'My distro is' and all the other irrelevances having no bearing on the question at all. It appears that most Linux users spend most of their time hunting for forums to post what nobody wants to hear about. I assumed that this was a reasonable question to ask but didn't anticipate the Linux swarm would invade it when they have numerous forums of their own! There will be more to come that's for sure!
Disappointed from India
linux vs windows&mac
by Luca henri - 2/12/07 2:28 AM In reply to: Would you consider using Linux instead of Windows or Mac OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
hello l'm a grandaddy i began with informatic devices in'72.evidendtly i tried red had and so on ..you know l was so glad to quit dos for windows and with linux it was like a come back !! no thanks !!
I miss my DOS
by LionsMike - 2/13/07 10:07 PM In reply to: linux vs windows&mac by Luca henriI was so much more in control when running Win 3.11 and could go into DOS (which was the real operating system under the Windows make up)Dos was clear simple and straight forward you could type "help" and get all the help that you needed.
I ran all of my system tools under a DOS menu that I created and maintained.
I always knew whay was happening and why.
Now I have to accept the fat that by intuitive Windows program knows what it is doing.
Mike
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