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Anyone use Linux?
- Thread starter joeyboy
- Start date
No 
As a computer scientist, I've been working with several operating systems (OS), including Linux. IMO, I'd rather have my PCs running Linux, than any Windows OS. The only reason Windows OS is used so much, is the lack of knowledge of the deciding people in the companies, thinking Windows is the best OS. You can get Linux for free, including a similar user interface to Windows (e.g. KDE). It might need some getting used to though. However, you have all features that you need, and are used to, utilizing the Windows OS. The only problem though could be that you're in need of a certain program/application, that is only available for Windows OS (e.g. the Escribe Software for programming your DNA200 mod). You might be able though to in free of charge emulators/simulators, in order to run that program. Being able to get a fully functional OS, and other features for free, is the advantage of "open source".
There's a slight learning curve to linux, many different 'flavors' with different program managers, ways to install software etc. Most of the newer ones out there are much MUCH easier to use even for a 'noob' than they ever used to be. As others pointed out though, software can be an issue. Since so much of the world is on windows that's the priority for most programmers. Sometimes hardware drivers can be hard to come by or slow to be released for linux over windows.
They do have a variety of open source software that compares pretty well to full versions people are familiar with. Instead of ms office there's open office, a full array of spreadsheet, word editor etc. Gimp instead of photoshop, blender for 3d stuff, handbrake for video editing/encoding.
There are some that are so small you can copy them to a thumbdrive, set your usb ports higher in the boot order than your harddrive and it will allow you to run a lite version of linux as if you installed it with access to all your files on your hard drive without touching/disturbing your windows install.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-best-linux-distros-installation-usb-stick/
Learning to move around linux isn't a whole lot different than osx (apple) vs windows. It's different but similar enough you can still navigate it.
Most distributions are free although there are a number that you can buy as well. Essentially the os is free and what you're paying for is support, them putting it on a disc for you (if they mail you a hard copy) and a grouping of many programs. I bought a copy of open suse linux a few years ago despite the fact it's free. It was like $10-15 and came on something like 12 or 14 cd's, saved me the grief of downloading it on slow internet and came with well over 100 applications I had the option of installing. If you have fast internet and downloading a gig or two isn't an issue then plenty of places to legally download them for free.
They do have a variety of open source software that compares pretty well to full versions people are familiar with. Instead of ms office there's open office, a full array of spreadsheet, word editor etc. Gimp instead of photoshop, blender for 3d stuff, handbrake for video editing/encoding.
There are some that are so small you can copy them to a thumbdrive, set your usb ports higher in the boot order than your harddrive and it will allow you to run a lite version of linux as if you installed it with access to all your files on your hard drive without touching/disturbing your windows install.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-best-linux-distros-installation-usb-stick/
Learning to move around linux isn't a whole lot different than osx (apple) vs windows. It's different but similar enough you can still navigate it.
Most distributions are free although there are a number that you can buy as well. Essentially the os is free and what you're paying for is support, them putting it on a disc for you (if they mail you a hard copy) and a grouping of many programs. I bought a copy of open suse linux a few years ago despite the fact it's free. It was like $10-15 and came on something like 12 or 14 cd's, saved me the grief of downloading it on slow internet and came with well over 100 applications I had the option of installing. If you have fast internet and downloading a gig or two isn't an issue then plenty of places to legally download them for free.
Every webserver I've ever owned and operated runs Linux...would not have Winblows on a webserver ever.
However, my personal PC and the others in our house (3) all run win7 and will continue to do so until they outlive their usefulness and I build new ones...when that happens and assuming I can't reuse my Win7 keys I will run linux on them --I sure as hell won't install win10 on one.
However, my personal PC and the others in our house (3) all run win7 and will continue to do so until they outlive their usefulness and I build new ones...when that happens and assuming I can't reuse my Win7 keys I will run linux on them --I sure as hell won't install win10 on one.
Agreed. Not to be all tinfoil hat about it but m$ has never been a 'charitable' corp for the goodwill of the people. Suddenly they were giving them away free to existing users and coincidentally dx12 was the big rage for new games and only win10 would be supporting it. Awful big bunch of enticements to pull people onto the win10 bandwagon. Not for no reason I'm sure. Forced updates for home users, cortana, default setup as a filesharing server for those upgrading to leech off of, no thanks.
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I ran Linux years ago when it was still in its infancy - beta, actually. Version 0.99, PL14. Mozilla had just been announced, and the web was brand new - didn't even have graphics available yet. LYNX was the preferred browser at the time - text only. I was running the Slackware distribution.