Should I Get Linux?

**parkermauney** · August 16th, 2007, 08:08

Pop in the install cd, it'll give you the option, choose yes.

=win

**ICE** · August 16th, 2007, 19:24

what install cd?

**NoQuarter** · August 16th, 2007, 20:21

allright theICE_MAN, first defrag your windows harddrive until it will no longer defrag :P
then put in a ubuntu install disk.Restart your computer with the bios selected to boot from disk.Once the ubuntu live cd boots click on the install icon.The default is to resize your windows and install in the free space, so clicking ok on everything should be allright.

**ICE** · August 16th, 2007, 20:27

and that will install ubuntu without messing with xp?

**BrooksyX** · August 16th, 2007, 22:11

Personally, I prefer Windows XP Pro SP2 over all other operating systems. With a little bit of tweaking you can get it to run really stable. Someday I will probably upgrade to windows vista, but for now XP gets the job done. I also don't have a problem with linux but I don't use it due to the lack of software support from developers.

**Bevvie** · August 18th, 2007, 15:47

I've thought about switching to Linux before, but haven't for a few reasons.
Firstly, I've heard about how hardware configuration can be fiddly. I get wound up enough setting up hardware with Windows, so really I want to deal with as few problems as possible during setup.
Also, the main function of my PC is for gaming, and I don't think I would ever be able to get the same support with Linux that I do with Windows.
Overall though, I guess the best decision has to be based on what the individual user needs.

**Junixx** · August 19th, 2007, 03:08

Originally Posted by Bevvie

I've thought about switching to Linux before, but haven't for a few reasons.
Firstly, I've heard about how hardware configuration can be fiddly. I get wound up enough setting up hardware with Windows, so really I want to deal with as few problems as possible during setup.
Also, the main function of my PC is for gaming, and I don't think I would ever be able to get the same support with Linux that I do with Windows.
Overall though, I guess the best decision has to be based on what the individual user needs.

Actually (for me anyway) all of my hardware worked with Ubuntu without any tweaking, excluding the video card drivers. You've hit on probably the best thing right here

Overall though, I guess the best decision has to be based on what the individual user needs.

This is really 100% true, I got sick of adware / spyware on WinXP so I installed Ubuntu and am now dual booting. IF you just use your computer for IM'ing, browsing websites, listening to music, and writing papers and such, ubuntu (or most distros of linux) will satisfy those needs very well, without worry of adware and such... Though there are some good games that have ports or were made of linux, a mod of "Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory" thats called "True Combat: Elite" is worth mentioning, it runs great on my computer

A more recent game thats having a port for linux is Enemy Territory: Quake Wars...

Some examples of OSS alternatives:

MSN - aMSN
Aim/yahoo/other - GAIM
Microsoft Office - Open Office
Winamp - XMMS

Those are just some.. Btw I will say that the default Ubuntu theme didnt look so great to me... So I got a better one

PS - I like your avatar Bevvie :thumbup:

**NoQuarter** · August 19th, 2007, 05:19

To try it out without commitment try a live cd, it runs from cd or dvd without installing anything.The thing is that how do you know whether you like something untill you try it

**CalcProgrammer1** · August 22nd, 2007, 06:28

I definitely say DUAL BOOT Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux.

Ubuntu is great, it's super-easy to set up, fully open-source, and well supported. It has the excellent GNOME desktop, and the Debian package management system, which makes it easy to install and uninstall software. Be prepared, Linux is NOT like Windows, but it's easy in it's own way. Getting WiFi set up is a pain, but once it's set up, it's great.

My laptop dual boots Ubuntu 7.04 and W2K, though I rarely (RARELY!) use W2K on it (I'm using it to type this, in Ubuntu), since I use it mainly for Web browsing and chatting, all of which can be easily done in Ubuntu, which has a much nicer and more customizable interface than Windows.

I have Windows XP on my desktop, dual booted with Ubuntu, but I use that PC for homebrew developing for DS, and I prefer Microsoft Visual C++ Express to develop in, so I use Windows on that more than Ubuntu, but you don't get spyware while coding, I keep my browsing to my laptop, which is right here on my desk, running Ubuntu

I also have a 3rd PC, an old 500MHz desktop, which up until earlier today, dual booted Windows 98 SE and Ubuntu 7.04, but, seeing how incompatible 98 has gotten, today I updated it to Windows 2000, though kept Ubuntu in place as well, so now it runs W2K and Ubuntu.