Windows or Linux?

[Viking Don]

Apologies if this has already been done, but following on from the PS3/XBox thread, it got me thinking do I really need Windows anymore?

I've been meaning to try a Linux system for ages and have finally got around to it by installing Ubuntu on my PC. It was quick and simple to install, and after a few hours messing around with it seems to have everything I need already installed. Everything, of course, is FREE, so that's a start.

Anyone else kicked Windows in?

[MrFrost]

We use a Linux system for design. However we  still use Windows on our general office systems.

[Muttley]

MrFrost wrote:

We use a Linux system for design. However we  still use Windows on our general office systems.

So there you have it...use Windows for design and Linux for general office systems and you'll be fine  

[Viking Don]

Muttley wrote:

MrFrost wrote:

We use a Linux system for design. However we  still use Windows on our general office systems.

So there you have it...use Windows for design and Linux for general office systems and you'll be fine  

I actually just let out a muttley type laugh at that. I only put free in capitals just for that reason.  B)

[Rios]

I have.  My laptop had Windows wiped off it completely a year ago (I dual booted for two years previously on various pc's/laptops) and Ubuntu 9.10 installed.  Haven't upgraded it to Meerkat yet as it does everything I need it to do as it is.  It's a myth that you need windows unless you want to play particular games, although wine allows me to play CM0102 on Linux which keeps me happy!  It can do my email, msn, internet, rip and burn dvd's and everything else I can possible through at it.

I've also got a Linux server which hosts a website, runs samba shares, downloads podcasts, a upnp server, print server and an ftp server.  I'd struggle to think of anything on Windows that I can't do on Ubuntu now which wasn't the case two years ago.  Oh and it's all completely free!

[Viking Don]

I'm guessing most of you don't care about freedom then, and the rest are too scared to take the plunge. Because the world will stop spinning on it's axis if people don't behave like sheep.

[Rios]

You're preaching to a society that is in love with locked down, over priced systems like Apple Iphone/Ipod and SkyTV.  Computers are like cars, only 5% of the population are even interested enough to make sensible, considered choices... everyone else just drives BMWs/Audis/or whatever else is fashionable.

The plus side of \"lamers\" not being on Linux is that there's no reason for it to be targetted with virus or malware.

[Rios]

Oh and if you're interested in the concept of software being FREE as in freedom and not as in beer you should stop using OpenOffice and switch to LibreOffice.  It's the same product but Oracle who've recently purchased it look like they're trying to monitise a \"Free\" product and close it off.

[RobTheRover]

Interesting that you cite the iPhone as a lock down there.  I wonder how many iPhone users actually bothered to jailbreak their devices.

I've had my Android Desire HD (essentially running a Linux kernel) for 2 weeks and its already been rooted and custom ROMs installed numerous times.

[Rios]

RobTheRover wrote:

Interesting that you cite the iPhone as a lock down there.  I wonder how many iPhone users actually bothered to jailbreak their devices.

I've had my Android Desire HD (essentially running a Linux kernel) for 2 weeks and its already been rooted and custom ROMs installed numerous times.

The main problem with jailbreaking an Iphone is that you always run the risk of bricking it.  As far as Apple are concerned if you don't use their products in the way that they say you should then it's tough shit when it breaks when they apply a \"fix\" which purposefully bricks it.

I won't buy apple products, not because I don't think they're well designed (they are), well made (they are) or have anything to offer but because of the whole ethos of the company.  If Apple could get away with just licensing you their products rather than having to sell them they would.  For all the bad press Microsoft gets, much of which is justified, at least their products can be used in anyway you see fit.  Want to be a bit mad and install windows 7 on an old Pentium 3 laptop?  Or install windows 95 on a Core i7?  No problem!  Want to install Snow Leopard on anything thats more than a few years old?  Nah, not having it!

Linux and all it's spin offs (including Android) is reaching maturity.  Don't like the way your phone or Linux PC does something?  If you're smart enough then the code is there for you to change it yourself.  If your not then use google and you'll find 95% of the time someones already done it and left step by step instructions so you can too.