Originally posted by sonhouseuse linuxmint.com instead. i got fed up when Registry Mechanic expired after a year (why do i need to BUY a tool to clean up system files for an OS i've ALREADY bought?) and installed linux on all the computers in the house. my wife, kids, and parents (in their 70's) like it much better because it boots and runs LOTS faster than Windows.
Sorry, messed up title. Was wondering if there are some processes in Windows that don't show up in precesses or performance in the task manager? I am presently deleting a bunch of programs in an effort to figure out why the comp is running so slow. If it takes like 20 minutes to load windows doesn't it sound logical to assume something is going on in the ba ...[text shortened]... ou can download that can show the TRUE CPU load and maybe what is going on in the background?
Originally posted by zeeblebotYou sure love to peddle that distro, eh?
use linuxmint.com instead. i got fed up when Registry Mechanic expired after a year (why do i need to BUY a tool to clean up system files for an OS i've ALREADY bought?) and installed linux on all the computers in the house. my wife, kids, and parents (in their 70's) like it much better because it boots and runs LOTS faster than Windows.
sonhouse uses a bunch of software for audio and visio stuff, if I remember correctly, so Linux probably isn't for him. Yet.
Linux is perfect for people who need basic word processing etc. and internet access*, but the average household with kids will still use Windows almost exclusively - and with good reason.
Accessible broadband, Web Apps and online games are quickly changing the picture, but for the foreseeable future Windows will be entrenched as the "home" PC OS of choice.
*Obviously not so for programmers, the computer savvy etc.
Originally posted by sonhouseMore likely it was a trial version which expired after 30 days.
Yep, great program. I am going to try torrent to get another copy.
It's funny, mathematica worked for a few days but I guess someone caught on or something because it started asking for a key maybe a month later.
Originally posted by CrowleyYes I do audio and such but have functions split on 5 or so computers so I keep the specialized machines' software to a minimum. The one I have the most problems with is this HP desktop used for the family so a lot of junk gets downloaded.
You sure love to peddle that distro, eh?
sonhouse uses a bunch of software for audio and visio stuff, if I remember correctly, so Linux probably isn't for him. Yet.
Linux is perfect for people who need basic word processing etc. and internet access*, but the average household with kids will still use Windows almost exclusively - and with good reason. ...[text shortened]... the "home" PC OS of choice.
*Obviously not so for programmers, the computer savvy etc.
Originally posted by sonhouseThen it may actually be a good idea to put Linux on.
Yes I do audio and such but have functions split on 5 or so computers so I keep the specialized machines' software to a minimum. The one I have the most problems with is this HP desktop used for the family so a lot of junk gets downloaded.
Your family will struggle to fill it with so much junk and it doesn't allow bloat as easily and quickly as Windows, is less likely to get infected by viruses and malware, and will do most common tasks just as well (sometimes) quicker than Windows.
Check out some of the 'Live' versions of Linux. You can boot and run these off USB drives and CD/DVDs and they will be (basically) fully functional. Test them out and see if you like them - then junk Windows.
Originally posted by CrowleyDo any of the alternative browsers run on linux? Do you have experience with different versions of linux, if so, what is your idea of the best one or are they mostly alike?
Then it may actually be a good idea to put Linux on.
Your family will struggle to fill it with so much junk and it doesn't allow bloat as easily and quickly as Windows, is less likely to get infected by viruses and malware, and will do most common tasks just as well (sometimes) quicker than Windows.
Check out some of the 'Live' versions of Linux. You ca ...[text shortened]... be (basically) fully functional. Test them out and see if you like them - then junk Windows.
Originally posted by sonhouseI'm no Linux expert, but I've used Red Hat, SUSE, Fedora and Ubuntu before.
Do any of the alternative browsers run on linux? Do you have experience with different versions of linux, if so, what is your idea of the best one or are they mostly alike?
Ubuntu is very popular and I can vouch for it. I dual-boot it with Windows XP on my laptop
Read this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD
Most Linux distros have FireFox pre-installed these days and Konqueror (possibly?). Opera will also work. Not sure about Safari and IE.
1 edit
Originally posted by CrowleyHere's a question about dual boot: If I am having trouble with the XP side where things run slow for various reasons, if I have a dual boot in Ubuntu or some other linux, would anything from the XP side still run in the background and presumably slow down the linux side?
I'm no Linux expert, but I've used Red Hat, SUSE, Fedora and Ubuntu before.
Ubuntu is very popular and I can vouch for it. I dual-boot it with Windows XP on my laptop
Read this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD
Most Linux distros have FireFox pre-installed these days and Konqueror (possibly?). Opera will also work. Not sure about Safari and IE.
Originally posted by sonhouseNo. Dual boot means reboot/switch on there is a menu where you select to boot either Linux or Windows.
Here's a question about dual boot: If I am having trouble with the XP side where things run slow for various reasons, if I have a dual boot in Ubuntu or some other linux, would anything from the XP side still run in the background and presumably slow down the linux side?
They share a harddrive, but don't affect each other further. Both will have their own partition.
Originally posted by Crowleymy 12-y-o installed linux mint on the barebones computer we made. it has been a while since i've installed windows so i can't compare.
You sure love to peddle that distro, eh?
sonhouse uses a bunch of software for audio and visio stuff, if I remember correctly, so Linux probably isn't for him. Yet.
Linux is perfect for people who need basic word processing etc. and internet access*, but the average household with kids will still use Windows almost exclusively - and with good reason. ...[text shortened]... the "home" PC OS of choice.
*Obviously not so for programmers, the computer savvy etc.
mint doesn't eschew audio/video, etc. drivers because they are proprietary.
games are a problem sometimes, but not so much given that the kids are all into Battle of Wesnoth now.
Originally posted by sonhouseubuntu is a derivative of debian, mint is a derivative of ubuntu.
Do any of the alternative browsers run on linux? Do you have experience with different versions of linux, if so, what is your idea of the best one or are they mostly alike?
i've tried them and several others including puppy linux and damn small linux, and i like mint the best. easiest to use. if you give it to your elders and their system stops working for some reason (which happens with windows, too), they can just run with the live CD which you also foresightedly gave them, until you have time to fly back to fix them up.
see distrowatch.com for a linux distro popularity list and description database:
(this is not a list of how many people use them, but a list ordered by how many hits each has received recently at distrowatch):
Rank Distribution H.P.D*
1 Ubuntu 2389<
2 Fedora 1743>
3 Mint 1611<
4 openSUSE 1408>
5 Mandriva 1199<
6 Debian 1087=
7 PCLinuxOS 950>
8 Sabayon 865<
9 Arch 832=
10 Puppy 769<
11 MEPIS 733>
12 FreeBSD 661<
13 Slackware 598=
14 CentOS 584=
15 Tiny Core 553<
16 Ultimate 552=
17 Gentoo 505<
18 PC-BSD 444=
19 Kubuntu 431=
20 KNOPPIX 405=
21 CrunchBang 398=
22 PC/OS 383=
23 Dreamlinux 372<
24 sidux 369>
25 Zenwalk 356=
26 Elive 355=
27 Vector 337<
28 TinyMe 328=
29 BackTrack 319<
30 Chakra 316>
31 gOS 306=
32 ClearOS 292<
33 Xubuntu 291=
34 OpenSolaris 283=
35 Ubuntu Studio 270=
36 Red Hat 265=
37 Pardus 245=
38 SliTaz 240>
39 Frugalware 238=
40 SystemRescue 222=
41 Slax 222<
42 Unity 219>
43 EasyPeasy 218<
44 Macpup 211=
45 Absolute 211=
46 Super OS 209>
47 Parted Magic 207>
48 Moblin 206<
49 Mythbuntu 198=
50 Lubuntu 193>
...
97 iMagic 107<
98 DEFT 107=
99 CDlinux 107>
100 VortexBox 106>
Originally posted by zeeblebotout of these, i've tried the following over the years, finally settle on mint.
ubuntu is a derivative of debian, mint is a derivative of ubuntu.
i've tried them and several others including puppy linux and damn small linux, and i like mint the best. easiest to use. if you give it to your elders and their system stops working for some reason (which happens with windows, too), they can just run with the live CD which you also fore ...[text shortened]... Lubuntu 193>
...
97 iMagic 107<
98 DEFT 107=
99 CDlinux 107>
100 VortexBox 106>
1 Ubuntu 2389<
2 Fedora 1743>
3 Mint 1611<
6 Debian 1087=
8 Sabayon 865<
10 Puppy 769<
13 Slackware 598=
14 CentOS 584=
17 Gentoo 505<
20 KNOPPIX 405=
25 Zenwalk 356=
26 Elive 355=
27 Vector 337<
34 OpenSolaris 283=
39 Frugalware 238=
40 SystemRescue 222=
57 Clonezilla 173=
Originally posted by zeeblebotLinux installs are almost easier than Windows these days, actually. The LiveCD ability is also a great boon for it.
my 12-y-o installed linux mint on the barebones computer we made. it has been a while since i've installed windows so i can't compare.
mint doesn't eschew audio/video, etc. drivers because they are proprietary.
games are a problem sometimes, but not so much given that the kids are all into Battle of Wesnoth now.
The more people using Linux, the better, because more propriety software is being ported to the platform. Me, I'm stuck with Windows at the moment, but at the end of the day I want to see Linux successful.
More competition means the whole landscape will be better for the consumer.
The Linux community doesn't always help itself in that they actively eschew paying for software, always saying things like "Dude, who needs to pay for that software suite? Just use Synaptic to get these apps, install this Debian package, compile this after updating your kernel to 7.6.11.4535.3244234. Then pipe the output, rinse, repeat and YOU ARE DONE. WOO!"
I understand that the Linux community prides itself on the fact that they can Get Stuff Done with tinkering and a basket of open source apps off SourceForge, where most Windows users just fork out a couple of dollars for an app, but they are missing the point: Creating a marketplace is essential to success down the line.
Most Linux "fanboys" seem to want everyone on the planet to use Linux, but sometimes I think they secretly love the fact that people look up to them because they compile their own customized kernels and can script cron jobs to make them coffee in the morning.