linux vs vista

BillScarab

INstead of MS Office you get OpenOffice, instead of IE you have Firefox and Opera, instead of Outlook you have Thunderbird. You don't get MSN Messenger but there are equivalents, I think GAIM runs on Linux.

Most of these will be ready installed with Ubuntu.

Basically Microsoft software won't run on Linux, but equivalents are available.

wolfman

gremlin666 wrote: »

Why would you want to replace Vista with Linux. Linux can be a pain to run stable sometimes aswell.

Good point. The main point with Linux, is that it will take some work and time to learn, but you can get a lot out of it, and control you pc how you want to. Some people however, won't want this, they just want something that works, and Vista does that.

With regards to the file system, EXT3 does actually fragment too, but it takes far longer than NTFS (Microsoft's equivalent).

It typically takes around 6 months till you're fully able to use Linux.

steveomcg

I hate to disagree but most distributions are rock stable. Debian stable for example would need a bloody explosive detonated (or a noob with root) near it to make it crash. My linux server has had over 400 days up time.
To the OP download ubuntu from the ubuntu website, ask google, while your there have a look for a guide to burning it to CD. Every thing you need to know is on that website.
I won't lie it is different, but i've had my parents using it now for a few months with only the occasional hickup.

sheedatali

wolfman wrote: »

With regards to the file system, EXT3 does actually fragment too, but it takes far longer than NTFS (Microsoft's equivalent).

It typically takes around 6 months till you're fully able to use Linux.

Ext3 only fragments when it is very close to running out of inodes, which is rare these days as people have large disks. It is very good if the file system is running below 75% inode capacity and never needs management. If you regularly run fsck then this possibility goes out of the window too. Ubuntu by default is set to run forced fsck every 25 mounts of a partition, which normally results in an fsck run every 25 reboots.

With regards to other programs, Linux wont give you best gaming and primary reason for that is because most games have not been developed for linux platform. However there are alternatives that you can use, such as Wine or Cedega to run about 50% of the games if you have decent card and driver is supported (most Nvidia and ATI are by default).

You will get most programs you need installed by default, which is the beauty of Linux based desktop distributions, they come with everything ready to go.

I would advise you to wait for another 10 days, Ubuntu's next version Gusty Gibbon is due to be realeased in approx 10 days, you can download it for free and get the most recent version. If you do not want to wait then go for the current version, you can always upgrade with just one command .

sco0ter

pumpa wrote: »

And where do I get a live cd?

http://www.livecdlist.com/?pick=Linux_x86&showonly=OS+Replacement&sort=&sm=1


Just a few here

sheedatali

sco0ter wrote: »

http://www.livecdlist.com/?pick=Linux_x86&showonly=OS+Replacement&sort=&sm=1


Just a few here

Great link, however remeber, a live cd does not mean it is good for desktop. The list shows live cd distro's for variety of purposes, and some live cd's are popluar than other because they are tailored to run live. Most desktop distro's these days do a live version.

skintlass

As long as you have the vista cd's to re-install then give linux a go. I'd say give it a few weeks at least and get familiar with it before you make a decision one way or another. I have a mac and work with *nix but appreciate that not everyone gets along with it.

random456

gremlin666 wrote: »

Why would you want to replace Vista with Linux. Linux can be a pain to run stable sometimes aswell.

I know your stance on Vista, I prefer Vista to XP too but before I asked on here I didn't even know what Linux was! Now I know, and I am only considering it due to one of my laptops not having the capability to run Vista to it's full potential. I was simply wondering what Linux was like as an o/s that is all.

bat999

Go for it pumpa (If you're interested in computers and you've got some spare time).
It'll only cost you the price of a blank CD-R.
Lots of info here:-http://www.ubuntu.com/
:cool:

juno

I love Linux! Gaim is the equivalent of MSN Messenger, although really it's like having the messenger plus! addon without all the spyware.