Any Linux users?

[lordofduct]

I hope someone already pointed out you can just use synaptic to install stuff. Its all point and click, no complicated programming languages to learn

have

[rattboi]

Mozgus, what I keep hearing you basically say is "It's not windows, it doesn't work like windows, so I don't like it." IT'S CALLED LINUX! It isn't windows, some of the paradigms are different, and don't be surprised that you might have to learn a few things to use it. You just keep saying the Windows way is better, and sure, installing stuff on windows is generally mild. But that doesn't mean that the linux way isn't. For example, what if you don't know about FFDShow? Where are you gonna get your codecs? You're gonna have to get on google and search for shit, and probably find a bunch of crappy webpages before you find the real deal. And after you install, who knows if your application will even be available to the other users on your computer. Seriously, multi-user support in Windows is shit. It's a hack they added to catch up, while *nix was built on it. The reason you see so many viruses killing windows systems is because everyone runs an Administrator account, because it's really the only way to USE windows. So, you have your complaints about Linux, I have complaints about Windows. Neither is perfect. I use both, and I use OSX. If we wanna talk about simplicity, go get yourself a mac. Installing stuff on mac is the simplest thing ever. Download a disk image, drag the application into your apps folder. Done. No registry, no dll fuckups, just smooth. Don't like the program, drag it into the trash. Empty trash. done.

[Mozgus]

Mozgus, what I keep hearing you basically say is "It's not windows, it doesn't work like windows, so I don't like it." IT'S CALLED LINUX! It isn't windows, some of the paradigms are different, and don't be surprised that you might have to learn a few things to use it. You just keep saying the Windows way is better, and sure, installing stuff on windows is generally mild. But that doesn't mean that the linux way isn't. For example, what if you don't know about FFDShow? Where are you gonna get your codecs? You're gonna have to get on google and search for shit, and probably find a bunch of crappy webpages before you find the real deal. And after you install, who knows if your application will even be available to the other users on your computer. Seriously, multi-user support in Windows is shit. It's a hack they added to catch up, while *nix was built on it. The reason you see so many viruses killing windows systems is because everyone runs an Administrator account, because it's really the only way to USE windows. So, you have your complaints about Linux, I have complaints about Windows. Neither is perfect. I use both, and I use OSX. If we wanna talk about simplicity, go get yourself a mac. Installing stuff on mac is the simplest thing ever. Download a disk image, drag the application into your apps folder. Done. No registry, no dll fuckups, just smooth. Don't like the program, drag it into the trash. Empty trash. done.

I've left my compliments and gripes. I even said Ubuntu could turn out to be great in just another version or two. I look forword to seeing how that goes. But I will not give it points in the areas which it is clearly inferior in.

[gup]

I'm thinking about transitioning my old Thinkpad 600X to Ubuntu Linux from XP. I don't use it for anything critical, so it might be a good experiment for me.

Great time to experiment with Linux. Pretty capable desktop these days. Not for everyone (not that anything is), but will work for a surprisingly wide range of users. IMO, best for "power users" and beginners with a "power user" they can rely on. For anyone inbetween, results will vary based on person/needs/hardware.

My mother-in-law is kinda using it for the most part right now and has talked about buying the machine from me.

Given this, I might suggest Kubuntu, or another KDE distro. Probably, by default, closest to Windows.

I need a good Word and Excel substitute. I know Open Office is there, but I haven't been terribly impressed with it.

There's nothing jazzy about Open Office, it's a workhorse. Try AbiWord, Gnumeric, or KOffice (starting to mature). Or Scribus (DTP). I can't think of another program that's irritated me more over time than Word. LaTex was the perfect solution for me. Not for everyone, but consider adding it to your list of experiments. Kile, TexMaker, Winefish, or Lyx can help you get started. Also, if you spend a lot of time working with text, it's worth learning vim/gvim.

As basic as this sounds, my Mother-in-law would need a good Solitare program (not sure what is availible for Linux)

No experience there, but don't forget emulation. Snes9x is in the repos.

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My biggest loss would probably be iTunes, but I'd get over it...

Depends on how you used iTunes. Amarok is pretty good. And there are a bunch of other options.

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Any thoughts from any Linux users out there?

I've been using Ubuntu and Kubuntu on PPC as my main desktop for almost a year now. I put off trying Linux for a long time because I kept hearing how difficult it was ... that was not my experience and I regret not trying it earlier. I still think OSX is the best general consumer desktop, but I would rate Linux between that and Windows XP. And I've been really impressed with the rate at which Linux is improving. I'm on my third version of Ubuntu/Kubuntu and each version has been better and faster and free.

Bonus experiment:
When you get comfortable, take a look at minimal window managers like Blackbox, Openbox, or Fluxbox. I just switched to Openbox and it rocks.

[mpozos]

I commend all participants on this thread for the most impressive pissing contest I have seen in a while.

In all this time, Racketboy has stayed silent for the most part. In general usability of a laptop out-of-the box, if I were racketboy, I would buy a WinXP laptop. (PM me and I can hook you up with a URL and logon info for a discount from IBM/Lenovo)

Like Mozgus, I give credit where its due and I must say that Linux once saved my life. I booted my Wintel box (which was stuck on a non-booting loop, my SAM, SECURITY files, etc were gone from my basic image and all backups) to the Knoppix CD. It read all my HDs so I was able to start a Samba session and use my office Network (don't tell anyone ) to transfer all my (music, videos, emu, and serious important business) sh*t from my personal computer to my desktop computer and laptop where I now keep a backup of this important materials. (Note that I'm not a AOL-raised n00b and I hold a degree in Computer Sciences)

Racketboy, get yerself a Wintel Laptop, you can dick around with Knoppix if you want to "experiment". Be careful of using the verb experiment too much, as people tend to read different meanings that you initiall intended.

[Mozgus]

I commend all participants on this thread for the most impressive pissing contest I have seen in a while.

If it weren't for golden threads like this, I'd avoid forums altogether.

[lordofduct]

SAME HERE!

This is a great time passer when your stuck somewhere with nothing better to freaking do! Hence why I highly doubt mozgus and I dislike eachother for anything said here. Keeps the brain going, that is all.

[racketboy]

I commend all participants on this thread for the most impressive pissing contest I have seen in a while.

In all this time, Racketboy has stayed silent for the most part. In general usability of a laptop out-of-the box, if I were racketboy, I would buy a WinXP laptop. (PM me and I can hook you up with a URL and logon info for a discount from IBM/Lenovo)

Like Mozgus, I give credit where its due and I must say that Linux once saved my life. I booted my Wintel box (which was stuck on a non-booting loop, my SAM, SECURITY files, etc were gone from my basic image and all backups) to the Knoppix CD. It read all my HDs so I was able to start a Samba session and use my office Network (don't tell anyone ) to transfer all my (music, videos, emu, and serious important business) sh*t from my personal computer to my desktop computer and laptop where I now keep a backup of this important materials. (Note that I'm not a AOL-raised n00b and I hold a degree in Computer Sciences)

Racketboy, get yerself a Wintel Laptop, you can dick around with Knoppix if you want to "experiment". Be careful of using the verb experiment too much, as people tend to read different meanings that you initiall intended.

I already have two Thinkpads already.
Currently my wife and mother-in-law are using them.
I have a Dell laptop for work (eeh), but won't be putting Linux on that.

[msimplay]

I've read the whole thread I'm a linux user for my casual desktop since it allows everything I used to do on windows to be done on Linux aside from gaming.
I've seen a few points on emulation but seriously I can play snes9x , gens , fceultra , mupen , mame, mess, epsxe, all quite comfortably on my Linux desktop as i can on my Windows.
I don't really bother with other emulators since they don't really work that well on linux or windows
Media playback I use mplayer or totem-xine and seriously these play everything and not in seperate applications like in windows u gotta use windows media for media player files ,Real player for rm , quicktime for mov files.
Other stuff like file compression, office suite, printer drivers, wireless drivers , modem drivers etc
If the system is supported are all detected at the installation. Mileage probably varies depending on how new the computer is but I find linux is enough for my daily needs.
It also runs a lot more stable and faster for me than windows.
xmame linux verses mame32 windows is one such comparison.
I also use linux as a webserver which i can do in Windows but the system slows quite a bit unless i make sure the deamons don't start on boot.

To mozgus all i can say is when i first tried linux i didn't like it but it occured to me that to figure out or evaluate something properly. You shouldn't do it by comparing it to something else you should try and use it daily for about 2 months without logging into windows and then see how you feel about it.
If after that you don't like it then fair enough but from my view I see a lot of biased opinion.

[Mozgus]

Throwin' a Phoenix Down on this one, to share this recent write-up on Ubuntu:

http://consumer.hardocp.com/article.htm ... 9uc3VtZXI=

It really summed up my previous thoughts well. Sad to see that Flash support is still crap in 64-bit. I'm looking forward to v7 hitting in April, unless that turns out to just be a better. If not, I'm ganna give it a major chance, and dualboot with XP just for the sake of gaming.