Linux???

Apokarteron · 08-21-2006, 08:43 PM

I've been thinking of starting to use Linux, what cool stuff can I do with it that I can't with WinXP and OSX?

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 09:06 PM

Learn UNIX/Bash commands. Learn how to multiboot Linux and Windows with a Grub loader. Create multiple partitions for one Linux distro(boot, root, swap, extended). Pull hair when you can't get something to run like the distro itself(I know that feeling already). Browse the web without adwares, spywares, malwares, viruses, popup ads, and not so much "SPAM" seen in your inbox!

The more popular browser these days is Mozilla's FireFox Linux browser that also runs on a Windows machine. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

**apj101** · 08-21-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

I've been thinking of starting to use Linux, what cool stuff can I do with it that I can't with WinXP and OSX?

not pay $$$

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apj101

not pay $$$

Of course not! Why would you pay when you do all the work programming it.

Well that's basically why they call it the "Geek's OS" since you have go through this and that just to load a distro from a Grub or Lilo prompt. But you get the bargain of not seeing ads popup in your face often since you don't have Active X and other things.

timothyb89 · 08-21-2006, 11:19 PM

Linux (I'm typing this in SUSE) is great for anything.
All those Mac commercials are kinda telling you what Linux does. Most of the time they aren't even telling the truth about Macs...
Linux has programs for just about everything. And when I say everyting I mean it. Maybe you'll have to learn a new program, but there's a good chance that the program will be more pawerful than the one you've used beofre. Take OpenOffice. It's included with most distros and is more powerful than MS Word. And I'm saying that from experience. Sure, you can't use the VOIP for Google Talk, but that's just about the biggest limitation of Linux for me. And I've heard rumors that Gaim is adding that feature in the next release.

I do think that the best part of Linux is the stability. The last time I rebooted, it was just to free up RAM after uninstalling VMware Server.
Sure you think Linux may crash, but usally the X server just locks up, or KDE (or one of it's components) encounters an error and the process isn't killed. A crashed X server is the worst crash you can get, though. The virtual terminals won't be accessable, so you can't kill the process.
I can assure you that you will (probably) NEVER get a crash throught the command line. (And here is where Slackware users celebrate).
I can say slack is agood distro ... (it defaults to the command line, but KDE/Xfce are included).
Good luck with Linux.

Apokarteron · 08-21-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timothyb89

Linux (I'm typing this in SUSE) is great for anything.
All those Mac commercials are kinda telling you what Linux does. Most of the time they aren't even telling the truth about Macs...
Linux has programs for just about everything. And when I say everyting I mean it. Maybe you'll have to learn a new program, but there's a good chance that the program will be more pawerful than the one you've used beofre. Take OpenOffice. It's included with most distros and is more powerful than MS Word. And I'm saying that from experience. Sure, you can't use the VOIP for Google Talk, but that's just about the biggest limitation of Linux for me. And I've heard rumors that Gaim is adding that feature in the next release.

I do think that the best part of Linux is the stability. The last time I rebooted, it was just to free up RAM after uninstalling VMware Server.
Sure you think Linux may crash, but usally the X server just locks up, or KDE (or one of it's components) encounters an error and the process isn't killed. A crashed X server is the worst crash you can get, though. The virtual terminals won't be accessable, so you can't kill the process.
I can assure you that you will (probably) NEVER get a crash throught the command line. (And here is where Slackware users celebrate).
I can say slack is agood distro ... (it defaults to the command line, but KDE/Xfce are included).
Good luck with Linux.

Which distro do you suggest, how about Ubantu? and since you mentioned VMware, is it good to have it on a virtual machine or on a seperate partition?

PC eye · 08-22-2006, 12:06 AM

Ubuntu is a popular distro along with slackware and Debian. Mandrake and SUSe are included along with PCLinux. Linux requires multiple partitions in order to run(root, boot, swap, extended). These are created with utilities like cfdisk which works somewhat like the fdisk used in dos. Then you have to add a loader like Grub or Lilo in the mix. Ubuntu's boot manager on a floppy will even load XP! You simply choose the partition depending on OS to load.

Apokarteron · 08-22-2006, 12:15 AM

Last time I used SUSE I chouldn't even manage to install some programs...

PC eye · 08-22-2006, 12:24 AM

Well that's one I can leave off of the preferred list then!

I had some real fun trying to get Fedora running after repeated installations. Finally after downloading and reburning the iso images a few times then several reinstalls one or more files finally came to life. You know the list that's on!

!!!

Apokarteron · 08-22-2006, 12:26 AM

so thats the only downside?

08-21-2006, 08:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Apokarteron banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: OS X Age: 18 Posts: 1,920	Linux??? I've been thinking of starting to use Linux, what cool stuff can I do with it that I can't with WinXP and OSX?

08-21-2006, 11:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
timothyb89 Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 357	Linux (I'm typing this in SUSE) is great for anything. All those Mac commercials are kinda telling you what Linux does. Most of the time they aren't even telling the truth about Macs... Linux has programs for just about everything. And when I say everyting I mean it. Maybe you'll have to learn a new program, but there's a good chance that the program will be more pawerful than the one you've used beofre. Take OpenOffice. It's included with most distros and is more powerful than MS Word. And I'm saying that from experience. Sure, you can't use the VOIP for Google Talk, but that's just about the biggest limitation of Linux for me. And I've heard rumors that Gaim is adding that feature in the next release. I do think that the best part of Linux is the stability. The last time I rebooted, it was just to free up RAM after uninstalling VMware Server. Sure you think Linux may crash, but usally the X server just locks up, or KDE (or one of it's components) encounters an error and the process isn't killed. A crashed X server is the worst crash you can get, though. The virtual terminals won't be accessable, so you can't kill the process. I can assure you that you will (probably) NEVER get a crash throught the command line. (And here is where Slackware users celebrate). I can say slack is agood distro ... (it defaults to the command line, but KDE/Xfce are included). Good luck with Linux. __________________ And now that I'm running my life support equipment through Windows 95, I'll never have to worry about - beeeeeeeep... Registered Linux User #425668 Registered Linux Machine #333299

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08-21-2006, 09:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	Learn UNIX/Bash commands. Learn how to multiboot Linux and Windows with a Grub loader. Create multiple partitions for one Linux distro(boot, root, swap, extended). Pull hair when you can't get something to run like the distro itself(I know that feeling already). Browse the web without adwares, spywares, malwares, viruses, popup ads, and not so much "SPAM" seen in your inbox! The more popular browser these days is Mozilla's FireFox Linux browser that also runs on a Windows machine. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

08-22-2006, 12:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	Ubuntu is a popular distro along with slackware and Debian. Mandrake and SUSe are included along with PCLinux. Linux requires multiple partitions in order to run(root, boot, swap, extended). These are created with utilities like cfdisk which works somewhat like the fdisk used in dos. Then you have to add a loader like Grub or Lilo in the mix. Ubuntu's boot manager on a floppy will even load XP! You simply choose the partition depending on OS to load.

08-22-2006, 12:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Apokarteron banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: OS X Age: 18 Posts: 1,920	Last time I used SUSE I chouldn't even manage to install some programs...

08-22-2006, 12:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	Well that's one I can leave off of the preferred list then! I had some real fun trying to get Fedora running after repeated installations. Finally after downloading and reburning the iso images a few times then several reinstalls one or more files finally came to life. You know the list that's on! !!!

08-22-2006, 12:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Apokarteron banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: OS X Age: 18 Posts: 1,920	so thats the only downside?