2006-09-23 11:53:13 · 8 answers · asked by LYDIA P 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Linux is actually a Unex based OS..very stable, not limited. BUT, you need supporting programs, such as word processing, spread sheets, data base, etc. and the video sucks. This cannot be used for gaming, and is very limited except for basic business. EVEN then, you will have a difficult time exchanging files, as Windows programs will be looking for specific formats which will not be available in Linux. The OS is cheap or free, but you get what you pay for. I have found Windows 2000, and XP to be very stable. I prefer not to use MS Mail programs because they are targets of virus and worm programs, so I use Yahoo mail...excellent spam filters and virus filters. Good luck
2006-09-23 12:03:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Corel did not write the operating system for the Macintosh, so I am not sure why people are mentioning the Mac.
The Corel Linux does not seem to be a major force anymore. I think it was getting attention back when the current version of MS-Windows came out, which was way way way back in 2001.
I looked on the Corel website and Corel Linux is no longer even mentioned as a product. At least, I could not find it listed there.
Microsoft has released some bug fixes for XP since way back when XP and Corel Linux came out. Whereas Corel probably has not been keeping Corel Linux up-to-date lately, if they are even supporting it at all.
Really, what you should be comparing is a curent version of Linux to the current version of MS-Windows, which is XP. Why not take a look at Ubuntu Linux? It is powerful, popular, and great-looking.
There is a ton of software that runs on Ubuntu and you will likely be able to find other people who are using it in your community, or online.
The current version of Linux, when equipped with Xgl can do very fancy, modern graphics effects/animation, even on windows themselves.
So can the current version of the Macintosh.
Windows XP cannot yet do the graphics effects these other operating systems can do.
The next version of MS-Windows will allegedly have these capabilities when it goes on sale in 2007. However, it will not be cheap.
Linux is free and Mac OS X comes free when you buy a brand new Macintosh computer from Apple. Mac OS X upgrades are also cheaper than MS-Windows upgrades.
You can get a number of popular brands of Linux for free from their respective sites. Ubuntu and Red Hat's Fedora Core seem to be among the most popular.
No matter whether you use Mac OS X, LInux, or MS-Windows - you can run Firefox and Thunderbird on your OS. Some things are universal.
2006-09-23 19:25:21 · answer #2 · answered by John C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems at your level that a Microsoft OS would be much better for you. Just keep it up to date and run a security suite. The fact that you are looking at a long-dead version of Linux (Corel) tells me that you need more general experience before dedicating yourself to Linux.
Linux is a nice OS (although some of the posters here are making wild exagerations about how great it is), but it's not especially good for desktop use or for inexperienced users. It really shines as a server operating system, however.
I agree with the poster who suggested you try one of the so-called "Live" Linux cd's from a magazine. You will probably find that things you take for granted on Windows XP either don't work at all or are mind-bogglingly complicated for you. I'm not knocking Linux--I just doubt very seriously that it is for you.
2006-09-23 19:35:53 · answer #3 · answered by scott 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to spend ages messing around with the computers / OS, go ahead.
If you want to get work done and make it available to others forget it!
You can always try one of the Linux bootable CD's.
These let you boot a Linux system from an optical drive without touching your hard disk at all.
Obviously it doesn't run as fast as it would when run from HD, but you'll get a good idea of what's there and what's not etc.
The biggest problem I've found is drivers.
I have a D-Link WiFi card which just won't work under Linux.
OTOH I have a Prism WiFi card in my laptop and that works fine under Linux.
It's a suck it and see job I'm afraid.
Computer magazines often have bootable Linux discs free with them.
If you need to download a bootable Linux ISO file, just Google Bootable Linux CD or similar, there are many different ones out there.
Knoppix is OK.
2006-09-23 19:23:49 · answer #4 · answered by SuperWales 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it all depends on what you want to do with it. As a personal Desktop OS, my opinion is that Microsoft XP is easier, and better supported than Linux. The same could be said for OS/X. For most people, the OS isn't the most important thing -- it's the applications they want to run.
2006-09-23 18:57:10 · answer #5 · answered by Gizmo L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Corel Linux died in 1999. Get the really fast (50X faster!) http://pclinuxos.com
So a comparison would be totally stupid to compare 7 year old dead Corel Linux, with 7 year old virus ridden and dead WinXP!
PCGaming had a DOOM 3 'SHOOTOUT', between fully tweaked XP, and 'out of the box', stock, Red Hat Linux, running on comparable Alienware computers of the latest technology, in Fall 2004. Linux ran 50X faster in every test.
All the Microsoft.com, hotmail.com, MSN.com, and Redmond Campus servers run on 45,000 Linux computers.
Google.com runs on 100,000 Linux clustered computers.
I recommend http://pclinuxos.com for noobs. Comes with 1900 free games, programs, applications. Deploys full multi-processor, multi-user, multi-environment, multi-tasking, processing for up to 4000 open 'windows'on 20 seperate desktops, concurrently!
It will blow you away with the GUI! I run it on older hardware, like 300 mhz PII systems, and it is equal to an AMD XP2000 (1600mhz) running XP Pro, for most applications. Have 10 systems online, with 80 on the shelves, as I do lots of testing, here.
2006-09-23 19:17:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question. I got a Mac about 6 months ago, and let me tell you it's not perfect like they would have PC users believe.
2006-09-23 18:55:15 · answer #7 · answered by Random Precision 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you're a real geek, stick with Windows.
2006-09-23 19:00:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋