Computer questions and solutions....thereof...

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#291 Unread post by **Skier** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:50 am

blues2cruise wrote:So does having linux mean you don't need windows XP or Vista or otherwise
If linux is so great, why are we all buying microsoft?

No...I'm not being a smarta$$.....I genuinely don't know.

Microsoft Windows has mindshare and is by far the most common operating system in the world for PCs.

MrShake · Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:50 am

Just for some eye-candy, here is a screenshot of a real ubuntu install, showing programs menu

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jonnythan · Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:19 pm

blues2cruise wrote:So does having linux mean you don't need windows XP or Vista or otherwise
If linux is so great, why are we all buying microsoft?

No...I'm not being a smarta$$.....I genuinely don't know.

Linux is *not* that great.

It's a bit of a nightmare for most people, really. There are many awesome things about it... but the trouble comes when something doesn't work quite right, which is often.

If you want to install some software that is NOT included in the package manager's list, you're in for a very rough time that often involves resorting to extremely cryptic command line operations. No downloading an exe and double clicking to popup the Install Wizard. Video and graphics drivers can often be absolute nightmares. Getting a DVD to play can be a huge issue because the DVD decryption libraries are actually illegal in the US. If your hardware doesn't work with your distribution "out of the box" installing the proper drivers just to get sound can be virtually impossible for anyone not highly experienced.

Case in point: I have a fairly typical computer I wanted to use as a Linux media center/server. I have a very typical motherboard with built-in digital sound. Ubuntu 7.10 doesn't work with the digital sound output. I had to find source code drivers from nvidia, compile them via the command line, alter some text config files, and do some other cryptic annoying "poo poo" just to get it to work.

I use Linux, BSD, and Solaris on server systems in my home and at work. I have a lot of experience with Linux.

Linux is great as a stable OS for your grandpa, assuming he won't try to administer the machine in any way whatsoever and that you will do everything necessary to the machine. Linux is also pretty good for serious power users who want complete control of their systems and don't mind spending a ton of time with it.

BUT! Linux is TERRIBLE for tyhpical computer users who take care of their own machines and don't want to spend hours on forums asking for help and hoping someone understands their problem. And if you need help, the body of people who can actually offer help for your specific problem on your specific version of your specific distribution is infinitesimally small compared to the number of people around that can help you with any problem in Windows.

Bottom line? Don't bother.

Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:38 pm

jonnythan wrote:
blues2cruise wrote:
Bottom line? Don't bother.

I won't. I'll stick with what I have and continue to send error reports once in a while and use alt/ctrl/delete occasionally when the computer gets hung up...

Other than those couple of things, I have found XP to be fine. (although I have to admit, I liked 98SE better)

ElChado87 · Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:30 pm

I have Vista. I'm currently in the process of downgrading to XP SP2. Vista is not ready for release yet. They really shouldn't have switched so soon, now there are a lot of problems, and it's quite a memory hog.

Microsoft is powerful and Bill Gates hates us...

Patrick · #296 Unread post by **Patrick** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:43 pm

As for Linux, as someone said for the typical user it really is not the cats meow but for those who have a good UNIX/Linux back ground it is great. Especially for us old timers who know UNIX. Now all of my computers at home are windows but let me tell you if you knew a lot about dos and the internals of a system it was great, now most of the new windows software stops you from running the commands that once solved world hunger on systems. Well Linux is just like that now. Just my two cents. Plus you do not see many viruses on Linux as your typical smart a.. hacker cannot hack it if the admin knows what he/she is doing.

Pj

Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:55 pm

ElChado87 wrote:I have Vista. I'm currently in the process of downgrading to XP SP2. Vista is not ready for release yet. They really shouldn't have switched so soon, now there are a lot of problems, and it's quite a memory hog.

Microsoft is powerful and Bill Gates hates us...

Aside from being a memory hog...I heard it's not compatible to a great many programs.
The XPSP2 is what I am using. If I keep up with the maintenance it keeps working smoothly.

ElChado87 · Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:00 pm

blues2cruise wrote:
ElChado87 wrote:I have Vista. I'm currently in the process of downgrading to XP SP2. Vista is not ready for release yet. They really shouldn't have switched so soon, now there are a lot of problems, and it's quite a memory hog.

Microsoft is powerful and Bill Gates hates us...
Aside from being a memory hog...I heard it's not compatible to a great many programs.
The XPSP2 is what I am using. If I keep up with the maintenance it keeps working smoothly.

If you want to play games, forget about Vista. And it doesn't hibernate or sleep very well. If it goes into either mode it won't wake up until you do a hard restart.

After I get XP running smoothly I'm going to try Ubuntu.
I might end up with a triple booting system lol

#299 Unread post by **Skier** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:11 pm

blues2cruise wrote:
jonnythan wrote:
blues2cruise wrote:
Bottom line? Don't bother.
Other than those couple of things, I have found XP to be fine. (although I have to admit, I liked 98SE better)

I am being completely honest here and in no way mean to be confrontational, but what?! The 9x systems were all inferior to XP.

Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:45 pm

Skier wrote:
blues2cruise wrote:
jonnythan wrote:
blues2cruise wrote:
Bottom line? Don't bother.
Other than those couple of things, I have found XP to be fine. (although I have to admit, I liked 98SE better)
I am being completely honest here and in no way mean to be confrontational, but what?! The 9x systems were all inferior to XP.

I don't know what a 9X system is.
In fact....everything I learned is either from books, asking questions or trial and error.

I've only had a computer for a few years and I use it mainly for emails, discussion forums, writing, and my photography.

I don't play any games. The five year old neighbour kid comes to play his games sometimes. Neither one of needs any more than what is on my system.
You don't miss what you never had.