[cheesynuggets17]

Ok, well I did research on Linux and reasons I should try a distribution of Linux. And the only things I can find is crap to do with beryl and compiz and other graphis stuff but to me that doesn't matter and also stuff to do with viruses and the user community which is a valid reason but its still not convincing. I want to hear a real reason why Linux is better then windows vista before I try it. Also what is a good clean easy to use distribution for people who are new to Linux.

[Scleros]

I want to hear a real reason why Linux is better then windows vista before I try it.

My reasons are:

• The more people that use it, the sooner Linux will be usable by anyone, which results in more applications being written for it, and then the sooner we'll all be free of Microsoft.
• Free.
• Much of the software that runs on Linux is free, open source, well coded, and stable.
• Free and helpful user community.
• The documentation when it exists is often highly technical and useful for resolving problems.
• Useful error messages, albeit sometimes cryptic. None of that Microsoft "Oops, there was an error, and we're not going to tell you what is, but here is an error code number 0x0000XXX that isn't documented anywhere. We also won't help you so see your system vendor who probably doesn't know anything about it. Good luck with that..." crap.
• When there is an error, it usually coincides with an actual problem that wasn't the result of the software damaging itself.
• Software configuration elements are located in a limited number of specific locations and documented files usually applicable to the specific software itself instead of an undocumented/marginally documented monolithic registry shared (and corrupted) by any installed application.
• Integral comprehensive logging.
• Integral scripting/automation that wasn't an afterthought.
• My servers never/rarely have to be rebooted because a poorly written application crashed and took the operating system down with it.
• My servers never/rarely have to be rebooted when installing or updating application software.
• I think it better adapts to hardware. Vista = Oink!
• There's no brain dead User Account Control feature that asks if you want to do something but doesn't tell you what specifically you are/aren't allowing.
• Windows Genuine Advantage.
• Product Keys. I'd hate to know how many hours of my life has been wasted entering @#$% product keys when installing or reinstalling Microsoft software on customer systems.
• Fewer viruses/malware.
• Ever-increasing Windows costs.
• Absurd number of Vista versions. Actually this applies universally - how many bloody operating systems does the world need to satisfy its computing needs??

You get the idea... I need to stop before this becomes a rant. That said, I also don't believe Linux is ready for the desktop for anyone but the computer savvy since much of the administration is not point-and-click. You are comparing apples to oranges, but should you choose to proceed, try Ubuntu. I'd also switch to a Mac before I'd move to Vista.

[Emland]

I work for a small company that operates an answering service. We just completed switching our phone room of 16 stations to Linux.

A big financial boon is not having to pay the exhoribitant licensing fee for the server and each of the stations.

We set them up using Ubuntu and a virtual box was set up inside them so the operators could run our old Windows based software inside the Linux while we converted.

This proprietary answering service system was installed in June and the system has had no need to reboot. We used to have to reboot our dispatch server once a day just to keep it working properly. Our system can be updated from the software engineer who wrote it in Canada without having to bring down the system. My boss has never been happier.