Linux Vs XP

ukulele_ninja · 07-14-2007, 11:01 PM

Im doing a lot of research into different things to do with my laptop (So far I have got a lot of useful tips, thanks guys!)

Right now Im researching the Linux OS and what all I would be able to do with it. I use three or four windows XP programs heavily (Guild Wars, Photoshop CS2, Zune, Firefox) so I have seen that there are some programs for Linux that will let those run, but Im curious as to how well they will run.

What are some advantages/disadvantages to Linux?
Im looking for something different and Vista still seems pretty shaky some im a little worried about taking that route.

Anyone that has Linux, whats it like? What makes it special?

jmedina · 07-14-2007, 11:41 PM

I'm running Linux. I'm running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn. It is a lot more powerful than XP and Vista. How big is your Hard Drive and how much RAM do you have? There are two different interfaces GNOME and KDE. KDE is a next generation Interface and GNOME is more lower class, but still better than XP. If you want to try KDE, try Kubuntu. Opensuse is also another great Distro. The only disadvantage is you can not run windows games. Firefox will work. But, you can "Dualboot" in XP and Linux. Find one that suits you

Go to www.kubuntu.com
or if you want to try Suse go to www.opensuse.com
For a Free CD go to https://shipit.kubuntu.org/

Good Luck!

ukulele_ninja · 07-14-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmedina

I'm running Linux. I'm running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn. It is a lot more powerful than XP and Vista. How big is your Hard Drive and how much RAM do you have? There are two different interfaces GNOME and KDE. KDE is a next generation Interface and GNOME is more lower class, but still better than XP. If you want to try KDE, try Kubuntu. Opensuse is also another great Distro. The only disadvantage is you can not run windows games. Firefox will work. But, you can "Dualboot" in XP and Linux. Find one that suits you

Go to www.kubuntu.com
or if you want to try Suse go to www.opensuse.com
For a Free CD go to https://shipit.kubuntu.org/

Good Luck!

I have 1.25 gigs ram (updating to 2 eventually)
80 gig internal HDD
80 gig external HDD

You said you could not run windows games... I saw online a program that would let you run windows apps in Linux. Does this work with this version of Linux? Also, what is the dual boot option?

lovely? · 07-14-2007, 11:56 PM

i dont know anything about linux and that didnt help much no offence. it didnt really answer any of his questions

ukulele_ninja · 07-15-2007, 12:00 AM

Im downloading the Kubuntu cd to test drive it. Im gonna be really dissapointed though if there is no way to get support with windows APPS.

jmedina · 07-15-2007, 12:20 AM

Good Luck! Make sure to partition your hard drive to your preference. Dedicate 40 GB to Windows and 40 GB to Linux. Dual Booting is very nice. It is a Live CD. Meaning you can try it before you install it. When installing, make sure to partition it before installation. When you start up your computer it will give you the choice of Windows and Linux. Ask me if you have any questions.

ukulele_ninja · 07-15-2007, 12:44 AM

Do I need to reinstall XP in order to make a new partition for Linux? Or If XP is already set, is it safe to make a new 40gig partition for linux? I have 41-gigs free right now, but before I installed Linux I would be moving my music and such to my external HDD which would clear up a good 15-20gigs.

jmedina · 07-15-2007, 12:53 AM

This is the nice part. If you already have XP installed you do not need to reinstall. It is safe to make the partition. Did you already burn the CD?

ukulele_ninja · 07-15-2007, 12:58 AM

Its almost finished downloading, Opera says I have 20 minutes left but it should be quicker than that...

Once I burn it to the CD I can run it without any risk to my XP and info on my HDD right? If I like it which everything im reading sounds really very promising and that my concerns about running windows programs in Linux are not impossible. Just want to make sure that when I use the CD Im not risking damage to any files on my HDD... Im doing wedding pics for a client and would be in a real bind if something happened to them so Im a little nervous.

jmedina · 07-15-2007, 01:02 AM

When you pop the CD in you will not risk any data at all. My Suggestion would be to back everything up before installation. Make sure you partition the drive before it installs!!! That is the most important thing. Do you have a ISO Burning Program? A good one is Infra Recorder. If you need help burning it go to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

07-14-2007, 11:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 2,266	Linux Vs XP Im doing a lot of research into different things to do with my laptop (So far I have got a lot of useful tips, thanks guys!) Right now Im researching the Linux OS and what all I would be able to do with it. I use three or four windows XP programs heavily (Guild Wars, Photoshop CS2, Zune, Firefox) so I have seen that there are some programs for Linux that will let those run, but Im curious as to how well they will run. What are some advantages/disadvantages to Linux? Im looking for something different and Vista still seems pretty shaky some im a little worried about taking that route. Anyone that has Linux, whats it like? What makes it special?

07-14-2007, 11:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
jmedina Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 405	I'm running Linux. I'm running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn. It is a lot more powerful than XP and Vista. How big is your Hard Drive and how much RAM do you have? There are two different interfaces GNOME and KDE. KDE is a next generation Interface and GNOME is more lower class, but still better than XP. If you want to try KDE, try Kubuntu. Opensuse is also another great Distro. The only disadvantage is you can not run windows games. Firefox will work. But, you can "Dualboot" in XP and Linux. Find one that suits you Go to www.kubuntu.com or if you want to try Suse go to www.opensuse.com For a Free CD go to https://shipit.kubuntu.org/ Good Luck! Last edited by jmedina; 07-14-2007 at 11:49 PM.

07-14-2007, 11:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
lovely? Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Age: 15 Posts: 3,737	i dont know anything about linux and that didnt help much no offence. it didnt really answer any of his questions __________________ E4500 @ 2.93GHZ ASUS P5K-DELUXE 2GB OCZ Reaper CL3 @ 800MHZ 3-4-4-15 eVGA 8800GT OZC GameXStream 700W PSU 320GB WD Caviar SATA, 80GB WD Caviar IDE Sometimes scientists make things alot harder than they need to. All they've gotta do is put a big spring on the ground where they think it's gonna land, or send a mission to the moon to erect a sign that says "Welcome to Earth".

07-15-2007, 12:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 2,266	Do I need to reinstall XP in order to make a new partition for Linux? Or If XP is already set, is it safe to make a new 40gig partition for linux? I have 41-gigs free right now, but before I installed Linux I would be moving my music and such to my external HDD which would clear up a good 15-20gigs. Last edited by ukulele_ninja; 07-15-2007 at 12:48 AM.

07-15-2007, 01:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
jmedina Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 405	When you pop the CD in you will not risk any data at all. My Suggestion would be to back everything up before installation. Make sure you partition the drive before it installs!!! That is the most important thing. Do you have a ISO Burning Program? A good one is Infra Recorder. If you need help burning it go to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto Last edited by jmedina; 07-15-2007 at 01:05 AM.

07-15-2007, 12:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 2,266	Im downloading the Kubuntu cd to test drive it. Im gonna be really dissapointed though if there is no way to get support with windows APPS.

07-15-2007, 12:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
jmedina Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 405	Good Luck! Make sure to partition your hard drive to your preference. Dedicate 40 GB to Windows and 40 GB to Linux. Dual Booting is very nice. It is a Live CD. Meaning you can try it before you install it. When installing, make sure to partition it before installation. When you start up your computer it will give you the choice of Windows and Linux. Ask me if you have any questions.

07-15-2007, 12:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
jmedina Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 405	This is the nice part. If you already have XP installed you do not need to reinstall. It is safe to make the partition. Did you already burn the CD?

07-15-2007, 12:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 2,266	Its almost finished downloading, Opera says I have 20 minutes left but it should be quicker than that... Once I burn it to the CD I can run it without any risk to my XP and info on my HDD right? If I like it which everything im reading sounds really very promising and that my concerns about running windows programs in Linux are not impossible. Just want to make sure that when I use the CD Im not risking damage to any files on my HDD... Im doing wedding pics for a client and would be in a real bind if something happened to them so Im a little nervous.

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