Linux or Windows

[pdangx]

So someone told me that Linux is a pretty good OS and that is free. What's so good about linux? What does it offer that windows doesnt?

Currently running Win7

[Conelton]

Linux is not necessarily an upgrade from Windows, but simply an alternative. If you have no problems with Windows and it does everything that you need then you may as well just stick with it. The reason I started using Linux (I use Win8 mostly but I have a Ubuntu machine too) was because I was fed up of Windows XP (which I had at the time) being terrible and I wanted to see what other options existed.

Another thing to consider is that Linux generally takes a lot more time and effort than Windows. You'll probably spend a week or two tinkering with it to get it absolutely right for you. Some people things this ia a great thing because it can be more finely-tuned and customised than Windows, whereas some people find it frustrating and just lose interest and switch back. If you want to be able to change almost every aspect of your OS and software, have finer control over drivers and kernels and system processes, and just generally have more of a power-user atmosphere then Linux is very appealing in that respect.

If you want any more info or opinions I'll be happy to go into more detail. Hope this helped :)

[Scia]

Well, depending on which Linux Distribution you are using you might have quite a different experience.

Probably the most common ones are Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

Linux is a great alternative for normal PC usage such as streaming, using office programs and in general having a safe and snappy OS.

If you want to be gaming, you will be facing a few barriers that you will have to overcome.

Sure there is Steam for Linux now, but other games sometimes require quite a lot of work to be run flawlessly.

I am using an Ubuntu PC as in house fileserver and torrenting / media PC. A downside of Linux Distros is the absence of major productivity suites like Adobe, MS Office and stuff. Ofc you can find an alternative to a lot of them but there is only so much an alternative can do.

​Especially for Ubuntu, there is a Twitter, Mail [Thunderbird], and Facebook integration directly into the system. So for everyday computer use, it certainly is a very very good alternative to Windows.

You can download the Ubuntu Image HERE and either use Pendrive Linux to create a bootable USB stick with the ability to TRY the Ubuntu booted off the USB-Stick [leaving your Windows Install completely untouched] and install it over or alongside Windows should you like it. The other possibility is Wubi to install Ubuntu in Windows like any other program and have the possibility to chose which OS you want to boot into at PC start up.

So I personally would advise you to simply try it and see if you like it or not, but be warned, even though it's almost easier to use than Windows for your simple tasks, if you get deeper into it you will start to spend some time HERE.

But I personally love it. HARD.

[Lyons]

If you don't know what's so GOOD about Linux, Don't use it. Yet. Do A lot of research and figure out which distro is best for you. If you have a need for any kind of media productivity or gaming, there's really no point. It's not worth it. I don't care what anyone says, there is never a better alternative on Linux in terms of productivity, and using wine is just... no. As mentioned, Ubuntu and Mint are very easy (relative) distros, you will learn a bit but not much. My favourite Distro is Crunchbang, it's very minimal as possible but still comes with utilities and install options that make set up quite easy like printer support, updating, work with pretty much all of your hardware out of the box, etc. I don't personally like Ubuntu with all the integration of the store, I know you can work around it but I like doing everything myself. You can also look at Debian or Fedora, they are little more user friendly too.

Like Scia said, do a live boot from a USB to try them out. Nothing can go wrong. If you jump straight into a distro like Crunchbang like I did, you will learn very quickly. Support and info for most distros online is very wide and you'll find a solution to 95% of you issues and will be able to solve them quickly once you've done a bit of learning. If you're not completely computer illiterate, you can have Crunchbang working just the way you'd like it in a week.

I suggest if you really want to try Linux, in my opinion these are the two options: Ubuntu (very easy) or Crunchbang (not as easy but you will learn very quickly). From there you can start playing with more complex things in your distro.

[Larrivee013]

I think it all depends on what you are doing. If you are already running Win7, I'd stick with it. However, if you are not willing to shell the bucks for Windows if you build a new machine I think Ubuntu (or any other Linux distro) can be a great alternative for web browsing and document creation (LibreOffice). However, if you plan on gaming, forget about it. Even thought Steam has been released for it, there are still some issues with driver compatibility and the list of games is simply too short for my liking. I'd say like above, try it and see for yourself. That's what I've done and I must say that I did like it, but for my main computer, it just can't be it.

Anyways good luck in your (maybe) Linux adventure!

[pdangx]

How long did it take to get used to? [ubuntu]

[MG2R]

How long did it take to get used to? [ubuntu]

Ubuntu is quite newbie-friendly. When you use the default Desktop version, you should find your way reasonably quick.

[GoodBytes]

Here is my view. I have used Linux down to it's "core" (not really, but just started off with a terminal with package manager, network support, and basic text editor), and install my stuff on the way up to get it to a user interface, and used Linux Ubuntu where everything was done for me, and of course Windows.

Both OS have their strength of weaknesses. In short: Linux is completely the polar opposite of MacOS. Windows sits in between... some version of Windows are more average user friendly... others are more power user friendly. It tries to get a balance between the 2.

Linux runs on anything. You got 4GB of HDD and 256MB of RAM, you can get a Windows-like environment, running almost all the latest problems. Why? Because you can install the components you need, and not what you don't need. It has a something called a package manager, which scans program that you type in to install, (example: apt-get install firefox), and will install any other thing that the program needs. Also, it has a system in place to avoid duplicated files. For example, on Windows side: let's say program A needs a dll file from .NET, it will include it where it is installed. Program B also need that file, and does the same. Duplicated file. Linux will avoid this. The result is that it makes Linux leaner, and your programs potentially smaller.

The problem with Linux: Multiple distributions, makes that each of them have different command line names for many things, because they all have different terminal level utilities and/or tweaked by the distro. This makes that, if you search for info on the web, a lot of stuff you'll find, won't work for you, ignoring the fact that Linux is case sensitive, and forum users do typos on the commands, so a command doesn't work because there is a typo, case sensitive issue, or because you have the wrong distro?

Also help is difficult to get, and VERY FEW communities are helpful. Linux community in general is very snobbish, and don't welcome new users of Linux.

You must also be prepared to use the Terminal a lot for many things. Ubuntu is the first (in my book), that are activitly tweaking and changing Lionux (which is being argued as bad, because it complicated a lot of things for software develoepr and gettingt help, but good for the user), to reduce significantly the use of the Terminal, and have a more of a "Windows" like feel to it.

A problem that Linux has, is that it's developers aren't focused on end-users that uses graphical user interface, in other words, you. So basic stuff like improving the GUI is put aside, so it generally sucks, and stuff like the font rendering is laughable at best, and that is very very very sad in my opinion. These are basic stuff, but left basically untouched for sooooo many years. Also, Linux doesn't have any GUI guidelines, so every program layout is different from each other, there is no consistency, like you have in Windows or MacOS. Also, Linux programs are done by developers with no marketability, what I am trying to say is too much options (most of them useless), no help documentation, no support (the community can help you, but the dev(s) not so much or not at all).

Also, drivers. If you have all PROPER driver support in Linux you'll get a great experience, else it will be hell. Usually old hardware have OK support, new stuff... not so much. Also, in most cases, Windows applications are more powerful, and more polished.

Lastly, Linux folder structure makes no real sense, and programs don't follow the folder intended purpose.

Personally I find Windows significantly better, because one of the problems with Linux, is that the simplest thing is a project to do

And if you want to install a program not in the package manager... well good luck. Also removing software, doesn't do it cleanly at all. Even if you use the "--purge" argument in the terminal with the command to uninstall an installed pachage, which is supposet to remove all traces. I have encounter program that installs a service and doesn't remove it, and that slows down your boot. Removing them is a pain (potentially several hours of work, especially if you don't know what you doing).

[azeotrope]

The problem with Linux: Multiple distributions' date='[/quote']Personally I think this is a good thing, as it allows choice. different distros cater for different types of users and for different personalities. there are user friendly distros, user centric distros and everything in between. Yes there is fragmentation and it can cause problems, but Open source/free software is primarily about choice and choice is good

makes that each of them have different command line names for many things

Package managers tend to be somewhat distro specific, although there are only about 4, arguably 5 major package managers in the linux world. however most other CLI binaries will be the same, such as the GNU coreutils for basic management.

ignoring the fact that Linux is case sensitive

If you understand how *nix shells work and how the $PATH environment variable works, you'll understand why that is

forum users do typos on the commands' date=' so a command doesn't work because there is a typo[/quote']You should never copy and paste shell commands from forums without understanding them anyway. If you're not familiar with a command, read the man page.

You must also be prepared to use the Terminal a lot for many things.

Yes but personally I don't see this as a bad thing. If you are experienced with the shell, its far more efficient than any GUI for many tasks. Ask any experienced *nix/BSD sysadmin and they will tell you the same. Of course there is a significant learning curve but I found that the time I've taken to learn has paid off in spades

Ubuntu is the first (in my book)' date=' that are activitly tweaking and changing Linux[/quote']There have been many distros before ubuntu that have tried to do this, but none of them were very successful. Ubuntu's success with this debateable.

A problem that Linux has' date=' is that it's developers aren't focused on end-users that uses graphical user interface[/quote']Depends which software you're talking about. For software like KDE, E17 or unity it's not really true. CLI software is superior in many cases because its much faster if you know how to use it properly. This also means that the developer, who isn't being paid and is probably a weekend hacker can focus on the backend of the application rather than some fancy GUI.

stuff like the font rendering is laughable at best

You've obviously never used the infinality patchset, It's miles ahead of cleartype and can emulate XP, cleartype, OSX, Ubuntu or iOS rendering. Reading cleartype text is painful now that I'm used to this. Once again, it comes down to choice

GUI guidelines' date=' so every program layout is different from each other, there is no consistency[/quote']It depends on the toolkit that the app uses and what the developer chooses to use. There is consistency between desktop environments, but once again, its your choice as to what you use.

what I am trying to say is too much options (most of them useless)' date='[/quote']What's so bad about choice? care to elaborate on useless?

Usually old hardware have OK support' date=' new stuff... not so much.[/quote']Depends on the distro, most popular distros have long delopment cycles and therefore have old software. There are distros which run the latest and greatest kernel and packages. And generally have good support for new hardware

Lastly' date=' Linux folder structure makes no real sense, and programs don't follow the folder intended purpose.[/quote']That's because you have a windows mindset, I used to think exactly the same way until I started delving into the depths of the open source world. I now have a very different perspective and appreciate the elegance of the FHS

is that the simplest thing is a project to do

Once again, maybe thats your experience, personally I find many things in linux much easier to do than in windows, like installation, system setup, server setup, automation etc.

And if you want to install a program not in the package manager... well good luck

./configure, make, make install. not hard.

lso removing software' date=' doesn't do it cleanly at all. Even if you use the "--purge" argument in the terminal with the command to uninstall an installed pachage[/quote']Depends on the package manager but I find my distros package manager (pacman) to be much cleaner in unistallation than windows installer, which leaves old registry entries, program data etc.

[alexknipfer]

I've been using Linux for quite some time and I prefer it over Windows. I still have a Windows installation but not for my everyday usage. I use to be a serious distro hopper going from one to another. Try other distros besides the mainstream ones such as Ubuntu, etc. there are other good ones out there. If you try Linux you may not like it immediately just because you aren't familiar with it vs. Windows. There is a little to learn, but not as bad as you think.

[joshuamurphy]

i prefer linux over windows have been using it now for about 2 months. its just the little things like scrolling on a window without having to click on it and middle click over the sound notication to mute it and scrolling to change the volume. plus super easy to install things once you have remember the command (sudo apt-get install {name of package}). and no annoying pop ups all the time. just the little things that makes linux so much better in my opinion