i'm considering changing from xp to linux as i have issues with microsofts monopoly. is it a good idea? is linux better?
2006-12-16 00:23:58 · 8 answers · asked by thuddie 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Hello,
Given your question your in very good company, I to have been toying with the idea of moving across to Linux. Here are my conclusions in general terms.
No.1 Linux is an extremely good operating system, its lean, its mean and its VERY fast too. It has some excellent qualities in my opinion, its very difficult to fault it.
No.2 There has been a massive spread, near explosion in the number of Linux flavours now available to download & install.
No.3 Yes! there are some beneficial reasons to install linux, i.e. Linux security seems to be better than MS Windows, which results in far fewer attampts to infect linux with viruses & worms.
No.4 The downside however to Linux is its NOTHING like MS Windows which means linux uses a completely different language in order to talk about commands, processes & methods for doing things. As linux has evolved comes from a Unix ancestory its language is more unix like.
**For anyone who is used to the Microsoft language of windows, linux can come as abit of a suprise and it can be a steep learning curve as they say.
**Linux, was also badly let down in the past by its lack of user friendly Major applications. Although I have to say whilst this is changing slowly with programs like StarOffice and various linux friendly web browsers it still appears to have a long road left to run.
**Finally, apart from the steep learning curve of the Linux language the one sticking point I couldnt get around was the difficulties in exchanging file formats between MS & Linux that finally put me off totally moving across to Linux.
**Of course if you use Linux your NOT going to be locked in by the makers to their proprietory systems in future unlike Microsoft.
And of course their are No! outragous fees for purchasing the OS or upgrading to a new version.
**If your still interested in Linux I can recommand that you take a good look at Ubantu Linux (dappa drake), you can run it from x1 CD disk and have a look at it before you decide if you wish to install & use it.
**Oh! I almost forgot to mention that one of the really great and very attractive features of using Linux is the range of window managers that you can load and use. Your NOT stuck with only one graphical user interface, there are many you can choose from.
Best Regards IR
2006-12-16 01:01:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well - let me try to answer this from a pure technical angle. No philosophies.
What exactly do you do on your PC? Do you use it purely for internet, word processing, emailing, chat and stuff. Are you fairly technical and can figure out what to do when you get an error like "Unable to load driver". If the answer to the two questions is yes, then moving to linux (desktop) could be an option. However, be prepared to face the challenge that a simple thing (such as your printer or digital camera etc.) - which works perfectly on your Windows, does not work under linux. Not that it can't - it may just need some research. And yes, there is a possibility it can't too - because most "commercial electronics" are designed to primarily interface with Windows. Also, if you are a PC Gamer - your existing games will not work on linux. Of course, you can linux games - but you may not get the same variety.
Hope this helps.
2006-12-16 00:35:40 · answer #2 · answered by SlickT 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally I find Linux (or at least the Ubuntu distribution) to be fine. The only major consideration is whether you can run the programs you want, as much of 'em are written for MS, and that's a one-by-one process I'd think.
2006-12-16 00:29:01 · answer #3 · answered by champer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In some ways it is better in other ways it is not. It is much more complex and less user friendly. If you consider yourself a power user then you'll find there's a lot of work ahead of you to get the Linux system as you'd like it to be.
The major advantage is that its free, and a lot of software for it is free. But my advice is that if you're used to windows and happy with it just use it.
2006-12-16 00:28:33 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have not in my opinion used Linux in some years, yet there are quite some distros, which includes the ever-huge-spread Ubuntu, that furnish what's called a stay CD (or DVD), that you'll boot your computing gadget from and run the OS, in its entirety (with some limits, of course), with out actual installation it. i'd recommend checking a number of those out, no less than.
2016-11-30 20:30:30 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No change to vista because the vista is the new version of xp u will have to cope with it for a month or so until vista comes out but trust me it will be worth it!
2006-12-16 00:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by rover45662001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends,if you want to use your pc as a home pc for multimedia,it is too bad beacouse linux cant work good for home pc ,for example some of mdems cant work there.
but if you want to do for server in a LAN it is the best one,
i think i it is the best one for SBC networking ,if you have a free time test this one beacouse this one have a good idea with atleast mony but this metod is not easy to find.linux is good for seecurity as you can watch everything in your hard without having allow to do that(user and admin ).every think you want ,is in internet and free.....
2006-12-16 00:49:13 · answer #7 · answered by saman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stay on Xp unless you want a new change
2006-12-16 00:36:26 · answer #8 · answered by Dan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋