Linux v windows

bluesnake

I feel that every one should have a live distro of linux on a usb stick.

For the simple fact that your hdd dies, you can surf all day with the live distro, recover files from drives, it can test hardware without you having to wipe your PC, you can even install an a/v package live and remove viruses from you windows pc from places that windows has difficulty to to get to.

With Docker (virtualisation for applications) coming along, all the apps should be able run on windows or linux.

Think MS will keep it base product O/S free just to keep the market share, in effect linux and android made windows free.

Johnmcl7

fenlander_uk wrote: »

Setting up a Windows PC from scratch to this point would normally take me days; setting up the laptop with Linux was completed since lunch time. True, I'm not a Linux beginner but neither am I a guru and I definitely don't know all the answers.

BTW...Linux updates average about 2 minutes...and that includes updating all the software packages. And you do them when you want...

Windows by default is configured to install its updates in the background so it takes zero time and the restart window is when you want.

I've no idea why you take so long to build a Windows PC but it's no in way representative of Windows, I've seen complete beginners fully build and configure a Windows PC in under an hour. With even a basic level of knowledge it's possible to build and configure a Windows PC in minutes.

I'm well familiar with Windows and Linux systems and find each have their own strengths and weaknesses but I find these threads are always the worst as people make hugely exaggerated or entirely false claims to back up their arguments as above demonstrates.

John

esuhl

fenlander_uk wrote: »

Linux is also frustrating when you first meet it. No more and no less so than Windows.

I don't know... If you're a beginner, I think Windows is still much easier to use.

The first "serious" computers I used ran Unix, and I find Linux equally (or more) elegant and logical. Unix/Linux is more "powerful" than Windows, but you need to know how to use it to your advantage.

Linux has come on leaps and bounds as a "general use" desktop system, but I really don't think that you'll enjoy it or make the most of it if you just expect it to work and aren't interested in learning how your new system works.

But when GNU/Linux works well, it works really well! :-D

henm2

I have used Linux and Windows systems for many years (Linux since 2007).

90% of the time I use Linux as it easier to use and less hassle to maintain. Also safer.

The Linux systems I would recommend for first time users are
Linux Mint,
Ubuntu,
LXLE
Solydx
Zorin

There is plenty of quality software for Linux and for a guide to this see
http://www.tecmint.com/windows-alternatives-for-linux/

As others have said Linux can be tried out as a 'live' system booted from DVD or USB flash drive.

Gloomendoom

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I've no idea why you take so long to build a Windows PC but it's no in way representative of Windows, I've seen complete beginners fully build and configure a Windows PC in under an hour. With even a basic level of knowledge it's possible to build and configure a Windows PC in minutes.

Agreed. I wiped my wife's laptop using DBAN, reinstalled Windows 10 and all her software in around three hours start to finish. Most of that time was spent doing other things while DBAN did its stuff.

It all worked.

fenlander_uk

We're not talking about the same thing. It took 30 minutes to completely install Mint from DVD to default working condition. But I'm talking about configuring options, look and feel, access rights to drives, printers and other peripherals - all the tinkering you do to make a system work exactly the way you want it to. Just setting up Sabnzbd takes the best part of an hour.

Complete beginners who install W10 in an hour don't even know most of the things they'll need to do, let alone how to do them. They'll spend weeks fine tuning, then as likely as not Windows will force an update on them and reset half the things they set up.

Copying the OS is just a starting point.

Gloomendoom

fenlander_uk wrote: »

Copying the OS is just a starting point.

I haven't had to touch my wife's laptop since I handed it back to her.

It does what she wants it to do. No fine tuning has been necessary.

In total contrast to the ball-aches I have had trying to get various Linux incarnations to work properly.

Norman_Castle

I installed linux mint a few months ago as a dual boot with windows xp. I've got two printers, one works the other nearly works and always gives a different reason for not working. I've got no sound on anything. If I don't use a wired connection some web sites including mse have sporadic ip address failures. All seem to be common problems with linux. The solutions offered online all seem to be convoluted guesswork.

Unless you have either a very helpful linux loving friend or you are looking for a new hobby then lifes too short for linux.

Nodding_Donkey

The best thing about using Linux is that I tell the computer what to do, it doesn't tell me

kwikbreaks

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I've no idea why you take so long to build a Windows PC but it's no in way representative of Windows, I've seen complete beginners fully build and configure a Windows PC in under an hour. With even a basic level of knowledge it's possible to build and configure a Windows PC in minutes.

It take me about a day (say almost 8 hours) to get a new Windows PC with a pre-installed operating system set up with the various programs I use configured to my needs.

If it were just a case of getting it running with the pre-installed carp that come with most still there and the default MS options then yes that would take less than an hour.

Most linux distros I've tried install quickly enough but then you can spend an absolute age getting some bits of hardware going and some just won't work at all. It's true there are alternate softwares for most stuff available on Windows but not everything - especially specialist programs.

I was going to move one thing I run 24x7 on Windows over to a Raspberry Pi - there is even a Linux version of the software provided. The fly in the ointment was I couldn't get the hardware I use with it working and there was no guarantee if I bought alternative hardware that would work either. It may have been possible on some other Linux build of course but my aim was to use the Pi so I needn't run a PC 24x7 to save energy cost.

For simple needs Linux will probably be fine without a huge amount of technical knowhow. If you try using it for the less normal or need specific hardware then be prepared for a lot of googling and shell work with still no guarantee of success.