[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tell me about linux (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 5/8/2010 8:58:22 PM EDT
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I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please.
Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista  on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?
I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. |
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I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?
I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. A1: Yes. Because I like having the ability to do as I please. A2: No, you cannot install ANY programs, but many Windows programs will run just fine: Search Linux Wine A3: What do you want to accomplish? Webserving? Email? Database? Software Devel? etc.. A4: Pros: cheap  and feature rich
Cons: You will be thrown into the deep end of the pool...you will either sink or swim |
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Not everybody likes to build their car from scratch. It's my understanding that you don't have to program anything. I'm I wrong? I'm not going to claim to be an expert on Linux. My exposure to it during college turned me off to it, and after college, I never went near it again. My experience was taking 2 weeks of classes to set up - from scratch - a newer Linux OS that looked like a Mac OS from about 1991. I said "Why bother?" and never went near the damn thing again. If it works for some people, that's terrific. It doesn't work at all for me. |
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I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?
I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. A1: Yes. Because I like having the ability to do as I please. A2: No, you cannot install ANY programs, but many Windows programs will run just fine: Search Linux Wine A3: What do you want to accomplish? Webserving? Email? Database? Software Devel? etc.. A4: Pros: cheap and feature rich
Cons: You will be thrown into the deep end of the pool...you will either sink or swim Just the things I do now. Get on the web, write papers for college, play a few games, Music, and video editing. |
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Quoted: I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. I use a Linux system at work because we do stuff with network shares, so testing that our product plays nicely with Linux shares is part of the package. Linux is its own operating system. It does not run Windows or Mac programs. There are probably emulators, which are probably hugely overrated by Linux users. You can't go to the store, buy some random game and expect to run it on your Linux system. Windows gets a bad rap for crashing, but it tends to crash while doing something that Linux can't do because that program doesn't exist on Linux. There are Linux versions now that are easy to install and run. Good luck finding a solid use for them. I suppose if you wanted a media machine to watch Hulu and play music and didn't want to spend any money on a new version of Windows, that would be a good use for Linux. Over time, you may even find a few other uses for it. But you will always be frustrated to discover that whatever you want your computer to do, Windows probably already does it while Linux can't do it, doesn't do it, or does do it but only via the command line interface of a quirky program that you have to compile yourself. Windows' greatest weakness and greatest strength is bloat. All that bloat tends to make it less stable, but also tends to mean that whatever you want to do, it's probably either built in or easy to find a simple program for. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. I use a Linux system at work because we do stuff with network shares, so testing that our product plays nicely with Linux shares is part of the package. Linux is its own operating system. It does not run Windows or Mac programs. There are probably emulators, which are probably hugely overrated by Linux users. You can't go to the store, buy some random game and expect to run it on your Linux system. Windows gets a bad rap for crashing, but it tends to crash while doing something that Linux can't do because that program doesn't exist on Linux. There are Linux versions now that are easy to install and run. Good luck finding a solid use for them. I suppose if you wanted a media machine to watch Hulu and play music and didn't want to spend any money on a new version of Windows, that would be a good use for Linux. Over time, you may even find a few other uses for it. But you will always be frustrated to discover that whatever you want your computer to do, Windows probably already does it while Linux can't do it, doesn't do it, or does do it but only via the command line interface of a quirky program that you have to compile yourself. Windows' greatest weakness and greatest strength is bloat. All that bloat tends to make it less stable, but also tends to mean that whatever you want to do, it's probably either built in or easy to find a simple program for. That is a ignorant statement to make (along with several others in this thread). Then again, this is GD so I am going to save my breath. OP, if you want real details, I suggest making a post in Urban Commandos instead. |
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Do you run linux? Why or why not.
Yes.. It makes for a great desktop OS. It performs a lot better on my desktop for the day to day type surfing/word processing than Vista does. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? No. You can run some windows program emulators but you can't "Install" windows software on it. What do I need to know about it? Download a CD distro of Ubuntu and play around with it. You won't have to install anything or make any permanent changes, it lets you get online, run all the typical apps, etc. You can then set it up so Windows and Linux are installed on two different partitions then choose what to boot when the computer starts up. Do a quick check of what your laptop hardware is (Laptop models, sound/wifi/dvd shit) and google search it to see if you are going to have any major hardware compatibility issues. Pros? Cons? Pros.. it has the capability to run a lot faster, it has a lot of configuration options.. it's a lot of fun playing around with the open source apps, it gives you a MUCH better understanding of how PCs and networking works. Cons.. I wouldn't highly suggest it for a laptop. Linux has come a long way recently, but "plug and play" usb device recognition sucks a dick. It takes a while to get used to maneuvering around or making changes. Printers/cameras/video/dvd player support can be a bit of a pain in the ass. |
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Let me begin with saying that I've been a solid linux user for about 5 years. I've used it recreationally for 10 years. I use it as my SOLE operating system every day, 10+ hours a day.
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Linux is its own operating system. It does not run Windows or Mac programs. There are probably emulators, which are probably hugely overrated by Linux users. You can't go to the store, buy some random game and expect to run it on your Linux system.[/div][div] [/div][div] Fail. Well, kinda. Windows games don't run well on WINE (windows emulation software that comes with linux), but most other windows programs run fine. [/div][div]Windows gets a bad rap for crashing, but it tends to crash while doing something that Linux can't do because that program doesn't exist on Linux.[/div][div] Fail again. I've run linux for 5 years, to do everything you can imagine. Never have I found something it can't do. The question is, are you able to learn how to do it. [/div][div]There are Linux versions now that are easy to install and run. Good luck finding a solid use for them. I suppose if you wanted a media machine to watch Hulu and play music and didn't want to spend any money on a new version of Windows, that would be a good use for Linux. Over time, you may even find a few other uses for it.[/div][div] Fail. Ubuntu is a great place to start. [/div][div]But you will always be frustrated to discover that whatever you want your computer to do, Windows probably already does it while Linux can't do it, doesn't do it, or does do it but only via the command line interface of a quirky program that you have to compile yourself. Windows' greatest weakness and greatest strength is bloat. All that bloat tends to make it less stable, but also tends to mean that whatever you want to do, it's probably either built in or easy to find a simple program for.[/div][div] Ummm, just a lie. 
Maybe these statements would have held water 10 years ago, but not anymore. I will say this. Linux is NOT as user friendly as Windows, but has MASSIVE advantages if you can learn it properly. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to learn Linux, by putting time into it, just like you did growing up with Windows. If you spent half the time familiarizing yourself with Linux, as you did with Windows, you'd be a Linux expert. Additionally, you grew up with Windows, you went to school with Windows, and most people work with Windows every day, so cross training to ANY other operating system will require a learning curve. Be ready to devote time and effort. If you don't want to, or can't do that, then stick to Winders. |
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<snip> I will say this. Linux is NOT as user friendly as Windows, but has MASSIVE advantages if you can learn it properly. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to learn Linux, by putting time into it, just like you did growing up with Windows. If you spent half the time familiarizing yourself with Linux, as you did with Windows, you'd be a Linux expert. Additionally, you grew up with Windows, you went to school with Windows, and most people work with Windows every day, so cross training to ANY other operating system will require a learning curve. Be ready to devote time and effort. If you don't want to, or can't do that, then stick to Winders. I have tried the live CD for Ubuntu and I kinda like it, but I'm not sure yet. The reason I want to put it on my laptop is so I can learn it while still having my desktop fully functional for school work and stuff. What are these Massive advantages? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. A1: Yes. Because I like having the ability to do as I please. A2: No, you cannot install ANY programs, but many Windows programs will run just fine: Search Linux Wine A3: What do you want to accomplish? Webserving? Email? Database? Software Devel? etc.. A4: Pros: cheap and feature richCons: You will be thrown into the deep end of the pool...you will either sink or swim Just the things I do now. Get on the web, write papers for college, play a few games, Music, and video editing. Most games do not run. Linux is a UNIX variant - and is built by programmers, for programmers... It does a great job of 'work-type' tasks, but has nowhere near the software base for the 'home' type stuff that other OSes do... Office software wise, there is OpenOffice (ex StarOffice) from Sun, and of course Firefox for the web... Music, they have plenty of MP3 players (XMMS -> essentually Winamp)... Don't know much about video editing... Probably something out there... Windows software can be run on a virtual machine, or through emulation (emulation (WINE) is less stable than real Windows, obviously)... It *can* be alot faster than Windows on the same system, depending on how you set it up. You see, Linux does not have 'one' standard desktop/GUI interface, there are hundreds to choose from (The GUI in Linux is a program, not a totally integrated part of the OS. And there are multiple ones to chose from, the top 2 being GNOME and KDE).... Those two are fairly large, and have similar features and performance to Windows. What Linux does NOT do, is bother you about what you are about to do to the system... Tell it to erase your whole drive, and as long as your user has the right permissions, it will just do it - no prompts, no safeties... It also does not go to the same lengths as Windows to set up your hardware for you... And some cheap Windows-based hardware just DOES NOT work, because there are no drivers for said hardware.... |
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<snip> I will say this. Linux is NOT as user friendly as Windows, but has MASSIVE advantages if you can learn it properly. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to learn Linux, by putting time into it, just like you did growing up with Windows. If you spent half the time familiarizing yourself with Linux, as you did with Windows, you'd be a Linux expert. Additionally, you grew up with Windows, you went to school with Windows, and most people work with Windows every day, so cross training to ANY other operating system will require a learning curve. Be ready to devote time and effort. If you don't want to, or can't do that, then stick to Winders. I have tried the live CD for Ubuntu and I kinda like it, but I'm not sure yet. The reason I want to put it on my laptop is so I can learn it while still having my desktop fully functional for school work and stuff. What are these Massive advantages? Glad you asked!!! 
You have complete control over the configuration of your operating system and programs. While this doesn't _seem_ to be so wonderful, think about all the things that rather annoy you about Windows. Examples range from simple things like changing your login screen, to modifying the core of the operating system to run better on your specific system. You can also customize the Linux operating system to such an extreme that you can make it do a few things, and do them exceptionally. If you want Notepad to run like a freaking nuclear power sub, you can do it.
One of my particular favorites is that any software you want or need is available at your fingertips. Lets say you want to play a game, like arena. >apt-get install arena *poof* You've got a new game. =) what if you want to build a website using drupal web technology? >apt-get install drupal *poof* You've got a new website. =) What do you think you'd like to do with Linux? |
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I took a computer class this term and I am learning all sorts of oddities. One thing I would like to know more about is linux. So tell me about it please. Do you run linux? Why or why not. Is it true that you can install any windows or mac program on it? What do I need to know about it? Pros? Cons? I have a laptop with Vista on it that I rarely use. I'm thinking about trying it out on it. What version should I use?
I'm not the smartest person when it comes to computers so any tidbits of know how would be great. A1: Yes. Because I like having the ability to do as I please. A2: No, you cannot install ANY programs, but many Windows programs will run just fine: Search Linux Wine A3: What do you want to accomplish? Webserving? Email? Database? Software Devel? etc.. A4: Pros: cheap and feature rich
Cons: You will be thrown into the deep end of the pool...you will either sink or swim Just the things I do now. Get on the web, write papers for college, play a few games, Music, and video editing. Most games do not run. Linux is a UNIX variant - and is built by programmers, for programmers... It does a great job of 'work-type' tasks, but has nowhere near the software base for the 'home' type stuff that other OSes do... Office software wise, there is OpenOffice (ex StarOffice) from Sun, and of course Firefox for the web... Music, they have plenty of MP3 players (XMMS -> essentually Winamp)... Don't know much about video editing... Probably something out there... Windows software can be run on a virtual machine, or through emulation (emulation (WINE) is less stable than real Windows, obviously)... What Linux does NOT do, is bother you about what you are about to do to the system... Tell it to erase your whole drive, and as long as your user has the right permissions, it will just do it - no prompts, no safeties... It also does not go to the same lengths as Windows to set up your hardware for you... Eh. I don't agree 100%. Most popular games DO run, and do so better in WINE than in windows, IMHO. I do agree that it doesn't have the "hand holding safeties" that windows does. You just have be conscious of what you are doing. If you run "rm -Rf /", yea you're screwed. 
For your statement about hardware, I kinda can agree with this. It is hit and miss, sometimes they work perfectly, sometimes they kinda work, and sometimes they just won't damn work at all. (hardware components) |
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<snip> I will say this. Linux is NOT as user friendly as Windows, but has MASSIVE advantages if you can learn it properly. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to learn Linux, by putting time into it, just like you did growing up with Windows. If you spent half the time familiarizing yourself with Linux, as you did with Windows, you'd be a Linux expert. Additionally, you grew up with Windows, you went to school with Windows, and most people work with Windows every day, so cross training to ANY other operating system will require a learning curve. Be ready to devote time and effort. If you don't want to, or can't do that, then stick to Winders. I have tried the live CD for Ubuntu and I kinda like it, but I'm not sure yet. The reason I want to put it on my laptop is so I can learn it while still having my desktop fully functional for school work and stuff. What are these Massive advantages? Glad you asked!!!
You have complete control over the configuration of your operating system and programs. While this doesn't _seem_ to be so wonderful, think about all the things that rather annoy you about Windows. Examples range from simple things like changing your login screen, to modifying the core of the operating system to run better on your specific system. You can also customize the Linux operating system to such an extreme that you can make it do a few things, and do them exceptionally. If you want Notepad to run like a freaking nuclear power sub, you can do it.
One of my particular favorites is that any software you want or need is available at your fingertips. Lets say you want to play a game, like arena. >apt-get install arena *poof* You've got a new game. =) what if you want to build a website using drupal web technology? >apt-get install drupal *poof* You've got a new website. =) What do you think you'd like to do with Linux? Does linux make you dubtap?
There is nothing in particular I would like to do with linux, I just want to explore the option. Do any of these things require programming, or do you just download something that someone else has done? Would I be limited if I couldn't program? If downloading is the case, what would I do if I was not connected to the internet and I wanted to do something new? Would I ave to rely on something like WINE, or would I be out of luck until I reconnected? |
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Quoted: Does linux make you dubtap? There is nothing in particular I would like to do with linux, I just want to explore the option. Do any of these things require programming, or do you just download something that someone else has done? Would I be limited if I couldn't program? If downloading is the case, what would I do if I was not connected to the internet and I wanted to do something new? Would I ave to rely on something like WINE, or would I be out of luck until I reconnected? Programming is optional. Don't be a pussy, and stop asking questions. Run Ubuntu from a live CD or install it on a junk HDD. Give it a try and move on from there. |
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Does linux make you dubtap?
There is nothing in particular I would like to do with linux, I just want to explore the option. Do any of these things require programming, or do you just download something that someone else has done? Would I be limited if I couldn't program? If downloading is the case, what would I do if I was not connected to the internet and I wanted to do something new? Would I ave to rely on something like WINE, or would I be out of luck until I reconnected? Programming is optional. Don't be a pussy, and stop asking questions. Run Ubuntu from a live CD or install it on a junk HDD. Give it a try and move on from there. For some reason, the live CD works fine on my desktop, but it does not run on my laptop (where I want to put it). Would I have a problem with the hardware? Never mind, it worked this time, but it didn't last time
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. |
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<snip> I will say this. Linux is NOT as user friendly as Windows, but has MASSIVE advantages if you can learn it properly. The bottom line is that you have to be willing to learn Linux, by putting time into it, just like you did growing up with Windows. If you spent half the time familiarizing yourself with Linux, as you did with Windows, you'd be a Linux expert. Additionally, you grew up with Windows, you went to school with Windows, and most people work with Windows every day, so cross training to ANY other operating system will require a learning curve. Be ready to devote time and effort. If you don't want to, or can't do that, then stick to Winders. I have tried the live CD for Ubuntu and I kinda like it, but I'm not sure yet. The reason I want to put it on my laptop is so I can learn it while still having my desktop fully functional for school work and stuff. What are these Massive advantages? Glad you asked!!!
You have complete control over the configuration of your operating system and programs. While this doesn't _seem_ to be so wonderful, think about all the things that rather annoy you about Windows. Examples range from simple things like changing your login screen, to modifying the core of the operating system to run better on your specific system. You can also customize the Linux operating system to such an extreme that you can make it do a few things, and do them exceptionally. If you want Notepad to run like a freaking nuclear power sub, you can do it.
One of my particular favorites is that any software you want or need is available at your fingertips. Lets say you want to play a game, like arena. >apt-get install arena *poof* You've got a new game. =) what if you want to build a website using drupal web technology? >apt-get install drupal *poof* You've got a new website. =) What do you think you'd like to do with Linux? Does linux make you dubtap?
There is nothing in particular I would like to do with linux, I just want to explore the option. Do any of these things require programming, or do you just download something that someone else has done? Would I be limited if I couldn't program? If downloading is the case, what would I do if I was not connected to the internet and I wanted to do something new? Would I ave to rely on something like WINE, or would I be out of luck until I reconnected? All valid questions. I'm not a programmer. 
I have never had to program anything to get Linux to play ball. If you aren't connected to the internet, that is OK. Most of the software is on the initial install DVD. If it's not, you can always download it on a computer that is on the internet. You'll only use WINE if the software was built for Windows. Such as a computer game you purchase at Walmart, or Microsoft Office. Typically though, you'll need an internet connection to get most of the software you'll want. The nice thing is that Ubuntu gives you a nice search tool to search for software. For example, you want to edit photos? Search for "photo editor" and you'll get GIMP, a freaking badass competitor to photoshop. |
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. fiver.... Dude.... C'mon. I'm trying sell this guy on FOSS. Lets not bog him down with facts. 
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. Richard? Is that you?
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Quoted: For some reason, the live CD works fine on my desktop, but it does not run on my laptop (where I want to put it). Would I have a problem with the hardware? These days, It would be surprising that a live CD would barf on pretty much anything. The only times I've seen a live CD fail in the past several years has been on rack mounted hardware with obscure disk controllers. But yes, it may be a hardware problem. Give us details on your laptop and which distro you are using and someone might know something. Or you can try the google machine. |
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. fiver.... Dude.... C'mon. I'm trying sell this guy on FOSS. Lets not bog him down with facts. Yea, I had no idea what the fuck he said
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Quoted: Quoted: I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. Richard? Is that you? I've been drinking a little. Sometimes I can't help myself. |
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. Richard? Is that you?
ROFL!! |
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Not everybody likes to build their car from scratch. It's my understanding that you don't have to program anything. I'm I wrong? Grab an ubuntu disk ( which you can download for free ) and boot your computer from the disk. it will boot as a live cd and not touch your hard drive. you play around in it, it all works nice. when you are done, take cd out and reboot back to windows. I went to ubuntu and i will probably never use a descendant of anything MS has out today. Full disclosure, I am a contract IT guy for windows networks. 2 reasons i like it the most. 1. it does not assume i am using it illegitimately and go search out if it's legit all the time, forcing to waste my time doing that crap when i really need to do what i'm working on. There is no license key for linux. post apocalypse when windows registration servers are gone, windows will bonk out. linux will work perfect forever. 2. the application installation / update process in unbuntu is mind blowingly fantastic compared to how windows does it. You can update your entire system, every single application and the os with a quick command. In linux you really do just tell the system to install skype or flash or whatever and it does the rest. it knows where that shit is online and makes it all happen. The big con i see with linux is flash support. I run ubuntu 64 so it's a slightly different story but for me flash is not optimal. crashes a lot. could be a lot better. |
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I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. fiver.... Dude.... C'mon. I'm trying sell this guy on FOSS. Lets not bog him down with facts. Yea, I had no idea what the fuck he said Everything he said is completely accurate, but not useful to you in any way... The guy who created GNU (Richard Stallman), gets very upset every time someone calls GNU/Linux, "Linux", as it ignores his contribution to it. He's sort of an eccentric genius and one of the patriarchs of the F/OSS movement. ETA: He's also the guy who wrote emacs. Emacs is an operating system that has just about everything but a decent text editor in it.
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If you want to get some serious geeking out done Linux will make you very, very happy. I had a machine running it for a while about 10 years ago but gave up on it. Linux may have gotten more user friendly in the past 10 years but when I was running it you had to have pretty good sysadmin skills to do anything useful on a desktop. Since I didn't have those skills or the time to acquire them I didn't use Linux very much. If you do run it be sure to enter the command "Make Love" into the C shell. |
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The big con i see with linux is flash support. I run ubuntu 64 so it's a slightly different story but for me flash is not optimal. crashes a lot. could be a lot better. This is absolutely the truth. I've managed to overcome it, but it took countless hours of googling and tweaking configurations. This is probably the best example of Linux fail out there right now. They key is patience and google. |
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The big con i see with linux is flash support. I run ubuntu 64 so it's a slightly different story but for me flash is not optimal. crashes a lot. could be a lot better. This is absolutely the truth. I've managed to overcome it, but it took countless hours of googling and tweaking configurations. This is probably the best example of Linux fail out there right now. They key is patience and google. Fuck Adobe. Flash needs to go away already. |
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This thread is pertinent to my interests. To get started do you just download a live cd from the ubuntu site? I have a desktop I can poke at it on. Yes, you just download it from their site. You will also need to download an ISO burner to make the live CD. After you make it, just restart your comp with the live CD in and it will run ubuntu. Take the disk out and windows is back |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. fiver.... Dude.... C'mon. I'm trying sell this guy on FOSS. Lets not bog him down with facts. Yea, I had no idea what the fuck he said Everything he said is completely accurate, but not useful to you in any way... The guy who created GNU (Richard Stallman), gets very upset every time someone calls GNU/Linux, "Linux", as it ignores his contribution to it. He's sort of an eccentric genius and one of the patriarchs of the F/OSS movement. ETA: He's also the guy who wrote emacs. Emacs is an operating system that has just about everything but a decent text editor in it.  @ emacs comment... 'Feature creep' defined...And then we get into the various different programming projects that were created because one or the other wasn't 'free enough', and so on... Plenty of eccentricity to go around in that particular community.... But the end result has been quite useful, as software goes... |
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Ok, I have the ubuntu live CD in and I am about to install it. I think my laptop it going to catch fire. It seems you have several folks on this thread that are knowledgeable enough of Linux to help. =) *shameless plug* I published a training video, and countless other books and training material on Linux. Check this out to get you moving. You can probably obtain the vid though less than legal means you so wished. Edit: shit, its on Youtube now! so much for copyright.... http://www.vtc.com/products/Linux-Professional-Institute-Level-1-tutorials.htm |
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Quoted: @ emacs comment... And then we get into the various different programming projects that were created because one or the other wasn't 'free enough', and so on... Plenty of eccentricity to go around in that particular community.... But the end result has been quite useful, as software goes... So you are a vi man then? |
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Quoted: Quoted: @ emacs comment... And then we get into the various different programming projects that were created because one or the other wasn't 'free enough', and so on... Plenty of eccentricity to go around in that particular community.... But the end result has been quite useful, as software goes... So you are a vi man then? Yep... Started out with (gasp) pico (hey, I was 17, it was the closest to edit.exe of the ones that came on that first stack of flpppies*), learned VI, for what it does, it works... ** My first 'experience' with Linux, was running it on a left over AMD 386, with a 40MB hard disk, 8-bit ISA monochrome display, and a stack of Slackware floppies, back in 1997... The PC was a collection of leftover junk, for me to learn on, and had pretty much every anachronisim except a 5.25" drive - 10base2 coax LAN, etc... |