Linex-what is it?

[Questor]

Its an operating system, right? There is a lot of free software available to people who have Linex, I believe. Correct?

I currently use Windows XP and have grown accustomed to it. I am a techno-idiot and probably don't have much patience for learning a new system. Should I give Linex a try, or give it a pass?

What are the advantages to switching to Linex? Disadvantages?

 

[Kang]

I think he's Lucy's little brother.

From the way you describe yourself, I'd advise against trying Linux.

If you want a change, get a new Macintosh system. There is Linux at it's core, but a more user friendly system. Very stable too.

 

[Questor]

Good opinions so far. Thanks. Any opposing opinions?

 

[Questor]

Why are you looking to change anyways.

Good question. Because Microsoft is an evil empire. And because I think there is all kinds of free software that is Linux compatible and the subversive nature of that appeals to me. And because I've been dealing with a computer that is bogged down by spyware and adware lately (problem seems to be temporarily fixed with software on a free 2 week trial). And because I am due to buy a new computer soon and so I am looking at making other changes. But even given all this, I suspect that both you and Kang are right. Linux is not for everyone, and probably not for me. Maybe I should be looking at switching to Mac.

 

[basketcase]

Download one of the versions and burn it on CD. It runs off the CD so if you don't like it, you don't have to install it.

http://distrowatch.com/

The upside is free software. The downside is variety of software is limited to common applications if you don't want to mess around with it.

 

[Questor]

Thanks for that link bc. Is it possible to install and use 2 operating systems, switching back and forth depending on what I am using it for and whether or not I want to deal with Linux at that time?

 

[danibbler]

I'll echo what Kang has posted; Linux is NOT for the mainstream computer user let alone for someone who has no patience to learn a new OS. The not-ready-for-prime-time comment is not made by me but by a Ubuntu developer interviewed by Walter Mossberg of the WSJ a month or so back.

I've played with Ubuntu and it's great when it works...just like Windows! LOL!

If you're a techno-idiot and you want something that just works then switch to OS X. If you want, you can even partition the Mac to load on Windows and other operating systems such as Ubuntu Linux. Alternatively, you can simply bypass the fancy graphical interface and dive into OS X's Unix foundation. OS X is built on top of Unix which is where Linux originally sprang from.

I'm hoping that my next system will be a MacBook Pro with VMWare's Fusion program so I can run WinXP.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Thanks for that link bc. Is it possible to install and use 2 operating systems, switching back and forth depending on what I am using it for and whether or not I want to deal with Linux at that time?

basketcase gave great advice.
Download a linux distro, then burn it to a CD and run it off a CD to see what it's like.

Yes you can run a 'dual boot system' with XP and Linux.
This way you can use either OS, which gives you a chance to learn linux and still have Windows as a backup OS.
I've been running a 'dual boot setup' since this March with Fedora then giving Ubuntu a try. Switched to Ubuntu because Dell is offering Ubuntu on some of their PCs.
I'm no techie and found linux easy to learn plus it's all free, more stable than Windows or a Mac, no antivirus programs needed or spyware issues, you don't have to defrag it and it is FAST. When I run speed tests on the same speed test sites, to compare XP with Linux, linux consistently shows results about 20-25% faster than Windows with my cable modem!
At this point I can do anything on the web with linux.
Decided to try linux because I was fed up with the MS move from XP to Vista and now Mac is doing the same by switching to a new OS in a month or two. I figured if I have to learn a new OS anyway, why not give linux a try since it's FREE and I'm very glad I did.

 

[Questor]

Learning a new OS is a pain. If you must switch, I personally would go linux over mac even if the learning curve is bigger.

Okay, good point. I will keep that in mind.

As for the evil empire question. I agree. In my world view, a list of the wrold greatest monsters would be 1: The Amish, 2: Microsoft, 3: Hitler, Pol Pot et al.

Ah yes. The Amish. Nasty bunch of genocidal maniacs. But then, they don't support microsoft, so I would drop them down a few notches on my world's greatest monster lists. Just below Jerry Falwell and the American Christian Fascist movement, which does support microsoft.

As for spyware and adware, the problem is you, not your computer. I don't mean to sound like a dick. OK I mean to sound like a dick, but I don't mean to be a dick. These things are easily avoidable.

That's okay, you may be a dick, but at least you are being a helpful dick. I realize the spyware problem is not due to my computer. I may be a techno-idiot, but I am not that much of a techno-idiot. My computer is 6 years old now. Computer parts fail when they get old. When my computer is down, that complicates my life a lot, not to mention what happens when there is data loss. I just had problems with a failed network card and while that sounds simple to replace, it turned out to be a major hassle, at least partly because of the techno-idiot issue. So the new computer is so I can return to seamless computing and stay there as much as possible. The spyware issue is what brought me to this forum, where I found the sticky at the top. And as long as I was here, I thought I'd ask about Linux, as that has been on my mind for awhile now.

That being said, odds are there is a linux users group somewhere in your area. They usually have meeting and some have "installfests" Go, have a looksie.

I second the recommendation to try running a distro or two off of a CD first. Lets you try it without commitment, and it also lets you know how well your hardware likes it.

Yes, I will give that a try, the local linux users group (I think I know where I can find them) and the cd trial.

Thanks. Woody too. Those are very useful tips.

 

[PDSAjax]

Everything above is very valid and True.
Linux is a free OS, for a given value of free.
It is a good OS, for a given value of good.

As with all IT applications, you have to consider if you are applying the correct tool for the task you are trying to achieve.

If you are familiar with Windows, you will find that Linux is significantly different, at the end of the day it is written by techies for techies. Microsoft do get a lot worng, but they also get a hell of a lot right, especially around useability and functionality for novices.

Of the many falvours of Linux availible, I think you could do a lot worse than Ubunto http://www.ubuntu.com. Download the latest version (7.10 I believe) and run the Live CD, you simply boot from the CD and Ubuntu runs completely off the CD, without making any changes to your system. Ideal for finding your feet. The downside is, you cant save any settigns this way.
If you want to do that without messing about with multi booting or loosing windows XP, you need to download VMWare Server from http://www.vmware.com it is free and allows you to run Virtual Machines - essentialy a new computer in an isolated environment within your windows session. You can even download preconfigured Virtual Appliances running Ubuntu from VMWare. The best thing is this powerful tool is Free!.

As an IT professional, I make extensive use of Windows, Unix and VMWare environments, I could ramble at great length on the pros and cons of them all here, but I wont. Feel free to PM me for more information though.

I would also add, on the issue of spyware and virii: We wouldnt play without protection, so why the hell do we surf without protection. You should always be packing AntiVirus and AntiSpyware at the very least. There is no excuse, especially with several good quality free products availible.....

 

[WoodPeckr]

Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon

Anyone try it yet?
I'm using Feisty Fawn and thinking of upgrading.
Looks simple enough.

You can only directly upgrade to Ubuntu 7.10 ("Gutsy Gibbon") from Ubuntu 7.04 ("Feisty Fawn"). Be sure that you have all updates applied to Ubuntu 7.04 before you upgrade.

I would also add, on the issue of spyware and virii: We wouldnt play without protection, so why the hell do we surf without protection. You should always be packing AntiVirus and AntiSpyware at the very least. There is no excuse, especially with several good quality free products availible.....

Any suggestions for linux AV & AntiSpyware?
What do you use?

 

[basketcase]

Give PCLinux2007 a try. Install and basic stuff is pretty simple.

 

[danibbler]

Anyone try it yet?
I'm using Feisty Fawn and thinking of upgrading.
Looks simple enough.


Any suggestions for linux AV & AntiSpyware?
What do you use?

I'll be trying it out this weekend probably.

As for AV and such...just use the built-in stuff.

 

[PDSAjax]

Any thoughts on what flavour of buntu to use, U or Ku or other?

I cant spend the time responding to this thread that I would like to tonight, but in a nutshell, which flavour of Ubuntu you choose to run depends on which desktop environment you like.

Ubuntu is based around GNOME
Kubuntu is KDE
Xubuntu is XFce - a lighter weight environment, good for older machines
Edubuntu is aimed ad educational establishments

More info can follow if needed....

 

[PDSAjax]

Any suggestions for linux AV & AntiSpyware?
What do you use?

Thats complicated, if I am running a regular linux session, it is a non persistent virtual machine, so no changes are retained. My ESX server console is logically isolated within the switch from any internet facing traffic. I do run a linux server I am protecting that with Kaspersky.

 

[PDSAjax]

Let me rephrase then.

Any thoughts of what flavor tof desktop enviroment to use, KDE, Gnome, Xfce or other.

It seems to me that there is little difference between KDE and GNOME to an outsider, and thus hard to choose between them.

Exactly, best bet is to try them both and see which suits your preferences. I'm a GNOME guy myself if it makes any difference

 

[WoodPeckr]

Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon

Did the upgrade to Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon. The upgrade from 7.04 to 7.10 went through smoothly with no problems. It took ~2 hours on my 10 year old 400MHZ Pent II and didn't cost a penny ..... unlike the recent upgrades to Vista and now Mac OS X Leopard. Gutsy Gibbon seems nice, runs well. They added a few new things and gave it a new look. Put it in yesterday and so far it has been nice. All my old settings from 7.04 were saved over to Gutsy Gibbon which is just as fast as Feisty Fawn.
Ran Firefox and went into the Ubuntu help forums to look around to find there is plenty of support forums if you have any questions about linux. Since I did the upgrade from 7.04 to 7.10 online, I didn't have any install CD. Ubuntu offers to send you an install CD FREE, so I ordered two. They said I should receive them in 4-6 weeks.
Could you even imagine MS or Mac doing something like that, sending you a FREE CD of their OS!
It's not that hard to learn. As far as I'm concerned since linux is free, MS & Mac can both go pound salt.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I really hope the next update after Fiesty Fawn and Gutsy Gibbon will be Hungry Hippo, but I am guessing it won't be.

LOL!
The next upgrade has been named, Hardy Heron...

 

[danibbler]

Let's see how well it runs on my old laptop. No matter what the price, it's worthless if it doesn't work.

 

[PDSAjax]

I really hope the next update after Fiesty Fawn and Gutsy Gibbon will be Hungry Hippo, but I am guessing it won't be.

Wouldnt Hungry Hippo run into copyright issues - I am sure I remember a game called that when I was a kid