Any reason to install Linux?

[noiseredux]

so Linux plus iPod = ?

[Limewater]

so Linux plus iPod = ?

You can replace the firmware with RockBox and run it that way.

You can run iTunes through WINE.

You're better off just not buying an iPod in the first place, but that's true if you're running Windows as well.

[noiseredux]

so Linux plus iPod = ?

You can replace the firmware with RockBox and run it that way.

You can run iTunes through WINE.

You're better off just not buying an iPod in the first place, but that's true if you're running Windows as well.

the iPod is fine. It's iTunes that's slow as dirt if you actually own a decent amount of music. ITunes is such a bloated piece of software. It's crazy.

[Hatta]

I think what you want is GTKpod.

I can't vouch for it, as I've never used an ipod. I think other music managers (amarok, banshee, etc.) can handle ipod syncing as well.

[Limewater]

the iPod is fine. It's iTunes that's slow as dirt if you actually own a decent amount of music. ITunes is such a bloated piece of software. It's crazy.

If by "fine" you mean overpriced and (almost) inextricably tied to a huge, bloated pile-o-crap-o-software, then sure.

IPods by default tie you to iTunes. How can you call that "fine"?

[noiseredux]

the iPod is fine. It's iTunes that's slow as dirt if you actually own a decent amount of music. ITunes is such a bloated piece of software. It's crazy.

If by "fine" you mean overpriced and (almost) inextricably tied to a huge, bloated pile-o-crap-o-software, then sure.

IPods by default tie you to iTunes. How can you call that "fine"?

I mean that the iPod as a device that plays music is fine. It plays music. As far as overpriced, I wouldn't know. I got it in a trade. I didn't pay retail. I agree that the software it is defaultly tied to is a bloated-pile-o-crap. But it seems that using a different piece of software is an option. So then the iPod itself is... wait for it... fine.

[elvis]

I've been a Linux user since 1997 (mixed Windows/Mac/Linux back then, 100% Linux since about 2004). I cut my teeth on Slackware and RedHat 3, tinkered with Mandrake (now Mandriva) and Gentoo before settling on Debian for a few years. Now days I run Ubuntu, because it has all the cool stuff that Debian does, but with pretty clothes.

I should note that I am a Linux and UNIX sysadmin. Although my tinkering with Linux on the desktop started before I chose that career path.

I really enjoy using Linux. It's one of the few systems where I feel like I'm in total control of what's going on under the hood. It certainly isn't without it's frustrations, but to be honest I find it far more frustrating using Windows where all control is taken away from me, than Linux where some things might not be easy/obvious, but with a bit of research is ultimately achievable.

Outside of emulation, I don't play PC games, so that's not a concern for me.

I especially like the concept of having software in repositories. It makes building (and upgrading/rebuilding) systems a breeze. In this day and age I get more and more nervous about installing software from random websites. With a GPG-key signed repository, I know the software (where ever it is mirrored) is legitimate, and will match my OS/distro/version install. Plus the dependency management of tools like APT and YUM is brilliant.

Likewise Linux's (inherited from UNIX/POSIX of course) setup of having all config files in PLAIN TEXT (who needs APIs when you can edit a text file with anything you like?), and having system-wide config in one spot (/etc), and per-user config in another (your home dir). It makes backups under Linux brain-dead simple (copy your home folder somewhere, and you're done).

I don't mind MacOSX. Being able to bust open a terminal and treat it like a UNIX box is nice. But not having tools like APT/YUM natively is annoying (I usually install Fink or MacPorts, but that's pretty useless for native GUI apps). Windows just plain annoys me. I started my career as a Windows sysadmin, and the glaring limitations of that system were what first pushed me to look for an alternative. And I'm pretty damned happy I did, because life's great in Linux land.

[futuramaguy42]

I really like Linux. It's not my main OS, I'm using Windows 7 right now, which I really like. I have Ubuntu on my old Sony computer and my sisters old laptop that I got when she got a new one.

Ubuntu makes the computers run great for quick stuff like browsing the web or listening to music.

Linux does have a fair amount of games, just not mainstream stuff, if you go through the Software Center's game section you are bound to find something you like. There are great Roguelike's like Nethack and fun shooters like Cube and Nexuiz.

Ubuntu is super easy to use if you aren't trying to download programs from a web browser (I don't know why they made downloading/installing programs so difficult on Ubuntu) or change a lot of settings. (the built in Ubuntu Software Center and Synaptic Package Managers make getting new programs a breeze)

[DerekG52]

I have a HTPC that I setup with Win7 RC. It is multipurpose, serve and watch media, emulate games, be a torrent box etc. But part of the pitch was having something easy so my gf could use it to watch movies with her friends. Now I find that when she wants to use it, it just doesn't *work*. Maybe its from trying to use Windows media center or having bad codecs or something else, but if I can't count on it to work when I'm not around then what's the point. I'm going to switch it over to a Linux box, because I know Linux will just *work*. Any app that I can't find a similar replacement in Linux, there is Wine to fill in the gaps. I've used ubuntu before with pleasant results. It's lovely having an OS that isn't just filled with bloat right out of the box.