What can one do with Linux?

wazza

Nephew is keen on this http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484261/?cm_sp=FeatureEnd-_-Netbooks-_-position2#

It has linux as operating system. Can he use msn on this? What do you think about this notebook?

Thanks

Marty_J

There are plenty of messenger clients for Linux. It'll have a bit of a learning curve if he's only ever used Windows, but it's nothing the average person can't figure out.

Ninty

Personally, I prefer Linux to Windows. Its free and there are so many applications available for it.

If you need msn for it, just use google to search for "MSN messenger for Linux" and there are plenty of results.

The specs of that netbook would be fine to run Windows XP anyway, though I would double check if there are drivers available to use the hardware.

The cheapest place I have seen XP is in the new and used on Amazon (its under £25) but I would only buy from someone with really good feedback, otherwise you might end up with a fake copy

kwikbreaks

Most of these small netbooks have no optical drive so you'd need a USB CD/DVD before even considering installing XP. Add to that it could well be a SATA disk drive which means you'd need to find drivers for that too and the default install expects them on a floppy disk (you can get round this though).

If somebody wants XP on a netbook the best bet is to buy one with it preinstallled but that makes them more expensive.

Linux will do everything that Windows will but with different programs all of which are usually free. Learning Linux can be quite a struggle but so can learning Windows. Both will work out of the box for most internet related tasks.

Pssst

I have my Tosh laptop which i have set to dual boot with vista and ubuntu linux.

If you want a free,very capable and fast running operating system which will very likely be able to do all you want then think about ubuntu.

Its not like the old days where you are hacking commands into a terminal window. It looks very windowsy and on that level,is easy to use. It also runs nice and quick whereas vista needs more resources.

A lot of the software for linux is also free or cheap.

For example Adobe photoshop for windows costs big bucks. The linux version,called Gimp,,does very much the same job and is free.

One thing about linux is that the software packages have quirky,non descriptive names.

I am actually running ubuntu linux as i type this.

Go along to the ubuntu website to have a look.

Its whatever suits you really..

If i was building or buying a barebones desktop pc,i'd probably load ubuntu onto it and build on that..

Heres what a full sized ubuntu desktop looks like...just like windows eh??

">

Pssst

wazza wrote: »

Nephew is keen on this http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484261/?cm_sp=FeatureEnd-_-Netbooks-_-position2#

It has linux as operating system. Can he use msn on this? What do you think about this notebook?

Thanks

I'm just wondering,,dont many of these little machines have chopped down versions of Linux? If so,perhaps it would prove a disappointment? Wouldnt there be a world of difference between chopped down linux distro on this machine and full blown install on a big lappy/desktop? Bear that in mind before purchase! Also bear in mind screensize and keyboard size.

mr_fishbulb

Pssst wrote: »

">

You've got some updates to apply

Fifer

Marty_J wrote: »

There are plenty of messenger clients for Linux. It'll have a bit of a learning curve if he's only ever used Windows, but it's nothing the average person can't figure out.

There's virtually zero learning curve with most Linux netbooks. I've had two and the UI is very intuitive. Linux is pretty much hidden from most users.

Pssst

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

You've got some updates to apply

Well just click on it for me would you...I'm off to make some lunch. It'll be done when i come back.

Marty_J

Fifer wrote: »

There's virtually zero learning curve with most Linux netbooks. I've had two and the UI is very intuitive. Linux is pretty much hidden from most users.

I don't mean to imply that they're difficult to use, but they are different from Windows, which is all most people have ever used. Even switching from Windows to Mac OS X (which I would personally regard as the easiest OS to use there is) involves some amount of learning new things. It's not hard though.

wisper

Fifer wrote: »

There's virtually zero learning curve with most Linux netbooks. I've had two and the UI is very intuitive. Linux is pretty much hidden from most users.

Another thing to note; there isn't a single "Linux" operating system as such- there are lots of different versions!

"Linux" itself is actually just the kernel (the heart of the OS). It's normally bundled with lots of other software- including a graphical interface- to make a complete system. Different "distributions" come with different combinations of software and interfaces.

Fortunately, there are just a few major versions of Linux. A nice general-purpose one to go for is Ubuntu, though it's not perfect.

The Acer Aspire One's Linux-based OS has a very locked down and restricted task-based interface. Luckily, if you don't like this version of Linux, you can replace it with another more useful one like Ubuntu.

Part of the reason Windows is popular is that the software people want runs on it and support it.... because it's what people are running. It's a chicken and egg type circle that doesn't necessarily say anything about Windows being better in itself :-)

- Wisper