Linux vs windows

healingtouch

Ok well this might seem like stupid questions but i am really not that technically challenged!!!

Got a copy of Ubuntu Linux operating system. Want to know simply why its better then windows XP. Any disadvantages to it. And if i choose to use it, do i have to reformat my computer and reinstall all my other programs or can i just install it over windows XP.

Any help gratefully received,

HT

Need_More_Money_2

healingtouch wrote:

Ok well this might seem like stupid questions but i am really not that technically challenged!!!

Got a copy of Ubuntu Linux operating system. Want to know simply why its better then windows XP. Any disadvantages to it. And if i choose to use it, do i have to reformat my computer and reinstall all my other programs or can i just install it over windows XP.

Any help gratefully received,

HT

More stable, better written and free. But less well supported than Windows. Your existing programs won't work on it, but there are usually alternatives. E.g. OpenOffice rather than MS Office

culpepper

Ubuntu is very secure and comes with the facility to add a lot of useful software. There are updates every few days and you can just check for updates when you want to ,not when Ms want you to.
You can install it alongside windows if you want(I have) and just choose which to boot from on startup.
It should detect any network connections etc without you doing anything which is great,no typing in all the stuff just to see the internet.
You may not be able to use all your hardware though.My scanner doesnt work on it or my printer (both super cheapo).
Windows games etc wont play on it although there is a program called cedega which allows some games to run and cross over office which lets some businessy type windows progs run on it.

wolfman

You can install Ubuntu to dual boot with Windows XP. It will install itself as the primary operating system.

Linux is great, although you need to spend time learning how to use it. Many parts still aren't quite there but on the whole it's very good. Command line is very powerful, but it does need more gui admin controls. Also wireless support isn't great and it can be a pain to setup. For Ubuntu there's a great app called AutoMatix, which'll install all the commonly used apps for you.

It's definitely a different experience, I'd never compare it with Windows directly. People slag off Windows a lot but it is still a good operating system. Most people are familiar with it, and there are plenty of open source and licensed applications for it. Most problems with Windows are usually down to the user. With either Linux or Windows, to get the best out of either you do require a certain amount of user knowledge.

Try Ubuntu dual booting with Windows. See what you think. For technical people it's great, but as an operating system for people that are less technically aware I still think Linux has a couple of years to go.

donfanatico

It's like comparing Man Utd to Chicago Bulls.

You can't say if one is better from the other...it is a personal preference.

Don

sra

donfanatico wrote:

It's like comparing Man Utd to Chicago Bulls.

You can't say if one is better from the other...it is a personal preference.

Don

As dofanatico says

Linux is Not Windows

sra

You might find this useful

Ubuntu Linux / Windows Dual Boot Instructional Video
Installing Software on Ubuntu Linux

Great Music

Though I did it recently without watching the video - just accepting every default and Ubuntu installed without a hitch (and it didn't mess with the pre-installed Windows - Just automtically made it Dual Boot)

Unfortunately the machine has major hardaware problems so I haven't been able to experiment much with it yet.

amosworks

I enjoyed the Windows is not Linux doc, it uses some very good analogies and illustrates very well how much more user friendly Linux really is. Thanks for the link, I'm sure it's helped quite a few people :cool:

zenmaster

amosworks wrote:

it ... illustrates very well how much more user friendly Linux really is.

Linux may be many things, but user friendly is not one of them .

Be careful with Linux. Prolonged exposure to it can lead to geekiness. If you persist with it after that stage then you WILL end up a nerd, for which there is no known cure.

You have been warned!

ard123en

linux is user friendly ?

plus lots of online support and if you have a local LUG (Linux user group)

they will even install it for free and give you support for free

also remenber there are lots of distros of linux

see https://www.distrowatch.com

have fun