Linux users.

[Frizzle]

I've seen posts (here and elsewhere) that people use the linux OS' for work/school, and Windows 7/Vista for play. If you're already booting to W7, why have the other boot? I'm actually curious. I had Ubuntu on this computer for a long while, but having to switch between it and 7 (for games and TeamSpeak mostly) was just too much a pain in the ass.

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

 

[OriginalLadders]

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

Besides being free, immune to viruses and able to do virtually everything that Windows and Macs can do. None that I can think of.

 

[viranimus]

I've seen posts (here and elsewhere) that people use the linux OS' for work/school, and Windows 7/Vista for play. If you're already booting to W7, why have the other boot? I'm actually curious. I had Ubuntu on this computer for a long while, but having to switch between it and 7 (for games and TeamSpeak mostly) was just too much a pain in the ass.

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

More to the effect of a disadvantage. Typically most people who use Linux would use linux exclusively. Typically the reason they dont is because of the support for specific things they need that WINE doesnt cover. In many cases that boils down to gaming applications.

Cause really if you didnt have to use windows bloated, inefficient and in many ways restrictive OS at all would you?

My main PC is win7 and it is because I need win7 for the gaming support I need. My secondary PC is win XP specifically because it is attached to my television and I need the support for tv tuner cards and Windows MC for PVR capabilities. But my laptop is currently running Lin: Mint and on my main PC I run Unbuntu in virtualization for 90% of what I do thats not related to gaming.

 

[Frizzle]

Forgive me for my ignorance. I know the OS has a lot of things that I *don't* need or use, but I do use things like skype regularly. I know there are good browsers on the linux side (though i love Opera), and I already use OpenOffice for my word processing.

Is it possible to run a lot of other programs (like skype, or syncing my phone) without a lot of under the hood work? It's been a while since i've even attempted Ubuntu.

I've seen posts (here and elsewhere) that people use the linux OS' for work/school, and Windows 7/Vista for play. If you're already booting to W7, why have the other boot? I'm actually curious. I had Ubuntu on this computer for a long while, but having to switch between it and 7 (for games and TeamSpeak mostly) was just too much a pain in the ass.

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

More to the effect of a disadvantage. Typically most people who use Linux would use linux exclusively. Typically the reason they dont is because of the support for specific things they need that WINE doesnt cover. In many cases that boils down to gaming applications.

Cause really if you didnt have to use windows bloated, inefficient and in many ways restrictive OS at all would you?

My main PC is win7 and it is because I need win7 for the gaming support I need. My secondary PC is win XP specifically because it is attached to my television and I need the support for tv tuner cards and Windows MC for PVR capabilities. But my laptop is currently running Lin: Mint and on my main PC I run Unbuntu in virtualization for 90% of what I do thats not related to gaming.

and of course right after typing this i check the website and it says right there that skype works with it. I'm amazingly bad...

 

[OriginalLadders]

Forgive me for my ignorance. I know the OS has a lot of things that I *don't* need or use, but I do use things like skype regularly. I know there are good browsers on the linux side (though i love Opera), and I already use OpenOffice for my word processing.

Is it possible to run a lot of other programs (like skype, or syncing my phone) without a lot of under the hood work? It's been a while since i've even attempted Ubuntu.

There's a Linux version of Skype for download from their website, at most you'd have to google how to install it, which is usually very simple. Generally you just have to set is as exectuable via a right-click menu and then just open it.

Linux can run Firefox, Chrome and Opera, as well as many other browsers you only see on Linux. I've even installed internet explorer on my Ubuntu partition using Wine (I never use it, it's just that I run an MMORPG with Wine and it's needed for the updater).

Syncing your phone would depend entirely on your phone. If it's an Android smartphone, there should be absolutely no problems.

 

[efAston]

kubuntu on the laptop. I only use the desktop for games, so it's running Win7, but as I'm getting better at getting stuff going in WINE, and finding games that work in it, I'm considering transitioning the desktop back to kubuntu too.

Win7 did seem to make Fallout 3 playable, with more like one crash a week, than one every time I walk into the same room (depending on the time of day) in XP. I do lament the lack of CD emulation in Linux sometimes.

 

[Frizzle]

Forgive me for my ignorance. I know the OS has a lot of things that I *don't* need or use, but I do use things like skype regularly. I know there are good browsers on the linux side (though i love Opera), and I already use OpenOffice for my word processing.

Is it possible to run a lot of other programs (like skype, or syncing my phone) without a lot of under the hood work? It's been a while since i've even attempted Ubuntu.

There's a Linux version of Skype for download from their website, at most you'd have to google how to install it, which is usually very simple. Generally you just have to set is as exectuable via a right-click menu and then just open it.

Linux can run Firefox, Chrome and Opera, as well as many other browsers you only see on Linux. I've even installed internet explorer on my Ubuntu partition using Wine (I never use it, it's just that I run an MMORPG with Wine and it's needed for the updater).

Syncing your phone would depend entirely on your phone. If it's an Android smartphone, there should be absolutely no problems.

My phone is actually WP7 haha. I love it too much to go to any other OS (damn you palm for going under). I do have a 7 year old mac sitting around being pretty useless, I just pulled it out and maybe I'll give it a go. I'm sorry to hijack your thread. I'm just always looking for better ways to reduce extra crap in my life and on my electronics. And I appreciate you taking the time to answer me (the both of you).

Is there a specific flavor you'd recommend? Or should I just grab the latest ubuntu?

 

[OriginalLadders]

My phone is actually WP7 haha. I love it too much to go to any other OS (damn you palm for going under). I do have a 7 year old mac sitting around being pretty useless, I just pulled it out and maybe I'll give it a go. I'm sorry to hijack your thread. I'm just always looking for better ways to reduce extra crap in my life and on my electronics. And I appreciate you taking the time to answer me (the both of you).

Is there a specific flavor you'd recommend? Or should I just grab the latest ubuntu?

No problem with the hijacking.

If your phone came with a programme for syncing it with your computer, you could probably run it with Wine, but that's not for absolute beginners. That said, it's fairly easy if you have a bit of common sense, and the WineHQ website can be very helpful.

The latest Ubuntu comes with a Mac-like desktop environment, not to everyone's taste but I quite like it and I'm no fan of Macs.

If you're just starting out with Linux, I'd recommend Linux Mint [http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php], it uses Ubuntu as a base but it's easier to use. Make sure to download plain Linux Mint 11, they release versions using Debian as a base instead (which is more complex to install) and also versions with different desktop environments.

Ah, a thread for Linux users. Tell me, strange creatures, doth thou exotic customs command you to own (1) or more penguins, as rumored?

It's not a requirement as such, but it is heavily recommended.

I call mine Arthur.

 

[Worgen]

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

Besides being free, immune to viruses and able to do virtually everything that Windows and Macs can do. None that I can think of.

Nothing is immune to viruses, things like linux just arnt targeted by them much since not many people use linux and the people who do tend to be much more computer savvy so they know how to identify viruses and kill them or they have good anti virus running.

 

[OriginalLadders]

Nothing is immune to viruses, things like linux just arnt targeted by them much since not many people use linux and the people who do tend to be much more computer savvy so they know how to identify viruses and kill them or they have good anti virus running.

Okay, I was exaggerating, but there are so few Linux viruses out there that a halfway decent firewall makes you basically immune.

 

[MrTub]

I've seen posts (here and elsewhere) that people use the linux OS' for work/school, and Windows 7/Vista for play. If you're already booting to W7, why have the other boot? I'm actually curious. I had Ubuntu on this computer for a long while, but having to switch between it and 7 (for games and TeamSpeak mostly) was just too much a pain in the ass.

Is there an advantage that I'm missing?

Well I had to install ubuntu for some classes that we only use linux in otherwise I would most likely use w7

 

[Esotera]

Ubuntu 10.04, because it's the only thing that'll run on this desktop, and isn't unity. Also my usb somewhere has puppy linux (the fastest way to use a computer, ever) but I've lost that.

Out of interest, has anyone heard of Hannah Montana Linux [http://hannahmontana.sourceforge.net/Site/Home.html] before?

 

[Toriver]

Another Ubuntu 10.04 user here, because it's the latest Long Term Service version. Installed it when my copy of Vista died only a year after buying this computer, and I haven't turned back from Linux since. I've tried three different versions of Ubuntu, Fedora 10 and ll, and Sabayon 4. I do recommend Ubuntu for beginners. It's quite user-friendly, comparatively, though despite the insistence of some others to the contrary, I also found Fedora to be pretty user-friendly.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

I dual boot Mint and Windows 7. Mint for everyday use and university work (try getting GRIND to work on windows is a *****) and windows basically for games and a few other applications.

 

[Lukeje]

Fedora user here. I used to use Ubuntu but kept getting annoyed with some if its `features'. Fedora is a lot cleaner and treats you like less of a child.

 

[minuialear]

My point was that you are still assuming a direct conscious move towards Mac style, as opposed to implementing something they felt to be superior that had similarities to Mac, the difference being slight but important, as in:

"Macs are good, let's copy them." vs "Let's use this, it's pretty good. Oh hey, it kinda looks like a Mac."

And, as I already said twice, that doesn't help my opinion of Unity. If anything, them thinking that those features are awesome makes it worse for me, because I don't like them. Either way you spin it, my opinion of their move towards Mac-like features doesn't change.

Having spent a fair amount of time using a friend's Macbook for the sake of comparison, I honestly think that the claims of similarity are exaggerated. Not untrue, just overstated.

Having owned a Macbook for work purposes, I don't. Agree to disagree.

 

[OriginalLadders]

Immune to viruses? Yeah... Oh well, who cares, I can do virtually anything!

(Except play games)

Im not going to knock anyone for their choice of OS, hell, Linux has major advantages over Windows, but please stay true.

With a decent firewall, Linux generally is effectively immune to viruses. Please note I admitted I was exaggerating in a previous post.

And Linux can play games, all you need is to know the basics of Wine. So, yeah, practice what you preach.

And, as I already said twice, that doesn't help my opinion of Unity. If anything, them thinking that those features are awesome makes it worse for me, because I don't like them. Either way you spin it, my opinion of their move towards Mac-like features doesn't change.

I understand you don't like the Mac-like features, and I can see why you dislike them. My only point was you were heavily implying that it was a deliberate grab at the Mac user-base, or at least seemed to be implying it. Either way that was my inference and only objection.