Is this worth $49.95?

[Macro2]

The old Lindows just got another facelift. Is it worth $50 bucks?
Sounds like they are on the right track anyway.

 

[KoolDrew]

Hell no. Get a real linux OS for free.

 

[Fokks]

Definately NO
And my suggestion would be to check out Ubuntu linux

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: Macro2
The old Lindows just got another facelift. Is it worth $50 bucks?
Sounds like they are on the right track anyway.

Been wondering the same thing myself...being somewhat less than a Penguin, myself.
Looks like the heavyweights have signed in...

Does the new Fedora4 RC1 look any good?

 

[Macro2]

I hope these diehards realize that most all people need something simple and stupid like Windows...so the Linux distro that the easliest to install and use will be the winner.

Linspire says they spent $20 million over 3 years making Linspire 5.0 SOooo easy to use...

well...I wish I didn't have to pay $50 to find out.

OTOH, if Michael Robertson can bring it to the masses more power to him.

OTOH..WTF is Ubuntu??????????????????????????????????
Debian on steroids or something...?

One that had something "built in" to run windows programs might help too.

 

[Fokks]

I guess you could say Ubuntu is Debian on steroids
Actually it's the slickest, simplest, closest to "just works" linux I've seen.
Pretty much if you can pick your language and time zone you can install it.
They also have a "live CD" if you don't want to do a real install.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Give it a try, you won't have to pay $50 to check it out.
Heck they'll actually mail you a CD for free! (If you're patient)

" If you cannot download CDs, or would simply like more attractive official CDs, we can send you pressed copies of the Install CD free of charge."

http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/


About Linspire has always struck me as a scam with the whole "Click 'n buy" deal. Lycoris seems like a better deal if that's what you're looking for. (Although I've never used it.)

http://www.lycoris.com/

The funny thing about Linspire and Lycoris is that they both plug having "Solitaire" as selling points

Edit:
Oh sorry, haven't checked out Fedora 4 yet either, will probably wait for the final.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Originally posted by: Fokks
I guess you could say Ubuntu is Debian on steroids
Actually it's the slickest, simplest, closest to "just works" linux I've seen.
Pretty much if you can pick your language and time zone you can install it.
They also have a "live CD" if you don't want to do a real install.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Give it a try, you won't have to pay $50 to check it out.
Heck they'll actually mail you a CD for free! (If you're patient)

" If you cannot download CDs, or would simply like more attractive official CDs, we can send you pressed copies of the Install CD free of charge."

http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/


About Linspire has always struck me as a scam with the whole "Click 'n buy" deal. Lycoris seems like a better deal if that's what you're looking for. (Although I've never used it.)

http://www.lycoris.com/

The funny thing about Linspire and Lycoris is that they both plug having "Solitaire" as selling points

Edit:
Oh sorry, haven't checked out Fedora 4 yet either, will probably wait for the final.

Is Ubuntu easier than SuSE in your opinion? Because I really liked the feel and ease of SuSE, and might try Ubuntu now.....all based on YOUR recommendation!



KeyserSoze

 

[Dragonbate]

I've said it here before but I think Xandros is the easiest version of linux to migrate to from windows. Alot of the little interface details are windows-like. My server is running xandros and don't know a shell command from a shell game.

 

[Macro2]

I'm DLing the live version of Ubuntu now. I take it it works like the Knoppix boot CD? Stick it and boot from the CD ROM drive?

 

[timswim78]

I have found Fedora Core 4 to be very easy to use. Also, the updates are a snap. There is an icon that turns red when you need to do updates.

 

[calyco]

Originally posted by: KeyserSoze

Originally posted by: Fokks
I guess you could say Ubuntu is Debian on steroids
Actually it's the slickest, simplest, closest to "just works" linux I've seen.
Pretty much if you can pick your language and time zone you can install it.
They also have a "live CD" if you don't want to do a real install.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Give it a try, you won't have to pay $50 to check it out.
Heck they'll actually mail you a CD for free! (If you're patient)

" If you cannot download CDs, or would simply like more attractive official CDs, we can send you pressed copies of the Install CD free of charge."

http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/


About Linspire has always struck me as a scam with the whole "Click 'n buy" deal. Lycoris seems like a better deal if that's what you're looking for. (Although I've never used it.)

http://www.lycoris.com/

The funny thing about Linspire and Lycoris is that they both plug having "Solitaire" as selling points

Edit:
Oh sorry, haven't checked out Fedora 4 yet either, will probably wait for the final.

Is Ubuntu easier than SuSE in your opinion? Because I really liked the feel and ease of SuSE, and might try Ubuntu now.....all based on YOUR recommendation!



KeyserSoze

Coming from Windows XP about 6 months ago Ive tried Fedora Core 3, Suse 9.1 and now Ubuntu 4.10 for both laptops and desktops. I think yum, yast and apt are all great but apt is my favorite. Ubuntu is the easiest to install imo, looks and feels better too and like already said it just works out of the box. I had a few minor problems here and there but nothing that couldnt be solved with a little reading. One thing I couldnt get working in the other distros was wifi but Ubuntu just works out of the box (Intel pro 2200bg) or required very little configuring (Netgear MA521).

 

[Fokks]

Originally posted by: KeyserSoze


Is Ubuntu easier than SuSE in your opinion? Because I really liked the feel and ease of SuSE, and might try Ubuntu now.....all based on YOUR recommendation!



KeyserSoze

Easier? Hard to say, SUSE is definately a polished product. Probably just down to personal preferences at that point.

The feel will probably be different to you, since Ubuntu uses GNOME instead of KDE for the default desktop.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: timswim78
I have found Fedora Core 4 to be very easy to use. Also, the updates are a snap. There is an icon that turns red when you need to do updates.

Wholehearted agreement!
RH finally gets it right IMHO.

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Hell no. Get a real linux OS for free.

Calm down. The average windoze user can't use windows so you can't expect them to just walk over to Linux and be able to do anything. That's where the GUI and features of Linspire come into place. Plus, Linspire is "marketing" itself as a replacement to windoze. That takes a lot of effort and patience over the expected lawsuits from microsoft...

 

[FrustratedUser]

How is the support for wireless network cards in Lindows?
If Outpost.com can get their thumb out of their ...... a Lindows 4.5 machine is coming my way.

 

[drag]

Lindows is ok.

It's a commercial distro based on Debian. The thing that they do that pisses me off is that default user is ROOT.

this is a HUGE BAD BAD BAD BAD thing. About ruins the OS for me... It's one thing to make a distro easy, it's another to make it easy for users to screw themselves over by accident.


Ubuntu and Xandros are other 2 Debian-based Distros. Xandros is commercial, Ubuntu is not.. However they both focus on the same thing, which is providing a nice desktop enviroment by default.

Knoppix is also Debian-based, but it's designed to provide a nice desktop that runs directly from the CD.

Ubuntu you use is a small installation CDROM, it has a decent text-based installer that is the same as Debian's 'Testing' installer. It has the most basic files you need to get Ubuntu's install going and then it will help you setup your 'source' list, which is a list of online 'repositories', which are simply http and ftp servers on the internet with all the packaged files and programs you need.

Ubuntu is pretty much the same as Debian, but for the new user it has the advantage of having a nice default and usefull default install. Debian tries to be generic as possible, and thus as a new user you need to figure what to install to get a nice desktop, with Ubuntu it has already made these choices for you.

Also Ubuntu has the advantages of using Apt-get, and is mostly compatable with Debian packages, so you benifit from being able to easily install software (as long as it's from Ubuntu servers) and being able to keep everything updated and configured is fairly easy.

It is fairly easy to come to grips with, it has a good FAQ page that everybody should read thru before installing. It has online forums and a fairly vibrant userbase.

All of it is geared towards new users. Debian on the other hand tries to be more business-like and lots of time your on your own until you reach a certain skill level.


Lindows is acceptable. It's all using software that you can generally install yourself, or gets installed. It maybe more userfriendly, but for your sake you better not be using the default user account.. create a normal user account and use that.

With Ubuntu you even have the root account completely disabled.. if you need to do administrator tasks you use the 'su' and 'sudo' commands.


Other good Linux distros are Fedora, Mandrake (lots of new Linux users seem to like this for a while), Suse (now aviable from Novell), and Gentoo (for people that like to optimize for performance).

I prefer Debian personally, and Slackware.. But Ubuntu seems nice for new users as it's geared towards getting a usefull Desktop setup. Be sure to read the FAQ stuff though.

Most people will try out several Linux distros before they find one they like.

Hardware support is pretty much the same across the board... The newer the better, generally. Wireless and Power Management are the two major sticking points in Linux right now. IF you have a 'Centrino' style laptop Linux is now 'centrino' certified by Intel.. they released open source drivers for their wireless stuff, and it's not to difficult to setup.

ATI drivers are a sticking point, Nvidia has good 3d performance and are relatively easy to setup, but you still have to go to Nvidia's website and download their propriatory stuff. (Nvidia has Linux-specific help forums, btw)

 

[Netopia]

For all that say that Linspire (Lindows) sucks, you should go to their website and take 15 minutes and go through their tour. As you do this, think of "Grandma" or someone who is NOT a computer savy person but just wants to be able to get on a computer and surf, write a letter or email, do their banking online... that sort of thing. If you look at all the features they make easy for someone of that ilk, then you see why it's actually a great OS. It's the little things like the fact that when it installs an app it puts it in your start bar like Windows apps do. This makes it seem MUCH friendlier to those who know naught about 'puters.

Joe

 

[nweaver]

There was a coupon for online iso's of linspire. You put the coupon code in at checkout and it was free. Not sure if posting to the deal site is kosher or not, so if you need, pm me for the site (should be able to search and see if the code is still working). I downloaded it this way.

 

[stuntman242]

Ubuntu- price: free. enough said

 

[Nothinman]

As you do this, think of "Grandma" or someone who is NOT a computer savy person but just wants to be able to get on a computer and surf, write a letter or email, do their banking online... that sort of thing. If you look at all the features they make easy for someone of that ilk, then you see why it's actually a great OS. It's the little things like the fact that when it installs an app it puts it in your start bar like Windows apps do. This makes it seem MUCH friendlier to those who know naught about 'puters.

Debian's been putting installed apps in every WM's menu for as long as I can remember, it's called good packaging and QA. And if you think about Grandma you most certainly wouldn't trust her to install Windows either, would you? Infact for those type of people that don't want to do anything more than click on a few icons and call you for help whenever something happens Linux is perfect.

Frankly I don't care about what Grandma uses. Linux works for me, so why worry about what other people like? Linux won't take over the home desktop for quite some time and for it to happen it'll have to make inroads into corporate desktops first. A lot of people need to run Windows at home because it's what they use at work. Novell is working up to a big push for Linux on the desktop, if they can generate some momentum and get some other companies converted over people will start trying it at home as well.

And to stay on topic, no I don't think Linspire is worth $50. You can get Debian or Ubuntu for free and unless you're like Grandma and just want to browse the web and read email, you'll probably want to learn more about how the OS works and you'll end up diving into the CLI and config files in /etc eventually anyway so you might as well start off right.