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This is for anyone who has ever thought of replacing their Windows and installing Linux.
Especially in the case of gamers, Linux isn't a replacement for Windows. Despite the facts some windows games can be made to run on Linux, (with WineX [URL]http://www.transgaming.com/[/URL]). Performance is worse than if you just ran the games normally on windows, and a lot of games will just refuse to run. You also have to pay a monthly subscription to transgaming to get this. Having said that, there are some quality games ported to linux, which work fine.
Linux is not easy to use. It's far from it. It takes a lot of effort and time to learn, but once learnt it is well worth it. If you're still having trouble with windows, steer clear ;).
However, the big bonus with Linux is in office, media,server and internet work. Beside the fact that is is free, there's a huge plethora of free software availiable with it. It's also much more reliable, and easily upgradeable, and customiseable. It's also much more secure and less prone to being hacked or exploited. Because it is open source, programs are patched and exploits are fixed by the community, rather than having to wait 3 weeks for the developer to release a patch.
All in all, the ideal setup would be 2 pcs. One more powerful with windows for your gaming, and the other for office, media and internet work. This probably isn't possible for many people, but you can dual boot windows and linux. If your main use is gaming, don't bother at all.
For people new to linux, I would recommend either Mandrake or SuSE linux. Both are free and can be downloaded from sites Mandrake: [URL]http://www.mandrakesoft.com/[/URL] SUSE: [URL]http://www.suse.com/uk/[/URL]
Hope this helps!
Ben 'SBB' Taylor
Especially in the case of gamers, Linux isn't a replacement for Windows. Despite the facts some windows games can be made to run on Linux, (with WineX [URL]http://www.transgaming.com/[/URL]). Performance is worse than if you just ran the games normally on windows, and a lot of games will just refuse to run. You also have to pay a monthly subscription to transgaming to get this. Having said that, there are some quality games ported to linux, which work fine.
Linux is not easy to use. It's far from it. It takes a lot of effort and time to learn, but once learnt it is well worth it. If you're still having trouble with windows, steer clear ;).
However, the big bonus with Linux is in office, media,server and internet work. Beside the fact that is is free, there's a huge plethora of free software availiable with it. It's also much more reliable, and easily upgradeable, and customiseable. It's also much more secure and less prone to being hacked or exploited. Because it is open source, programs are patched and exploits are fixed by the community, rather than having to wait 3 weeks for the developer to release a patch.
All in all, the ideal setup would be 2 pcs. One more powerful with windows for your gaming, and the other for office, media and internet work. This probably isn't possible for many people, but you can dual boot windows and linux. If your main use is gaming, don't bother at all.
For people new to linux, I would recommend either Mandrake or SuSE linux. Both are free and can be downloaded from sites Mandrake: [URL]http://www.mandrakesoft.com/[/URL] SUSE: [URL]http://www.suse.com/uk/[/URL]
Hope this helps!
Ben 'SBB' Taylor
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This is for anyone who has ever thought of replacing their Windows and installing Linux.
Especially in the case of gamers, Linux isn't a replacement for Windows. Despite the facts some windows games can be made to run on Linux, (with WineX [URL]http://www.transgaming.com/[/URL]). Performance is worse than if you just ran the games normally on windows, and a lot of games will just refuse to run. You also have to pay a monthly subscription to transgaming to get this. Having said that, there are some quality games ported to linux, which work fine.
Linux is not easy to use. It's far from it. It takes a lot of effort and time to learn, but once learnt it is well worth it. If you're still having trouble with windows, steer clear ;).
However, the big bonus with Linux is in office, media,server and internet work. Beside the fact that is is free, there's a huge plethora of free software availiable with it. It's also much more reliable, and easily upgradeable, and customiseable. It's also much more secure and less prone to being hacked or exploited. Because it is open source, programs are patched and exploits are fixed by the community, rather than having to wait 3 weeks for the developer to release a patch.
All in all, the ideal setup would be 2 pcs. One more powerful with windows for your gaming, and the other for office, media and internet work. This probably isn't possible for many people, but you can dual boot windows and linux. If your main use is gaming, don't bother at all.
For people new to linux, I would recommend either Mandrake or SuSE linux. Both are free and can be downloaded from sites Mandrake: [URL]http://www.mandrakesoft.com/[/URL] SUSE: [URL]http://www.suse.com/uk/[/URL]
Hope this helps!
Ben 'SBB' Taylor
Especially in the case of gamers, Linux isn't a replacement for Windows. Despite the facts some windows games can be made to run on Linux, (with WineX [URL]http://www.transgaming.com/[/URL]). Performance is worse than if you just ran the games normally on windows, and a lot of games will just refuse to run. You also have to pay a monthly subscription to transgaming to get this. Having said that, there are some quality games ported to linux, which work fine.
Linux is not easy to use. It's far from it. It takes a lot of effort and time to learn, but once learnt it is well worth it. If you're still having trouble with windows, steer clear ;).
However, the big bonus with Linux is in office, media,server and internet work. Beside the fact that is is free, there's a huge plethora of free software availiable with it. It's also much more reliable, and easily upgradeable, and customiseable. It's also much more secure and less prone to being hacked or exploited. Because it is open source, programs are patched and exploits are fixed by the community, rather than having to wait 3 weeks for the developer to release a patch.
All in all, the ideal setup would be 2 pcs. One more powerful with windows for your gaming, and the other for office, media and internet work. This probably isn't possible for many people, but you can dual boot windows and linux. If your main use is gaming, don't bother at all.
For people new to linux, I would recommend either Mandrake or SuSE linux. Both are free and can be downloaded from sites Mandrake: [URL]http://www.mandrakesoft.com/[/URL] SUSE: [URL]http://www.suse.com/uk/[/URL]
Hope this helps!
Ben 'SBB' Taylor
Christ almighty - a Windows thread!
This is my opinion:
Linux, Unix = open source = good
Windows = Nazi-era conformity = even better.
Who would you rather have building your operating systems and software - a company that pumps billions of pounds into research every year to ensure compatibility, stability (sort of), reliability and standardisation, or a bunch of hippies and geeks in their basements, thumbing their greasy fingers through copies of "Linux in 24 Hours"?
This is my opinion:
Linux, Unix = open source = good
Windows = Nazi-era conformity = even better.
Who would you rather have building your operating systems and software - a company that pumps billions of pounds into research every year to ensure compatibility, stability (sort of), reliability and standardisation, or a bunch of hippies and geeks in their basements, thumbing their greasy fingers through copies of "Linux in 24 Hours"?
a) You can't learn Linux in 24 hours, no matter what any books say
b) Windows isn't reliable enough to be a business operating system. Maybe for the home, yes. And I don't think that Linux is any less compatible than Windows with software written for it, although software dependencies can become tiresome.
But Windows definately has more hardware compatibilty, but only because manafacturers are more readily eagre to work with Microsoft.
b) Windows isn't reliable enough to be a business operating system. Maybe for the home, yes. And I don't think that Linux is any less compatible than Windows with software written for it, although software dependencies can become tiresome.
But Windows definately has more hardware compatibilty, but only because manafacturers are more readily eagre to work with Microsoft.
Although in theory open source can be patched quickly and more easily than say Windows, in reality it takes just as long for Linux security patches to be released in any stable form. Just take a look at slashdot for many examples.
Yes but how many windows programs need patches also, to fix stability issues?
Whatever the figure, you were still misinformed when it come to claiming how long it takes to patch Linux.
If you're talking about Joe Bloggs running a machine then he will be under threat from security issues no matter what OS he's running. Get someone who actually knows their stuff though and virtually any OS can be safe.
Anyone could come here cherry-picking situations really.
If you're talking about Joe Bloggs running a machine then he will be under threat from security issues no matter what OS he's running. Get someone who actually knows their stuff though and virtually any OS can be safe.
Anyone could come here cherry-picking situations really.
Also, Microsoft don't have an amazing track record for exploit fixes.
The blast virus was patched, and then more viruses, like Sasser, came along and expolited a very similar issue.
The blast virus was patched, and then more viruses, like Sasser, came along and expolited a very similar issue.
Yes no operating system is safe from attack... but Linux is better than Windows. I'm not saying it's 100% safe but it is better.
Look, you obviously have a very narrow mind.
Yes, it's better for some things. I'll give you that. But for other things it really sucks.
I work with Windows, Suse and Mac OSX every day at work, and Suse is only my first choice when it comes to managing the network.
Yes, it's better for some things. I'll give you that. But for other things it really sucks.
I work with Windows, Suse and Mac OSX every day at work, and Suse is only my first choice when it comes to managing the network.
You should just accept that each has its pros and cons, like everything else in this world.
An F1 car is "better" at doing 200mph on a track than a 4x4, yet does that mean it can go offroad?
Go figure and open your mind a little.
An F1 car is "better" at doing 200mph on a track than a 4x4, yet does that mean it can go offroad?
Go figure and open your mind a little.
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