Posted: 8/17/2013 8:43:05 AM EDT
| Any good? |
|
Only OS I've used for maybe four or five years. I think I got into it in the 8.XX days.
If you want to just try it, run a dual system. You can select between Ubuntu and Windows on start up. I keep Windows around because there's one or two programs I use every once in a while that Wine doesn't like. Other than that, Windows is shit. I love Ubuntu. |
|
I dual boot also
I got a free program called easy bcd you can set the boot menu in win 7 so you can pick which system to boot to and the timer for which os will boot without a selection. you can run the live cd or usb and if you like it you can install it permanantly |
|
Quoted:
I am running Kubuntu on my desktop right now. It's the KDE version of Ubuntu. Love it. I'd run Kubuntu if I hadn't found Lubuntu. It runs LXDE instead of Unity, which is the devil. Both are great versions but I worry about what's going to happen to all the distros under Ubuntu once Wayland gains traction. |
|
I'm running Mint right now also. Ubuntu is awesome too... there are only a few differences that the average person will notice. Experienced linux junkies will probably not like Ubuntu because of Unity. Linux is not perfect by any stretch... the main thing that bothers me are the drivers. You have to edit some config files to fix things sometimes. For example, I use a wireless Logitech mouse, and Ubuntu's mouse settings still have the sensitivity way too high even when I turn it all the way down. So, I had to figure out how to edit the mouse config info to increase the "deceleration" settings to slow it way down. Things like that are a common occurrence. Overall, it's not "hard," but it takes lots of time to figure it out when you don't know anything. I've never studied programming, coding, Python, C, C+, or ANYTHING like that really. The other big problem is the programs. They offer the same functionality as Windows programs, but there is not nearly as much polish, so it takes some getting used to. There are times when Windows programs do things easier or certain settings are easier to figure out and change. I like Ashampoo Burning Studio for example. The linux equivalents like K3b doesn't have the polish and some settings are esoteric or not obvious for complete NOOBS. Overall, you can do most everything that you can with a linux box and even more, but it depends. If you do professional audio and video editing, I've heard people say there is no good equivalent on linux that equals more powerful, commercial software.. but that stuff is like $700 a copy or whatever. Overall, linux is an amazing Windows replacement. You can customize EVERYTHING. If you don't like something, just go download a theme and change it. Another thing that took me a while to figure out and understand is how linux deals with installing programs. In Windows, each program you install generally comes with its own installer packed with it, and it's responsible for putting the right files into the registry so the OS knows how to access the proper libraries and manage dependencies. Linux works completely opposite, where the installer is actually built into the operating system. It is responsible for managing dependencies, installing pre-compiled programs, and making sure files don't get put in the wrong place. Linux does not have a registry like Windows does, so the installer (apt) must handle all of that and it is superb. I've said to myself a thousand times how I wish Windows used apt or yum or whatever. Once you learn how it works, it's so easy to use and dead-nuts reliable. Another important thing you must learn is how linux divides up its operating system files. With Windows, I don't know of a way to separate the user files from the main operating system files, but once again linux works completely opposite. Almost all of the operating system files are installed under "/". This is called the root folder and is kind of like C:\. However, you can create a completely separate partition for your personal files, email, music, movies, etc, which is called "/home". That way you can back up all of your files by making an image of just the /home partition and putting it on a backup drive or whatever. So, if something happens you can instantly restore your personal files without having to re-install the operating system. The reverse also applies of course. You can backup just the "/" (root) partition to a separate drive or partition so if something happens, you can just wipe the root partition and restore without putting any of your personal files at risk. Think of it like all of your files are on a pizza and you can slice it up into different pieces to keep them separate. You can even do this with the "/boot" partition, which is the folder that stores your kernel and boot information. This is all optional of course.. so if you don't want to mess with it, then you can just make one huge "/" partition and have a system like Windows. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with linux. It works great with Tor as long as you don't forget to turn off javascript and a few other things. The ext4 filesystem is such a joy. It never slows down and never needs to be defragmented because of the way it works. You can leave your linux box on 24/7/365 because it's designed that way. You can easily encrypt your entire hard drive when you install the OS. It doesn't need to be installed in a primary partition (unlike Windows), so you can install the OS anywhere on the hard drive in an extended partition. You can install it on a USB drive, micro SD card, external hard drive or even on a networked computer in another room. Once again, I'm not a coder, programmer, or artist. I don't do video or audio editing or any professional work on a PC except for word processing. I dual-boot into Windows 7 for games but other than that, I can do everything with linux. It's faster, smaller, more lightweight. It has a bigger learning curve though, so you MUST be prepared with LOTS and LOTS of patience. It takes a while to learn how to use it functionally without having to stop in the middle of a project and go spend an hour looking up some command. Don't get overwhelmed with the commands though, because even the linux gurus just copy and paste them often. They don't memorize every single thing either. Let me know if you have specific questions. Almost everything you want to know is answered on youtube. Good luck |
|
Ubuntu has been good for taking a few older machines we had around the house, and setting up a few PC's that can play Minecraft, which lets the kids play at the same time. I Use Lubuntu on an older HP mini netbook too, and have been pleased.
My usual machines are Openbsd, but the Ubuntu stuff has been good for the kids, as they understand it moving from Windows pretty quickly. |
|
My son and I just built an Ubuntu box - Dual boot with XP. He also has a netbook running Puppy Linux.
Ubuntu seems pretty straight forward to me. It has all of the basics: Browser, email, document editor, photo editor, music player etc. right out of the box. Puppy Linux is a neat little OS. It's a very slim distro yet still has all of the basics listed above. The OS itself is so small, it can be loaded from an SD card and run from RAM. |