Soldato
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can i ask why people use linux , is it a lot more stable ? Im not exactly clued up on it but from what i understand it is also a pain to install stuff , having to write code and such
Why use Linux?
- Thread starter ikillbears
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zhx said:
Probably more well answered in it's own thread (as these commenty posts may well get deleted
) but I'd suggest a lot of Linux distributions are a lot easier to maintain than Windows (not sure how they compare to any Mac OS). On my Gentoo box I can upgrade my install with a coupla commands, and portage (Gentoo's package management system) will even update to newer (patched) versions of games such as NWN and UT2004 (unless I specify for it not too) when they become available. It will also upgrade Open Office etc when new versions are released. I don't believe Windows will automatically upgrade Office XP to Office 2007 or whatever automatically (and for free).Can't say I've ever had to write code to install Linux (cos I've tended to use existing distributions such as gentoo, ubuntu etc).
Linux distro's tend to be very stable and very secure compared to Windows and, like OS X, should suffer from very few (if any) virus problems
to be honest i have tried linux so many times and i just cannot justify using it. games play a big part in my computing so i have to dual boot windows anyway, also the messengers for linux are crap i think, and i think "why should i use linux for word processing and browsing when i can do it and play games on windows without any hassle".
this is why i dont use linux, also it is hard to install stuff and configure it, they will have to make it all gui based if they want more people to uso it.
this is why i dont use linux, also it is hard to install stuff and configure it, they will have to make it all gui based if they want more people to uso it.
Installing things can sometimes be a little tricky. But it depends on what you want installed and which distro you're using. I use Ubuntu and in the vast majority of cases I simply start Synaptic Package Manager (a GUI utility to install items) and then just click on what I want. Fancy trying a new messenger? Just click on it. Fancy a new email client? Just click on it.
As for why I use it, that's a combination of several reasons:
1) I use Unix a lot at work and Linux taught me how to.
2) I wholeheartedly agree with the open source philosophy.
3) I prefer the way some things work compared to Windows.
4) It taught me that the Windows Way is not necessarily the correct or only way.
5) MS ever increasing DRM and installation restrictions put me off them (and yes I have multiple Windows licences but rarely use them now).
If you're happy with Windows then stick with it. If you're keen to try something new and have fun learning then try Linux. Incidentally someone at my work installed the beta of Vista and even without the fancy graphical extensions (forget the name of them), it used over 500mb of memory just sitting there doing nothing. A fresh install of Ubuntu Linux takes up around 150mb on my system.
I first got into Linux when I read Linux Torvald's book Just For Fun.
As for why I use it, that's a combination of several reasons:
1) I use Unix a lot at work and Linux taught me how to.
2) I wholeheartedly agree with the open source philosophy.
3) I prefer the way some things work compared to Windows.
4) It taught me that the Windows Way is not necessarily the correct or only way.
5) MS ever increasing DRM and installation restrictions put me off them (and yes I have multiple Windows licences but rarely use them now).
If you're happy with Windows then stick with it. If you're keen to try something new and have fun learning then try Linux. Incidentally someone at my work installed the beta of Vista and even without the fancy graphical extensions (forget the name of them), it used over 500mb of memory just sitting there doing nothing. A fresh install of Ubuntu Linux takes up around 150mb on my system.
I first got into Linux when I read Linux Torvald's book Just For Fun.
Hamish said:Thats because the new Windows memory manager uses all the RAM it can in order to speed your system up
Yes I know. It pre-loads loads of libraries. But I don't want it to. It should give an option to do it or not. An example: it pre-loads a lot of libraries for Outlook and IE, etc. But even under Windows I never use those programs. So it's a complete waste on my system.
Linux is about choice.
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I use Linux becasue it is fun. I enjoy being able to tinker with my software just as much as I love to tinker with my hardware.
Several reasons really- first of all, some applications/uses are more suited to a UNIX environment than Windows. Also it allows transparent interoperability with other UNIXes such as Solaris and Mac OS X. Finally you have complete control of your system and total access to your system configuration files. In this respect, although it takes a bit of getting used to, Linux is actually a simpler beast than Windows, which tends to hide system configuration in very obscure places, often in a binary format or in the registry
What would you say about gaming on linux then. I have been thinking of trying Linux properly on my rig for a while since I like the open source concept as well as stability (having used it in hosting servers).
I have looked up about WineX and Cedega I think its called now for running games and there seems to be quite a few supported. Cegeda does look quite promising although its paid by the looks of things; with support for Battlefield II and WoW though it looks quite tempting.
Do any of you run games on Linux and what do you think of it?
Also what distro is good. I found some screenshots of Suse which I quite liked however once I burned the ISO onto DVD, it didnt want to install for some reason, kept erroring. Dont mind something a bit challenging as long as it has good hardware/software support.
Chris
I have looked up about WineX and Cedega I think its called now for running games and there seems to be quite a few supported. Cegeda does look quite promising although its paid by the looks of things; with support for Battlefield II and WoW though it looks quite tempting.
Do any of you run games on Linux and what do you think of it?
Also what distro is good. I found some screenshots of Suse which I quite liked however once I burned the ISO onto DVD, it didnt want to install for some reason, kept erroring. Dont mind something a bit challenging as long as it has good hardware/software support.
Chris
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Linux is ok for gaming if you're happy to accept a small number of games. There are a handful of decent native games imho, and a number which run under Cadega. But if you're really into games then simply dual boot Windows and Linux.
As for which distro for a new user... Ubuntu.
As for which distro for a new user... Ubuntu.
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Though I'm no expert I'd say that 32 bit is the way to go if you want to play games.
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