Anyone else here use Linux on their computer?
The new version of Ubuntu Linux just came out today.
Ubuntu is a 100% free replacement for Windows:
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/804features/
The advantage of Linux is that it's free and all of the software is free. Also, there are no viruses so you don't need any anti-virus software.
It's great for setting up Internet cafes also because all of the software is free.
Linux has a reputation for being difficult because it used to be very difficult, but the last couple of releases of Ubuntu have been so good that if I were going to setup my grandmother with a computer I would definitely have her use Ubuntu...
16 years
The difficulties I found some years ago were trivial but daunting:
I bought a textbook complete with CD for installing Linux.
I installed it. Had some teething problems, asked advice, and was told: Oh, there are bugs in that version, get the latest version, you can download it free.
So I did. Had some problems. This version turned out to be incompatible with the computer I was using!
I like the principle of Linux. But unfortunately, I couldnt wait any longer and stuck to Windows :(
16 years
Was that distro called Fedora? I started with Fedora a few years ago and it was ok, but I ran into some problems. (Big orange book with some CDs.)
I ended up at a Linux users group because I was stuck and someone was enthusiastically raving about the latest version of Ubuntu, so I tried that and it worked well.
Ubuntu has come a long way. I haven't installed the new version from today, but it has new features.
Ubuntu users are very helpful, and you can get what is basically free online tech support through live chat and the ubuntuforums.org site...
They will even mail free Ubuntu CDs to anyone:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu
I think Microsoft is more worried about Linux than Apple:
Microsoft extends XP life to parry Linux threat (April 2008)
Same thing in 2004 with Windows 98:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39119059,00.htm
16 years
I just found a great blog post that runs down the new features of the new Ubuntu Linux release (this version is code named "Hardy Heron")
http://lifehacker.com/383769/hardy-heron-makes-linux-worth-another-look
Excerpt:
Few people can comfortably leave the Windows world behind entirely, whether due to web sites that only play nice Internet Explorer or Outlook/Office requirements of the job. Luckily, getting Windows up and running inside Linux has never been easier than with VirtualBox, a free virtualization tool that makes running one system inside another as easy as can possibly be.
16 years
ive been playing with vista recently, and goddam is it awful. next laptop will probably be a mac, but id certainly be interesting in switching to linux.
either way im kissing goodbye to windows.
16 years
ive been playing with vista recently, and goddam is it awful.
I know a couple of people with Vista and their computers are always crashing or having problems.
If you try Linux and have questions let me know. The new version of Ubuntu can be installed from within Windows. I think it will even copy data over for you.
Once Ubuntu has loaded, just press the F1 key and the "how to" manual will open.
Mac is good too, but their laptops don't have enough touchpad buttons for me :)
Ubuntu works on Mac hardware also...
13 years
Does MacOS count as Linux? I know it's based off FreeBSD somehow :)
I switched to MacOS recently and must say my Windows days are over. No need to run anti-virus alone makes your computer way faster. It's simple to use, fast and reliable, it never crashes. Only thing I had to do was to replace Safari browser with Google Chrome, which I personally find is way faster.
I must say though that Windows 7 is a very good, stable OS. It doesn't have any of the annoyances of Vista, except the huge virus risk.
13 years
Does MacOS count as Linux? I know it's based off FreeBSD somehow :)
Mac is FreeBSD -- different than Linux, but similar in that it is UNIX based. :)
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