Windows VS Linux

[Guest]

I've been thinking about switching to Linux operating systems for a while now. A lot of people are saying that it is a better O.S. in general. The thing is though, I've heard that there are some dangerous operating systems from them as well that aren't safe to use. So I was wondering, in what specific ways is Linux better than Windows. Any of their operating systems, I've been told Ubuntu is the go to one and I've heard a little bit about Linux Mint. In addition, what are general things I should be aware of if I do plan to switch? 

[CydiaDash]

I've been thinking about switching to Linux operating systems for a while now. A lot of people are saying that it is a better O.S. in general. The thing is though, I've heard that there are some dangerous operating systems from them as well that aren't safe to use. So I was wondering, in what specific ways is Linux better than Windows. Any of their operating systems, I've been told Ubuntu is the go to one and I've heard a little bit about Linux Mint. In addition, what are general things I should be aware of if I do plan to switch? 

Most programs don't have Linux support. Furthermore, most games don't support linux either.

[Guest]

Most programs don't have Linux support. Furthermore, most games don't support linux either.

Okay so... is Linux its own type of thing then?... like Apple's OSX is it's own compatibility with some of Microsoft's, Windows has its limits with some compatibility with OSX, so then is Linux some what compatible with all three then or?... 

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

It has its own thing indeed. 

 

Some programs and games are compatible with Linux, others aren't.  googling for "linux alternative for XXXXXXX" usually will provide suggestions on free open-source Linux programs that do comparable stuff to what you're used to in Windows. 

 

As for games, check Steam and limit your selection to SteamOS and Linux games.  That will give you an idea of what's natively supported.  Other games may work with an emulator, but that involves work and may or may not have good results.  Right now it's a bit hit and miss still, but it'll improve if Linux gets used more

 

If I may make a suggestion, try Ubuntu and Mint in virtual machines first and go from there. 

You won't have much game support because the virtual machine may not have access to the graphics card, but at least you'll be able to get a feel for the OS. 

[ZetZet]

Okay so... is Linux its own type of thing then?... like Apple's OSX is it's own compatibility with some of Microsoft's, Windows has its limits with some compatibility with OSX, so then is Linux some what compatible with all three then or?... 

no, just most apps are designed on os x too, linux is just left there alone. Why do you think linux has such tiny numbers, yes it's free, yes it's safer because there are not that many people trying to break it ( and don't say anything about servers all servers are broken all the time), yes it's good enough for people who only browse web and use text editors. But if you want to game on linux you are just insane, there is no reason to do it except for people loving free os so much that push it to what it is now. 

 

To sum it up, linux is not designed for consumers, because it's not designed at all.

[Thermite]

I've been thinking about switching to Linux operating systems for a while now. A lot of people are saying that it is a better O.S. in general. The thing is though, I've heard that there are some dangerous operating systems from them as well that aren't safe to use. So I was wondering, in what specific ways is Linux better than Windows. Any of their operating systems, I've been told Ubuntu is the go to one and I've heard a little bit about Linux Mint. In addition, what are general things I should be aware of if I do plan to switch? 

Linux is hard to use for beginners. Driver support can sometimes be a pain. Installing graphics card drivers is literally one of the hardest things I had to do in a command prompt before. And no there aren't really any exe's to use to install drivers. It also is a lot of fun and rewarding when you get it right. 

[Stuff_]

Linux is for power users. 

If you love gaming, I wouldn't make the switch.

Furthermore, if you don't have an interest in any type of IT,IS or network security career (among a few other things), it's probably not what you really want in the long run.

[Guest]

-snip

isn't steam enough for gaming? I heard they have that for linux

[Guest]

Linux is for power users. 

If you love gaming, I wouldn't make the switch.

Furthermore, if you don't have an interest in any type of IT,IS or network security career (among a few other things), it's probably not what you really want in the long run.

Oh so it's good for networking then? That's definitely something I'd look into then 

[ZetZet]

isn't steam enough for gaming? I heard they have that for linux

yes they have steam, with 10 games.

[Philosobyte]

no, just most apps are designed on os x too, linux is just left there alone. Why do you think linux has such tiny numbers, yes it's free, yes it's safer because there are not that many people trying to break it ( and don't say anything about servers all servers are broken all the time), yes it's good enough for people who only browse web and use text editors. But if you want to game on linux you are just insane, there is no reason to do it except for people loving free os so much that push it to what it is now. 

 

To sum it up, linux is not designed for consumers, because it's not designed at all.

Linux is one of the best operating systems for programmers because of support for certain IDEs and its powerful command line. So you can't really say "its not designed at all"...

[Guest]

Linux is hard to use for beginners. Driver support can sometimes be a pain. Installing graphics card drivers is literally one of the hardest things I had to do in a command prompt before. And no there aren't really any exe's to use to install drivers. It also is a lot of fun and rewarding when you get it right. 

You have to use command prompt to install drivers?... Ehhh... sketchy...

[Stuff_]

Oh so it's good for networking then? That's definitely something I'd look into then 

There are a lot of useful tools there to help understand what is going in within a network 

[ZetZet]

Linux is one of the best operating systems for programmers because of support for certain IDEs and its powerful command line. So you can't really say "its not designed at all"...

yes for programmers it's good because it's basically barebone os.

[Guest]

Okay then how about Linux for server stuff? 

[Guest]

There are a lot of useful tools there to help understand what is going in within a network 

Sweet thanks

[Stuff_]

You have to use command prompt to install drivers?... Ehhh... sketchy...

it's not sketchy. In fact, a lot of the distros of Linux hardly even have a desktop environment. Most are just a terminal with a command line to begin with.

From there, you add what you want.

[Philosobyte]

Also, I found Linux Mint to be slightly buggy, especially for certain specific applications. Ubuntu was stable - I recommend you stick with Ubuntu.

[ZetZet]

Okay then how about Linux for server stuff? 

linux servers are popular. but you have to realise that linux servers don't just run on consumer level linux distros, they run on company designed linux which basically makes them another windows with constant support and patches.

 

same with ubuntu, it's company designed and fixed, only advantage it has in real world is that it's free. disadvantage list however is quite a bit longer.

[Guest]

linux servers are popular. but you have to realise that linux servers don't just run on consumer level linux distros, they run on company designed linux which basically makes them another windows with constant support and patches.

Oh right, I forgot the different types of OS for servers vs PC standards D: sorry 

[QueenDemetria]

I've been thinking about switching to Linux operating systems for a while now. A lot of people are saying that it is a better O.S. in general. The thing is though, I've heard that there are some dangerous operating systems from them as well that aren't safe to use. So I was wondering, in what specific ways is Linux better than Windows. Any of their operating systems, I've been told Ubuntu is the go to one and I've heard a little bit about Linux Mint. In addition, what are general things I should be aware of if I do plan to switch? 

Hi, I recently made the switch to Linux(Ubuntu, about 2 weeks ago?), and overall I find the user interface more user friendly and productive. There has been some problems along the way, like my OS randomly corrupting itself(isolated to my computer, upon investigating its due to the hybrid GFX switching in my laptop) and just performance issues(again, isolated to my laptop), but overall it isn't anymore problematic than Windows, so for reliability they are on par. If you do make the switch to Linux, I recommend dual booting or installing it on a PC that you don't mind messing up, cause there is a learning curve to Linux(and making the switch overnight is hard). If I have to sum up my experience so far, this is what I have:

• Installs Linux, literally under an hour with DVD! After the OS install it basically worked at that point, the only driver I needed to download was the nVidia driver, unlike windows where I usually have to download 5+ drivers(or deal with the shit drivers that come with Windows Update).
• Most of my basic programs worked: Chrome, Gimp, Clipgrab, Filezilla, and Steam(but Steam required some messing around to get it working on the latest LTS version). Everything else I use was already built into the OS, like Libre office, Transmission BT Client, SMB, and remote desktop(both server and client).
• Used Unity Tweak Tool to fix some things with Dash, added 6 workspaces, and edited the window snapping to give me more options.
• Since I'm on a laptop, I needed to install indicator-cpufreq to show and change the CPU speed, to save battery.

That's about it, there isn't much too Ubuntu, so much easier to use than Windows IMO. I used Ubuntu 'back in the day' and its come a long way, it much more user friendly now. I know there are many replies above that state how "hard" it is to use and what not, but its really not. As someone who has sat down and actually used it, they have made the UI easy enough for anybody to use, and the requirement of using terminal is nothing like it used to be(in fact, if it weren't for me needing to install 3rd party programs, I probably wouldn't need it for my basic use).

 

If anything, download VirtualBox on your current Windows machine and just give it a try, there is nothing to loose since its free .

[Guest]

-snip

The networking is what I'm pretty interested now, have you used that much if so can you go into detail about it? 

 

good feedback by the way

[QueenDemetria]

The networking is what I'm pretty interested now, have you used that much if so can you go into detail about it? 

 

good feedback by the way

I can make my computer share internet with other computers, just by changing 1 setting, in the GUI, and it just works lol. I can also turn my laptop into a hotspot, by again, using the GUI so do so. 

 

As the "advanced" networking things goes I haven't messed with it too much, but most of the cool "really useful" things can be done easily.

 

I mostly like how network interfaces work right away, unlike Windows that takes Fking forever deciding if that interface is connected to the internet... or is a public or home connection.... or establishing a handshake between USB RDIS devices that takes way longer than it should...

[Guest]

-snip

A HOTSPOT?!?! Sharing internet with other computers like that?!! OMFG First thing I'm doing is putting that on my laptop. This sounds fucking awesome 

[QueenDemetria]

A HOTSPOT?!?! Sharing internet with other computers like that?!! OMFG First thing I'm doing is putting that on my laptop. This sounds fucking awesome 

The hotspot thing is very hit and miss, the Wifi card has to support it, but sharing internet through Ethernet is very easy.