Joined: Jun 04, 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Edinburgh
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:00 am Post subject: Why go Linux?
They say that Windows is insecure, unreliable, easy to hack, full of bugs(that I agree), etc. But I've been running Windows ever since 3.1 and I've never had reason to switch OS. With a good antivirus and some common sense, you can keep your computer virus-free. Plus you can play all the games you want, you can use all the programs you'll ever need and it's pretty easy. So is it really worth it to install Linux? I'm not a regular computer user, I like to tweak here and there, and mess about, but I'm not a programmer either; so what does Linux offer?
Joined: Jun 02, 2004 Posts: 53 Location: edinburgh, scotland
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:48 am Post subject:
I just find that linux is just easier and better to use. As well as being more secure etc... Though that said I'm in Windows at the moment...
Apart from games Linux can provide everything windows can faster, stronger, better, 120% more porductive! Or maybe that's just alcohol and 80s TV talking ?!?!
Joined: Jun 02, 2004 Posts: 92 Location: Dalry, Edinburgh
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 9:32 am Post subject:
I kinda like both Windows and Linux. But I tend to use them for there specific programs that won't run elsewhere...
Traditionally Linux has always been better, more secure, more stable and frankly a more proffesional system. Well, at least compared to the shams of Windows 95 and the first Edition of Windows 98. However... this is traditionally.
Since Windows XP the stability has increased ten fold on Windows systems, and frankly as far as I was concerned this was the major isssue to use Linux. Yes, Linux is still faster on slower systems, but this doesn't affect me. Yes Linux is still more secure out of the box, though not as great as you may think. Wap on a firewall, a decent trojan hunter, an IP blocker and you have a nice secure windows system. If your lucky enough to still have a decent enough running computer then there is no need to move to Linux as far as I'm concerned.
Saying that, linux may just impress you. Why not try dual booting your system?
Joined: Jun 04, 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Edinburgh
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject:
Quote:
Linux can provide everything windows can faster, stronger, better, 120% more porductive![bugmonkey,12/6/04]
Everywhere I read the same opinions about Linux, but these are very broad terms.
If I have a 2.0Ghz machine with 512Mb RAM, am I to believe that Linux will still run faster than XP?
Quote:
Linux is still faster on slower systems [Rich,12/6/04]
but this is definitely not a slow system!
More productive... A system's efficiency relies on its capabilities and its demands. I believe that if you demand 10 different simultaneous tasks from both OSs, the machine aforementioned is capable of producing the same results thanks to its hardware, not its software. Sure, the two OSs are written in different code and will work differently, but the end result will be the same. And when talking about machines that no longer run on the hundreds of MHz, but the thousands, the swiftest code does not win by a lot. Seriously, I use my machine for word-processing, surfing the net, playing games and the occasional photoshop image editing. How much faster can it get?
Stronger... If by that you mean more secure:
Quote:
Linux is still more secure out of the box, though not as great as you may think. Wap on a firewall, a decent trojan hunter, an IP blocker and you have a nice secure windows system. [Rich,12/6/04]
So what's all the concern about? Plus, the security is only relative to your needs. I've seen you guys talk about IP blockers. I've never used one, and I don't see a need for it. Who do I have to hide from, hackers? Which hacker will go out of his/her way to get into the insignificant home system that I possess? I know that they do it for the heck of it, but they're not stupid either. Hackers are notoriously acclaimed for the important machines they've crashed, Google servers, FBI storage HDs, Microsoft websites, not a puny home system. There are literally millions of computers like mine all around the world, why would a hacker want to get into one of those, and what are the chances of my machine being the victim? And if a hacker does want to hack into my computer, I’ll need more than an IP blocker to protect myself. I better get a hardware firewall, a router, a proxy, some encryption system… The list goes on, until you realize that the security you really need depends on the paranoia level of the fact that “they’re coming to get you”. I’ve been around computers since I was 8 and never have I suffered a hacker attack. So do I really need to change my OS for security reasons, or is it just that Silicon Valley wants to brainwash me with paranoia and fear so that I buy all their essential security programs – in other words, exploit my ignorance on the matter for economical benefit.
Better… As in, more stable?
Quote:
Since Windows XP the stability has increased ten fold on Windows systems, and frankly as far as I was concerned this was the major isssue to use Linux. [Rich,12/6/04]
Perhaps it has a wider range of programs available? Not in games, and I can’t think of any significant program that you can only run on one OS.
So why go Linux?
Although I strongly sympathise with XP, I don’t neglect Linux, and as Rich says,
Quote:
linux may just impress you [Rich,12/6/04]
So I’ll take up on his offer and dual boot my machine, which leads me to another question (sorry for dragging this post for so long). I’ve got 2 HDs each 80Gb. On the first one I got XP installed and the second one is OS-free formatted to NTFS (XP style). Now I’ve heard that installing an OS on each HD can be a processing pain for the CPU, but I’m not sure that’s true. Where should I install it, how much space should I allocate to it, and which version of Linux do you recommend?
Ironically as I submitted this post, IE politely announced that it had undergone an internal error and had to be shut down. I had pasted the entire post on the clipboard anticipating such catastrophe but nevertheless IE managed to erase the contents of the clipboard as well! So after cursing out XP, Bill Gate’s family and pretty much anything that got into my way, I was forced to re-type this reply. I admit XP has its bugs, but Linux is not flawless either. However, this just motivates me more to try it out.
Joined: Jun 02, 2004 Posts: 92 Location: Dalry, Edinburgh
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 7:58 pm Post subject:
Oscar wrote:
How much faster can it get?
Not alot. Word processing etc barley uses the resources your computer has as it is. The only time you'd ever notice a difference would be if Linux could run games, which it can't. But if it could they'd run faster... probably!
Quote:
I've seen you guys talk about IP blockers. I've never used one, and I don't see a need for it. Who do I have to hide from, hackers?
Not really. It stops people looking at your computer and the stuff you have on it. This isn't really an issue unless you download the less than legal variety of files. An IP blocker will stop company IP's from scanning your system for files matching the names of their programs and trying to sue you. But yes they do also stop hackers... but then again hackers are too clever any only the stupid ones use the same IP everytime. Duh.... they've heard of proxies and IP maskers too. However, IP blockers are freeware, so whats the harm. As for virus checkers, kinda essential for those with an internet connection, and frankly a firewall is your choice.
Quote:
I can’t think of any significant program that you can only run on one OS. So why go Linux?
ABAQUS. I use this program and it only runs in Linux. And to be honest is a preference... some people prefer the look of Linux. Plus you may prefer Linux office packages. Less crashes? ...Possibly, not an expert on Linux office programs. Linux Open Office is free, and supposed to be very good.
Two hard drives causing problems? Hmmm, never had any problems here.
How much space to allocate? Well you'll have to create a partition for linux, or devote the entire of one of your hard drives. All depends on how much you wanna put on. You are pretty much guided through this if i remember correctly by the linux installation program. Though that will depend on which linux you choose. Which leads me to....
Which Linux? 99% of Linux OS's are tottally free. Try a few, and read some reviews. The two I've used are Mandrake and Red Hat. Think these are two of the biggest, but there are litterally hundreds out there.
p.s Don't use Internet Explorer, use Firefox, far less crashes. Don't think it's ever screwed up on me. Plus the new 0.9 version is out on Monday, supposedly.
p.p.s Good luck! Your first boot into linux is pretty dam scarey, but you find cool features you never knew existed. Ten minutes later you may be back in XP, but hell at least you've tried it out.
Joined: Jun 04, 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Edinburgh
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:
GO FIREFOX!! Just a couple days ago the CoolWebSearch thing hijacked my IE and I've been fighting it ever since without success So I installed Firefox and I've forgotten about IE already. What a great broswer. It has almost the same interface as IE, so there's no way you get lost tweaking the options plus it migrated all my preferences from IE automaticallly.
One question about Linux. I'm thinking of partitioning my first HD and installing the RedHat version there. Will that OS be able to see the XP partition and the second hard drive, or are they different formats?
Joined: Jun 02, 2004 Posts: 92 Location: Dalry, Edinburgh
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:29 pm Post subject:
Yup, firefox rules
As for the linux question am not 100% certain. I have the two OS's on different hardrives and I can tell you that Linux see's the XP hardrive, but XP doesn't see the linux one.
Have never actually tried saving, and swapping files over between operating system so can't tell you if they're 100% compatible. However, you can run windows through linux. Therefore my guess is that any awapping would have to be done from linux's end
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?!?!
So I installed Firefox and I've forgotten about IE already. What a great broswer. It has almost the same interface as IE, so there's no way you get lost tweaking the options plus it migrated all my preferences from IE automaticallly.
