Alot of people have wondered about Linux & GNU, but have either found resources online somewhat lacking or haven't wanted to try something that people in their circle haven't (the guinea pig concept). I figured I'd put up a few helpful links for people having questions about it. Also I will put in basic synopsis for some of the distros I have experience with. Yes you can google them all, but every distros homepage paints a rosey picture instead of a realistic one.
Distros:
There are a good couple hundred linux distribution out there, and which one is for you depends on what you want to do, your experience, and how you like to control your system.
This link is an almost complete list of active distributions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Li ... tributions
This link compares them on a technical basis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison ... tributions
Software:
Here's a handy reference for linux equivilents to windows software (not counting running windows software under wine), thanks for the link Psi
http://www.linuxeq.com/
A generally handy link:
http://distrowatch.com/
For the gamers, a list of open source games:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_open_source_games
Audiophiles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_audio_software
A comparison (almost objective) of linux vs windows:
http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html
And lastly.. for people wanting an open source solution yet not wanting to leave the comfort of windows...
http://osswin.sourceforge.net/
And some open source games available for windows too
http://osswin.sourceforge.net/games.html
....
I'll break down some of the distros in the near future.... feel free toflame me for this one.. and if it's helpful to anyone... cool
The Free Libre Open Source Software Thread
Moderator: EG Members
The Free Libre Open Source Software Thread
Bow to Golbez
.
The real trick is just to getting used to the way things look, rather then how they work.
gAIM is a pretty good replacement for trillian (aim,icq,msn,irc,jabber,etc) it just doesn't look as pretty right out of the box. However, where do you think trillian gets some of it's ideas and code from to make it work? You guessed it, gAIM.
OpenSource software generally has an image problem, it is often utilitarian and not pretty to look at. However, your workflow will be similiar if not exactly the same as Windows.
Have a paper to type, you turn on your computer if it isn't already on. Log in to your user account, fire up OpenOffice Writer, and start typing away.
You need to send email (not just any email, but office email.. you use exchange too) well, fire up Evolution (not outlook) and it's wizard helps you to connect to your necessary servers.
It is hard to do the switch because people are naturally lazy and are also intimidated by anything new looking even though the technology & protocols are the same.
There has to be a push to make you want to find something better, and more often then not people just don't know of any alternative.
gAIM is a pretty good replacement for trillian (aim,icq,msn,irc,jabber,etc) it just doesn't look as pretty right out of the box. However, where do you think trillian gets some of it's ideas and code from to make it work? You guessed it, gAIM.
OpenSource software generally has an image problem, it is often utilitarian and not pretty to look at. However, your workflow will be similiar if not exactly the same as Windows.
Have a paper to type, you turn on your computer if it isn't already on. Log in to your user account, fire up OpenOffice Writer, and start typing away.
You need to send email (not just any email, but office email.. you use exchange too) well, fire up Evolution (not outlook) and it's wizard helps you to connect to your necessary servers.
It is hard to do the switch because people are naturally lazy and are also intimidated by anything new looking even though the technology & protocols are the same.
There has to be a push to make you want to find something better, and more often then not people just don't know of any alternative.
-
Gattsblackfalcon
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and EvilDmitri rocks ftw.-
EnglishJim
- This is my new home
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My best friend came up for the weekend, and my conversation with him exemplifies exactly the stigma that the average person has towards free & open source software: "Either it's hard to use or not pretty. It's just customizable." It's true in a sense yet completely untrue as well. As Psi said, out of the box Linux, BSD, and Solaris are not generally as pretty as windows, in times past. Also some usability issues exist, no where near like before however a few hurdles do exist. However, that being said, if you can install windows on a clean system, you can definately install a distribution of Linux.
These days are different in regards to the asthetics of the unix-like os's. A standard installation of KDE (K Desktop Environment) or Gnome (GNU Network Object Model Environment) are now much nicer looking than the standard windows xp configuration. Forget it if you got something like Enlightenment DR17 or KDE with Beryl or Compiz as the window manager running SuperKaramba for the applets.
Really the factor that would determine your usage of linux would be what you do with your computer. If you play games or need specific software that cannot be run in wine with little or no configuration, then you probably should stick to windows. If you browse the web, download things, have an mp3 player, watch dvds, email, use office suites (writer, spreadsheet, database, presentation, etc), isntant messaging, need to rip cd, burn dvds/cds, and almost anything else; A unix-like (Linux, BSD, etc) would be for you.
There are quite a few distributions aimed at power users, developers, and enthusiasts (nerds), there are begining to be even more aimed at the average end user (most of us). Here are a couple Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Freespire, aLinux OS, Ark Linux, Mandriva, and SuSe. Then you have your intermediate user distros BLAG, Fedora Core, CAOS, Symphony OS, and Agean Linux. After that come your power user distros Slackware, Vector, Arch, Frugalware, Debian, and Zenwalk. Finally you have your super nerd source based distros: Gentoo, Source Mage, etc. There are countless other distros out there for various purposes I didn't mention, usually the rule of thumb is, "Whichever distro fulfills your needs is the one to use."
Here's my nephew's KDE Desktop screenshot:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/ ... esktop.png
Here's my current Gnome Desktop screenshot
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/ ... enshot.png
These days are different in regards to the asthetics of the unix-like os's. A standard installation of KDE (K Desktop Environment) or Gnome (GNU Network Object Model Environment) are now much nicer looking than the standard windows xp configuration. Forget it if you got something like Enlightenment DR17 or KDE with Beryl or Compiz as the window manager running SuperKaramba for the applets.
Really the factor that would determine your usage of linux would be what you do with your computer. If you play games or need specific software that cannot be run in wine with little or no configuration, then you probably should stick to windows. If you browse the web, download things, have an mp3 player, watch dvds, email, use office suites (writer, spreadsheet, database, presentation, etc), isntant messaging, need to rip cd, burn dvds/cds, and almost anything else; A unix-like (Linux, BSD, etc) would be for you.
There are quite a few distributions aimed at power users, developers, and enthusiasts (nerds), there are begining to be even more aimed at the average end user (most of us). Here are a couple Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Freespire, aLinux OS, Ark Linux, Mandriva, and SuSe. Then you have your intermediate user distros BLAG, Fedora Core, CAOS, Symphony OS, and Agean Linux. After that come your power user distros Slackware, Vector, Arch, Frugalware, Debian, and Zenwalk. Finally you have your super nerd source based distros: Gentoo, Source Mage, etc. There are countless other distros out there for various purposes I didn't mention, usually the rule of thumb is, "Whichever distro fulfills your needs is the one to use."
Here's my nephew's KDE Desktop screenshot:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/ ... esktop.png
Here's my current Gnome Desktop screenshot
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/ ... enshot.png
Bow to Golbez
My Ubuntu & like (Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Fluxbuntu, etc) Review
This is hands down the most popular distro out there. It aims to be everyone's desktop and nearly succeeds at most of it's lofty goals. According to their website, Ubuntu means “Towards Humanity” or something like that. The standard install method is a live cd with an installation link on the desktop. For us impatient people it also offers a curses (text based) installer, handy when you don't want an installation to last more than 15 minutes (depending on your hardware. Because Ubuntu (and their ilk) are based Debian, they have an utterly HUGE selection of packages (software for the unnerdicated) unmatched by the other distros.
Unlike other distros that offer the initial option of choosing your desktop environment, Ubuntu has different flavors corresponding to each major desktop. That doesn't mean you can't install others once you have your system up and running. For package management, Ubuntu uses Debian's apt. This has the advantages of handling dependencies, easy installation of packages. You most likely will never have to compile a program in your life. If you don't like command line, Ubuntu uses Synaptic as a front end for apt, and Kubuntu uses Apititude for it's frontend. It organizes the software by category and it is very easy even for Windows refugees to use.
Installation:
Using the gui installer is a snap, you can either elect to have Ubuntu take over a drive, resize other partitions, or manully edit your partition table. It even handles mounting any vfat or ntfs drives you may have right on the spot. You will be prompted to select the usual time zone, keyboard layout, create user names, and off you go. Ubuntu doesn't use a root account for system configuration, instead it relies on sudo (Super User Do) which basically means to install software etc, when prompted for the adminstrator password, you simply input your own password. There are varying theories on which is more secure (having a root (admin) account or the use of sudo) but regardless it's still more secure than the windows system of having everyone with root privileges by defualt. Anyhow, after about 30-45 minutes the installation is done and you will be prompted to remove the cd.
Usage and whatnot:
Using any flavor of ubuntu is a snap with the except of fluxbuntu. Kde is more windows like but HELLA configurable whereas GNOME is more Mac like and still quite configurable. Xfce is based on gtk (Gimp Toolkit) like gnome so they share a somewhat similar look, except that Xfce is a lot faster and lighter than Gnome and runs really well on older hardware (anyhing sub 1ghz and 128 megs ram). Fluxbox is what Fluxbuntu is based on and it is either really ugly or beautiful depending on the level of nerdiness in your diet, but it's lightning fast and SNAPPY! We'll just focus on KDE and GNOME here. Anyhow, by default, Ubuntu comes with open office, gaim, firefox, etc and Kubuntu comes with K Office, Kopette (i/m), Konqueror (file manager and web browser). Again, you can install any piece of software in the repository, so it's very simple to customize the system to run with your favorite applications. Almost everything is one click away.
Support:
Though no official support is around that I know of, Ubuntu has the NICEST people on their forums, who even when asked a question that is in other posts and threads, simply point the user to that and ask them to try searching before starting a thread, with minimal flame (I prefer flames myself). The information is well organized and easy to find. Their irc channel is a bit fast flowing, but you can find everything you need and almost will never need to start a thread. Rule of thumb if you can't find it in 15 minutes, you either a) are lazy, or b) need to start thread or file a bug report.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly:
Good: Ease of use, great software selection, Debian based so it's very stable, clean uniform environments, very unified look on all desktops in all flavors, best community in linux (as far as newbies and willingness to help go), responsive development team, very active and supportive to the FLOSS community and anything they do, they always send upstream.
Bad: Debian based so it's only slightly faster (without any tweaking) than a fully tweaked Windows, no best of breed installation options, you need a fast internet connection to take full advantage of apt, and system v init scripts (which only matter to nerds and slackers, none of you really need to worry about it).
Ugly: Orange isn't pretty, that burnt orange shit takes getting used to (really only applies to Gnome and Xfce, but don't think they aren't getting Kde and Fluxbox ready for the burnt look either). Burnt orange goddamnit! Burnt orange, just because it's from Africa doesn't mean it has to look like Africa during the dry season. One more time. BURNT ORANGE!
Links:
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.xubuntu.org/
http://fluxbuntu.org/
This is hands down the most popular distro out there. It aims to be everyone's desktop and nearly succeeds at most of it's lofty goals. According to their website, Ubuntu means “Towards Humanity” or something like that. The standard install method is a live cd with an installation link on the desktop. For us impatient people it also offers a curses (text based) installer, handy when you don't want an installation to last more than 15 minutes (depending on your hardware. Because Ubuntu (and their ilk) are based Debian, they have an utterly HUGE selection of packages (software for the unnerdicated) unmatched by the other distros.
Unlike other distros that offer the initial option of choosing your desktop environment, Ubuntu has different flavors corresponding to each major desktop. That doesn't mean you can't install others once you have your system up and running. For package management, Ubuntu uses Debian's apt. This has the advantages of handling dependencies, easy installation of packages. You most likely will never have to compile a program in your life. If you don't like command line, Ubuntu uses Synaptic as a front end for apt, and Kubuntu uses Apititude for it's frontend. It organizes the software by category and it is very easy even for Windows refugees to use.
Installation:
Using the gui installer is a snap, you can either elect to have Ubuntu take over a drive, resize other partitions, or manully edit your partition table. It even handles mounting any vfat or ntfs drives you may have right on the spot. You will be prompted to select the usual time zone, keyboard layout, create user names, and off you go. Ubuntu doesn't use a root account for system configuration, instead it relies on sudo (Super User Do) which basically means to install software etc, when prompted for the adminstrator password, you simply input your own password. There are varying theories on which is more secure (having a root (admin) account or the use of sudo) but regardless it's still more secure than the windows system of having everyone with root privileges by defualt. Anyhow, after about 30-45 minutes the installation is done and you will be prompted to remove the cd.
Usage and whatnot:
Using any flavor of ubuntu is a snap with the except of fluxbuntu. Kde is more windows like but HELLA configurable whereas GNOME is more Mac like and still quite configurable. Xfce is based on gtk (Gimp Toolkit) like gnome so they share a somewhat similar look, except that Xfce is a lot faster and lighter than Gnome and runs really well on older hardware (anyhing sub 1ghz and 128 megs ram). Fluxbox is what Fluxbuntu is based on and it is either really ugly or beautiful depending on the level of nerdiness in your diet, but it's lightning fast and SNAPPY! We'll just focus on KDE and GNOME here. Anyhow, by default, Ubuntu comes with open office, gaim, firefox, etc and Kubuntu comes with K Office, Kopette (i/m), Konqueror (file manager and web browser). Again, you can install any piece of software in the repository, so it's very simple to customize the system to run with your favorite applications. Almost everything is one click away.
Support:
Though no official support is around that I know of, Ubuntu has the NICEST people on their forums, who even when asked a question that is in other posts and threads, simply point the user to that and ask them to try searching before starting a thread, with minimal flame (I prefer flames myself). The information is well organized and easy to find. Their irc channel is a bit fast flowing, but you can find everything you need and almost will never need to start a thread. Rule of thumb if you can't find it in 15 minutes, you either a) are lazy, or b) need to start thread or file a bug report.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly:
Good: Ease of use, great software selection, Debian based so it's very stable, clean uniform environments, very unified look on all desktops in all flavors, best community in linux (as far as newbies and willingness to help go), responsive development team, very active and supportive to the FLOSS community and anything they do, they always send upstream.
Bad: Debian based so it's only slightly faster (without any tweaking) than a fully tweaked Windows, no best of breed installation options, you need a fast internet connection to take full advantage of apt, and system v init scripts (which only matter to nerds and slackers, none of you really need to worry about it).
Ugly: Orange isn't pretty, that burnt orange shit takes getting used to (really only applies to Gnome and Xfce, but don't think they aren't getting Kde and Fluxbox ready for the burnt look either). Burnt orange goddamnit! Burnt orange, just because it's from Africa doesn't mean it has to look like Africa during the dry season. One more time. BURNT ORANGE!
Links:
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.xubuntu.org/
http://fluxbuntu.org/
Bow to Golbez
Linux, what's in it for me?
Yes I know, a double post. I'm bringing up a couple of things that Psi brought to my attention. Things that need addressing.
Can I email?
Absolutely, and even with an email client you recognize! Mozilla Thunderbird runs natively in Linux. Do you use groupware? Well there's even things for that. You have Epiphany in Gnome and the PIM is integrated into KDE's Office Suite.
Can I browse the web? Youtube, Google, even Runescape? Hell yeah you can! That Firefox you've been using for Window, runs natively on Linux. Hell you even got Opera here, not to mention other great browsers. Flash, Java, Shockwave, No Problem! Either they work out of the box or are no more than two clicks away. If you can do it on the web with Windows, you can do it here.
Do I need a virus scanner? Honestly, no you don't. The nature of the system and how it works makes it immune to most virii (97%). There are even excellent virus scanners. Clam and others come to mind. It's more of a comfort thing, if anything at all. Being a Linux user for quite some years now. I have never gotten a virus on my machine, even in my newbie days.
How do I get rid of spyware? Spyware? What's that? No seriously, what is spyware? It's some sort of mythical thing that doesn't affect Linux users. Only the Redmond crowd and Macs on a limited degree need worry about it, period, end of story.
Are my files safe? Barring the hard drive failing, a properly setup Linux computer will maintain data center file stability. Most Linux distros setup a boot partition, a / or root partition, a swap partition, and a /home partition, and some even set up more. Having that seperate home partition means no matter what happens to your / partition your home directory will always be intact. I personally run 4 different distros from this box and they all share the same home directory.
When the power goes out, are my files still safe? Yes, your files are. Linux and even Windows to a lesser extent use what are called "Journaling Filesystems." What this means for you is that if the power goes out while in the middle of a write or the drive heads don't get to park, Linux keeps an index of sorts to make sure your files are always in order. Also the nature of Linux/Unix-Like file systems render defragmenting your hard drive superfluous and uneeded.
How is updating? Easy as hell, easier in many respects than Windows. In Windows, not only do you have to updated Windows, but you must also go and update all of your software. In Linux, it's a one stop shop. You update your system and your software from the same place. Most systems even notify you when you have updates available and you have the option to perform the update at your leisure WITHOUT CONSTANT NAGGING from the system. Whether your distro uses Apt, Pacman, Yum, or portage, it's easy and as quick as can be.
How much does it cost? In most cases, 100% free. Even with the distros you pay for, you're not buying the software but the support for it. All linux costs is the time to download and install, or the time it takes whatever site you ordered from to send you the cds and install. Also a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the interface is a minor cost.
Are there games? There are quite a few, way too many to list here, see my links at the top of this thread to see for yourself. They range from very high end beautiful games to cheesy little games that are ugly as sin, but so fun it's almost wrong.
What about my iPod and iTunes? While iTunes isn't supported on Linux, there are a few programs that interface with your ipod and can perform all transfers of data etc as well as iTunes ever would. Actually, in the case of Amarok, it is leaps and bounds better than iTunes.
What about my off brand mp3 player? A variety of mp3 players tested later, I can truthfully say it's utterly seemless. Even if your distro doesn't recognize your exact mp3 player, you will still be able to access it almost like an external drive allowing you to change and update your songs at will.
Is there an Office Suite? No there isn't AN office suite, there are a couple of very good ones. The absolute best of them is Open Office. Also K Office, and other individual programs that comprise office suites. All in all Open Office is actually a bit better than Microsoft Office and can even freely open and save in microsoft formats.
I do graphics and Photoshop doesn't make a Linux version. No worries here! The is a wonderful program called The Gimp that for most purposes is right on par with Photoshop. There is even a fork of that project called GimpShop which recreates the interface of Photoshop. However, even if you must have Photoshop, Photoshop is one of the few Windows programs that runs under Wine with no extra configuration. Also Crossover Office and Cedega run it as well. Both are forks of the Wine Project.
Do I need to be Psi to use this? Unless you're using one of the mega nerdy source based distros that nerds get stuck up about, no you don't. In quite a few cases, Linux is easier to install and configure than Windows. I tested this with my sisters who'd installed neither and they found the Freespire and Mandriva installations far easier than the Windows.
Can Buzkashi molest my goat from his home? No he cannot, unless you want him. Then you can let him, but it is not recomended.
Yes I know, a double post. I'm bringing up a couple of things that Psi brought to my attention. Things that need addressing.
Can I email?
Absolutely, and even with an email client you recognize! Mozilla Thunderbird runs natively in Linux. Do you use groupware? Well there's even things for that. You have Epiphany in Gnome and the PIM is integrated into KDE's Office Suite.
Can I browse the web? Youtube, Google, even Runescape? Hell yeah you can! That Firefox you've been using for Window, runs natively on Linux. Hell you even got Opera here, not to mention other great browsers. Flash, Java, Shockwave, No Problem! Either they work out of the box or are no more than two clicks away. If you can do it on the web with Windows, you can do it here.
Do I need a virus scanner? Honestly, no you don't. The nature of the system and how it works makes it immune to most virii (97%). There are even excellent virus scanners. Clam and others come to mind. It's more of a comfort thing, if anything at all. Being a Linux user for quite some years now. I have never gotten a virus on my machine, even in my newbie days.
How do I get rid of spyware? Spyware? What's that? No seriously, what is spyware? It's some sort of mythical thing that doesn't affect Linux users. Only the Redmond crowd and Macs on a limited degree need worry about it, period, end of story.
Are my files safe? Barring the hard drive failing, a properly setup Linux computer will maintain data center file stability. Most Linux distros setup a boot partition, a / or root partition, a swap partition, and a /home partition, and some even set up more. Having that seperate home partition means no matter what happens to your / partition your home directory will always be intact. I personally run 4 different distros from this box and they all share the same home directory.
When the power goes out, are my files still safe? Yes, your files are. Linux and even Windows to a lesser extent use what are called "Journaling Filesystems." What this means for you is that if the power goes out while in the middle of a write or the drive heads don't get to park, Linux keeps an index of sorts to make sure your files are always in order. Also the nature of Linux/Unix-Like file systems render defragmenting your hard drive superfluous and uneeded.
How is updating? Easy as hell, easier in many respects than Windows. In Windows, not only do you have to updated Windows, but you must also go and update all of your software. In Linux, it's a one stop shop. You update your system and your software from the same place. Most systems even notify you when you have updates available and you have the option to perform the update at your leisure WITHOUT CONSTANT NAGGING from the system. Whether your distro uses Apt, Pacman, Yum, or portage, it's easy and as quick as can be.
How much does it cost? In most cases, 100% free. Even with the distros you pay for, you're not buying the software but the support for it. All linux costs is the time to download and install, or the time it takes whatever site you ordered from to send you the cds and install. Also a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the interface is a minor cost.
Are there games? There are quite a few, way too many to list here, see my links at the top of this thread to see for yourself. They range from very high end beautiful games to cheesy little games that are ugly as sin, but so fun it's almost wrong.
What about my iPod and iTunes? While iTunes isn't supported on Linux, there are a few programs that interface with your ipod and can perform all transfers of data etc as well as iTunes ever would. Actually, in the case of Amarok, it is leaps and bounds better than iTunes.
What about my off brand mp3 player? A variety of mp3 players tested later, I can truthfully say it's utterly seemless. Even if your distro doesn't recognize your exact mp3 player, you will still be able to access it almost like an external drive allowing you to change and update your songs at will.
Is there an Office Suite? No there isn't AN office suite, there are a couple of very good ones. The absolute best of them is Open Office. Also K Office, and other individual programs that comprise office suites. All in all Open Office is actually a bit better than Microsoft Office and can even freely open and save in microsoft formats.
I do graphics and Photoshop doesn't make a Linux version. No worries here! The is a wonderful program called The Gimp that for most purposes is right on par with Photoshop. There is even a fork of that project called GimpShop which recreates the interface of Photoshop. However, even if you must have Photoshop, Photoshop is one of the few Windows programs that runs under Wine with no extra configuration. Also Crossover Office and Cedega run it as well. Both are forks of the Wine Project.
Do I need to be Psi to use this? Unless you're using one of the mega nerdy source based distros that nerds get stuck up about, no you don't. In quite a few cases, Linux is easier to install and configure than Windows. I tested this with my sisters who'd installed neither and they found the Freespire and Mandriva installations far easier than the Windows.
Can Buzkashi molest my goat from his home? No he cannot, unless you want him. Then you can let him, but it is not recomended.
Bow to Golbez
geniusSortep wrote: blah blah blah
Do I need to be Psi to use this? Unless you're using one of the mega nerdy source based distros that nerds get stuck up about, no you don't. In quite a few cases, Linux is easier to install and configure than Windows. I tested this with my sisters who'd installed neither and they found the Freespire and Mandriva installations far easier than the Windows.
Can Buzkashi molest my goat from his home? No he cannot, unless you want him. Then you can let him, but it is not recomended.
I'm not as pro-active about spreading the word of Linux like I used to be. Do I prefer it over Windows, well yes I do. I thank Sortep for giving us a review and good intro.
Is it a cure-all, probably not however I'm sure that someone or some group of people will make Linux pretty much do anything.
Now, if I had the choice on the course of action when people ask "What is the best solution for me?" I respond with "What makes you happy?" When people get their OS as part of the computer, people are generally happy enough with it do what they need to. It isn't until they get pissed off and ask questions that they get the response of "newp, never happens to me."
Well, you sometimes exchange one set of problems for another, just ask arke. He is currently having issues, and yes he is using Linux. I'm sure he could go into greater detail.
For those interested in getting into computers, I would whole heartedly push Linux or freeBSD just because of how open they are. If you want to know how things work, modify it, make your own changes to programs so make your own... then all the tools are there, for free.
For people that want 'support' and the warm & fuzzies (tm) and want someone to bitch at on the phone when something fails, then typically you get Windows but even then you are calling Dell, HP or another PC maker. I recommend getting a Apple based machine.
Lastly, if you are the person who pirates Windows and still complains then you get zero sympathy from me or anyone else.
Now for best part, everything you can do in your business or at home can be done using Linux based distribution or freeBSD. The only problem is that you have to adjust to a new work flow different application names.
You need to make a power presentation, or manage your taxes? Then you need to take the time to learn the new programs just like you learned MS Money or MS PowerPoint.
As demoed by my screenshot above, that is my work pc running linux. Yes, it runs World of Warcraft *grin*, doesn't mean I spend my time at work playing it. Just that it can run and I use it to piss off my co-workers who can't even get it to run in Windows. Word documents, video conferencing, firefox, flash9, embedded video, mp3, mp4, itunes (via wine), wow (via wine), ut. Pretty much the same stuff I do in Windows, I can do in Linux.
Will Linux be bleeding edge in support in the latest gear, probably not. Will it eventually get support, you bet. Will it be better, definitently. Does it play the latest games, not initially but over time it will play. To get it out faster, you have to convince the makers to support Linux at product launch, if not then you wait for the community magically make it work.
I for one helped make several bioware products run (beta testing) on Linux. NWN was the shit, and worked right out of the box when I got it in the mail. YAY!
Well, enough of me ranting. I could go on all night.
Needless to say, I prefer Linux but will use whatever tool to get the job done.
Is it a cure-all, probably not however I'm sure that someone or some group of people will make Linux pretty much do anything.
Now, if I had the choice on the course of action when people ask "What is the best solution for me?" I respond with "What makes you happy?" When people get their OS as part of the computer, people are generally happy enough with it do what they need to. It isn't until they get pissed off and ask questions that they get the response of "newp, never happens to me."
Well, you sometimes exchange one set of problems for another, just ask arke. He is currently having issues, and yes he is using Linux. I'm sure he could go into greater detail.
For those interested in getting into computers, I would whole heartedly push Linux or freeBSD just because of how open they are. If you want to know how things work, modify it, make your own changes to programs so make your own... then all the tools are there, for free.
For people that want 'support' and the warm & fuzzies (tm) and want someone to bitch at on the phone when something fails, then typically you get Windows but even then you are calling Dell, HP or another PC maker. I recommend getting a Apple based machine.
Lastly, if you are the person who pirates Windows and still complains then you get zero sympathy from me or anyone else.
Now for best part, everything you can do in your business or at home can be done using Linux based distribution or freeBSD. The only problem is that you have to adjust to a new work flow different application names.
You need to make a power presentation, or manage your taxes? Then you need to take the time to learn the new programs just like you learned MS Money or MS PowerPoint.
As demoed by my screenshot above, that is my work pc running linux. Yes, it runs World of Warcraft *grin*, doesn't mean I spend my time at work playing it. Just that it can run and I use it to piss off my co-workers who can't even get it to run in Windows. Word documents, video conferencing, firefox, flash9, embedded video, mp3, mp4, itunes (via wine), wow (via wine), ut. Pretty much the same stuff I do in Windows, I can do in Linux.
Will Linux be bleeding edge in support in the latest gear, probably not. Will it eventually get support, you bet. Will it be better, definitently. Does it play the latest games, not initially but over time it will play. To get it out faster, you have to convince the makers to support Linux at product launch, if not then you wait for the community magically make it work.
I for one helped make several bioware products run (beta testing) on Linux. NWN was the shit, and worked right out of the box when I got it in the mail. YAY!
Well, enough of me ranting. I could go on all night.
Needless to say, I prefer Linux but will use whatever tool to get the job done.
topic reminds me of foobar2000. i use it 5 weeks now and really like it
its a light mp3 player it plays almost every type of audio and does not use al lot of resources its great to use when youre gaming.
you al should give it a try
http://www.foobar2000.org/
its a light mp3 player it plays almost every type of audio and does not use al lot of resources its great to use when youre gaming.
you al should give it a try
http://www.foobar2000.org/
This thread is dedicated to open source, as in does the application provide it's source code for free to be viewed, recompiled, edited, etc.
foobar2000 is a close sourced 'free' application, but it isn't open source. Does it run on Linux, Mac, freeBSD? By allowing the source to be available, you can pretty much be sure that it will run on any platform provided there is motivation to do so.
foobar2000 is a close sourced 'free' application, but it isn't open source. Does it run on Linux, Mac, freeBSD? By allowing the source to be available, you can pretty much be sure that it will run on any platform provided there is motivation to do so.
Free software isn't good enough, the source code needs to be available too. Otherwise I won't trust it.foobar2000 audio player
Copyright © 2001-2006, Peter Pawlowski
Portions copyright © 2005-2006 Holger Stenger
All rights reserved.
The openSUSE Review
Overview:
Bleh another review already? Yeap, just going down distrowatch.com top distros and installing them for review. So here we have openSUSE formally known as SuSe Linux. I'm going to state right now that I have never cared for this distribution, however, it's only because everything is gui based with damn frontends and prompts for everything. This is great for new users.
Installation:
openSUSE has the EASIEST installer I've ever used in my life. It's called Yast and it's also the program you use to make all settings and preferences changes in your system. Installation and configuration is a snap even for first time computer users. Another point in regards to this distro is that is has excellent hardware detection, even on laptops which is very rare for linux.
Usage:
Okay, the first thing that struck me about this distro is just how slick the interface is. For once the defaults on an OS looked great. I can't gush enough about how clean and well executed the interface is. Everything from installing software, updates, and configuration is very simple and the help options are actually helpful. The ui is polished regardless of whether you use kde or gnome, and using your machine will never be tedious
Support:
Another area where openSUSE excels is the support. From the very useful howto's, to patience in the forums, to the well written manuals, if you have an issue it's very easy to fix. There is also a commercial version that comes with support, however this mainly geared towards businesses and it's unlikely for you to ever have an issue that can't be resolved by the community resources. All in all, a very solid distribution.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly:
Good:
Easiest distro to install and use. Slick interface, excellent hardware detection, great support, and easy administration via YaSt. There is a reason this is the number two distro on distrowatch.com
Bad:
Not as fast as some of the other distros, yet still faster than Windows. Some consider the distribution to have a lot of bloat, or being a bit heavy with the amount of things installed by default.
Ugly:
YaSt though easy to use, there are few other options in system administration. Also with so much being mouse driven it can be a pain for the few people who like the console.
Overview:
Bleh another review already? Yeap, just going down distrowatch.com top distros and installing them for review. So here we have openSUSE formally known as SuSe Linux. I'm going to state right now that I have never cared for this distribution, however, it's only because everything is gui based with damn frontends and prompts for everything. This is great for new users.
Installation:
openSUSE has the EASIEST installer I've ever used in my life. It's called Yast and it's also the program you use to make all settings and preferences changes in your system. Installation and configuration is a snap even for first time computer users. Another point in regards to this distro is that is has excellent hardware detection, even on laptops which is very rare for linux.
Usage:
Okay, the first thing that struck me about this distro is just how slick the interface is. For once the defaults on an OS looked great. I can't gush enough about how clean and well executed the interface is. Everything from installing software, updates, and configuration is very simple and the help options are actually helpful. The ui is polished regardless of whether you use kde or gnome, and using your machine will never be tedious
Support:
Another area where openSUSE excels is the support. From the very useful howto's, to patience in the forums, to the well written manuals, if you have an issue it's very easy to fix. There is also a commercial version that comes with support, however this mainly geared towards businesses and it's unlikely for you to ever have an issue that can't be resolved by the community resources. All in all, a very solid distribution.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly:
Good:
Easiest distro to install and use. Slick interface, excellent hardware detection, great support, and easy administration via YaSt. There is a reason this is the number two distro on distrowatch.com
Bad:
Not as fast as some of the other distros, yet still faster than Windows. Some consider the distribution to have a lot of bloat, or being a bit heavy with the amount of things installed by default.
Ugly:
YaSt though easy to use, there are few other options in system administration. Also with so much being mouse driven it can be a pain for the few people who like the console.
Bow to Golbez