what to do with linux that i can't do with windows?

[soni29]

Hi,
I've never used Linux, but wanted to give Ubuntuu a try, running it on VMware, but just curious what do people do with it that they can't do with windows? I know it's a better OS, crashes left often, but is that it? Just trying to understand why people love it soo much over windows, what draws them to linux to begin with and keep them there :P i use winxp are work and at home, and don't mind switching to linux at home but no idea what to do with it that i can't in windowsxp.
can someone maybe recommend something to me to try out with ubuntuu that might show why linux is better?

[Panama Red]

I think the two biggest reasons for using Linux is it's FREE and it's not Microsoft. Some folks just seem to wanna bash the big guys. I guess it's that old "root for the underdog" syndrome so prevalent in sports and other life events. I've tried it too and don't see what all the excitement is about.

[shadowpr]

I can do everything with linux that I can with Windows, and can do everything with windows that I can do with linux.

For me, it's more about the fact that linux seems more responsive. It also has better visual effects that just make it look pretty.

Like PR said, it's also free, so that's a big plus.

I like that i don't need antivirus or antimalware apps for it either, so that saves on resources.

I would suggest linux mint instead of ubuntu. I had better luck with it, and like it more. I know others that prefer it over ubuntu as well. Of course, since they're both free, you might as well try both.

[Force Flow]

It's free and developed by the open source community, rather than a corporation. Then again, that also has its downsides.

The argument about not needing antimalware/antivirus apps is weakening. You still need security measures, and linux is not totally immune (less susceptible, yes).

The crashing arguement is also more or less invalid these days. Windows is just as stable as linux and vice versa. Now, if you look at the number of times you have to reboot when installing updates, applications, etc...linux will certainly need fewer reboots.

With linux, you probably will have to go to the command line more than once. If you are strictly a GUI user, then it's probably not the most ideal option. IMHO, a proper modern OS should not force you to use the command line to get something done. While linux distributions have made great advances, it's still not there yet as a viable replacement for the average user.

For the enthusiast who wants to get into the nuts and bolts of things, yes, it's quite agreeable. But for people who "just want it to work", you may run into some difficulties.


I'm primarily a windows guy, but I do make a point to try out a few flavors and versions of linux throughout the year. I have yet to see anything that makes me really want to jump ship. To me, linux is interesting, certainly has its uses, but as a desktop OS, still has a way to go before I'd recommend it to an average home user.

But, that doesn't mean you *can't* try it. If you're interested, it won't hurt to grab the LiveCD and run it. The LiveCD allows you to run linux from a bootable CD without actually installing it on your hard drive. While it will operate slower in this fashion, it will still give you enough of a sample to see if you'd like to play with it more.

[jdeb]

I personally like to have a choice and I think MS has limited consumers the opportunity in years past. We have more options today because of their actions. It all started (resentment) with me when I was using OS/2 as my operating system and windows just sort of took over and IBM laid down and stopped supporting OS/2 Warp, I trust they just made a business decision. It was way better than windows and it was way ahead of it's time, actually Bill Gates started it when he was with IBM. I could give DOS and windows all the memory it needed for any application under OS/2. I could play any dos game out there and it would run smooth and fast. I could render 3D objects (True Space windows program) in less than 24 hours, that was huge in the day believe it or not. My internet connection was the bomb in the day, etc. Windows 95 came along and a lot changed. I think Windows was crammed down my throat. Vista is not very good, Windows 7 proves Vista was crap and I am rambling.

Go to the store (Barnes and Noble) and buy the latest linux magazine. Currently at the news stand, they have a live cd version of mint included, pop it in and check it out. If you like it, install it and call it a day. If you don't like it throw it out. I also seen Suse and Ubuntu cd's in a couple of magazines as well. You can do everything you need to in Linux that you can do in windows and most of the applications are free for it. I use windows because of my day job and thats it.

[mikeL]

I miss any windows based virus's, and it's free, and not from M$. Plus it is just plain fun to tinker around with.

[XenaWP]

I'm with mikeL, it is fun to get to know how people choose to put together an alternate OS.

And I'm with Shadow, I like Mint as a distro. It offers a full set of audio/video codecs which Ubuntu (I believe) does not install by default, and it has some other nice user-friendly features. As well as not being so ... brown.

I'd like to have a look at Kubuntu too, pretty much Ubuntu with a different GUI.

[mikeL]

If your feeling really adventurous give slackware a try. Very user configurable, and you get the chance to manually edit all kinds of configuration files. Ubunbtu tends to be somewhat proprietary.

Although if your into gaming Linux does lack that ability, unless you want to use wine or one of the other emulators.

[niyiku]

you can scan, can make boots, and much more others h4ack-ing things )

[not important]

Another vote for Mint. I started with Ubuntu and went to Kubuntu to Mint.
I still favor XP but Mint is great for everyday PC use.

[inflames988]

I got into Linux when I started some of my upper level programming courses... I do alot of programming work and math, and you cant beat linux for these technologies.

I do work in C/C++, Java, Ruby, Perl... and web development stuff (generally Ruby on Rails). You can do stuff like that in windows (obviously), but it seems like most of these technologies cater to unix-like operating systems. Lots of the work I did in my C class related to shells, system calls, etc. I also like the availability of free software - editors, plugins, programs to do math-related stuff (octave, LaTeX stuff). I always seem to run into quirky issues when doing things like this in windows (my LaTeX package in windows crashes frequently, whereas in ubuntu I have never had a problem). I may make the switch to mac at some point (mainly just because i like textmate).

[Cisridn]

My main reason for going to linux is that I did not have to pay any money for it. All I do is get on the internet and search for things and check my email. I did not want to spend money for an OS just so I can do those things. I have only been using linux for about a month now, and I do not see a major difference between the linux and windows yet.

I do admit that I probably spent alot more of my time getting my system to work using linux. I am dual booting ubuntu 8.04 and Debian-lenny. But after I got my system working, I was satisfied with the effort I put into it, because I learned a few new things.

[alfie2]

xp or vista cannot do multiusers logon in the same time.

currently, in "third world" countries like Mexico, Linux is used, so that 10 or more people can share/use a single computer at the same time. Much like the old days of mainframe computers; instead of 50 computers in a classroom, with Linux only 3 or 4 desktop computers with 50 monitors/keyboards are need for 50 students, this could also be done in workplaces too.


just my $.02

[Force Flow]

Server editions of windows can have multiple users at the same time.

Also, there's Virtual Server 2005.

[alfie2]

windows server would be quite expensive and the softwares that run on it has to be network-aware versions( ie: wordprocessor,web-browser,.....so on), making it even more expensive.
[If a software is not a network-aware version, only one person/client-computer can run it at any one time.]

[Tin]

I like Linux because it scales extremely well. For instance, XP on my aunts Acer Aspire one is a flat out brick. My Wind U120, with half the RAM and Ubuntu Netbook Remix is much faster, there really is no comparison. Linux most times just flat out works, no hassling around with drivers. The only issue Ive had was with Atheros wifi cards, which are now fully supported under Linux because their driver is now open source. Another great thing about Linux...when you get new hardware, you dont have to reinstall. The drivers are built right into the kernel. As long as your kernel is up to date, its as easy as putting your hard drive in the new system and hitting the power button. The problem these days, and for the past 2 decades is that Windows has severely limited the common mans choice for an OS. Most average people have no idea what Linux is. Ive ran LiveCDs on customers computers and they thought it was Windows until I told them otherwise. Having a choice in OSes is a great thing, much like having a choice in cars, GPUs, CPUs, etc. It would be pretty lame if we were only stuck with one brand.

[tomster2300]

I added Ubuntu as a dual boot to my Vista desktop a couple of weeks ago just to see what all the talk was about. I have had mixed feelings while using it, and ultimately have decided that I enjoy my Mac the most overall.

Linux has a bit of a learning curve and takes about a day or so to begin figuring out (unless you have someone knowledgeable about it sitting beside you, which I didn't have). You definitely have to tinker with it to make everything act and appear normal. I had to install Microsoft fonts to make Firefox useable - otherwise it looks like something from the 80s and really hurts the eyes. I also had to figure out what repositories were and why I should be using them, had to mount and then figure out how to auto mount all my drives and shared folders (and how to auto-link my music folder on my storage drive to linux), and finally how to get my wifi card to auto-connect to the internet.

But, with all that said I've found some really cool things about Linux which has kept it installed on my pc. I hooked up my scanner and was able to do everything I ever wanted to with color photos and even text recognition, and I didn't even have to use a work-around like in Home Premium...

CompizFusion gives me all the effects and conveniences that I've come to utilize on my Mac. Spaces and expose were the two main reasons I left Windows to try out Linux. I do all my work on my Mac, and my poor desktop was sitting off in the corner because every time I put my mouse in the corner of the screen, nothing would happen...

All in all, I'm going to keep Windows around for awhile, but Linux is definitely staying for when I feel like tinkering.

[Tin]

I think the biggest problem with people new to the Linux world, is that they use it like its Windows, which is where most of the issues stem from. Once you get the feel for it, its much easier to install a fully functioning distro than it is Windows. Microsoft has been a monopoly for over 20 years, preinstalling their OS on countless prebuilt machines, which in effect, makes the general populous familiar with only Windows.

[Force Flow]

Part of the problem in addition to that is people have gotten used to using only the *GUI*, while in many linux distros, you often have to fiddle with things from the command line for one reason or another.

And don't say it's "easy". For users who have never seen command line stuff (even for users who have), good forum help and documentation is hard to find, so users end up with a roadblock and give up on it.

Granted, the last couple years it's gotten better (ubuntu especially), but it's not quite a desktop replacement for the average user.

[David M]

Don't forget its becoming longer and longer since people had to use command lines. Many computer users now have never had to use command lines and of those people, most are probably not interested in how to use them in order to use their computers. Command lines will probably go the way of the dinosaur and the computer punch card. The sooner Linux gets rid of that necessity, the more popular Linux will become. Not everyone likes tinkering with their cars nor their computers. For many people a computer is nothing more than a box for getting work done.

[shadowpr]

I don't think the command line will go away, nor should it.

Instead i think that it will just be there as an option to do things that way, or through the gui.

[tomster2300]

Originally Posted by shadowpr I don't think the command line will go away, nor should it. Instead i think that it will just be there as an option to do things that way, or through the gui.

I think developers will continue to use the command line, but I can easily see it being phased out completely for the average Linux user. Kind of like how MS-Prompt is in Windows, or Terminal in OS X. It's there if you want it, but the average user is never going to be required to use it.

If they could make it completely GUI dependent, I would bet the number of mainstream users would increase.

[shadowpr]

I've actually used both of those with in the past month or so. lol.

But I understand your point and agree.

[tomster2300]

Originally Posted by shadowpr I've actually used both of those with in the past month or so. lol. But I understand your point and agree.

Haha, but you are definitely so not the average user.

[Tin]

The command line isnt that hard to use. I went from Windows to Linux cold turkey...believe me, it was hard not to switch back the first couple of months. Now that Im comfortable with Linux, Windows feels all to inferior in everything but gaming. I dont consider Linux ready for the mainstream yet, but if youre a general power user, I dont see any reason why you shouldnt run it (aside from games).

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by Tin The command line isnt that hard to use. I went from Windows to Linux cold turkey...believe me, it was hard not to switch back the first couple of months. Now that Im comfortable with Linux, Windows feels all to inferior in everything but gaming. I dont consider Linux ready for the mainstream yet, but if youre a general power user, I dont see any reason why you shouldnt run it (aside from games).

Most people aren't willing to stick it through and make that bumpy transition. If it were a smoother transition, more people would be readily adopting it. Most just want to install it, install some of their basic software (office suite, email app, chat client, browser, media player, and some games) and be done with it.

[Tin]

Most distros already come with the basics already installed. Pidgin (IM client) Firefox, Thunderbird, Open Office, Rythmbox (music), Totem (videos), and plenty of games. Ubuntu, Fedora, and Mint are probably the most complete OSes right out of the box.

[wamwam]

If you're curious about Linux but don't want to fully install yet and just check out the different distributions available, look at the article about making a bootable linux flash drive posted on this thread. Also gives information at the end about recovering files from Windows, but omit that if you are just interested in the first part.

[DSCHIEF]

Originally Posted by tomster2300 I think developers will continue to use the command line, but I can easily see it being phased out completely for the average Linux user. Kind of like how MS-Prompt is in Windows, or Terminal in OS X. It's there if you want it, but the average user is never going to be required to use it. If they could make it completely GUI dependent, I would bet the number of mainstream users would increase.

True, Sad but true.
Linux is one area that I think old farts have a better chance at adapting than any one
under the age of 40.
Those of us who were computing in the early 80's { that's like uh 30 yrs ago }
who like me had a dual processor { 8085 & 8088 }
a whopping 768 K of ram
Command line only o/s CPM-85 or DOS 2.13
An office Productivity Suite, If one could call it that consisted of
Wordstar & DBase II, remember No Mouse
everything was a string of key strokes "CTRL + whatever"
And the Internet was text only BBS's and at 1200 BAUD

Now here's a real P/C
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=261

[brizey]

I use Mint for my older computer upstairs. My experience with it is positive. One downside is that their long term releases are pretty far apart. For what we use it for (basically firefox), I have not had to use the command line.

That being said, I think there is a place for Windows. It works on pretty much all currently available hardware (partly because it is a design target for said hardware). It has tons of out of the box functionality. MS has spent the time and money to develop Directx, making windows the go to platform for game developers.

And really, at ~$100 for OEM at unit quantity, Windows is not really that expensive for what it can do. The Dell's of the world pay a fraction of that.