Author Topic: How many of you would use Linux if you know it does all job you need (Read 1765 times)

deSelys · « **Reply #30 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:18:52 AM »

Nilsen if your Wi-Fi card is based on a Texas Instruments ACX100 chipset, I highly recommend you to use the MEPIS distro (http://www.mepis.org) because it is the only one I know of that has the drivers included.

I was able to set up my WiFi card under Debian Sarge thanks to very detailed HOWTO, but it took me 3 evenings and a lot of work (you need a second computer with internet access and a USB memory stick at least).

deSelys · « **Reply #31 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:31:21 AM »

Things that Linux does better than Window$ (IMO):

- all networking stuff: far safer and stabler than Windows. Complete firewall, HTTP server, mail server, Database server, printing services, you-name-it-server functionalities....for free. Compatible with Windows networks thanks to Samba (you can easily access windows shares or mount shares on a Linux box that Windows machines can access.)

- applications and disk management

- less prone to viruses, excellent free antivirus softwares availables

- free but professional software like OpenOffice (see above), The Gimp (~Photoshop), GPG (Gnu Privacy Guard = free PGP, fully compatible with each other), media players, CD/DVD copying, ripping and recording...

Points where Window$ (still) shines:

- games

- more codecs available for media players (i.e. WMV3 is not yet supported under Linux)

- some excellent softwares like DVD-Shrink...

NUKE · « **Reply #32 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:55:44 AM »

Does anyone else find it funny that most people cannot be convinced to use Linux, even though it is free?

Linux is not anywhere near as user friendly as Windows is to the common computer newbie.

B_iach all you want, but Linux needs to make some big changes before it can begin to compete with MS in the consumer market....and it's price can't get any lower......it's free for christ sakes.

deSelys · « **Reply #33 on:** April 19, 2005, 03:43:55 AM »

hey Nuke, I don't get a dime if you use it or not. You're a big boy, make your own choice.

I discovered it 6 months ago and the learning curve is a bit like AH: the first 2 weeks are tough, then you get the hang of it, you know on which websites you'll find HOWTOs and answers...and you're flying all by yourself.

I was also put off by the initial effort required (which turned out to be less big than I thought). Now I wish I had made the first step earlier.

artik · « **Reply #34 on:** April 19, 2005, 07:42:43 AM »

Yes you defenatly need to learn using Linux... but it is not hard at all just you need to be familiar

It is different system you should be familiar that most of software is get via official repositories and package control system (not like for Win dowloading for hunderd of different places)
You should learn main things like UNIX file structure /usr /home /bin (not like windows Program Files Windows). HW names hda1, hda2, hdc3 - instead of C:. D: etc...
Working as user and not adiminstarator most of fime.
Sometimes (quite rare to use command line of administration).
Learn new SW names - Photoshop -> Gimp, Power Point -> Impress. IE -> Firefox. ICQ - Kopete etc...

But it is defenatly not harder then for Windows - it just different.
(I remember how much time it take for me to setup all codacs for films.......)

Xjazz · « **Reply #35 on:** April 19, 2005, 01:44:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by artik
Yes you defenatly need to learn using Linux... but it is not hard at all just you need to be familiar

You should learn main things like UNIX file structure /usr /home /bin (not like windows Program Files Windows). HW names hda1, hda2, hdc3 - instead of C:. D: etc...
[/B]

Artik, any good website to look after these?

indy007 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:00:59 PM »

I can use whatever version of Linux I feel like. I can make it run AH or any other game. With current RPM distro's, everything is very easy.

Here's why I don't run it: Nobody else I know uses it for a desktop machine. I have a spiffy little XP image on a CD. If my windows ever gives me a non-hardware related error, I can go from dead in the water to completely new installation in under an hour. It's just too common & convenient not to run XP. Everything is easier, even if it is less reliable.

Edbert1 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:36:27 PM »

I like Linux, I also like the open source movement, I've been playing with it off and on for almost 10 years and it is DEFINITELY getting better at a faster rate then M$ OSes are. But with that being said...

I fear what will happen if or when Linux gains enough popularity among the average computer-consumers that it's market share reaches critical-mass. Once any particular OS reaches that threshold (somewhere between 25-50% in my opinion) of the PC users the amount of malware written to attack it is going to go through the roof. I think the fact that it is open source is only going to make it worse too, when and if that happens. For now the dozen or so top flavors are all vying for less than 10% of the PC marketplace (non-server) so it is not really an issue, sort of like the Mac. Picture your grandmom logging in to check her emails while logged in with root, and you'll see what I mean!

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #38 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:46:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Xjazz
Artik, any good website to look after these?

http://www.linux.org/

Also I highly recommend Linux for Dummies. A plain, simple, straightforward book that will walk you through it from setup to operations. There are plenty of more advanced books out there, this one is invaluable for someone just learning Linux.

If you knew DOS, and ever wrote a BASIC program, you can learn the Linux file system and how to write scripts. You understand the file structure and simple script writing, you can operate Linux without ever using the GUI. If you have ever looked into C or C++, you will understand how the compiler works. You dont HAVE to know any of this to fire up one of the newer versions of Linux and use it every day. Someday they will probably bury the guts of it under the GUI so most people never see it, like they did with Windows over DOS. IMO though its good to know how it works, so you better understand whats going on at the top. Just my opinion though.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #39 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:55:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert
I like Linux, I also like the open source movement, I've been playing with it off and on for almost 10 years and it is DEFINITELY getting better at a faster rate then M$ OSes are. But with that being said...

I fear what will happen if or when Linux gains enough popularity among the average computer-consumers that it's market share reaches critical-mass. Once any particular OS reaches that threshold (somewhere between 25-50% in my opinion) of the PC users the amount of malware written to attack it is going to go through the roof. I think the fact that it is open source is only going to make it worse too, when and if that happens. For now the dozen or so top flavors are all vying for less than 10% of the PC marketplace (non-server) so it is not really an issue, sort of like the Mac. Picture your grandmom logging in to check her emails while logged in with root, and you'll see what I mean!

Thats why I think eventually they will bury the actual OS beneath the GUI so the average user never has to "look beneath the hood". One good thing about the opensource movement is that its a community. People will eventually start targeting Linux for viruses and spyware type stuff, but you can bet the community will close ranks and update kernels just as fast as exploits can be made. It's a matter of pride.

Edbert1 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 19, 2005, 03:02:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
People will eventually start targeting Linux for viruses and spyware type stuff, but you can bet the community will close ranks and update kernels just as fast as exploits can be made. It's a matter of pride.

Hopefully, whatever happens it's gonna be fun to watch. I wonder if Microsoft can write Linux virii faster than the Linux guys can attack M$ code. Only time will tell.

Vulcan · « **Reply #41 on:** April 19, 2005, 03:44:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Thats why I think eventually they will bury the actual OS beneath the GUI so the average user never has to "look beneath the hood". One good thing about the opensource movement is that its a community. People will eventually start targeting Linux for viruses and spyware type stuff, but you can bet the community will close ranks and update kernels just as fast as exploits can be made. It's a matter of pride.

Being an old Amiga fan I would love to go to a system like OS X or Linux. But my concern is security. With Windows its a case of "the devil you know". Mac's are a good example, there are no antispyware tools yet I know of at least a dozen keyloggers for OS X. Windows may have 20x that many keyloggers, but at least I can spot em with readily available tools.

There are already plenty of security exploits for linux, worms, even trojans. So how do you detect them without being a linux guru?

AcId · « **Reply #42 on:** April 19, 2005, 03:53:29 PM »

I remember when linux had no GUI.....ahhhh those were the days.
Sadly it's becoming just as bloated as windows depending on what distro ya choose. Thank god its easier to optimize though.
LOL remember when RedHat had a "Redneck" language option for installation??? that was funny.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #43 on:** April 19, 2005, 04:06:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Vulcan
Being an old Amiga fan I would love to go to a system like OS X or Linux. But my concern is security. With Windows its a case of "the devil you know". Mac's are a good example, there are no antispyware tools yet I know of at least a dozen keyloggers for OS X. Windows may have 20x that many keyloggers, but at least I can spot em with readily available tools.

There are already plenty of security exploits for linux, worms, even trojans. So how do you detect them without being a linux guru?

If that concerns you, check out this version.

http://www.xandros.com/products/home/desktopdlx/dsk_dlx_intro.html

Looks like Openoffice is compatible again. They are promising 95% compatibility by the end of 2005. Sweet. It also has drivers for the latest PCI express video cards, drag and drop CD and DVD burning, built in firewall, pop up blocker (using Firefox and Thunderbird as browser and email client), anti-spyware and chat software that connects to MSN, Yahoo, AOL, ICQ, etc. Runs Adobe software, Dreamweaver, etc. Heck, I might just give up my older copy of Linux AND my Windows for this one.

Vulcan · « **Reply #44 on:** April 19, 2005, 04:22:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
- all networking stuff: far safer and stabler than Windows. Complete firewall, HTTP server, mail server, Database server, printing services, you-name-it-server functionalities....for free.

Errr No. The networking side is ok, its not safer or "stabler". The firewall is not complete . And the HTTP, Mail, and Database servers have security holes you could drive a bus through.