Why use Linux for a desktop?

Essexraptor said:
Try something simple and easy like Linux Mint 12 and explore...... please guys don't flame or rage :) .... it's just a suggested starter flavour :)
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Heh. I haven't seen much of that here to be honest, although some Linux communities can be deeply unpleasant places. :)

I'd never use Mint or any Ubuntu derivative myself, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to newbies.
 
I carry around a small Debian install on my Corsair Voyager flash disk. Takes up around 1.5GB.

If I'm somewhere and need to use a foreign machine, it's nice to be able to boot up into a secure, encrypted desktop environment, without having to worry about the security setup, or lack thereof, on said foreign machine.

I've read that it's possible to coax XP onto a flash disk, don't know about VISTA/7. But, some hoops must be jumped through because Microsoft understandably did not design the OS to be portable.

That said, Windows 7 is quite nice. I value my time more these days, so I'm less inclined to tinker to get some software to work. I want it to Just Work.
 
meh ... the windows folk poking linux folk...

OP - install Linux, use it for a while and then you will be back with a new thread reading:

Why use Windows for a desktop?

Don't install linux if you play games, you won't like it :D

If your into photo editing and web design... may I suggest you source a mac Mini ;)
 
This may sound like a daft question but I am also pretty new to Linux... what are the differences between all the Linux distros? Your have Unbuntu, Slax, Debian etc etc so what are the differences.

Stoner81.
 
eXor said:
I've read that it's possible to coax XP onto a flash disk, don't know about VISTA/7
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I've been using Windows XP and Windows 7 on USB's for ages, booting into a LiveUSB of Windows 7 is nice, but since it's only off a USB drive, there's zero storage space and pretty much no point other than the novelty.

Not sure on the legality though...
 
Each user has different needs, if a user can achieve these needs on Linux then why not?

The one and only reason I don't run Linux is down to the fact that I play games, if I didn't I would most certainly be running Arch.
 
This thread is funny. "Linux is only good servers". Frankly ive been using Linux SOLELY now for 4 years and it far surpasses Windows in nearly every day. I use Windows XP for gaming (occasionally), but i dont have to suffer antivirus causing my system to run slow, paying for software, having to constantly use WIZARDS .... I could go on.

At the end of the day, if you dont like it - stay off the Linux section. Simple really. I dont go onto the OSX section saying i think their software is a dumbed down monstrosity - as i have no interest in arguing :)
 
SMN said:
This thread is funny. "Linux is only good servers". Frankly ive been using Linux SOLELY now for 4 years and it far surpasses Windows in nearly every day. I use Windows XP for gaming (occasionally), but i dont have to suffer antivirus causing my system to run slow, paying for software, having to constantly use WIZARDS .... I could go on.

At the end of the day, if you dont like it - stay off the Linux section. Simple really. I dont go onto the OSX section saying i think their software is a dumbed down monstrosity - as i have no interest in arguing :)
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Love how opinion causes arguments so easily, Linux is only good for servers, in my experience as in, I've only ever used linux for servers because it doesnt have all the GUI, resource hungry crap that Windows does.

I've tried to use Linux as a daily OS and for my requirements it just doesn't fit. Doesn't make it a bad or unusable OS by any means, it has its benefits, benefits that outway Windows and OSX but for a daily use or gaming use it's not all that usable
 
Jay794 said:
Love how opinion causes arguments so easily, Linux is only good for servers, in my experience as in, I've only ever used linux for servers because it doesnt have all the GUI, resource hungry crap that Windows does.

I've tried to use Linux as a daily OS and for my requirements it just doesn't fit. Doesn't make it a bad or unusable OS by any means, it has its benefits, benefits that outway Windows and OSX but for a daily use or gaming use it's not all that usable
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For work use, and daily use Linux is far more productive.

  • It is far less resource hungry, so runs faster with the same hardware, for cheaper.
  • Virtual Desktops. So incredibly useful that loosing them when you drop back to windows is actually quite a shock. Massive increase in productivity.
  • Package managers keep the WHOLE system up to date, not just the OS.
 
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