Spring Break
The Daily OrangeConsider Linux for everyday computer use
Abstract:
Fed up with the mess of spyware, fragmentation and viruses that my family's computer had become, I finally snapped. I decided a major change was in order.
After considering buying a new machine, I realized I could not justify the price for what would be an e-mail checker and Web surfer....
- Displaying 1 - 17 of 17
Robert Mirabito
posted 4/19/07 @ 2:59 AM EST
Linux is moving forward in leaps and bounds and with Dell now getting ready to offer Linux as an alternative to Windows, sparks a new beginning in both home and business PC usage. I have switched from Windows to Ubuntu Linux recently for home use and I think it is fantastic and recommend Feisty Fawn.
Now maybe companies will start porting some of their Windows applications to the Linux platform and give the end user a real choice for the humble PC operating system.
Now maybe companies will start porting some of their Windows applications to the Linux platform and give the end user a real choice for the humble PC operating system.
Nicolae Istratii
posted 4/19/07 @ 6:07 AM EST
Not all the linux distributions are developed by hobbyists. Ubuntu, Red Hat, SUSE, Linspire, Xandros, Mandriva...and other Linux distribution have paid developers working full time. Those are not hobbyists, they are paid money for doing their job.
linuxiac
posted 4/19/07 @ 9:48 AM EST
Why limit yourself? Xubuntu is cool, but, please try http://pclinuxos.com (the site is being re-established as there was a crash due to extremely high traffic!).
Second to PClinuxOS, is SimplyMepis. http://livecdlist.com has 310 Live CDrom distros, FREE!
Next, try all the distros on the http://Ubuntu.org site.
Hey, got a really old, and slow, Pentium Class system? Damn Small Linux fits into 50 Mb of a CDrom, great on the small CDroms. Can be booted, and then savedto boot from your USB stick! Recycle those old 56Mb or 128Mb USB sticks!
Find it on http://distrowatch.com with hundreds of others.
Then, try FrieSBIE, a live CDrom of FreeBSD. Discover more! There are some 800 of these FREE distros and OSes. All contain full games, applications suites, programs, in the thousands.
A favorite reference is http://yolinux.com
so that you don't need to be a "rocket scientist"!
Second to PClinuxOS, is SimplyMepis. http://livecdlist.com has 310 Live CDrom distros, FREE!
Next, try all the distros on the http://Ubuntu.org site.
Hey, got a really old, and slow, Pentium Class system? Damn Small Linux fits into 50 Mb of a CDrom, great on the small CDroms. Can be booted, and then savedto boot from your USB stick! Recycle those old 56Mb or 128Mb USB sticks!
Find it on http://distrowatch.com with hundreds of others.
Then, try FrieSBIE, a live CDrom of FreeBSD. Discover more! There are some 800 of these FREE distros and OSes. All contain full games, applications suites, programs, in the thousands.
A favorite reference is http://yolinux.com
so that you don't need to be a "rocket scientist"!
Alan Goswell
posted 4/19/07 @ 6:09 PM EST
Well reasoned! I have installed Ubuntu Linux on my girlfriend's IBM laptop. As you highlighted, she writes emails, surfs the web, listens to web radio, and watched the occasional DVD in bed (without me!). It just works, its secure, it looks good, its functional, its LEGALLY FREE.
I am an MAC user and have in less than a year become TOTALLY disilluioned with Windows. I will NEVER buy another MICROSOFT product unless I absolutely have to. Both LINUX and OSX represent value for money (for different reasons), and still make me smile!
Go ahead, try LINUX, you won't regret it!
I am an MAC user and have in less than a year become TOTALLY disilluioned with Windows. I will NEVER buy another MICROSOFT product unless I absolutely have to. Both LINUX and OSX represent value for money (for different reasons), and still make me smile!
Go ahead, try LINUX, you won't regret it!
cyber_rigger
posted 4/20/07 @ 3:44 AM EST
Companies selling preinstalled Linux.
http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/
http://lxer.com/module/db/index.php?dbn=14
http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/
http://lxer.com/module/db/index.php?dbn=14
Vincent
posted 4/22/07 @ 8:13 AM EST
Among the hundreds of independent versions, there are quite some that come with professional support and support numbers you can phone, however, they're not free of charge (though a lot cheaper than Windows). One example is SUSE Linux: http://www.novell.com/linux/
However, I'm extremely happy with Xubuntu and have never had the desire to phone support ;-)
However, I'm extremely happy with Xubuntu and have never had the desire to phone support ;-)
icecruncher
posted 7/06/07 @ 8:56 AM EST
welcome to the real world!
as you might now, there are many distributions of Linux, and when you try one, back up your data just in case you make a mistake. :)
as you might now, there are many distributions of Linux, and when you try one, back up your data just in case you make a mistake. :)
Willy R Jones
posted 7/11/07 @ 5:56 PM EST
Try Ubuntu the #1 Linux distro on the planet! It is FREE in cost and you are free to use, change, give away. etc.
http://www.ubuntu.com/
the community is very helpful with problems, for more information or help, see
http://ubuntuforums.org/
Be nice,
BR Jones
http://www.ubuntu.com/
the community is very helpful with problems, for more information or help, see
http://ubuntuforums.org/
Be nice,
BR Jones
anta
posted 7/17/07 @ 4:26 AM EST
Linux is way better than windows- but when will they port games for linux? Until then linux is...
Fed Up With Linux Lies
posted 7/24/07 @ 3:45 PM EST
Where did you gather your information?
"As great as Linux is, it's easy to see why the average user could be frightened off. In the past, Linux was braved by only the most skilled users. The money saved on free software was nullified by hours spent tinkering deep in lines of code just to make it work."
Tinkering deep in lines of code to make it work? Perhaps 10 years ago, anything in the past five years has been following directions easily found online, not compiling your own kernel. Take Ubuntu or Fedora or SUSE as examples of this.
"Linux is developed by hobbyists and given away for free, so there is no 1-800 number to call when things go wrong. You won't find Linux in stores..."
Unix was developed by Bell Labs, and Linux was developed by Linus Torvalds as work at a university (though perhaps as a hobby, it was academic). And there are 1-800 numbers to call, as there are corporations who have founded specific distros (Red Hat, or Canonical's Ubuntu, or Novell's SUSE). Linux is also sold in stores, albeit most of them online.
"Contrary to the old horror stories, I never had to scour messageboards for missing drivers or fiddle with the command line - everything just worked."
How old are your horror stories?
"As great as Linux is, it's easy to see why the average user could be frightened off. In the past, Linux was braved by only the most skilled users. The money saved on free software was nullified by hours spent tinkering deep in lines of code just to make it work."
Tinkering deep in lines of code to make it work? Perhaps 10 years ago, anything in the past five years has been following directions easily found online, not compiling your own kernel. Take Ubuntu or Fedora or SUSE as examples of this.
"Linux is developed by hobbyists and given away for free, so there is no 1-800 number to call when things go wrong. You won't find Linux in stores..."
Unix was developed by Bell Labs, and Linux was developed by Linus Torvalds as work at a university (though perhaps as a hobby, it was academic). And there are 1-800 numbers to call, as there are corporations who have founded specific distros (Red Hat, or Canonical's Ubuntu, or Novell's SUSE). Linux is also sold in stores, albeit most of them online.
"Contrary to the old horror stories, I never had to scour messageboards for missing drivers or fiddle with the command line - everything just worked."
How old are your horror stories?
AvengingAngel718
posted 9/03/07 @ 3:23 PM EST
Last February or so, I got a new pc to use for school, which came preloaded with Windows XP. It seemed to work for a while, but of course, as with all shitty windows software, the inevitable system crashes and viruses made my computer totally unusable. I used another computer to send away for my Ubuntu 7.04 cd and when it came I installed it without delay (I had originally planned to dual boot, but I got impatient and just switched cold turkey, earning the nickname "old iron balls" from a friend and fellow linux enthusiast). It was probably the best decision I've ever made. I'm so happy with it and the novelty has never really worn off. In fact, I keep getting more and more excited about it the more I learn. My girlfriend recently started going to college as well, and I ended up building her a pc and installing Xubuntu feisty on it. Sure, it lacks the eye candy of regular ubuntu, but the interface is incredibly clean and straightforward. She's in love with it and is probably on the computer as much as I am now (which is a lot).
And to all the people who say "oh well I'm a gamer, Linux can't play games", i say this:
Have you freaking SEEN Beryl?
And to all the people who say "oh well I'm a gamer, Linux can't play games", i say this:
Have you freaking SEEN Beryl?
repustech
posted 10/01/07 @ 6:24 PM EST
I have to agree. I installed Ubuntu a couple weeks ago after hearing so many great things about it. The install was so easy. I did a dual boot just incase I needed my Windows XP install for something. I did have to install some drivers for my nVidia graphics and Wireless card, but you even have to do that in Windows. Needless to say, I have not used Windows at home once since then. I also love Beryl, the 3D desktop... it's all so amazing, and it's free.
Dirk Weber
posted 10/23/07 @ 3:16 AM EST
Xubuntu is a chance for me to go on computing with my pc (PII/266 with 288 mb ram and some hd space). Still with reasonable performance and only few problems to get my hardware running. Anf of course I don't need to be afraid when surfing the net, no bigger security problems to be afraid of.
Ok, I have to admint, there are some prblems with my sound card and with the graphic system. But I read that there is a way to get my old sound card working again (it's too old for the actual Linux kernel), and a higher resolution to my monitor, there are some detailed descriptions about that - and the community is very kind and helpful. No one treats me like a potential criminal who only wants to copy the software illegally ...
There is a lot fo distributions in the Linux world, just give them a try. For beginners I would advise to take SuSE for example, but you don't need to buy it from Novell, just load it down and install it. If you don't have a cd burner you can also download boot disk images for example for Debian and then install from the Internet (I did taht some times), but in that case you will need a good internet connection. Did anyone ever install MS WIN from the internet - legally?
Dirk,
Arft, Germany & Veenendaal, The Netherlands
Ok, I have to admint, there are some prblems with my sound card and with the graphic system. But I read that there is a way to get my old sound card working again (it's too old for the actual Linux kernel), and a higher resolution to my monitor, there are some detailed descriptions about that - and the community is very kind and helpful. No one treats me like a potential criminal who only wants to copy the software illegally ...
There is a lot fo distributions in the Linux world, just give them a try. For beginners I would advise to take SuSE for example, but you don't need to buy it from Novell, just load it down and install it. If you don't have a cd burner you can also download boot disk images for example for Debian and then install from the Internet (I did taht some times), but in that case you will need a good internet connection. Did anyone ever install MS WIN from the internet - legally?
Dirk,
Arft, Germany & Veenendaal, The Netherlands
Edgar
posted 2/16/08 @ 11:50 PM EST
I haven't had a virus in four years and defragmentation is done automatically. If you don't know how to use Windows, what makes you think you can use Linux?
munish
posted 7/22/09 @ 5:59 AM EST
This website provides very good products like dell laptops, desktops at reasonable prices. They have very good range of laptops and desktops. i am really impressed by their products.
- Displaying 1 - 17 of 17
Demetri Mouratis
posted 4/19/07 @ 1:52 AM EST