Linux to be or not to be

[jediphx]

Ok I am a Windows user and have been since Win95a (horror story i know LOL) Over the years I have read how people love Linux and praise Linux. I dont really hate Windows, XP annoys me sometimes but at its current stage it is really stable imho. I have tried many many Linux distros over the years and cant seem to keep them on my harddrive very long. Mostly because something just doesnt want to work or after searching for hours I cant find a driver for something etc. I am not crapping on Linux so dont flame me. I really want to find a place in my heart for Linux I really do but I cannot make myself see a practical use for it in my life. It would be easier im sure if windows did not exist because then i wouldnt use it as a comparison to whether Linux is better or more or less compatible. Can anyone help me with my quest?

 

[Nothinman]

What is your quest? You didn't actually post any questions.

 

[xcript]

Don't use it for the sake of it. Try a few distros and if you like one of them, stick with it.

 

[jediphx]

i guess what im looking for is a real reason to use Linux over Windows. I guess thats the problem that Linux has to overcome, making it so that the average user like me feels we NEED to use it over Windows

 

[Arkaign]

Do you game? Do you use any goofy apps that only run under windows? Then stick with Windows. Otherwise, you're a great candidate for *nix, so long as you have a bit of patience to make it through the 1st week, and the ability to google for help 🙂

Ubuntu is a terrific place to start .. easy and versatile, and looks nice .. tons of info on it too

 

[jediphx]

well i dont know about goofy apps but I do game a lot. I wish there was a gaming distro of linux

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Any Linux can game. There is hardly any support from gaming companies to use linux

 

[drag]

It depends on what sort of games you like playing.

If you want the newest thing out of EA or Microsoft your SOL on Linux.

This is the sort of thing you have to evaluate out for yourself..
news:
http://www.linux-gamers.net/
http://www.happypenguin.org/
http://www.linuxgames.com/

game list:
http://icculus.org/lgfaq/gamelist.php
game sales:
http://www.tuxgames.com/


There are a handfull of commercial propriatory games. There are a lot of Free software games worth checking out also.

 

[Cogman]

The only answer is, it depends.

If you just surf the internet, and write docs. Then Linux would work for you, but so would windows.
If you want to administer a mass network and run HTTP, FTP, and whatever other server, Linux is the way to go. Windows is not so great there.
If you want to play games, its possible on linux, but hard (Look at winehq.com). Windows is the easiest way to go and is probably going to give you the best speed and support.
If you like options, tweaking, optimizing, and a console to stare at. Linux is definitely for you.
If you just want it to work, then windows is probably the way to go (though some linux distros are getting pretty good).
If you want to be a power computer user and know everything about your computer. Linux is more for you (windows will work here).
If you managing massive amounts of files like movies and music, I would go with linux.
If you want to make a DVR, linux is the hard but free way, windows media is the expensive easy way.

As far as compatibility, linux is more Old Hardware friendly. It is fairly good with newish hardware (but not bleeding edge new).

Hope this helps a bit.