Windows or Lunux ???????

[kirk71]

i know absolutely nothing about Linux, i have always run windows of one os or another, currently using windows 7 ultimate.
what are the benefits of Linux com paired to windows.
i no longer have a use for gaming as the xbox replaced the gaming pc.
so using a laptop now for everyday use, internet and downloading.
advise from those that have used both would be greatly appreciated.
many thanks
kirk

 

[doolittle]

Set up a dual boot on your laptop, so can have both installed and try it!
Ubuntu Linux is a worth checking out if you haven't tried it before.
Other option, if you don't want to dual boot, is to get free VM Player and install Ubuntu (or Linux Mint or Suse etc) as a virtual machine (will run slower though, but good for playing around with).
Or try a live distro, like Knoppix. Which you download and burn to a CD/DVD and boot up your computer with.

I used to play around with operating systems a lot (anybody still using BeOS?), but have given up now! So not sure what is flavour of the month.

have a look here: http://distrowatch.com/

Not linux, but you might find it interesting: build of Google Chrome OS that runs from USB memory stick: http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/

 

[PeterSX]

Currently I'm using Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, and it is the best "Everything just works" Linux distro that I have come across.

Peter

PS: I've been using Linux since about 1994.

 

[stolzy]

Windows or Lunux ???????

Mac OS X

 

[Blue Sweeper]

Currently using Linux Mint, everything works. My old laptop flies now!

Thousands of free software applications for Linux, although sadly, Garmin Updater will not work on Linux It may work with Linux Wine, but I've yet to try it.

I guess Unbuntu is the most popular Linux variation though.

Boycott Micro-Suck. I've never bought any software with the Micro-Suck badge on it.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

been using mint for a couple of years now - as a web / mail / general house PC its perfect - does everything quickly and easily and for free.

Mint is a nicer front end to ubuntu

get all your free info for apps here - http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/

 

[kirk71]

Thanks for the replies guys, is there a big advantage with linux ? Do you still
Have to run the usual anti virus etc etc. Can you still use bit torrent sites for downloads

 

[Blue Sweeper]

........................
Do you still have to run the usual anti virus etc etc. Can you still use bit torrent sites for downloads

Viruses are mostly targeted at Micro-Suck users, 'cos of the inbuilt lack of security in the operating system and applications. Linux is much more secure, therefore anti-virus programs aren't needed usually. Although they are available for free download if you really want piece of mind, it's also a good idea to run the firewall which comes free with Linux.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/126240/free_agent_linux_firewalls_and_antivirusneeded_or_not.html

Torrent downloads work just fine.

 

[GSwadd]

Can you still use bit torrent sites for downloads

Transmission blows away any windoze torrent apps IMHO.

 

[Packer]

What about interfacing with a network?

I've got an old PC which acts as a net/e-mail station but is also connected to a home network. It is running XP Pro. It has a printer attached to it which the family can print to from their respective XP/Vista/7 equipped laptops.

It also provides some backup capacity for key files.

By todays standards it is low spec but would run faster on Linux if that would support the printing and network interfacing.

 

[stolzy]

What about interfacing with a network?

I've got an old PC which acts as a net/e-mail station but is also connected to a home network. It is running XP Pro. It has a printer attached to it which the family can print to from their respective XP/Vista/7 equipped laptops.

It also provides some backup capacity for key files.

By todays standards it is low spec but would run faster on Linux if that would support the printing and network interfacing.

I don't know about this specific application, but older computers respond very well to linux.

I have two old PCs (6-7 years old) which run without monitors/keyboards/mice which act as file servers, backup servers, mail servers, nameservers, music servers and a dozen other little things. Works great.

No need to install GUI interfaces (remote admin by WebMin/SSH from the Mac on my desktop) means that a 10Gb disk goes a long way

 

[casperfelix]

Currently using Linux Mint, everything works. My old laptop flies now!

Thousands of free software applications for Linux, although sadly, Garmin Updater will not work on Linux It may work with Linux Wine, but I've yet to try it.

I guess Unbuntu is the most popular Linux variation though.

Boycott Micro-Suck. I've never bought any software with the Micro-Suck badge on it.

I've been using Ubuntu for several years now and the latest version is very easy to use + it has all the advantages of being Linux based i.e. stable and free.
I also run VM VirtualBox on it (free) in which I operate several virtual machines, including a couple of windows operating systems for when I'm faced with 'it will only run on Windows' situations: So I do the Garmin stuff in a virtual machine.
I run a few windows applications via Wine but it doesn't work with all windows applications.
Would never think of going back to Windows now.

 

[jimbo]

I've been using Ubuntu for several years now and the latest version is very easy to use + it has all the advantages of being Linux based i.e. stable and free.
I also run VM VirtualBox on it (free) in which I operate several virtual machines, including a couple of windows operating systems for when I'm faced with 'it will only run on Windows' situations: So I do the Garmin stuff in a virtual machine.
I run a few windows applications via Wine but it doesn't work with all windows applications.
Would never think of going back to Windows now.

So does that mean that a windoz programme running in a VM can access the USB port and still plug and play things?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Linux has its uses and it might be the right os for you but dont listen to the its the safest OS there is brigade. As soon as they get their wish and everyone moves over to Linux it will get hacked and viruses just the same as any other MS product simply because it will be cool to do so. Linux is open source to where someone has to back engineer windows to find a vulnerability. You simply just need to know how to read the source to see how to hack Linux. Linux gets hacked every day but generally in servers where Linux has a better hold on the market. As soon as it becomes the popular choice it will suffer from the same vulnerability as windows does, that being the idiot that doesn't know how to protect themselves behind the keyboard. Currently most Linux users are experienced and know its not a good thing to go clicking anything and everything without wondering why that warning message came up. The only thing MS has done wrong with windows 7 is allow users to switch off UAC. It would be far more secure if you couldn't switch it off as it does the same as SU does in nix. I can see a day where some distro will switch SU off as well so its easier to use for the idiots, sorry masses.

Anyway advantages, its free which doesn't really apply to you since you already have Windows 7 ultimate so why throw away £200 of software. Its more secure at the moment although the fact you do torrents probably means it might well be you that is the insecure part through downloading all sorts of crap.
Assuming you have hardware that supports Windows properly I highly doubt you will see any performance advantage although on old hardware yes linux will run better but then so would XP.
The big disadvantage is getting software to do whatever you might want to do. Course there is tons of really good and free Linux programs out there but if you need compatibility with someone else then its not so good. Open office is good but it is far from 100% compatible with office if you use it for business.
Personally I use both windows and Linux everyday. They are different products and do things in different ways. Windows is a great desktop OS where Linux is fantastic at a server OS. If Linux had active directory the same as Windows I would use it a lot more but it doesn't.

To the MAC OS brigade, get of your iSheep bandwagon. There is no legal way to run OSX on anything other than Apple hardware (it has to be hacked so it works on anything else) and we all know Apple hardware is just bling and expensive.

 

[cookie]

As soon as they get their wish and everyone moves over to Linux it will get hacked and viruses just the same as any other MS product simply because it will be cool to do so....


....As soon as it becomes the popular choice it will suffer from the same vulnerability as windows does

everyone moving to linux?

no sign of that happening in home computing anytime soon, unless you count TV recorders etc.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Nope I would agree but you have to ask why? If windows is so bad then why is Linux not on everything?

 

[cookie]

Nope I would agree but you have to ask why? If windows is so bad then why is Linux not on everything?

IMO it's just not user friendly enough, but i've not tried it for a while.

trying to get it to do anything not already installed was a bloody nightmare.

 

[shugie]

IMO it's just not user friendly enough, but i've not tried it for a while.

trying to get it to do anything not already installed was a bloody nightmare.

Much improved now, at least on the device driver front, it seems to be able to recognise anything, even old kit that Windows 7 can't work with.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Thats pretty much fixed now as the bigger distro's have like an app market type thing. Probably easier than Windows to be honest but if it isnt there then yes your average user is in a world of hurt with compiling and stuff.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

............. If windows is so bad then why is Linux not on everything?

Err it is, in one form or another! Provided it's not a PC or mobile phone, Linux or UNIX can be found on almost everything else that needs an operating system. CCTV recording equipment and PTZ camera's for instance.