Quote:
Originally posted by Malus
It's a free alternative to Windows. It lets you do many of the things Windows does, and so much more. However, it isn't as popular or simple as Windows yet, though it will probably get to the point within a few years.
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I wouldn’t go that far, windows has like 85-90+% of the market and Linux, UNIX, Mac OS, Ms DOS, etc…. etc… etc… all share small parts of the rest
Linux lacks the common software support just like Mac does. If I go to the store and ask then for Linux software they’ll hay huh? And take me to the boxes of the OSs… I know there is a couple of newer games that will load on Linux but not much of anything.
There is how ever a windows emulator that allows you run windows software which I understand some of you do. That greatly improves you software options.
It’s a free OS and its evolved nicely over the years but it still lacks the common usability, ease of use and hard ware support stability. A lot of hardware will not work well with Linux I’ve experienced it my self. I mean it may work to install but days later after doing notice but look around and not changing anything but maybe playing some games I end up with a “kernel panic”. I knot knowledgeable with Linux enough to fix that I also know that such a stable OS shouldn’t do that. Only thing I know what to do it say freak it and through in my windows disk and go back to windows.
But I quickly tire with a lot of the complexity of Linux. Yes once you get it down its ok but it’s the getting it down part that’s extremely hard.
Personally I’m going to start searching through distributions looking for one that better fits me and that like my systems.
Currently I am fluent in Dos, Win 3.1, Windows 95, NT 4, 98, 98se, me, 2000, XP
Also a wee bit of 2003 sever and Mac OS.
I’d really like to learn but hard to do when I keep killing the OS.
Quote:
Originally posted by UberLord
Why use linux?
Because I prefer it to Windows - and it's all about choice. Don't like a wordprocessor? Use another one! Don't like your mail client? Choose another one! Don't like your web browser? Get another one!
Windows - you must use Word, you must use Outlook (or express), you must use IE
I also run a small server that serves email, web filtering, dns, dhcp, ftp and a few other things on my LAN. Myself, my girlfriend and a house mate all use it.
To use Windows on the server would cost many $$$. And then you start paying for client licenses to
The irony is that as a day job I write windows based applications (thankfully in .NET so they work on Linux too  )
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Yep the .net thing is cool I knew about that. But to a lot of us people get software free not to mention freeware. A lot of stuff is almost free for example students here @ the university get any ms software for $5 per CD full legal licensed version with support (It’s a special deal they have with ms)…for example top of the line office 2003 is 3 CD’s so it costs $15.
Quote:
Originally posted by JLP
Hm I got tired of viruses and instability and that was my first reason to switch to Linux. Now I also like it because you have much more control over your computer. there are more settings to change and to make it just the way you need it to be. And because the source code is available you can also compile it speciificly for you CPU and hardware, which makes it a faster. Also it is very nice to have so many choices for almost all of the applications. It even saved my old computer which is now runing completely in text mode and does a very good job as being a firewall and a small server. I also like the community around Linux. People here know a lot and like to help you a lot. I am also closer to the developers of the apps I use. If I find a bug it is usually much easier to report it and then also know what is its status and what the application developer is doing about it. Oh yeah and did I mention the low cost of using Linux and other opensource app? Saved me a lot of money.
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Viruses you say? Yes, here are a few for Linux, Exploits and holes too… But you not have a 1/1000th of the people writing viruses and searching for exploits in windows having anything to do with Linux.
*for one it’s a different OS then they are used to.
*What good is it to spend countless hours finding an exploit they may work on say %3 of all pc’s (I’m saying it maybe distribution specific as most things appear to be)
*Virus writers usually want to affect as many people as they can! So that leaves Linux and Mac etc out of the loop.
* Countless thousands are looking over windows with a magnifying glass looking for flaws to exploit. Right now!
* Linux isn’t plagued with noobs who barely know how to turn on their pc’s little lown how to run even windows update or how to plug a security hole. I see pc’s were people have no firewall @ all no anti virus no anti spy ware but on fast connections to the web. It’s these sots of people that give windows a bad name.
*A good firewall and good AV program and keeping you system up to date. I haven’t had a single virus infection since 1995 and that was removed easily with an anti virus program. I’ve never been hacked. It’s because people don’t take proper precautions that there exits the lager problems.
Linux isn’t as secure as it used to be. As it grows in popularity more and more people look for exploits and holes. I guarantee you if Linux and windows switched places you’d be going oh my Linux security and viruses and how good your windows install was…
Windows is under the spot light (also the microscopes) and has been for some time. But spot lights are better known large heat lamps as you would know if you’ve ever been on stage it gets hot. Linux enjoys a unique status that will evolve as it evolves.
I’d like to learn Linux but more for my resume then for my own personal reasons.
Quote:
Originally posted by Zulan
Why use linux?
Stability, customizability, more closer to the apps you use, etc.
And the best of them all, it's
[SIZE=xx-large]FREE!!!![/size]
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That I think is the biggest lure but for that matter but one could say all software is free to some. I think I paid what? $5 for my 100% legal ms licensed version of windows
. Linux even being free not eveyone will DL it but most starters will buy it in a retail box for the support , manuels etc forking aout about $50
Don’t get me wrong I didn’t come here to crap on Linux actually It has a lot of potential and over all its kind of cool. But it lacks the support and ease of windows at this time.
It will continue to get better and with the next generation it’s popularly will likely rise because there doing a lot more with teaching people how to use computers in schools now a days.
But than again then people will be more knowledgeable of windows security and there for windows will come out better on this too. Their not exactly getting a fair shake now … especially with the DOJ on their back..Maybe that’s why bill gates sold a huge chunk of windows and bought some Linux stock
I will continue setting on the sidelines watching Linux evolve, getting my feet wet now and then. Maybe it’s my Microsoft knowledge or IT knowledge and experience holding me back. What ever it is Linux is considerd to dang hard for most people.
Quote:
Originally posted by germanjulian
explain? dont get it?
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If you haven’t played with the OS yet you really should download and try a copy you might just like it. I’d suggest one of the easier distributions that many more experiaced may call crap such and red hat, mandrake or something like Linspire (the new lindows name ) Just something to get you feet wet on the subject.
[COLOR=red] EDITED FOR SPELLING
-Neon [/COLOR]
rather than some poorly documented keyboard combination.
