Why would I want to install Linux?

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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by mistermack » Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:29 pm

I don't see the point of Linux, although I keep up with it.
There's no point in a double boot. I have Ubuntu on a 2 gig sdhc card, that I put in the USB slot if I want to look again at Ubuntu, which isn't often.
When they get the graphics nice and sharp, and get my favourite programs working on it, and when I can't get a free copy of windows, then I might swap.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by MiM » Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:59 pm

mistermack wrote:I don't see the point of Linux, although I keep up with it.
There's no point in a double boot. I have Ubuntu on a 2 gig sdhc card, that I put in the USB slot if I want to look again at Ubuntu, which isn't often.
When they get the graphics nice and sharp, and get my favourite programs working on it, and when I can't get a free copy of windows, then I might swap.
I run two servers on linux at work packed with linux-only software (some of which is NOT cheap, I might tell you), and sometimes while on travel I need to run some of that sw locally on my laptop. Some of that sw additionally needs low level access to the computers ports and shit, so it doesn't work from a VM. On the other hand I need WIndows for my connections to the office, so a dual boot is my only option to dragging two computers along...

At home I use linux 99% of the time (just because I like it better, and some of the reasons told here already), but need Windows occasionally, because some sw that doesn't run properly on linux. Also here dual boot is the obvious option.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by klr » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:03 pm

mistermack wrote:I don't see the point of Linux, although I keep up with it.
There's no point in a double boot. I have Ubuntu on a 2 gig sdhc card, that I put in the USB slot if I want to look again at Ubuntu, which isn't often.
When they get the graphics nice and sharp, and get my favourite programs working on it, and when I can't get a free copy of windows, then I might swap.
I agree ... If I decide to configure a machine with just one main operating system, then that would be Linux, not Windows. :razzle:
MiM wrote: I run two servers on linux at work packed with linux-only software (some of which is NOT cheap, I might tell you), and sometimes while on travel I need to run some of that sw locally on my laptop. Some of that sw additionally needs low level access to the computers ports and shit, so it doesn't work from a VM. On the other hand I need WIndows for my connections to the office, so a dual boot is my only option to dragging two computers along...

At home I use linux 99% of the time (just because I like it better, and some of the reasons told here already), but need Windows occasionally, because some sw that doesn't run properly on linux. Also here dual boot is the obvious option.
Or a virtual machine, if you don't need Window to run games or any other resource hog.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Mysturji » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:21 pm

It depends what you want it for.
If you want a machine that does surfing, email, office-type stuff, scientific-type stuff, programming type stuff, lots of other (though admittedly, not very mainstream) type stuff, and has good security (so you don't need anti-virus software slowing you down - you can even use it as a firewall for your home network), which doesn't crash, doesn't need a reboot when things stop working (because they don't stop working), doesn't INSIST that you ALWAYS have the LATEST patches and reboot after installing them, all the while sticking two digital fingers up at Bill Gates, then get Linux.

If you want to play computer games, then get Windows.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:22 pm

I'd love to try Linux on the netbook, but I know I'd fuck it up.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Mysturji » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:31 pm

Gawdzilla Sama wrote:I'd love to try Linux on the netbook, but I know I'd fuck it up.
It has a GUI front-end now, you know.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:31 pm

Mysturji wrote:
Gawdzilla Sama wrote:I'd love to try Linux on the netbook, but I know I'd fuck it up.
It has a GUI front-end now, you know.
Don't be that GUI.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by MiM » Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:10 pm

klr wrote: Or a virtual machine, if you don't need Window to run games or any other resource hog.
Pay by view HD video streaming. I haven't found a virtual machine that does decent networking, yet.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Azathoth » Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:11 pm

Mysturji wrote:It depends what you want it for.
If you want a machine that does surfing, email, office-type stuff, scientific-type stuff, programming type stuff, lots of other (though admittedly, not very mainstream) type stuff, and has good security (so you don't need anti-virus software slowing you down - you can even use it as a firewall for your home network), which doesn't crash, doesn't need a reboot when things stop working (because they don't stop working), doesn't INSIST that you ALWAYS have the LATEST patches and reboot after installing them, all the while sticking two digital fingers up at Bill Gates, then get Linux.

If you want to play computer games, then get Windows a PS4.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by DaveD » Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:45 pm

If there's a problem with Windows that a fresh reinstall is the easiest solution for, having Linux as well can be useful, as you can access all the files on the Windows partition and copy them elsewhere (not on the same drive). I often hear of people bemoaning the loss of important documents or precious photos, and being able to boot into Linux would let them rescue them.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by mistermack » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:36 pm

DaveD wrote:If there's a problem with Windows that a fresh reinstall is the easiest solution for, having Linux as well can be useful, as you can access all the files on the Windows partition and copy them elsewhere (not on the same drive). I often hear of people bemoaning the loss of important documents or precious photos, and being able to boot into Linux would let them rescue them.
I would be wary of using Linux to copy windows files. I was once copying backed up files created on windows, when I kept getting a message saying that the file name was too long on a file, and the copying would stop. It was doing my head in so I thought I'd use UBUNTU to do the job.
It was great, it went through the lot without stopping once.

Only later, I found that lots of the files were un-usable. Why, I don't know, but never again.
I had to do a rescue of the deleted hard disk and lost some files permanently.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Sean Hayden » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:45 pm

Gawdzilla Sama wrote:I'd love to try Linux on the netbook, but I know I'd fuck it up.
What's your netbook? I've got Ubuntu running nicely on an acer. Surprisingly networking worked right away too. That's usually the area where I find a fresh install of linux runs into trouble because of the driver support issue. But really even there if you prepare before hand and don't mind having to tinker a bit you can get it working.

I had some issues with the graphics but got that sorted without much trouble too.

I'd just google your netbook and the linux distro you're looking at. Ubuntu runs great on this little thing.

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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:46 pm

Sean Hayden wrote:I'd just google your netbook and the linux distro you're looking at. Ubuntu runs great on this little thing.
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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:48 pm

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Re: Why would I want to install Linux?

Post by Sean Hayden » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:51 pm

Yep, a quick search shows people are making it work. Now get in there and beat your head against the keyboard. :dance:

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