Why use any operating system? Operating systems exist to run programs. The programs I want to run are built for Linux. Thus I use Linux.
Why use Linux?
- Thread starter Rhys
- Start date
Soldato
GarethDW said:
This reminds me - naming conventions - I have a friend who back in a day liked to justify his £300 a day sun specialist contractor fee by throwing "lamers terms" along the lines of "there was a massive file system corruption on partiton c0t2d0s7, I fixed bad sectors, rescanned all inods and restored data by untarring last dump from rmt/0" on unexpecting cheque book owners. It has to be said - "I run checkdisk on your F drive before restoring last backup from tape" doesn't sound anywhere near as glamorous...
v0n said:
But how many IT support personnel really know the Sun operating system(s)? That's why Windows support is so cheap these days, almost everyone is using it to some level and you have to find something to specialise in to make any decent money.
As for using Linux, I was asked to help out in a new lab at work that was going to run Debian (now on Scientific Linux) and the department needed cover for the administrator. We're using it thanks to the open source development and it's great for teaching programming to our students, with the added advantage of lower license fee costs.
At home I use it on my small file server as I didn't fancy paying the fee for Windows 2003 server, as well as Linux seems to have better security and stability, at least in my experience. I'm certainly not a "fanboy" of Linux though and I think it still has a long way to go before challenging Windows for the average user.
For the desktop I'd probably use something like Ubuntu or OpenSUSE for something that "looked nice". Gentoo I felt was too much work to get it going (though I managed to install it a couple of times on machines) compared to other distros.
Fair enough, my statement was a bit of an exaggeration... Bes's statement is much more accurate!! (Arch for the winBes said:To be fair I would run Gentoo if I could be bothered with leaving my computer on 24/7 so it could recompile something or other every time an update for something I have installed somewhere is released. Whilst I love the idea of Gentoo, in my opinion it's just too hard to use day-to-day like Arch.DJ_Jestar said:My desktop has lasted 3 years without so much as even stumbling, let alone falling over. Sneeze == Gentoo fallover? You built it wrong
)
What did you install
Ububtu. Im now trying Mandriva 2007 Spring which Ive read is close to a Windows experience.
Well if you don't want to customise it, why are you using Linux?
Because linux is hyped as an "free" alternative to Windows and I want to see what its like and then hopefully enjoy it and then start using it.
Ububtu. Im now trying Mandriva 2007 Spring which Ive read is close to a Windows experience.
Well if you don't want to customise it, why are you using Linux?
Because linux is hyped as an "free" alternative to Windows and I want to see what its like and then hopefully enjoy it and then start using it.
Rhys said:
Try something like Mepis or Xandros as they offer a more "Windows-like" experience if Mandriva isn't to your liking.
The main issues you're likely to see are 3d acceleration drivers for Nvidia/ATI, wireless adapter drivers and media codecs. There should be distro-specific information for installing this software.
No offence intended, but this kinda annoys me... I mean the emphasis placed on it being free (as in beer) by some people. I think you've got the right attitude - seeing if you like using it and will stick with it.Rhys said:
Unfortunately, some people don't realise that Linux is different to Windows, they just see the fact that you can download and install it for free, so they try installing it and then realise that things don't necessarily work as they're used to in Windows-land. Then they get annoyed cause they can't do something they want to, so they go back to Windows and moan about Linux being too difficult or too unfriendly or only for geeks, etc...
As I said, I think your attitude is right - you seem to realise that it's not gonna be just a version of Windows that's free. Hope you get on with it. And if you do run into problems then post back here rather than dumping it and going straight back to Windows
M-Audio is supposed to be most widely supported soundcard, but it doesn't work (digital out) ATI videocards aren't fully supported.
Installing Linux MCE knackered Ubuntu. I followed the instructions.
Linux is a geeks OS. It might be better, but you need to learn command codes to install drivers and software. Not exactly user friendly, as noob should be able to do that, and if you need to learn command codes later at least the system is setup already.
Installing Linux MCE knackered Ubuntu. I followed the instructions.
Linux is a geeks OS. It might be better, but you need to learn command codes to install drivers and software. Not exactly user friendly, as noob should be able to do that, and if you need to learn command codes later at least the system is setup already.
Associate
For anyone trying linux for the first time i would say be patient and you will be rewarded. It can be infuriating sometimes getting things to work, but be patient, methodical and use a search engine and you'll soon find a solution.
You'll grow to love the fact that this computer you own is something you have control over and once you've got over the fact that it isn't Windows and learned a few new skills, you'll also grow to love being part of the open source community.
There's definitely a shift in attitudes and linux is becoming very popular, look at ubuntu's web forums with 4500 users online on a weekday morning before the US even arises. This is very much the future of home computing.
You'll grow to love the fact that this computer you own is something you have control over and once you've got over the fact that it isn't Windows and learned a few new skills, you'll also grow to love being part of the open source community.
There's definitely a shift in attitudes and linux is becoming very popular, look at ubuntu's web forums with 4500 users online on a weekday morning before the US even arises. This is very much the future of home computing.
Associate
C'mon, you make it sound like rocket science.. 'Command codes'?? Let's look at ubuntu/debian, sudo apt-get install picasa. Is that so hard? Or, you can use synaptic if you really can't type five words and would prefer to use a gui.squiffy said:
likwid said:
I've been around CLI since DOS 3.
For "tweaking" I have no problem using CLI. But c'mon for drivers?
for example..http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=400268
And digital out still doesn't work. Ubuntu doesn't detect my MS Explorer mouse so have to go into CLI to change it??
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=464369&highlight=mouse
Linux then crashed after CTRL-ALT-X. Dead boot after installing Linux MCE. I really do want to move to Linux, Slimserver is supported, has a MC front end, etc but just can't seem to get it working properly (videocard/soundcard/MC front
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Caporegime
Keyword in that little rant/moan of yours:
MS
They don't want anything but other MS products to recognise it. ATi too don't seem to care about anything but MS platforms.
MS
They don't want anything but other MS products to recognise it. ATi too don't seem to care about anything but MS platforms.
i got my x1950pro working in ubuntu in about 2 minutes. click system>administration>restricted drivers manager. easier than windows.
admittedly i wasted a cd burning the live cd download. that wouldn't even boot and that was down to my ati card. i had to download and run the text mode setup cd....
admittedly i wasted a cd burning the live cd download. that wouldn't even boot and that was down to my ati card. i had to download and run the text mode setup cd....
Dj_Jestar said:
I have Nvidia too.
So I'm moaning/ranting because "it doesn't work" lol
Who's the fan boy now? Perhaps you could look into why digital out on M-Audio doesn't work, when people have been recommending this card with Linux?Everything works in XP. So for Linux to be used it has to work better, and currently it doesn't. Crashing installing drivers/Linux MCE doesn't make it look very appealing.
I do have another soundcard that is supposed to work with Linux too, but the output is higher than SPDIF standard so will blow my av pre-amp (it has already)
marc2003 said:i got my x1950pro working in ubuntu in about 2 minutes. click system>administration>restricted drivers manager. easier than windows.
admittedly i wasted a cd burning the live cd download. that wouldn't even boot and that was down to my ati card. i had to download and run the text mode setup cd....
Or you can press F4 and choose VGA mode ie 1024x768. You can then install, and update drivers once you're in. No problems with ATI X300 or X1900XT that way.
I had to figure that out myself. IMO linux forums are pretty much useless, as people don't reply leaving you stuck.
"Figure it yourself" seems to come to mind.
Caporegime
I could also mention that nVidia are barely caring about non-MS platform's too.. take a look at their linux driver history, all of them are beta, soley because they don't want to support it.squiffy said:I have Nvidia too.
So I'm moaning/ranting because "it doesn't work" lol
Everything works in XP. So for Linux to be used it has to work better, and currently it doesn't. Crashing installing drivers/Linux MCE doesn't make it look very appealing.
I do have another soundcard that is supposed to work with Linux too, but the output is higher than SPDIF standard so will blow my av pre-amp (it has already)
I don't car about m-audio. I don't use it. Never have. My nForce4 works fine after a bit of tinkering with the beta drivers.
"Everything works in XP" yup - because the manufacturers and vendors of hardware only ever care about XP/Vista. If they provided better hardware specifications, technical specifications, and a bit of thought for cross compatibility when they develop their hardware, it would be a lot easier for the Linux developers to support it.
But of course, it just HAS to be Linux fault - it can't POSSIBLY be the fault of the hardware vendors now, can it?
Next..
squiffy said:
lol. i just went to the noob section and there was a sticky topic for ati users and that just said download the alternate cd....
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=414194
marc2003 said:lol. i just went to the noob section and there was a sticky topic for ati users and that just said download the alternate cd....
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=414194
I spotted that. I already downloaded Ubuntu, so why should I download another version because Linux is broke, and you need to install in text mode?
Linux has a long long way to go to be a suitable replacement. If Windows stayed like Windows ME then that's another matter. But if XP is stable, and "everything works" then people have less of a reason to change, especially if hardware support is half working. It doens't matter if XP might be slightly less stable. I'd have a lock up once a month (it hasen't locked up, giving an example) than non working digital output.
Why should I have to change soundcard? Who's to say if I change digital out will work?
Just installed Mandriva 2007 Spring Powerpack with Gnome desktop. This is more like it
Divx works straight away, Internet works, etc. I havent had to type any commands in either!
This is a realistic alternative to Windows for me. Although Mandriva isnt free.
EDIT - just found out that WMV doesnt work. Ive googled it and am finding stuff out. therefore to answer my original question:- because you can...
Divx works straight away, Internet works, etc. I havent had to type any commands in either!
This is a realistic alternative to Windows for me. Although Mandriva isnt free.
EDIT - just found out that WMV doesnt work. Ive googled it and am finding stuff out. therefore to answer my original question:- because you can...
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Of course what a lot of people seem to forget is that XP has been around for 6 years now during which many hardware vendors have worked closely alongside Microsoft in developing their drivers. However the same hardware vendors are unable to put in the same level of effort into Linux drivers (it is a minority product after all) so the hardware support that is there is either reverse-engineered by coders in the community or are closed-source vendor supplied drivers which arent as vigorously tested as their Windows equivalent.
In saying that, I still find that my hardware has better hardware support under Linux than it did under Vista
Also the point made about Linux forums is a tad unfair. There is a lot of information and people willing to help out there, particularly on the Gentoo and Ubuntu forums, as well as a wealth of information in newsgroup-land. Unfortunately for the beginner there is a lot of noise to filter out before you find the information you need. Also the linux community here is relatively small (~10-15 ppl).
Also people complaining about having to issue shell commands and text-based config files to set up their system. Indeed, that is far less intuitive than randomly editting a largely undocumented pseudo-hierarchical hash table isnt it
In saying that, I still find that my hardware has better hardware support under Linux than it did under Vista
Also the point made about Linux forums is a tad unfair. There is a lot of information and people willing to help out there, particularly on the Gentoo and Ubuntu forums, as well as a wealth of information in newsgroup-land. Unfortunately for the beginner there is a lot of noise to filter out before you find the information you need. Also the linux community here is relatively small (~10-15 ppl).
Also people complaining about having to issue shell commands and text-based config files to set up their system. Indeed, that is far less intuitive than randomly editting a largely undocumented pseudo-hierarchical hash table isnt it
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