Why use Linux for a desktop?

If the OP, or anyone else browsing Linux section is considering trying Linux then it's a good idea to get your mindset correct from the Outset <--- Old...But relevant.
 
SMN said:
This thread is funny. "Linux is only good servers".
At the end of the day, if you dont like it - stay off the Linux section.
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exactly how I felt when I read that comment

it gets tedious when every other thread in the linux forums becomes a linux vs windows standoff, getting de-railed or imo people who troll linux for a reaction
 
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mortals said:
exactly how I felt when I read that comment

it gets tedious when every other thread in the linux forums becomes a linux vs windows standoff, getting de-railed
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Meh, i try not to take it too seriously. I remember a while back when me and a few other Linux & Open Source regulars would venture into the Windows sub waving propaganda everywhere. It was hilarious :D
 
This is for Ubuntu but I'm sure it applies to other distro's.

You can run it from a USB stick and try it for a while if you want.

It's quick, comes with most things you need from the outset. It looks good. It has a lot of available features that are extra on Windows e.g. Word Processing, Remote Desktop client/server, Partition Manager. It also has Package manager and Software Centre which are so good that Apple decided to copy the idea.

The negatives I have are that iTunes doesn't run on it (not Linux's fault) and Libreoffice pales in comparison to Microsoft Office (you can run Office from within Wine though).

Windows and Linux are as good as each other just different. If you need iTunes or want to game for example, Linux is useless. If you want a lightweight operating system that has everything else for free and has a centralised software management system, imo, linux is for you.

For the above reasons, I use Ubuntu on my laptop to browse the net, do the odd bit of word processing, watch the odd video etc and administer my server via the free RDP client. The server is running Windows Server 2008 R2 (free through Dreamspark when I was a student). The server has iTunes sharing all my music to my devices and all my videos and pictures shared via SMB and FTP to my Apple TV2 running XBMC, desktop pc, iPhone, Girlfriend's Galaxy S2 etc.

The whole system works pretty well and it shows that different OS's can have different purposes and be equally as useful.

Edit: Also drivers, All my laptop hardware just works straight away, I needed to download drivers for my wireless card and motherboard when I reinstall Windows 7 Home on my laptop. Not a massive deal but it means that Ubuntu just works straight out of the box.
 
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Good call Malc, I completely forgot the drivers thing. A fresh install of Windows takes forever thanks to the install driver/restart cycle, whereas Linux installs in 10-30 minutes (depending on distro) and you're ready to go. :)
 
Jay794 said:
Well it wasn't meant as humour, you telling me you can play COD on Linux? and play it properly? as in, install and play without anything like Wine or Gimp installed?

It's great for servers, but for everyday use I found it too much like something trying to play at being a full on OS.

My favourite thing to do on Linux was update apt-get packages

Linux will never compete with Windows or OSX, it hasn't been comparable since the early 90's
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You must be trolling....

Why would you expect to be able to run COD on Linux without wine? Would you try and install an N64 rom on windows without an emulator? And as for GIMP... you didn't learn much with your linux dual boot did you?!

Honestly, every point in your post sounds like a wind-up effort.

Still, back on topic:

I personally use Linux as my desktop OS because it's fast, free, secure, looks good, and to be honest i find it much easier to do almost any task in Linux than i do in Windows. I started using Linux about 5 years ago by dual booting, and found that i could do basic tasks in Linux, but anything that was more in depth i went back to Windows for. Nowadays anything more involved than playing Windows games and Linux is my preferred choice without a doubt!

It does take some getting used to, especially if you are relatively proficient in Windows as I was. Things seem to be in an odd place, or you need to look up how to's (which there are plenty of so that's all good ;) ) and sometimes it just feels easier to get it done by rebooting to Windows.... so just go ahead and do that. As time passes you will find it happens less and less though and eventually you're quite happy in your Linux OS.

I always feel very exposed when using Windows actually, an almost agoraphobic feeling! Like trying to relax and get into a good book curled up on your sofa vs. trying to do the same in Heathrow with your passport, wallet, and tickets in a bag next to you - you daren't look away from them for too long ;)
 
Jurax said:
Virtual Desktops alone completely change how I work, definitely miss it when I'm on Windows.
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Amen

how the fart can windows not do this yet native? i actually use this function loads. the suspend works unlike windows which sleeps and wakes up when it feels like it. In fact due to the efficiency of linux even my dual core 2gb laptop can run multiple desktops and even multi layered 3d desktops from suspend meaning i always have everything to hand open and quickly without any of it getting in the way. No real loading needed..so faster than win 7 on an ssd ;)
 
phill1978 said:
the suspend works unlike windows which sleeps and wakes up when it feels like it.
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Windows can't even put my PC to sleep in the first place. Linux manages it perfectly well on exactly the same PC. That's a big ol' win for Linux in my book!
 
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