from xp pro to linux

F

funkysnair

VIP Member
hey guys just wondering if any one can give me the pro's and con's of going from a well established and commercial company (microsoft) to a company that not many people have heard of??

i want to do this as i am sure there has to be more to computers than windows????

i feel like they have so much control over the market we are being guided like sheep......

i would like peoples advice before i wipe my computer and go out and buy linux
 
You don’t need to buy Linux you can download it for free!!!
Plus you can dual boot your computer with Linux and Windows.

Here is a distro that you can download and run off the cd without installing.
http://www.knoppix.org/
 
I love linux! It has a fairly big learning curve though if youre used to windows, you should try an Ubuntu Distrobution.
 
what about the processors of now eg conroe and amd 64bit etc??

my pc is only dual mp will linux pickup both processors and run them properly?
 
yes, but remember most of the home market is windows so dont expect to be able to do everything on linux.

Linux can be summed up in one statement. You can do anything in linux, just takes longer then windows.

Dont let the fanboys point you wrong, try linux in a VMware envionment first. Install free VMware server and see if you like linux first before you switch.

So you know linux is like the wild west, 100's of distributions. Its not like XP where you have versions.

Ubuntu is the versions the fanboys are raving about currently, i remeber when it was FreeBSD. I used debian, its all user preference.
 
Linux is almost useless on a desktop. It has a very steep learning curve, it doesn't run many games, the Windows emulator, WINE, is a serious pain in the ass and almost never works, everything you do in it is a complete hassle, you are forever editing config files manually because hardly anything works out of the box. One package will work on this version of Linux, but not the next one. Nothing is standardized. It is a total pain and certainly not for the novice user. I guess it's ok if you are a fanboy or a rebel without a cause, but even they dual boot into Windows.

I don't recommend it at all unless you have a specific use for it. It is really good for servers, semi-useless for surfing the internet (unless you don't mind missing all the multimedia content) and good for firewalls.

I have tried quite a few distros and it's always the same story. Linux has it's place, but the desktop isn't it.
 
Obviously most of the people here either know little or nothing about *nix (Linux, Unix, BSD), or cared not to elaborate. The older systems of Linux were as the previous poster described: "endless editing of configuration files". If you want to do anything like set up an FTP, you may have to edit a few lines (it is very simple with comments), but if you just want to use it as a desktop it is far superior to Windows, aside from gaming. If you are a casual gamer, it is equal, but if you like games like BF2, F.E.A.R., etc., it simply won't do. Other than this, however, *nix is superior due to the ample amounts of free software, the OS itself being free, and after a short tutorial on *nix shells, it is just as easy to use. I recommend KDE & X-Windows for the newer *nix user, and it is used by those experienced as well. KDE+X-Windows=A similar to windows environment with enough applications built-in to make a productive workstation (Games, burn CDs, office, etc.), and it is fairly simple to install on any *nix system. I recommend Knoppix, DSL(-N), SuSE, FreeBSD, and Debian. They are listed in respective order from easiest to hardest to use, but are all fairly simple. Ones you should definitely NOT try first: Slackware, Gentoo... (both of which require lots of manual installation of OS and packages). If you need any help just ask on the forum for the respective OS, which you can easily Google for.

P.S. - I am only a moderate *nix user, and not particularly a fanboy, and I find it superior in all aspects but gaming. If it were not for the lack of DirectX, I'd likely switch just for the lack of spyware, viruses, and other malicious (and stupid) code [not to mention that it's all free].
 
Last edited:
Please, do tell us the ways in which it is superior. This I would like to hear. "Tons of free software" does not a superior OS make unfortunately. There is tons of free software for Windows as well.

So, do enlighten all of us, will you? The only way in which Linux is superior is stability, but unfortunately they really don't have that claim to fame anymore either. I have seen Linux crash as much as Windows, but a recovery from a crash can be very difficult. I have had to reinstall Linux more times than I care to due to crashes. The NT kernel is pretty much every bit as stable as Linux. I run mine for months.

But yeah, the floor is yours. Share with us your infinite wisdom, with details and examples.
 
I think Linux is great if you have a use for it. It does not have a "steep" learning curve as most distributions also have books/how-to guides on them that you can pick up at any local bookstore. I didn't have a clue about how to install linux and picked up a book with distro SuSe and I have been running fine ever since. The desktop of SuSe actually looks like Windows; there are very few commands you have to "learn" if you get a book b/c it can tell you the problem and how to fix it.

I mean right now I'm taking a college class for credit on learning how to use Linux. I suggest you first do some research on Linux and see for yourself which is better for you. Here are the pros and cons of Linux IMO:

Pros: 1.) It's free. EVERYTHING IS FREE. From your word processor, to wallpaper, to firewalls. You don't have to pay a cent for anything.

2.) No viruses. You read that right. You see Linux is protected by the system b/c of the root user and password that you put on. For ANY access to your machine, be it programs, other computers, etc, it must know the root user and password. So guess what you need instead? A firewall, which is free and usually comes with most distros now and days.

3.) If there's a problem with your machine, you CAN fix it. Not only can you fix it while your using your computer but you can fix it if your China; as long as you know the root of course. Just like building your own computer, you build Linux, sort of. You tell it how to access programs, the interent, etc. If something goes awry, it tells you and you have the ability to find and fix it. Plus like I said you can access ANY Linux machine in the world. I can access Linux that's on my school comp from my home, 24 hours a day. It's fantastic.

Now the Cons: 1.) If your a gamer stay away. Linux was not intended for game use. It was originally developed to have a "home version" if you will of Unix, which it is based off of.

2.) If you really don't know alot about software and you don't want to spend the time fixing your machine if it does crash, Linux is not for you. There are going to be times, just like in Windows, when Linux WILL go down. It's not a perfect OS, nothing is, so I'm not going to lie to you. However if you take the time to work with it and customize it to the way you want, you'll never go back to Windows; except for the games of course :)

Like I said it's up to you of course. Some people dual boot b/c of games and it's not hard to partition your hard drive and run both. As long as you can follow directions, you're in the clear. I hope this helps!
 
SirKenin said:
Please, do tell us the ways in which it is superior. This I would like to hear. "Tons of free software" does not a superior OS make unfortunately. There is tons of free software for Windows as well.

So, do enlighten all of us, will you? The only way in which Linux is superior is stability, but unfortunately they really don't have that claim to fame anymore either. I have seen Linux crash as much as Windows, but a recovery from a crash can be very difficult. I have had to reinstall Linux more times than I care to due to crashes. The NT kernel is pretty much every bit as stable as Linux. I run mine for months.

But yeah, the floor is yours. Share with us your infinite wisdom, with details and examples.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll bite :D Now I'm a Linux user but I also use Windows mostly so I'm not bias when it comes towards these two OS's.

How much did you pay for Windows? $100-$200 depending on Home or Pro.
Linux is Free.

How much did you pay for your microsoft office? $150-$450 depending the version again.
Linux's OpenOffice is free.

How much did you pay for your anti-spyware, anti-virus, firewall, etc? $100 maybe?
Again it's all free on Linux.

Where exactly is all this "free" software for Windows that you claim? If you got it for free...it's illegal. And I'm not too good on math but you could have possibly spent around $750 for just software...while Linux doesn't have you pay a cent.

Hell just to make a CALL to Microsoft for help with Windows it costs $39.99!!! This is no joke!! However with Linux...you can access the internet, type your distro and help, and you'll get TONS of useful websites and forums like this one with IT pros that will be more than happy to help you. And guess what..it's free :)

It's all in the eye of the beholder about which one is better. Linux has more security, support, and all free software, while Windows is better for gaming and simplifies the computer experience for the user.

By the way just for your info, Windows DOS is BASED off of Unix. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top