Another computer question

[Sparky415]

I have a new computer on its way to me, 
At the moment it has Ubuntu operating system

I could try to run my original windows XP disc or keep the Ubuntu thingy
What are the pros and cons to using Ubuntu 

Remember that I'm the kind of person that uses one finger to type this 
Thanks for any comments   

[ryan1835]

id go with xp if your not sure of what your doing...

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

...and make sure the first aid kit is nearby...

[Sparky415]

I'm happy to give it a try if its not going to confuse the hell out of me too much
I already use open office if that helps
Oh and I will want to transfer all the pictures, music and assorted crap over from my existing computer  (running windows XP)

 

[Sparky415]

...and make sure the first aid kit is nearby...

Why  






   

[ryan1835]

ive not got ubuntu but from what i understand it might be a bit more involved then a windows pc- you sometimes have to dig stuff out to get things to work properly

[John]

Ubuntu come wid de banana and de coconut  de banana is easily opened however de coconut is a tougher shell to crack  stick to what you know best mate

[thebullfrog]

I've used Ubuntu. Didn't like it. As far as Linux goes it's pretty user friendly, which scares me away from tying any other Linux Distro lol. The worst part is getting drivers working for all the hardware, then there's the software compatibility issue. If it came pre-loaded on the comp and everything is working, provided you don't need some software that won't run on it, I'd say go ahead and give it a try for a while. I didn't like the hassle of getting it working, and then nothing running on it, but if you're past the getting it working part, and it'll run what you need, then it really is a pretty nice OS.

[Freudian Frog]

I've used Ubuntu. Didn't like it. As far as Linux goes it's pretty user friendly, which scares me away from tying any other Linux Distro lol. The worst part is getting drivers working for all the hardware, then there's the software compatibility issue. If it came pre-loaded on the comp and everything is working, provided you don;t need some software that won't run on it, I'd say go ahead and give it a try for a while. I didn't like the hassle of getting it working, and then nothing running on it, but if you're past the getting it working part, and it'll run what you need, then it really is a pretty nice OS.

Wot 'e said.

[NutSAK]

Ubuntu come wid de banana and de coconut  de banana is easily opened however de coconut is a tougher shell to crack  stick to what you know best mate

Well said.  You'll feel better if you put de lime in de coconut and drink 'em bot up. 

[Sazabi]

Ubuntu come wid de banana and de coconut  de banana is easily opened however de coconut is a tougher shell to crack  stick to what you know best mate

Well said.  You'll feel better if you put de lime in de coconut and drink 'em bot up. 

But I thought it was:  You put the lime in the Coke you nut and drink them both up.

*sigh*  I still get random cravings for Coke Blak.

[John]

Ubuntu come wid de banana and de coconut  de banana is easily opened however de coconut is a tougher shell to crack  stick to what you know best mate

Well said.  You'll feel better if you put de lime in de coconut and drink 'em bot up. 

I tried the disc once and all that came up was pages of errors,that's de coconut for me 

[markn951]

I've used Ubuntu. Didn't like it. As far as Linux goes it's pretty user friendly, which scares me away from tying any other Linux Distro lol. The worst part is getting drivers working for all the hardware, then there's the software compatibility issue. If it came pre-loaded on the comp and everything is working, provided you don't need some software that won't run on it, I'd say go ahead and give it a try for a while. I didn't like the hassle of getting it working, and then nothing running on it, but if you're past the getting it working part, and it'll run what you need, then it really is a pretty nice OS.

There are distros that are considered more "user-friendly" (Linux Mint, for instance). Actually, Mint is a really good place to start for newbies to Linux, because it comes with proprietary software preinstalled (which is the reason why Ubuntu doesn't automatically take care of all the drivers, etc.). Anyways, even in Ubuntu, getting drivers up and running is pretty straightforward. I don't consider it much of a down-side, typically it will take me 10-20 minutes on a new install.

As for software, if there's something you use that doesn't work on Linux I guarantee there's a (usually) free equivalent that works similarly that DOES work on Linux.

Plus, 90% of lower-level (no offense!) users use productivity applications and the internet 90% of the time. He already uses OpenOffice, no change there... The few apps he might need almost definitely have replacements...

I'd say try it out at least, obviously if you don't like it don't use it but give it a fighting chance, Linux is better than Windows by leaps and bounds.

Of course, then once you're really into it you can start trying out Fedora or Debian or FreeBSD, and then maybe try out Arch or Slackware, and then compile Gentoo, and then you're REALLY screwed, because all your time will be spent fiddling with your system. Why does installing Gentoo take hours instead of minutes? Because you basically tell the OS how you want every single facet of the system to be. So insane.

[josekym]

Why not try Ubuntu first for a couple of weeks and see how she handles?  If you don't like it, then you could re-format the PC with Windows later on.

The advantage of Ubuntu vs. Windows:

1) It is free (as in free beer) so you save for more multi's, heheh.
2) It is less prone to virus and malware infections
3) It crashes less often than Windows
4) It is community supported as well as professionally supported (paid)
5) It can run very well (more nimble) on even older hardware
6) It installs in a complete package (OS, Office Apps (OpenOffice), Browser, E-mail client, Chat client, Multimedia etc.)
7) You can get a load of other free software from the Apps Repositories or Software Central.

Disadvantages:

1) You need to go thru flaming hoops to run native Windows games or apps
2) A bit of getting used to the Interface and slightly different commands (keyboard)
3) Some pieces of hardware designed for Windows can take a bit of tweaking to get working properly

If it helps, I run both Ubuntu and Windows XP on my laptop.  You'll need separate partitions to do this, if you want to.

[thebullfrog]

I've used Ubuntu. Didn't like it. As far as Linux goes it's pretty user friendly, which scares me away from tying any other Linux Distro lol. The worst part is getting drivers working for all the hardware, then there's the software compatibility issue. If it came pre-loaded on the comp and everything is working, provided you don't need some software that won't run on it, I'd say go ahead and give it a try for a while. I didn't like the hassle of getting it working, and then nothing running on it, but if you're past the getting it working part, and it'll run what you need, then it really is a pretty nice OS.

There are distros that are considered more "user-friendly" (Linux Mint, for instance). Actually, Mint is a really good place to start for newbies to Linux, because it comes with proprietary software preinstalled (which is the reason why Ubuntu doesn't automatically take care of all the drivers, etc.). Anyways, even in Ubuntu, getting drivers up and running is pretty straightforward. I don't consider it much of a down-side, typically it will take me 10-20 minutes on a new install.

As for software, if there's something you use that doesn't work on Linux I guarantee there's a (usually) free equivalent that works similarly that DOES work on Linux.

Plus, 90% of lower-level (no offense!) users use productivity applications and the internet 90% of the time. He already uses OpenOffice, no change there... The few apps he might need almost definitely have replacements...

I'd say try it out at least, obviously if you don't like it don't use it but give it a fighting chance, Linux is better than Windows by leaps and bounds.

Of course, then once you're really into it you can start trying out Fedora or Debian or FreeBSD, and then maybe try out Arch or Slackware, and then compile Gentoo, and then you're REALLY screwed, because all your time will be spent fiddling with your system. Why does installing Gentoo take hours instead of minutes? Because you basically tell the OS how you want every single facet of the system to be. So insane.

Well true, installing drivers isnt that bad, my problem was FINDING them, because the computer I was trying to use it on at the time had like ZERO linux driver support, I couldn't even get sound working for the integrated sound driver on the mobo, had to go get an Audigy just hear anything. As for user friendlness, it has been a while and at the time Ubuntu was all the rage. When I get a new comp, I'm thinking of giving Linux another go on this comp for the hell of it.

[markn951]

I've been using Windows since birth and I also play quite a lot of games, so my main system is and probably always will be Windows, but I find Linux has much much better support for older, "slower" computers, especially when you get into distros like arch, slackware, etc. (more "advanced", "technical" distros). Linux is a great choice for netbooks for precisely this reason. When you have an OS that can run perfectly contented on a Pentium 3 with 128MB of RAM, anything modern is blazing fast.

[Outback in Idaho]

Ubuntu is free, if you don't like XP you can always get it free online. You can also get Virtual Box (OpenSource) and emulate a virtual drive and try Ubuntu, burn Ubuntu to a CD-R, or even make a 2GB USB bootable with Ubuntu Netbook version.

Like other posters have replied, stick with what you know.


Linux is nice in that you can make servers, even routers out of old machines. 

[Sparky415]

Thanks for all the help Guys!
I understood 80% of it (still thinking about the coconuts and fruit)
I will give Ubuntu a go and see how it goes

 

[John]

 (still thinking about the coconuts and fruit)


 

Let me help you here changing OS can be a belly ache at times so ya may need da lime and de coconut   

[nuphoria]

Now I really want a Coke bad.... but it's nearly 4am and I am supposed to be sleeping, so I don't think it's going to happen 

As for scary new ways of running puters, I considered Linux but I figured I need time to learn it's trixy ways and can't seem to find it at the moment. So I have stayed with the dark side (mostly for the free cookies).

[Outback in Idaho]

LOL, cute!

I ran a Ubuntu 9 Virtual PC on my Win7 x6 machine, although it doesn't find the emulated internet hardware. Probably will just delete it. Heard VPC fully supports SUSE & Red Hat.

Can't get version 10 to install due to the graphics issue with Virtual PC. I might have to get the FreeSource version to run it. It's the 16 bit graphics mode that's in VPC that messes the installation up. In previous Ubuntu versions had to use Safe Graphics mode - version 10+ doesn't seem to have a Safe Graphics mode (least not that I can find).

Other option is to get a 2GB+ flashdrive and install Ubuntu Netbook Edition on there. Have a bootable OS right there.
Gosh, that be great for critter removal too!