Posted: 10/24/2007 5:59:27 PM EDT
Post yours!   
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Not that difficult. Linux doesn't use much memory - so you can actually run the OS off of a CD instead of installing it (called a LiveDistro - though if you plan on using Linux as your everday OS, then I would install it). Main thing that holds most people back is that they either have a Windows-specific application that won't work well in Linux or devices that don't have Linux drivers -or- they're just too afraid to try something *different* from Windows. It's just like the guys that bash Macs because all they know is Windows. OS X (the mac operating system) is actually a UNIX-based OS with a really pretty GUI - IMHO it's a wonderful OS for the 'everyday user' simply because of it's UNIX underpinnings coupled with a very intuitive GUI = stable, secure and beautiful to look at. 
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i take it you have never used Windows PE, have you? Windows can most definitally run off a CD. |
Very easy. Most popular distributions such as Ubuntu Linux have very good hardware support. There is practically a Linux alternative of everything you can do in Windows (Office, e-mail, web browsing, etc) |
If you are willing to work at and learn by all means jump in… but is not easy, most that try fail and end up very frustrated with the experience and go back to Windows. You will have to learn and you will have to take the time need to get used to the flavor you pick. The biggest mistake Linux advocates make is tell the average user the switch is easy it is not easy for the average computer user and telling them it is easy just increase the chance they will walk away frustrated. |
Ouch good luck with Kubuntu. I never had any luck installing Compiz on Kubuntu. Probably because it hates KDE or something...
I can tell, Mandrake Linux doesn't exist anymore! 
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What flavor of linux are you running? |
Ubuntu. ETA: It has been the easiest distro to use so far IMHO. I have installed and used Mandrake/Mandriva, Morphix, PHLAK, Damn Small Linux, and Gentoo in the past. Out of those, PHLAK was certainly the most interesting distro to use, Gentoo being the most pain in the ass, and (IMHO) Mandriva having the shittiest support. Of course that was 2 years ago and things change. |
What, most window users could use Ubuntu easily! I love running it though, most people just get scared when you tell them its lunux. Takes care of all those people that want to use your computer..lol |
Well as long as Microsoft has 95% dominance of the OS market hackers will have no incentive to make Linux viruses.
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Which is where OS X comes in  It's the *nix distro that even morons can use.
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I'm a big fan of Mepis I tried ubuntu and had problems getting all the multimedia stuff to work properly. (They may have fixed the issue I was having since then, this was 2 years ago or something) Mepis on the other had it awesome and I've had no issues with it. I dual boot on my PC but my laptop is 100% linux, I got a Windoze virus that no matter what I tried I couldn't get rid of it. so I just wiped it. I didn't have to configure anything, picked it all up. All hardware works, connected right up to my wireless network without any intervention.(I think I've seen windows do this once) |
ahh you beat me to the joke. BOOO. before I forget. SLACKWARE RULES!! |
I'm a Linux fanatic, and I agree with you. Honestly, it's so-so as a desktop OS (works for me) and most importantly - IT'S NOT WINDOWS. It's not intended to be, it never will be, and it's DIFFERENT for a reason. It bugs the piss out of me that there is a growing movement of ideologically minded individuals pushing Linux on the masses. What in God's name are they hoping to accomplish, other than running a good risk of ruining a perfectly good operating system in an effort to placate people I don't like? I swear to God, I'm going to end up using FreeBSD. Linux "advocacy" is lame. It's like religion to some of these people. Fuck, it's just an OS. Use it, appreciate it for what it is, and leave it at that. UNIX (and derivatives thereof) are NOT average end-user operating systems, unless you alter them so drastically that you kill what made them desirable to people like me in the first place. |
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I've just got the default desktop on my Ubuntu install... haven't messed with it recently. Maybe I should... For those asking how easy, I got Ubuntu for Dummies, loaded the CD, changed the partition on my HDD around and installed it. Now when I boot my laptop, I get a menu, and I pick the OS I want from that. Easy as PIE. |
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most of the times i've used linux was without x. never really got the hang of fully customizing my desktop when i did have x installed. Really games are easier to run on windows, and until that changes with linux or until i stop playing PC games i will have MS loaded. |