is Linux really free ?

[Nothinman]

Unity in Ubuntu isn't free..

It costs TIME. Lots and lots of time. On a slower ARM based system with crap for disk I/O, seppuku seems like a much better option.

So did typing that pointless post of yours...

 

[Blades]

You realize the perpetual hypocrisy of this argument? Anyways, it was quicker than getting to (random example).. synaptic package manager from unity (on a Pandaboard).

 

[Nothinman]

You realize the perpetual hypocrisy of this argument? Anyways, it was quicker than getting to (random example).. synaptic package manager from unity (on a Pandaboard).

The bigger point is that everything costs time so that argument is pointless. It's just that other OSes like Windows cost time and money and a lot more of both.

 

[pauldun170]

Desktop Ubuntu guide for installing nvidia binary drivers: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia

So a bubble pops up reminding you that video card drivers are available, you click that and them install them with a click. Package manager will keep you up to date automatically.

Windows method? Launch browser, navigate to site, download, open file, hit next a bunch of times, etc. nvidia app will remind you to update (very recently added).

Video codecs: Ubuntu, dl video file, double click. Popup will inform you that you do not have the required codecs, and asks if you would like to install them. You click yes a couple times and it will work. All codecs are automatically kept up to date.

Windows method: Launch browser, Download VLC, mpc-hc, ffdshow etc., launch, install (hit next a bunch of times), keep up to date yourself.

*side note* Windows 7 has built in codec overrides for lots of stuff, so actually getting the codec you want to use for certain players is a nightmare. It tooks me literally months of trial and error to finally figure out how to get everything working correctly, for this I ended up using sharky codec pack with extensive customization.


Big issue I've had in the past month with windows: Uncle tried to install a lame kodak printer with only win2000 drivers on an XP install. He's usually ok with this stuff on his own, sadly he forced the installation and somehow XP now won't even boot in safemode now. Entire thing had to be done over from scratch. Will the printer work in the new install? Remains to be seen.

Driver install in windows are as follows.
Install windows .
Windows installs basic drivers.
Windows update then offers latest certified drivers from nvidia to install.
No need to go to nvidia site unless you don't want to wait the short time for those drivers to show up in windows update.

If the driver install causes problem, just hit the restore point that is automatically created on driver install.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I remember last time I installed Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on my box, it was such a pain.

I got it installed, but the there were no NV drivers. The newest Linux proprietary drivers in the repo were like 192.xxx, and I need 240.xxx or newer for my GTX460 cards.

So I had to go to NV and download their Linux driver package, and do a bunch of terminal commands (after finding a decent HOWTO on the web).

Linux is definitely MORE complicated to install drivers and programs than Windows is, by far.

And I'm fairly adept at using a command-line, but Linux still confuses me sometimes.

 

[lxskllr]

Linux is definitely MORE complicated to install drivers and programs than Windows is, by far.

Depends. My hardware all worked OOTB. Very new stuff can be a hassle, but once it's been out awhile, it's generally well supported. That depends on manufacturer cooperation, but my experience has been positive. When things go right, GNU/Linux is far easier than Windows. When they go wrong it can be painful.

 

[Nothinman]

I remember last time I installed Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on my box, it was such a pain.

I got it installed, but the there were no NV drivers. The newest Linux proprietary drivers in the repo were like 192.xxx, and I need 240.xxx or newer for my GTX460 cards.

So I had to go to NV and download their Linux driver package, and do a bunch of terminal commands (after finding a decent HOWTO on the web).

Linux is definitely MORE complicated to install drivers and programs than Windows is, by far.

And I'm fairly adept at using a command-line, but Linux still confuses me sometimes.

That's just because nVidia can't or won't release the source so that they can be included with the kernel. That's 1 driver out of a dozen devices in your PC. With Windows you have to install a lot more of them and it's more difficult to find the right ones. I can't remember the last time I went to Dell's website and got all of the correct drivers on the first try and most of the time you have to do it from a separate PC because the NIC or wifi isn't supported by Windows out of the box.

 

[LumbergTech]

That's just because nVidia can't or won't release the source so that they can be included with the kernel. That's 1 driver out of a dozen devices in your PC. With Windows you have to install a lot more of them and it's more difficult to find the right ones. I can't remember the last time I went to Dell's website and got all of the correct drivers on the first try and most of the time you have to do it from a separate PC because the NIC or wifi isn't supported by Windows out of the box.

Doesn't matter man. Obviously from the point of people who make oses or software you have a valid point, but from people who use them, that is a critical failure.

 

[Nothinman]

Doesn't matter man. Obviously from the point of people who make oses or software you have a valid point, but from people who use them, that is a critical failure.

Except that it's not because with Windows you have to go find, download and install at least a dozen more drivers than with Linux and even though the non-free nVidia drivers might not be installed by default X usually still works just fine without, just with lower performance.

 

[ArisVer]

This is probably off topic, but when you speak about the time you need to set up Linux, my simple answer is, where is the fun and how are you going to learn Linux if you do not get to know the system the hard way...?

Mint, Ubuntu, and Debian run out of the box for me, and I am using five year old computers.

 

[rhh7]

I am a senior, not very adept with computers, running a 2005 system with
a 1.6Ghz Sempron, 1 gig of ram, and an 80 Gig HD, with Windows XP Pro.

I took me about 30 minutes to download Ubuntu 11.10, burn it to a cd,
install a dual boot system, and connect to the internet via my wifi network.

I don't have precise benchmarks. But anecdotally, my system boots, and
changes screens on the internet significantly faster under Ubuntu.