linux os

[Kirby]

Ok, I know this has nothing to do with a motorcycle but here goes anyway. Do any of you use Linux or one of the variations of Linux Os on your computers? I'm putting together a system and would like to know what to expect. Is it hard to set up and maintain? I'm just tired of paying "taxes" to Microsoft all the time. I'm looking for something different. As far as my knowledge of computers, I'm not a computer nerd, but I'm also not computer illiterate. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[SilvrT]

There are several "flavours" of Linux out there ... all free. Ubuntu is quite popular. Easy to install, lots of free software. I've "played" with Linux for several years and have been running it on one of my network servers at work for 3 years. Solid as a rock!

[Kirby]

Thanks Rick, I was hopin you would anwer up. I had read on here before that you were into IT and you knew something about the different OS's. I've got an old HP that the harddrive failed in but the rest of the hardware(mobo, powersupply, processor) have all been replaced in the last year and worked fine until the hd died. I just wanted to give it a try and see if a new harddrive with a completely new os would bring me more satisfaction or more heartache. Any more advice??

[Yammer Dan]

Whats a computer??

 

 

If I didn't have the Warden to keep mine up I probally wouldn't have one...

[friesman]

 

 

If I didn't have the Warden to keep mine up I probally wouldn't have one...

 

 

 

Are you sure we are talking computers, Yammer?

[SilvrT]

Thanks Rick, I was hopin you would anwer up. I had read on here before that you were into IT and you knew something about the different OS's. I've got an old HP that the harddrive failed in but the rest of the hardware(mobo, powersupply, processor) have all been replaced in the last year and worked fine until the hd died. I just wanted to give it a try and see if a new harddrive with a completely new os would bring me more satisfaction or more heartache. Any more advice??

 

yep, get yourself a new HD (does the PC work with SATA drives?) and install Ubuntu. You'll have to download it and burn the ISO to a CD to install it or, you can load Windows onto the HD and install Ubuntu as a "dual boot".

[LilBeaver]

I am no IT guy but I run Linux based OSes on a few of my machines (one is a server). As Rick (SilvrT) mentioned, Ubuntu is one distribution that is probably the most popular and n00b friendly for the typical end user.

A program such as 'Wine' will allow you to run just about any windows based software in Linux.

 

I personally run Scientific Linux or OpenSuse on most of my machines. I have run 'Ubuntu' and 'Mint' in the past. My reasons for choosing Scientific Linux are simple - the analysis software that I use and the programs that I write for simulations, modeling, analysis and whatnot (I am a physicist) are all based in Scientific Linux. Additionally that is the software of choice for the labs that I work with, so I chose that one since I am most familiar with it.

 

If you are interested in a dual boot system running Ubuntu and you are not real sure that you want to go exclusively with Linux, I would highly recommend either running linux in a virtual machine for a little while to see if you like it or not or utilizing the "Wubi" installer option with ubuntu. This installer allows you to 'install' and 'uninstall' Linux as if it were a typical program in windows and it is completely automated. Once the installer is done you have Ubuntu in a virtual partition that acts as if it were a clean install and if you decide you don't like it, all you have to do is boot into windows and click 'uninstall ubuntu'. Done. If you want to take a lot of time to monkey with the computer and don't mind doing a full format and re-install then doing a typical fresh install of Ubuntu (or whatever distribution you choose) is fine too. Just know that once you do that the only way to get rid of it is formatting the drive (more or less).

 

Do be warned that you are going to have to learn quite a bit, especially if you are not computer savvy, in how to do normal operations in Linux. And while some claim that Linux is perfect and the next best thing since sliced bread, it too has its own unique set of issues that will creep up eventually.

 

----

To answer your questions:

Do any of you use Linux or one of the variations of Linux Os on your computers?

Yes.

I'm putting together a system and would like to know what to expect. Is it hard to set up and maintain?

If you stick with Mint or Ubuntu the setup is pretty straight forward. There will be a bit of a learning curve but "Dr. Google" can answer all sorts of Ubuntu questions rather quickly.

I'm just tired of paying "taxes" to Microsoft all the time.

Ha. No further comment. Grumble grumble grumble...

 

 

Bottom line, if you are tired of dealing with Windows/microsoft, give it a try and give yourself a week or two to really get used to it and learn your way around. It is going to take some getting used to as it IS different than winders. There are people that swear by winders, swear by linux and yes even some choose mac (). In my opinion they all have their pros and cons and which one is 'better' is really up to the person using it and what the user wants to get out of it.

 

[saddlebum]

I have a couple pc's downstairs one of which I would like tp try ubuntu on as well. However My Pc savy or skill is more along the lines of the trip, fall, get up and try it again technique. so any directions posted here will be in my mind useful. Starting with how to get started.=, and were to download it from.

[Yammer Dan]

Are you sure we are talking computers, Yammer?

 

 

And she ain't home!!!!!:crying::crying:

[SilvrT]

I have a couple pc's downstairs one of which I would like tp try ubuntu on as well. However My Pc savy or skill is more along the lines of the trip, fall, get up and try it again technique. so any directions posted here will be in my mind useful. Starting with how to get started.=, and were to download it from.

 

Ubuntu can be found here...

 

http://www.ubuntu.com/

 

And pretty much all the info you need is available there.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Once you go Mac, you never go back....

 

 

 

 

[SilvrT]

Once you go Mac, you never go back....

 

 

 

 

 

That's because by that time it's cost you so damn much that you can't afford to "go back" ... :stickpoke: :stirthepot:

[GAWildKat]

Kirby, if you want help with linux, give me a call, you already should have my number, my husband and I are both IT ppl, but mine's more a hobby, he gets paid to do support. We live close enough we can install and help you with any linux problems. I also recommend you get a book on linux. If you go with ubuntu I highly recommend this one to start you in your education: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Ubuntu-Linux-Dummies-Paul-Sery/dp/0470125055"]http://www.amazon.com/Ubuntu-Linux-Dummies-Paul-Sery/dp/0470125055 And this one when you get a bit more advanced or need a better reference: I love helping people with computer stuff, it gets me out of the house so don't think you will be a burden on me.

 

 

I was trying to add amazon links to Ubuntu for dummies and Ubuntu unleashed. Both are excellent books. We have an earlier edition of ubuntu unleashed from a few years ago and hubby found it helpful for so of the more advanced stuff.

 

However I can't make clicky links through this thing sheesh. Ubuntu is very easy for a beginner...except for the time when you want to install programs, some of them can take very advanced skills just to install a simple program. Occasionally even I have to ask hubby for help.

Edited September 18, 2011 by GAWildKat
links didn't work...grrrr

[SilvrT]

Kirby, if you want help with linux, give me a call, you already should have my number, my husband and I are both IT ppl, but mine's more a hobby, he gets paid to do support. We live close enough we can install and help you with any linux problems. I also recommend you get a book on linux. I love helping people with computer stuff, it gets me out of the house so don't think you will be a burden on me.

 

Now there's an offer I wouldn't refuse!

 

:thumbsup2:

[GAWildKat]

Also, if you were installing on a harddrive that has an OS(insert windows or linux here) I would be a good idea to try out several OSs via a virtual box emulator so you can get comfy with it and not "screw up" the computer. I can install windows on the computer then install the virtual box so you can install a flavour of linux to try that acts like a separate system. if you decided after 2-3 weeks you can use it well then it can be installed and windows wiped.

[Kirby]

Thanks you guys for all your input on this. If I go with some variation of Linux, I may have to give you a call Patricia. I already have 2 other computers at home so if things don't work out for me I'll just wipe it all and start again. I'm going to a little more research though before I pull the trigger on this. Thanks all

[GAWildKat]

Both my laptop and my laptop run windows....However my favorite recipe database program is linux based....so my desktop dual boots into linux as well so I can look up recipes

[SilvrT]

Both my laptop and my laptop run windows....However my favorite recipe database program is linux based....so my desktop dual boots into linux as well so I can look up recipes

 

so... why not install a virtual box Linux within Windows... then you'd not have to reboot whenever you wanted to look up your recipes (Linux would be sitting there, "alive" and waiting)

 

We run Windows Virtual PC on some of our Windows 7 workstations at work so that we can run Windows XP within because one of our "supplied" Internet apps will not run in Windows 7 but we need immediate and seamless access to it all day long.

[GAWildKat]

Just haven't gotten around to doing it on the laptop yet, it's still a bit new. I've also had other things on my plate lately. AND my desktop is not on the network (no wireless card in it) so can't easily port the data from it yet. I also move in a week so not on my list of priorities....Did I mention I want to kill my room mate? He decided to be useful and packed the kitchen up! lol

[SilvrT]

Just haven't gotten around to doing it on the laptop yet, it's still a bit new. I've also had other things on my plate lately. AND my desktop is not on the network (no wireless card in it) so can't easily port the data from it yet. I also move in a week so not on my list of priorities....Did I mention I want to kill my room mate? He decided to be useful and packed the kitchen up! lol

 

ahhh yes.... those danged "priorities" ....

 

frozen pizza for dinner tonght by the sounds of it... hey... it's not so bad... they make some pretty good ones nowadays!

[Guest tx2sturgis]

That's because by that time it's cost you so damn much that you can't afford to "go back" ... :stickpoke: :stirthepot:

 

 

Yeah I get the stickpoke and all that... but thats fuzzy logic considering you have 2 motorcycles listed that cost somewhere around $35,000 for both...maybe more.

 

 

Over the years I havent spent any more on my Mac computers than I did on winders machines since the beginning of windows, actually I've spent less and gotten more.

 

But yeah, they aint free normally, and if you have a machine sitting there waiting on a new OS, I'd spend $0 plus a learning curve before I'd spend $100-200 on Windows.

 

I have ubuntu and several other OS's on my Mac, in a virtual environment, and if I had to leave the Mac world, I'd be inclined to run ubuntu full time.

Edited September 19, 2011 by tx2sturgis

[FreezyRider]

Another option would be PCLinuxOS. It seems to be a bit more friendly to those who are coming over from Winders. Very easy setup and compatible with most hardware.

Good luck!

[SilvrT]

you have 2 motorcycles listed that cost somewhere around $35,000 for both...maybe more.

 

When the RSMV sells, I will have spent no more than $14,000 since 3 years ago (not counting bling).

[Daveand Barbie]

Of the 4 computers in this house(not including tablets) 3 have Ubuntu installed and 1 is a Windows/Ubuntu dual boot. If I didn't have to have Windows to run financial software, they would all be Ubuntu. I have had Ubuntu installed for a couple of years now, and it is as reliable and consistent as the Mac OS.

 

I really like the Asus eee netbook that is now a Hackintosh(came with Windows, now runs Mac OSX).