What are reasons to use Linux

NiHi · #1 Feb 11, 2007, 12:45 PM

Hi! I use Windows. Just want to hear your answers... What are reasons to use Linux? Is it easy or not to become proficient in using it? Thanks.

Lord_Darkclaw · Feb 11, 2007, 12:50 PM

It's free!

I've never used it because I was put off by the slightly compicated business of setting up my PC to use two Operating Systems, but those who use it, all seem to swear by it.

Curlyben · Feb 11, 2007, 12:54 PM

I'll answer your last part first.
When looking at Linux, it really depends on what flavour you want. Some are alot more techie than others. There are a number of extremely easy to use versions out there. Have a look for Linspire for example. What ever flavour you choose you will run into driver issues, so before you decide to switch make sure you have drivers for all the major parts, like video, network, etc.

Now as to why.
Biggest one is it isn't Micro$oft, so you wont be funding the worlds largest monopoly.
Massively improved security, viruses and trojans don't bother linux.
Price, starts from Free and you can't get better than that

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
If you are thinking of switching, I'd recommend dual booting your current system for a while and have a play with Linux, at least that way you wont be going in blind.
I'm currently running Fedora Core, Vista busisness and XP all on my test machine with no problems.

TheSavage · Feb 11, 2007, 01:05 PM

Linux is not easy to learn to use, though some releases are easier than others. I use it on my server pc because with Linux Ive gone 900 hr`s with out rebooting. hackers are not interested in trying to write viruses for it and its very stable.really it was easy to set the pc up with 2 operating systems.
And the price is right.
edit Fedora 5 here curly

labman · Feb 11, 2007, 01:39 PM

As far as day to day usage of the computer goes, I am not sure the OS makes that much difference. However, since I am running Linux, I never do any virus scanning or other security measures. I don't even have a copy of Norton, McAfee, or any of the rest. I leave my computer on and connected to the net 24/7. Never had a problem I couldn't fix by rebooting, and go weeks at a time without doing so. The cable company claims their modem provides a good firewall, and the Belkin router should too.

Likely my biggest problem are websites unfriendly to the Konqueror browser bundled with Mandrake. Of course part of the problem is I don't have Flash. I can't believe how many websites require it. I see no need for it and haven't even checked to see if it has a Linux version available. I would be just as happy if I found a program that would take the Flash data and dump it in the bit bucket while XMMS-1 continues to play music I like.

I tried Fire Fox a few months ago. It definitely is more welcome on some websites including Google/Adsense. I really like don't its tabbed browsing. I click on something in my tool bar, and it opens it as a new tab. I click on a link, and it opens in the same tab. The big thing is that it is much slower than Konqueror. I haven't used IE for a long time. If Fox Fire is as much better as people say, then IE must be a real piece of trash. The last MS software I remember enjoying using much was RS Basic.

One big consideration is how much help you need. I could never do Linux without help from the kids, especially my SIL. If you depend on somebody for help, and they only know Windows, forget Linux. Help can be hard to find. When I have the cable company out because their modem isn't working, I have to reboot to Windows before they can figure out the problem.

TheSavage · Feb 11, 2007, 05:56 PM

Labman-- tools/options/ configure the tabs to open the way you want them to.

ordinaryguy · Feb 11, 2007, 06:19 PM

I'm computer literate, but not a computer geek--meaning I like computers for what they can do, not for their own sake. I've been putting off switching to Linux out of laziness and not wanting to have to deal with all the nitpicky issues like drivers and all the little details it probably will involve to get up and running with it.

To me the big attraction of it is security and stability. I really hate the constant stream of security patches and threats associated with Windows. And after awhile, it seems to get all kinds of quirks and hiccups that make it erratic, sluggish, and prone to hanging up and having to be restarted, or worse yet, power-off and back on just to get out of a black screen no-response situation. I suppose if I was more of a geek, I'd take the trouble to figure out what's causing these problems and be more comfortable maintaining or reinstalling it periodically, but I resent having to make the investment of time and effort. I'm hoping that with Linux, once I do make the investment, I won't have to keep doing it repeatedly. Am I wrong about that?

Another source of uncertainty about making the switch to Linux is whether there is enough off-the-shelf application software to do the things I want to do, and whether I'll be able to communicate with the rest of the (Windows) world. I don't really have a lot of specialized needs, just the usual things like word processing, spreadsheets, browser, email, and such. But then there's all the little special-purpose applications like automated backup, and other maintenance and organizing tools that are kind of handy, and I wonder if that kind of thing will be available for Linux. So I guess my question is, can applications designed to run in Windows be used under Linux, or does it take a whole new suite of applications specially designed for Linux?

The introduction of Windows Vista may be the incentive I need to make the switch. The stream of security problems is already starting, and although they claim it's more stable than XP, I'll believe it when I see it.

TheSavage · Feb 11, 2007, 06:41 PM

The driver issue can be a real pain in the butt --even more so with a older pc [ I have it on a old dell that came with 98] Certain versions would not pick up my Ethernet card.
the best bet to find out which versions will work with minimal tinkering is by trying a few live versions -- those are packaged as bootable cd`s
The LiveCD List
When my c-drive went belly up I was able to get online with one of those.
So far as winblows programs you can run them on Linux using a program called wine [ bet curly has that]
Open office comes with most versions and micro is suppose to be setting up its office suite so it can read open office doc`s. [Under the pressure of profit of course] open office can already read windows doc`s though.

cajalat · Feb 25, 2007, 07:55 AM

Linux (like Windows) is just a tool as far as I'm concerned. If you want to use it for the heck of it and are curious then just go for it...don't ask for opinions that could taint your view of it before you even touch it. I'm sure you can ask 10 people for opinions about Linux vs Windows and you'll get 11 different answers. Now-a-days there are a ton of resources available for Linux Newbies and the folks within those communities will be more than glad to help with along with any problem you might encounter.

If you're curious about Linux then just install it, install different versions (Mandriva, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc, etc), play with them, see what you like about them, don't be afraid. If you want to learn just go off and learn it. If you feel pressured to learn it because of a "hype" of some sort then don't even bother with it. If I were a long-time user of Linux and never seen Windows and I felt pressure to use Windows I'm going to hate every bit of it and resist along the way and will look for nothing but faults in the OS. If I were curious about Windows then I'm more likely to overcome the problems I encounter along the way and not be detracted by them. The same thing is true for Linux.

So what do I think of Linux vs. Windows? I don't. I use both of them and there are things that Windows does really well and other things that Linux does really well. Basically, they're tools and one uses the right tool for the right job. You won't know if it is the right tool unless you learn both really well.

ordinaryguy · Feb 25, 2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cajalat

So what do I think of Linux vs. Windows? I don't. I use both of them and there are things that Windows does really well and other things that Linux does really well. Basically, they're tools and one uses the right tool for the right job.

Would you mind expanding on this a little? What are the things that you think Windows is especially good at, and what kind of jobs is Linux the right tool for? Can you give a couple of examples of things that are difficult or dangerous to do in one but easy and safe to do in the other?

Also you don't mention security, just functionality. Do you think security issues (both threat level and vulnerabilities) are a major factor to consider?



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