Soldato
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How many people here actually use Linux everyday as a one and only OS? I keep saying that I'm going to try and live with it for a month or so without reverting back to windows.
Linux as an everyday OS ?
- Thread starter Sputnik II
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My job doesn't allow me to only use *nix systems and I imagine there are many others on this forum who are in the same boat. However, if I were given the option I'd give it great consideration. 
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I am in the same boat as above i would but i need to use flash, although u would prefer not to use flash
At work I have to use Windows (though most of the applications I use are web based and should work fine in Linux), although it is kind've a temporary job (has been for almost two years *eek*) and I would love to work in an environment that is pro-Linux in the workplace.
On my home computer I've been using Linux for about 2 or 3 years and rarely dual boot with Windows now (I don't even have a copy to install as of a few months ago - though I might reconsider once NWN2 is released ...).
It was pretty strange to switch from Windows -> dual boot Windows / Linux -> Linux at first, but I really enjoy the Linux environment, free software and nice community that seems to come with Linux
On my home computer I've been using Linux for about 2 or 3 years and rarely dual boot with Windows now (I don't even have a copy to install as of a few months ago - though I might reconsider once NWN2 is released ...).
It was pretty strange to switch from Windows -> dual boot Windows / Linux -> Linux at first, but I really enjoy the Linux environment, free software and nice community that seems to come with Linux
Ive been using ubuntu as my only OS for about 6 weeks now. I find i dont need anything that windows exclusivley offers me. All i do is surf the net and use office occasionally, so i dont really need windows.
I can do everything i used to do on windows, but for free I get free updates also.
The only slight problem i have is that my printer isnt supported very well in Linux, and im not paying $30 for Turboprint. I need a printer anyway so i'll get a new cheapo printer thats well supported in Linux.
I can do everything i used to do on windows, but for free
I get free updates also.The only slight problem i have is that my printer isnt supported very well in Linux, and im not paying $30 for Turboprint. I need a printer anyway so i'll get a new cheapo printer thats well supported in Linux.
I use gentoo on both my desktop and laptop, for everything except gaming for which I boot to windows. I've been this way for over 2 years now. However this windows install is very customized. It has most "essential" services stopped, IE isn't installed, no firewall or antivirus. It's just a shell of an OS. My printer isn't even installed in windows because I would never need it.
I do everything, from browsing, wordprocessing, writing reports, drawing diagrams, programming, chatting, listening to music, watching movies, mathematical simulation, all in linux. To be honest I think the way I use my computer I'm better off with linux.
When I do have to use windows to sort my dad's pc, it's the very little things that annoy me. Like the selection methods of text boxes (ie, it auto selects all the text, double clicking the text works differently). Also middle button paste is almost impossible to live without. Thats before nice window manager stuff, like rollups, layers, virtual desktops.
I do everything, from browsing, wordprocessing, writing reports, drawing diagrams, programming, chatting, listening to music, watching movies, mathematical simulation, all in linux. To be honest I think the way I use my computer I'm better off with linux.
When I do have to use windows to sort my dad's pc, it's the very little things that annoy me. Like the selection methods of text boxes (ie, it auto selects all the text, double clicking the text works differently). Also middle button paste is almost impossible to live without. Thats before nice window manager stuff, like rollups, layers, virtual desktops.
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I work as *nix admin for over a decade now, use gentoo as my sole workstation at work and can't imagine not having linux machine for work but...
... to be honest linux desktop is nowhere near ready to be used as home desktop. Driver support, where exists is amateurish, if not laughable. Driver support, where doesn't exist, becomes a chore and annoyance for someone who's not experienced and very patient. Hardware acceleration is nowhere near Windows levels, scrolling is less smooth, browsing with Opera and Firefox is more ackward than with the same browsers under win (font formatting always an issue somewhere, flash and plugins are still hit and miss, get to badly formatted site and it will be utter mess - Royal Mail website springs to mind - I don't care if it's badly written, it works under windows - so let's not be so stuck up about standards). OpenOffice still feels like workaround than alternative, linux is still missing well designed every day tools, from fully featured WYSIWYG editors, through proper foto editing tools (first one to mention gimp will get slapped with a bit of a trout) to even lighweight, properly working fully featured email client (and no, neither Evolution nor Sylpheed is even close). Yes, it works, yes, it can be made to look pretty, yes you can play around with multiple desktops and fake transparencies but at the end of the day - why would you want to trade overboard gimmicks for what essentially is very functional and nowdays stable home desktop? Living with linux is a bit like getting a bit too far with windows blinds and samurize - looks ok on screenshot, then it just starts to tick you off, because when you don't work in shell or flick between tasks, but want just point and click desktop it's anything but graceful. Linux is slower to do home desktop stuff with, if it's pretty it's bloated and heavy, if it's basic it's just not functional. It was never meant to be point and click and home use is just that. For work use - hell yeah - fluxbox, two days of configuring and it's great. But for home use - OSX - yes. Irix - maybe not these days, but sure, any of linux desktops - not really.
... to be honest linux desktop is nowhere near ready to be used as home desktop. Driver support, where exists is amateurish, if not laughable. Driver support, where doesn't exist, becomes a chore and annoyance for someone who's not experienced and very patient. Hardware acceleration is nowhere near Windows levels, scrolling is less smooth, browsing with Opera and Firefox is more ackward than with the same browsers under win (font formatting always an issue somewhere, flash and plugins are still hit and miss, get to badly formatted site and it will be utter mess - Royal Mail website springs to mind - I don't care if it's badly written, it works under windows - so let's not be so stuck up about standards). OpenOffice still feels like workaround than alternative, linux is still missing well designed every day tools, from fully featured WYSIWYG editors, through proper foto editing tools (first one to mention gimp will get slapped with a bit of a trout) to even lighweight, properly working fully featured email client (and no, neither Evolution nor Sylpheed is even close). Yes, it works, yes, it can be made to look pretty, yes you can play around with multiple desktops and fake transparencies but at the end of the day - why would you want to trade overboard gimmicks for what essentially is very functional and nowdays stable home desktop? Living with linux is a bit like getting a bit too far with windows blinds and samurize - looks ok on screenshot, then it just starts to tick you off, because when you don't work in shell or flick between tasks, but want just point and click desktop it's anything but graceful. Linux is slower to do home desktop stuff with, if it's pretty it's bloated and heavy, if it's basic it's just not functional. It was never meant to be point and click and home use is just that. For work use - hell yeah - fluxbox, two days of configuring and it's great. But for home use - OSX - yes. Irix - maybe not these days, but sure, any of linux desktops - not really.
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hmm yes linux on a home system has a way to go and some of the bloaty samurize style features do wear off quickly.The 64 bit of kannotix feels a lot quicker than others,smoother with browsing and opening apps being noticably increased imo.worked straight out of box too
I was using solely linux (gentoo to be precise) for my entire second year of uni, about 10 months or so, and found it to be perfect for my needs.
Most of my uni use of it was programming in C/C++ so vi and gcc/g++ worked perfectly for me, for my non-work use it was mainly web browsing (firefox was fine, slight font issue but no big deal), gaim I actually prefer to MSN messenger, mplayer/xine took care of the video/dvd playing and xmms did for my music needs.
Couple of minor things with Linux,
Bit Torrent client, couldn't find one that I was overly happy with (they worked but missing bells and whistles), BitComet or ABC in windows are imo better,
Couldn't find a decent alternative to 'Tagscanner' from windows, basically it's an mp3 renamer/tag creator that I like to use.
But other than those two minor niggles I find that apart from games Linux can do everything Windows can do without any problems, in fact at times it's a preference as i do prefer vi/gcc for programming etc...
I now dual boot windows/linux as I wanted to play games, and to if i'm honest if i boot up to play games, i'll stay in windows from then until the next time i need to do some programming which is the only thing i find worth rebooting for...
Most of my uni use of it was programming in C/C++ so vi and gcc/g++ worked perfectly for me, for my non-work use it was mainly web browsing (firefox was fine, slight font issue but no big deal), gaim I actually prefer to MSN messenger, mplayer/xine took care of the video/dvd playing and xmms did for my music needs.
Couple of minor things with Linux,
Bit Torrent client, couldn't find one that I was overly happy with (they worked but missing bells and whistles), BitComet or ABC in windows are imo better,
Couldn't find a decent alternative to 'Tagscanner' from windows, basically it's an mp3 renamer/tag creator that I like to use.
But other than those two minor niggles I find that apart from games Linux can do everything Windows can do without any problems, in fact at times it's a preference as i do prefer vi/gcc for programming etc...
I now dual boot windows/linux as I wanted to play games, and to if i'm honest if i boot up to play games, i'll stay in windows from then until the next time i need to do some programming which is the only thing i find worth rebooting for...
I have been using linux on and off now for about 10 years. There are certain things in windows - Visual Studio and IDA Pro (Gui) which I find much better than their *nix equiverlents. Using vi/makefiles for small amounts of code is fine, but when your dealing with 40+ cpp files in one project it starts getting unmanagable. As a desktop linux is fine for most things, its just when you start doing specific tasks such as gaming the support is lacking.
Most of the things I was missing at home on Windows machine (and yeah - vi is one of those things, plus many commands, or even locate as alternative to search across 6 drives) proven to be easily fixed with cygwin. XP with classic interface (most flashy stuff disabled) + bash on demand - no linux desktop was ever faster for me..
Hi
used linux at home for years now use unix/bsd = Mac os X
at work i use SLED 10, and for what i do in the IT support department works fine, now we are trialing a linux email server (scalix) make life a lot easyer than trying to get email onto linux from exchange 5.5
Cheers
Deano
used linux at home for years now use unix/bsd = Mac os X
at work i use SLED 10, and for what i do in the IT support department works fine, now we are trialing a linux email server (scalix) make life a lot easyer than trying to get email onto linux from exchange 5.5Cheers
Deano
I think once they crack the gaming problem it will pick up but I doubt it will ever break the Windows stranglehold on the desktop market. Linux will do everything that you need on a home desktop except games without a lot of work which is, quite frankly, well beyond the abilities of the average punter.
The other problem is the software support for specialist uses. For instance I use structural frame analysis software and CAD on Windows and sometimes on Mac. Finding programs for CAD isn't so bad but analysis and design software for structural engineering just doesn't exist on the Linux platform, yet.
The other problem is the software support for specialist uses. For instance I use structural frame analysis software and CAD on Windows and sometimes on Mac. Finding programs for CAD isn't so bad but analysis and design software for structural engineering just doesn't exist on the Linux platform, yet.
Linux will always be hampered by it's userbase more than anything. They preach from the rooftops how linux is far superior is to anything, which I agree with to an extent, but it IS NOT as noob-friendly as windows, YET. Yet when new users take up linux, they get slated (see: most linux forums, any article on ubuntu's comments on digg).
I love the idea of Linux and the Open Source community and dual booting SuSE 10.1 and Windows XP Pro. From my expierence while Linux is a decent OS and has many great things, I just find that Windows is better for my uses. I hate to say it but currently for most things Windows is just better. Saying that though I would highly encourage you to try Linux. Nothing can beat first hand expierence and having knowledge of other operating systems.
The issues I'm having trouble with in Linux are
It seems to run slower,
Installing drivers and apps is much more complicated,
Driver support isn't suited to my hardware unlike Windows,
The things I like are
It feels good to change and have new challanges (There is very little in Windows I can't do). Finally getting to be able to play DVDs after small bit of work is quite satisfying, Linux offers a better understanding of Operating Systems. I know some of what I said contradicts but it depends on my mood.
Knowing that you don't have to bother with viruses is handy.
However if I came across a second hand laptop/computer I wouldn't bother splashing out on a new copy of Windows instead just use SuSE 10.1
The issues I'm having trouble with in Linux are
It seems to run slower,
Installing drivers and apps is much more complicated,
Driver support isn't suited to my hardware unlike Windows,
The things I like are
It feels good to change and have new challanges (There is very little in Windows I can't do). Finally getting to be able to play DVDs after small bit of work is quite satisfying, Linux offers a better understanding of Operating Systems. I know some of what I said contradicts but it depends on my mood.
Knowing that you don't have to bother with viruses is handy.
However if I came across a second hand laptop/computer I wouldn't bother splashing out on a new copy of Windows instead just use SuSE 10.1
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kiwi said:
Rot.
Sorry, but when I see a post like that, I just have to respond
The whole problem is not the userbase as you put it, but rather the ingrained attitudes of the masses. In other words, because the primary OS the huge majority of people have learnt on is Windows, they naturally think it is more user friendly simply because they cannot concieve of doing things in a different way.
It also majorly irritates me that Windows is still a series of kludges and half-baked fixes intended to maintain backwards compatibility, so that things are required to work around the way Windows works, rather than compliment it.
The Royal Mail site mentioned earlier in the thread is a prime example of this attitude- Just because it works on Windows & IE is absolutely no excuse for it not working on any other OS. Things such as the WC3 standards have been implemented for a REASON, and companies need to remember that not all of the people who wish to use thier facilities will be the majority.
Final point- Comparing Windows to Linux is really & simply not possible, due to the overwhelming domination of Windows, and therefore the latent psychological bias towards it (In other words the herd instinct- Go with what you know). With a clean slate and equal numbers of applications Windows, Linux, Mac & everything else would be near equal and simply down to personal preference. As it is though, the overbearing dominance of Windows makes any sort of meaningful comparison irrelevant.
-Leezer-