Alternative to Windows

candtalan

I heard Martin on radio today talking about computers and viruses.
I use Ubuntu, not Windows. Ubuntu is one of the (most popular) versions of GNU/Linux, similar extraction as MACs, only Open Source, not Proprietary like MACS. Proprietary means 'secret code' and often expensive too.

IBM uses Ubuntu as part of its mainstream products for non Windows users. GNU/Linux is used widely by people in the know, and also businesses. Ubuntu is an easy to use version.

The way stuff like Ubuntu stays secure is partly how it is designed, and partly how it gets its programs and updates from the watchful community, and partly how it is used. Ubuntu is easy to keep secure. That does not mean it is perfect, just a lot easier.

You can buy CDs, or download free. You can pay for annual phone support, or use free support. If you want to try it, it is easy depending on how techie you are, or if you have a friend who can. The thing people find hard to believe at first is that there is no catch with GNU/Linux. It really is free.

Darksun

I'm using Ubuntu 9.10 right now, I installed it a few weeks ago and I've found it great.

I've tried earlier versions of Ubuntu, and a few other Linux distros in the past, but I've usually ended up going back to Windows because of niggling little things I just couldn't get working, bits of hardware, stuff like flash and video codecs. However, I've found 9.10 a complete breeze, more or less everything just worked straight away after being installed.

I am an advanced computer user so have no problems with stuff like the command line, messing around with drivers, etc, but I've really not found that necessary. I'd say almost any user could manage the install and using Ubuntu if it went as smoothly as it has done for me.

I used Wubi, which is a good way to install Linux, basically it keeps your Windows install as it is and runs Linux from a 'virtual harddrive' within your Windows partition, so you don't have to do anything 'scary' like repartitioning or formatting your disk, you can still boot Windows easily if needed and if you don't like it, you can just uninstall it the same way as removing a Windows app.

http://wubi-installer.org/

GetRealBabe

Hi

I've tried a Linux live cd. It was ok but I wouldn't give up using Windows.

GRB

mr_fishbulb

Wohoo! An Ubuntu thread :j

Version 10 is out at the end of next month.

John_Gray

candtalan wrote: »

GNU/Linux is used widely by people in the know, and also businesses.

That's a very interesting distinction!

In business, Linux is almost unknown, except for servers, and even then it's not very prevalent. The main problem is that there are far fewer Linux techies than Windows techies, and businesses are risk-averse, so go with the 'safe' option: Windows, desktop or server. Until an operating system can be made totally intuitive and error-free, it just doesn't matter how 'wonderful' Linux is - it will stay at 1-2%. I suspect that's how things are going to remain.

gonzo127

John_Gray wrote: »

That's a very interesting distinction!

In business, Linux is almost unknown, except for servers, and even then it's not very prevalent. The main problem is that there are far fewer Linux techies than Windows techies, and businesses are risk-averse, so go with the 'safe' option: Windows, desktop or server. Until an operating system can be made totally intuitive and error-free, it just doesn't matter how 'wonderful' Linux is - it will stay at 1-2%. I suspect that's how things are going to remain.

i have to say although i agree with the fact linux will more than likely alway be a minority player in things, i also think Ubuntu is making some major head room and will start to play a massive roll in small businesses as more people get to know the brand in the home,

as ever a catch 22 situation where people like to use what they know, people at home use windows because they know it and use it at work, people at work use it because people know it and use it at home.

if Ubuntu can carry on with its marketting and get into more peoples home's i expect we will start seeing it in more businesses especially small businesses that have to be careful with overheads and running costs, even more so with the reported improvements being made in 10.04 with the major one being support of ipods and iphones 'out of the box'

alanrowell

How good is Ubuntu with software RAID? Want to set up a PC with lots of storage but which is still usable for normal day to day stuff.

esuhl

alanrowell wrote: »

How good is Ubuntu with software RAID? Want to set up a PC with lots of storage but which is still usable for normal day to day stuff.

I got rid of my RAID implementation when I installed Linux on my main PC so I haven't tried to get the two working together, but I just found the links below which looks like they might help:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SoftwareRAID
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto

fwor

alanrowell wrote: »

How good is Ubuntu with software RAID? Want to set up a PC with lots of storage but which is still usable for normal day to day stuff.

I tried software RAID a couple of weeks ago, and it seems to work well, but you need to use the Alternate version of the install CD, and you need to follow one of the many How-tos completely, as otherwise it won't boot if the primary drive fails.

I have to admit that I did not find mdadm (the RAID management software built into the kernel) at all easy to use. Perhaps in later releases it will have a GUI, but it's all command-line if you want to stay Open Source.

I've decided to disable it (which AFAIK requires a complete OS reinstall) and lose the CPU overhead. Instead I'm hoping to just use Partimage (or something like it) every week to create a bootable image on an identical drive in an external caddy.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Joined today, certainly evangelical and a monumental linux disciple :

- http://ubuntuforums.org/search.php?searchid=70884751
- http://forums.theregister.co.uk/user/35041/
- http://www.hummy.org.uk/forums/search.php?searchid=413741
- http://forums.channelregister.co.uk/user/35041/
- http://art.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3155593


and lots and lots more !

and, before you ask, what is my point ?, I don't have one .. .. .. yet !

SatanicHare

Having flirted with linux in the past, i have a question. Is it more secure because it's harder to create viruses/trojans that run on linux, or is it because the people who create these exploits are looking for maximum impact and believe that linux has such a small market share and it's users are more tech savvy and less easily caught out