Linux V Windows : What do Tenerife Forum Members think?

irishmusico · 30th December 2006, 18:16

I was thinking of getting Linux on my PC,to run instead,or alongside windows.I don't know much about it,but it seems to be a popular,and apparently free alternative to windows.Does anybody here use it,or have an opinion about it?

PCfixIT · 30th December 2006, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishmusico

I was thinking of getting Linux on my PC,to run instead,or alongside windows.I don't know much about it,but it seems to be a popular,and apparently free alternative to windows.Does anybody here use it,or have an opinion about it?

Linux is a more stable system than windows, but it is not in my onion for home use. Also if you are a Microsoft user, it is a hole new system to be learned and the software is not so widely available. Its main use is for servers, firewalls and computer boffin. Stick to Windows as the new Vista will be great. I am testing at this time and is a nice improvement to XP.

robby1234 · 30th December 2006, 19:03

i agree.

vista has wrinkles but not as bad as when xp came out and is a great improvement.

just make sure you have a good anti-virus, ad-blocker and bot killer on you´re p.c. before you go on-line for the first time.

KirstyJay · 30th December 2006, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishmusico

I was thinking of getting Linux on my PC,to run instead,or alongside windows.I don't know much about it,but it seems to be a popular,and apparently free alternative to windows.Does anybody here use it,or have an opinion about it?

I was thinking of doing the same thing, TBH, as I'm a bit anti-microsoft.... I've not really looked into it too much though. The only things I'd be worried about is some of the web designing programs I have and whether they'd run on Linux, however Welshsprout pointed out that there are different 'flavours' of Linux and some have a windows interface. Maybe I'll reformat the laptop and try it out on there first... as it could do with a reformat anyway...

jan rune · 30th December 2006, 21:55

My toughts about Linux vs Windows is that Linux is great for high-traffic/reliable server's and Windows(XP) is best for home use. Just one thing i dont like about Windows. Its kind of nagging all the time!

And BTW, MAC sucks..

welshsprout · 30th December 2006, 22:33

I have tried a couple of different versions (Mepis and Suse) of Linux, I installed Ubuntu about 6 weeks ago after having problems getting other 'flavours' to recognise and configure my video card correctly (Nvidia FX 5200).

There is a lot of software available for Linux but not the large variety that is available for Windoze.

Linux is a *very* different operating system to windows and is much easier to break, that said it is much more powerful. Configuration of a Linux system is more complicated than windows, it is a lot more command line orientated and the transistion from Windoze to Linux means you will have to learn a lot!! (and I do mean a *lot*).

Probably the most stable and supported (and oldest) is Debian Linux.

Here is a link to a web site that has 325 different 'flavours' of Linux http://www.gridter.com/linx/linux.html
This is a link to a lot of useful Linux documents/ reference cards http://btp2x1.phy.uni-bayreuth.de/ar...uals/refcards/
Here there is a "how to" on security under Linux
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Security-Quickstart-HOWTO/
And a link to the version I am running
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy

Many programs under Linux are 'Opensource' or free ware (the best description I can find of opensource) if you want to play games then many are commercially available.

Problems I have encountered:-
Some web based videos do not play
Firefox will suddenly decide to quit for no apparent reason (most noticably in the chat room on the forum)
Even when you follow the instructions on how to install a particular program it does not install.
Certain 'flavours" do not have the support available that the new user needs.
Certain IRC support channels although they specify they are newbie friendly are not. (on one occaision because I asked a question that the moderators thought was easy to answer I actually got kicked from the channel)

My personal reccomendation : -

If you want to make the move to Linux do your research, make sure ALL of your hardware are compatible and supported by the 'flavour' (Distro in Linux speak) is supported.
Go onto the support chaneel for the Distro you have selected before you install and ask as many questions as you can think of.
If possible get a second hard drive and install onto that using your computer BIOS settings to select which drive to boot from, before you go the whole hog and install a boot manager and dual boot system (which I do not personally recommend at all, one experience I had during my testing phase was a failure of the boot manager in such a fashion that I had to reformat the drive).

I hope this is some help to you.

torrenter · 31st December 2006, 00:09

I run Windows Server2003, which is like XP, but minus the rubbish. Totally stable, and runs all Windows apps except some DirectX games (which I'm not bothered about)

I'd thought about Linux before installing Server2003, but now I have a stable system without the Linux opensource hassle (i.e. patchy support by programmers who only tackle problems they find 'interesting')

Only follow the Vista path if you don't mind your entertainment dominated by Digital Rights Management - it's built into the OS.

Oh, and if Windows offers to upgrade your Internet Explorer to version 7; just say 'no'. I said 'yes' and find that IE7 is still buggy and slower than IE6. Firefox? Pah! I never liked Netscape and its spawn, though I tried them all with disappointment each time.

*please do not use swear words in posts... even masked ones. This is a family forum!*

welshsprout · 24th March 2007, 23:36

Thinking of upgrading to Windows vista read this first, it surprised me

robby1234 · 25th March 2007, 00:05

hi all

been using ubuntu ultimate 1.1 for about 2 months now and the only problem i have had is that wine does not like microsoft games.

as sprout said get a second hard drive(about 20 quid) and put ubuntu ultimate on it you will not go back to windozeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

p.s. ubuntu ultimate is debian based but has two other flavours incorperated if you like to try them.

it will also run from cd but can take a long time to do things this way.

it also contains a program/application finder which connect directly to the
internet finds the program and installs it.

it is a bit more difficult in the beginning but you will get used to it.

p.s. all the madia players that come with this version would play a coaster if you dvd could read it.

also

get a copy of the almedia player it the doggies jewels.