All right...I'm sick of Windows...tell me about Linux!

[T Roosevelt]

Right now I'm on Win98, been debating on upgrading to XP, but have wanted to ditch Windoze for years (had a fling with OS/2 Warp way back).

There are soooo many versions of Linux, and I have a number of programs that I need that are Windoze-based. Some questions:

1. What's the deal with Linux running non-Linux programs?

2. What about hardware requirements? (have a 733 MHz desktop, 300 MHz Toshiba notebook, both under 3 years old)

3. What about "replacements" for the Office suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Access)?

4. Don't have too many games that I play anymore - how does it handle them in general?

5. Which version?

6. What about Lindows?

---
Other programs that I need to run (haven't checked on compatibility yet):
JBuilder
Minitab (statistical program)
CorelDraw
Adobe Acrobat
Mozilla

[salmonhorse]

1. Everyone looks spiffy in a Tux ~

http://www.ubergeek.tv/switchlinux/

[Kamika]

21. rofl

It hit the nail on the spot there

[trotsky]

2. You might want to try out RedHat

The latest version (9) has the most automated installation process ever, much easier for the new-to-Linux crowd. I am currently running it on a PII-266 Toshiba notebook, and it does just fine, so your hardware is OK. Overall incredibly stable, comes with a lot of cool desktop games, etc. If you have a broadband connection, download the CD images and give it a whirl.

http://www.redhat.com

[thermodynamic]

9. What do you think of "Red Hat Linux 9 Bible"?

It includes RH9 and a gigantic book which explains how things work, for $50 or less?

I recently bought the book, just to see how RH compares to SuSE.

I am intruiged by the RHCE certification, but I'll probably go for a distro-independent cert like Linux+ first.

[DBoon]

3. My two cents

1. What's the deal with Linux running non-Linux programs?

There is a Windows emulation emvironment, WINE. Your mileage may vary. There are also a number of native Linux programs that are look-alikes for common Windows programs.

2. What about hardware requirements? (have a 733 MHz desktop, 300 MHz Toshiba notebook, both under 3 years old)

MUCH better than Windows - much less bloat in Linux. You can run very old underpowered computers with Linux and do fine, a definite plus.

3. What about "replacements" for the Office suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Access)?

Try OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/)

4. Don't have too many games that I play anymore - how does it handle them in general?

Sorry, can't help you there, though I find TuxRider a lot of fun

5. Which version?

I use an older RadHat version. I've heard Mandrake is very newby-friendly.

I've used Linux off-and-on since 1997 (Slackware 5 or something) I can tell you it has definitely gotten MUCH easier to install, especially for the non-technical users


6. What about Lindows?

No personal experience, though I've heard it really isn't that great.

[Kellanved]

8. To add "my 2cents"

1: yepp
2: Some Desktops are almost as slow as Windows; general Performance is much better though.
3: Yepp and MS Office runs under Linux .
4: Some Games are ported Linux, others run using programs like WINE. Most people keep a Windows on their machines to run games, as the Systems aren't mutually exclusive and some hardware drivers for Linux are not state-of-the-art (not to mention, that many games don't run at all).
5: I might be biased, but IMHO: SUSE
6: Haven't used it myself, but the reviews and a friend of mine are telling me, that it sucks.

On Edit:
concerning your Programs:
JBuilder: noProblem; BTW Eclipse offers about the same features for free.
Minitab (statistical program): can't help you there
CorelDraw: can't say; I use the GIMP myself, as it is free
Adobe Acrobat: no problem
Mozilla: haha - that one was made for Linux

[thermodynamic]

12. For video cards, Nvidia is THE way to go

Their support of their video cards under Linux is simply exceptional. ATi really ought to follow, but then their history of driver support is summed up in one word: "pathetic".

And almost easy for newbies to install, though for SuSE one has to boot into command prompt mode and install from there. (can't be done from within X yet, but in time...) For a CLI-based install, Nividia's drivers are quite easy to install.

There is a CorelDraw port for Linux that Corel made to go along with Corel's (now defunct) distro, but it used WINE and was not truly a native product. :grr:

KDE makes a rather nice GUI though and is snappy in performance when compared to Windows (or so I thought), and you're right about general performance. Linux kicks Windows with ease.

I wish more games were made to run under Linux, but Simcity 3000, Quake 3 Arena, Unreal Tournament (and the new 2003 version) are native to Liunx. There's WineX which will allow quite a few DirectX games to run under Linux, including Half-Life. They do need to update it so that newer games will run though.

Thanks for the info re: Eclipse!! :-)

[thermodynamic]

4. SuSE Linux 8.2 ALL THE WAY!!! (read on!)

"Linux Format" magazine reviews every new distro, along with Mandrake and Red Hat. It's a UK magazine but the research is valid in the US, too.

Dollar per dollar, SuSE gives you, by far, the biggest bang for the buck.

Avoid Red Hat. They act like and are essentially 'the Microsoft of Linux'. They charge way too much money as well for their product; probably because their target is an unwitting and gullible Corporate America. :shrug: Of course, they generally do provide solid releases, but their core market is corporations - not newbies, home users, et cetera. And other distros cost much less money. You really don't want Red Hat.

I always buy the Pro edition ($80) for networking features, but the Personal edition ($40) would likely suit you well. The Pro edition includes MainActor, a video editing software package.

I think CorelDraw will run under Linux via WINE.

It comes with Mozilla and Acrobat. (be sure to select the components at install time)

Will probably run Minitab under WINE if it isn't too specialized or uses DirectX. (But there's always WineX :shrug: )

And there are tons of Java programming tools for Linux. Dump JBuilder.

I used to use OS/2 Warp as well. What were your impressions of it? IBM had interesting ideas, but the GUI's 'single input queue' led to stability problems that made Win95 look solid by comparison, wouldn't work right on even some of IBM's own hardware, and they never bothered to upgrade the TCP/IP stack and disk I/O drivers from 16- to 32-bit. (so much for being a 32-bit OS, heh heh heh...) OS/2 Warp 4 took an hour to install whereas NT 4 took less than half the time on the same hardware. Eventually, IBM dropped support of OS/2 to end users, so I dropped them. In the end, I grew to like NT and 2k but XP, overall, is a very overbloated, paranoid schizophrenic mess... And I cringe over what paranoid atrocities "Longhorn" will bring come 2005 - or 2007 as MS always has major delays for product releases. :-)


As for "Lindows", they built their company on a promise. A promise they couldn't even begin to fulfil: running Windows apps at native speed under Linux. Instead they pulled a pathetic 'bait and switch', act as if they never had their big dream, and they have subscription-based services to download new and presumably crap software to compensate for the product's also ridiculously-high price (comparable to Red Hat's, undeservingly - at least Red Hat has solid releases).

[BlueJazz]

16. I've got a real

hard-on for SuSe...not that the new version isn't up to date.

A year ago I bought the 7.2 SuSe Pro version (6 disks) to put on my Sony Vaio laptop. After installing it I found out that it didn't support the Sony screen. (1024x786).
I spent 5 weeks trying to get support from SuSe with no, none, zero help.
I finally threw the disks away and bought the new version of RedHat.
Worked Fine.

I've been pissed about it ever since....

[displacedtexan]

5. first of all...

excel and access are spreadsheet programs... not word processing.
power point is just a fancy name for a word-based slide show.
i like xp and me much better than windows 98.
much faster (depending on your system).

i don't know anything about linux, but i advise you to stay away from apple (my opinion) because my friends with apple can't send email attachment files to anyone except other apple users.

i have coreldraw, acrobat and mozilla.
frankly, there are very few things that coreldraw does that word for windows doesn't do. the only thing i can't do is reverse print (like for t-shirt lettering, etc.). for that i use publisher.
i do entire newsletters with text boxes, graphics and photos using nothing but word. the drawing toolbar has almost everything you'd ever need.

of course, those in the know probably have much better advice for you.

[FlashHarry]

6. I've got Win XP

And it's miles ahead of Win98. So far--six months into it, mind you--I've had NO crashes. No blue screens of death.

That being said, I have a Mac at work and we should ALL become disciples of Steve Jobs and ditch our PCs. I just couldn't justify two grand for a laptop, when I found a WinXP-loaded HP for $800.

[thermodynamic]

7. Why? Jobs isn't that much more ethical than Gates.

I mean, Gates borrowed/stole from Jobs.

Jobs stole from Xerox (the GUI concept, the mouse, and some employees to continue its development).

And if Apple has to resort to gaudy colorful cases to make a sale from gullible home users, I refuse to be so insulted.

[FlashHarry]

23. Your loss, I guess.

Last time I checked, the Macs were either white or metallic. Yes, they went for "cute" a few years ago, but, I tell ya what, it worked. Apple was on the verge of folding and the colorful iMac saved it.

BTW, I wasn't talking ethics, either; I was talking efficacy.

[Kamika]

22. got win xp too

It works great

[OrdinaryTa]

10. Jesus Would Use Linux

I've got Linux up and running on another machine and frequently use it to access DU. I'm getting comfortable with it.

1. What's the deal with Linux running non-Linux programs?

There's a Linux program that enables you to use Windows programs. I haven't used it myself.

2. What about hardware requirements? (have a 733 MHz desktop, 300 MHz Toshiba notebook, both under 3 years old)

Beware of hardware requirements for some Linux flavors. Look up the machine on the Linux distributor's hardware compatibility list. Your desktop has better chances than your laptop, but there probably won't be a problem with either.

3. What about "replacements" for the Office suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Access)?

A spreadsheet and word processing program come with Red Hat 8.0. I don't know about presentation programs, but there are a couple of really good open source database programs.

4. Don't have too many games that I play anymore - how does it handle them in general?

Games? That seems to be a Linux strong point. But I don't know the quality of the games. However, there's a gazillion of them.

5. Which version?

I have Red Hat 8.0. Some say Corel is easier to use. I don't know all the different flavors. In general, Unix requires a different mindset. Once you're comfortable with it, they tell me, it's completely natural and intuitive.

6. What about Lindows?

Can't answer that. I'm still getting comfortable with Linux. It's well thought out, but you do have to get used to it. I believe there's a Linux answer to whatever issue you have.

Also, there's something virtuous about using open source software. Gates and Ballmer have made thoroughly indecent amounts of money, they've abused other people in the industry, and treated the people who work for them like shit. Linux people are participating in a great moral adventure. Jesus would send his e-mails out on a Linux box.

The other programs you mentioned are Linux-compatible. JBuilder has a Linux version. Minitab (statistical program) is a Unix program on mainframe, so it should be available on PC. CorelDraw may even be bundled with Corel Linux, but drawing programs aren't scarce. Adobe Acrobat isn't the only way to handle pdf files. Linux has other ways.
Mozilla, yes. There are other browsers as well.

[AntiCoup2K4]

11. Xandros completely blows Lindows away.

It's the most Windows - compatible linux to date and will have a familiar look and "feel" to Windows users. Downside is there is no "free" version as of yet - unless you can find it out on the net through "unofficial sources".

For other Linux distros, try www.linuxiso.org if you have a broadband connection, or if you don't, go to www.cheapbytes.com

[frylock]

13. why not set up a dual boot with xp/redhat?

[kixot]

14. RIGHT!! LILO is the way to go.

Although the dual-boot environment can be a headache, it's also a great way to have your cake and eat it, too.

[Kellanved]

15. LILO is not the best solution

For a XP/Linux dual-boot I would use the XP-bootloader primarily and LILO to load Linux.
Otherwise have a look at GRUB.

[frylock]

17. exactly.. set up lilo on a bootdisk.

[Kellanved]

18. No need for a Bootdisk

You can use the XP-Bootloader to start LILO - IMHO a more comfortable approach.

[retread]

19. Have 2 computers, one runs Debian. JBuilder 9 install

was typical Linux install. JBuilder needs to know where your sdk is and it has to know twice, when installing and then before running. Where and how to tell it was the tricky part. Mozilla fits Linux perfectly. I use Minitab on my Windblows 2000 computer. I can't say I have seen a Linux version. I use Acrobat Reader on Linux, but don't know if full version for Linux is available.
If you write Java servlets, Tomcat is great on Linux.
My suggestion- buy an extra 80 - 100 gig hard-drive for your desktop, load Linux on it and dual boot before you decide.

[ChaoticSilly]

20. If you just want an easy way to experiment, try Knoppix

It's a good way to get the feel of Linux - it runs entirely from the cd (no installation needed), though the performance may not be quite as good as other distros if you don't have much RAM (128MB should be enough). I'm pretty sure it includes Open Office and The Gimp and fairly sure it has Mozilla.

[BiggJawn]

24. Funny...My boss and I were discussing this just today...

We have this portable "Access Grid" for videoconfrencing that uses 4 very small computers. 2 run WinDoz and 2 run RedHat. The redhat machines, while absolutely FLYING as servers had all sorts of audio and video issues that took forever to resolve.

I asked him "I see how Linux can make a server very fast, but I'm not running a server/client enviroment at home. Is the only reason to run Linux vs. WinDoz 2K in the satisfaction you get knowing that you're 'sticking it' to The Gates?"

And he said "Yep, that's pretty much it."

Whatever you decide, stay AWAY from this virus called "Windows ME"...I can vouch for Win 2K's stability.

[Salviati]

29. Yeah, I've been running win2k for a few years now

And I've had absolutely no problems with it at all. I've also heard good things about XP, but see no need to shell out the money for an upgrade...

[number9]

25. this sounds interesting

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-07/11/content_967259.htm

[bpilgrim]

26. check out XvsXP.com

http://XvsXP.com

Lot's of good comparisons of features and functionality.

OS X is, imo, the BEST GUI on *NIX i've ever seen PLUS it supports the core office apps from ms like word/excel etc



:hi:

peace

[DS1]

27. Look, Win98 is shit, even MS says so

and it should be a stretch to believe them when they say XP isn't, but it really isn't.

I've crashed my mom's MAC OSX more often in 2 weeks than I've crashed my XP system in 16 months. OSX isn't all that it's hyped up to be. OSX requires delicate users, ones that never push it, ones than never ask for it to start 2 programs at once. It's a lot weaker than it would appear. My testing was done on a dual-G4 system, what is still considered top of the line.

Switch OSs, and you'll either have to pay to get different OS versions (MAC), or get shoddy freeware versions (Linux).

Go to XP, all the naysayers are light users. They check email, read DU, do other minimal tasks. I've tried to break XP and failed, running half-life, Quake3, Photoshop, and 3DS MAX all at the same time, and it powered through them.

So, if you want a dainty OS, go for Mac, if you want a killer OS that lets you customize everything but doesn't include much industry standard software, go Linux, if you want the middle ground, upgrade your PC and your OS to XP Pro.

[Allah Akbar]

28. Question about Linux and hardware drivers

I'm trying to get Mandrake going on my machine and my sound card manufacturer Philips has no linux drivers.

Is there a site where Linux gurus post drivers for hardware somewhere on the web? I can't believe that Linux users only use one type of soundcard.

Any ideas?