I am a Linux user, but I also have a Windows comp that I mainly use for gaming. My Linux comp is way more stable and has the added advantage of being a free operating system that most of the programs that run on it are free. Are there any other Linux users out there? Do any of you have opinions on operating systems? I really hate Windows. Ninety percent of computer users use Microsoft Internet Explorer, but it is one of the few browsers that is not W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) compliant. If you have ever made a web page you probably have noticed how different things look on IE as opposed to any other browser. There are also very few viruses written for Linux or Mac, but most people continue to use Windows. Why?
Originally posted by CliffLandinI use windows for everything because I haven't got the inclination to learn a new OS and I want to be able to game. I don't use IE, I don't use Outlook, I don't use MS Office. Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office in that order.
I am a Linux user, but I also have a Windows comp that I mainly use for gaming. My Linux comp is way more stable and has the added advantage of being a free operating system that most of the programs that run on it are free. Are there any other Linux users out there? Do any of you have opinions on operating systems? I really hate Windows. Ninety percent ...[text shortened]... re also very few viruses written for Linux or Mac, but most people continue to use Windows. Why?
If you have some clue what you are doing windows is fine. Not perfect but nothing is.
Originally posted by XanthosNZI know how to use windows very well, I have only been using Linux for two years now. I have used Windows since Win95, but since I started using Linux I have found out how unstable Windows is. As for "not perfect but nothing is", Windows may not be perfect but there are operating systems that are way better. For example, because of memory caching issues Windows will slow down if you are using a number of programs at once or if you have used a memory hog like Photoshop. The solution is to restart your comp clearing the cache. I never or rarely have to restart my Linux comp and I can be running several programs at once without a noticable drop in performance. That is just one example of how Linux performs better than Windows.
I use windows for everything because I haven't got the inclination to learn a new OS and I want to be able to game. I don't use IE, I don't use Outlook, I don't use MS Office. Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office in that order.
If you have some clue what you are doing windows is fine. Not perfect but nothing is.
I realize that the idea of learning a new OS is daunting, however Linux and Mac OS are as intuitive if not more than Windows.
I too use Firefox and OpenOffice, but I use Ximian Evolution for my email client.
Originally posted by CliffLandinJust installed SimplyMEPIS which is a Debian linux disto. Windows XP runs on my work laptop but I don't bother using it at home.
I am a Linux user, but I also have a Windows comp that I mainly use for gaming. My Linux comp is way more stable and has the added advantage of being a free operating system that most of the programs that run on it are free. Are there any other Linux users out there? Do any of you have opinions on operating systems? I really hate Windows. Ninety percent ...[text shortened]... re also very few viruses written for Linux or Mac, but most people continue to use Windows. Why?
Been using Linux since 1998 - the last couple of years I dumped the dual boot and run Linux only.
Advantages -
Better security - anyone doing Internet banking on a standard Windows machine and Internet Explorer is a gambler
Spyware and viruses - not a problem ( do you Windows users even realise viruses and spyware are a problem only because of the poor security of Windows? Would you buy a car without doorlocks and ignition keys?)
Absolutely legit system - no pirated software, no dodgy upgrades, no worrying about keeping your system up to date with security patches and pretending to have a real copy
Running Firefox, Skype,Thunderbird, OpenOffice, MP3 player, digital camera download - everythig I need. And I can download packge after package - real versions , not cripple or spyware.
RHP runs perfectly on Linux ( what more do you need?)
Upgrade of erverything to latest, most secure versions for about $5
Downsides
I don't game - if you do, Linux might not suit you.
Crappy win modems and printers - the cheap ones sometimes need Windows.
Don't believe me - get a SimplyMEPIS disk, set your computer to boot off the disk and try it. If you like it - instal it.
i'm (hopefully) going to run a split hard-drive thingy (between linux and windows) come easter when i have the time to do it - i have one to many viruses on my computer and they're starting to peeve me off. plus, IE is a beeeatch when your attempting to program applets - it won't let you run them! i use firefox and thunderbird currently...
I used linux on my home machine about 5-6 years ago but have been using Windows since then but have always wanted to move back to linux.
I was always put off by lack of driver support, available software and installation troubles. I guess its just an inertia thing, i had windows and it was working fine so why change..
Well, firstly i never really payed for windows before and now with this XP registration thing i'm sick of it and i'm loath to pay microsoft for anything.
But i am making the move this week. YAY.
I got redhat fedora 3 from a friend and am just awaiting the delivery of a new harddisk and will then make the change.
I'll still use windows for games but use linux for everything else.
This argument has been done so many times, I won't really bother.
I will say this:
I've used DOS and then windows since I was a kid. Everything churned out by MS was pretty crappy, but if you didn't know how to work in shell, linux and unix were pretty much out of the question.
Hence - everyone used windows and that won't easily change. Users all over the world are used to it now and corporations won't take the chance of installing linux on the average users' desktop and have 'production' stop.
I still use WinXP Pro and I can't see myself uninstalling anytime in the near future.
I do all my work, including development on it and I have no complaints. I think it has crashed twice since I started using it (on a AMD Athlon800 with 256MB RAM)!
All you need is a little patience and common sense and you'll never crash your machine running Windows.
Now.
The real debate should be if MS is missing a trick by not re-structuring their pricing dramatically.
Lots and lots of people (including big corporations) are moving to Linux on the server side and MS are still charging huge amounts for their server software and DBMS systems etc.
Will they ever wake up? Will it be too late?
Are we going to see all networks managed by Linux servers with MS poducts on the desktops?
Originally posted by geniusLOL. You're just preempting the inevitable crashes by "voluntarily" restarting the computer before they occur. See if you can go 6 months without restarting.
actually-mines a good 6 months old and is yet to crash. it gets a bid dodgy and needs restarting after a while if i touch IE, but apart from that it's pretty much hunky-dory...
Originally posted by CrowleyMaybe five years ago you needed to know the shell and command line stuff - not any more.
This argument has been done so many times, I won't really bother.
I will say this:
I've used DOS and then windows since I was a kid. Everything churned out by MS was pretty crappy, but if you didn't know how to work in shell, linux and unix were pretty much out of the question.
I put a SimplyMEPIS CD in, booted from the CD, and two minutes later I have a graphical login. So far, a choice from the CD for older hardware at boot' plus a choice beteen two users - root and demo
As demo, the graphical interface loks like XP - intuitive stuff. I click the "K" start button, bottom left and up comes a selection of programs.
I click "Internet", then "Connection" and I am into a wizard to add dial-up numbers, user name and pasword. I click connect and get an error message telling me to go to the Modem wizard as I can't find 'dev/modem". I click on the drop down with 'dev\modem', set it to the first choice and connect successfully using my external modem
Internet menu choice gives me a choice of two browsers - I choose Firefox and put in rhp.com and here I am. Probably five minutes in all, a half a dozen choices - and I am on the net - without instaling to or altering anything on my hard disk.
I have e-mail, wordprocessors, games - all I want. And a one click install to my hard drive. One click, not two as there is no license agreement - I can install it on dozens of machines, or copy the CD and give it away. It is called freedom.
Windows is dog tucker. People will wise up they are paying hundreds of dollars for it when they have a more secure alternative.
Don't believe me? Get a SimplyMEPIS CD (about $2) and see for yourself.
I switched to Linux earlier this year when some virus leaked its way through Window's very competent security. It somehow wrote itself into the kernel and took away my rights to do just about anything. In a way it was good because the other viruses I had on my PC didn't have any rights either.
The biggest benefit of changing to Linux is the spending money you get to keep. No more huge fees for an operating system and an office suite. In fact, I have my PC set up just the way it was in Windows, with Japanese and Chinese IME (which is more featured than the Microsoft IME), MP3 player which looks like WinAMP 2.8 (which was in my opinion the best WinAMP), full USB support even for devices which would usually require a driver in Windows, and not to mention free support.
I don't see an http://www.google.co.nz/windows but I do see an http://www.google.co.nz/linux.
Now that I realise what a wussy operating system Windows is, there's no way I'd go back. Screw the games, now I have a cool operating system and the chance to renew my social life. What more could I ask for...