Linux, worth it?

[PowerMacG5]

I was thinking of installing linux for my home PC, and wanted to know if you think it is worth it? I was either going to install linux under windows, or windows under linux. Which way do you recommend? Also, which version of Linux is good?

 

[Nothinman]

I use Linux for 99% of my computing so I have to ask if installing Windows is worth the hassle =)

 

[dblevitan]

That depends. Linux is annoying to install sometimes, especially if you have new hardware. Your best bet would be to dual boot. You can use VMware, but I don't like it personally. The big problem is hardware support. A lot of the cooler hardware will work only on windows. For example, I have an ATI Radeon AIW in my desktop. Under Windows I can use it like a PVR, but Linux doesn't support PVR functions with the card (although you can just watch TV). Before installing linux make sure all your hardware is compatible.
Your best bet for distribution, in my opinion, is Mandrake 8.2. It is by far the most user-friendly, and while some of its features are annoying, I like it the most. I'm currently running it on my laptop, and it has worked pretty well so far. If you want to run windows apps, get crossover office and plugin (Total: $55). I can run word, excel, access, IE, Quicktime, etc.. on my laptop without windows, and even though it is not officially supported Quicken runs pretty well on the lastest version of crossover office. As long as you are willing to spend some time playing with it, I think Linux is much more stable than Windows and is a lot nicer in general. But make sure your hardware supports it. I would never be able to install it on my desktop, since I would lose a lot of functionality
Hope this helps,
David

 

[AkumaBao]

I would definatly say it's worth it if you plan to explore this industry. IMHO I have to disagree with starting with Mandrake though. I would say RedHat 7.3. When I first started to use it, it was a pain to learn, and really burned a hole in my pocket book when it came to books. Once you learn it though you will never want to let go of it. Like dblevitan said, you can pretty much use any Win app on it. Plus during this time, Microsoft is really trying to limit it's users to what you can really do in terms of privacy, and security. In my opinion it is the best OS when it comes to networking, development, office work, security, stability, and overall performance. If you don't feel like taking the time to learn it you will probably end up wasting your time, but if you really are determined to learn something like this it will pay off. I went from 75% Win/25% Linux, to 75% Linux/25% in 3 monthes if that shows more of what to expect. ( My Single Win machine I only use for study purposes for the MCSE, and for my Wife who doesn't want to learn Linux)

 

[DIRTsquirt]

as one linux newbie to another potential newbie.. I would say red hat 7.3 is really nice with kde3 but.. it took 8 tries to install.. the installer is a shambles.. unlike rh7.2 which worked first time every time.. the installer on 7.3 is so messed up sometimes it would give the screen to input my ip data and sometimes it wouldnt.. sometimes it would ask what kind of mouse i and sometimes it wouldnt..
I gotta believe SUSE or Mandrake have installers that are better .. I would run from rh7.3 and see if the grass is greener on the other side of the world..

the system i was installing on was a p3750 abit be6 256mb micronram geforce 2 32mb realtek lan card.. sound blaster awe 64
nothing exotic and certainly nothing new...

I should have been a breeze install..

 

[AkumaBao]

I can't say that I had a hard time installing 7.3 at all. Even with the upgrade from 7.2, it was smooth as silk. I guess it would really depend on your hardware. Maybe.

 

[Chaotic42]

I think it's worth it. I use Linux for most things, going to Windows to play games. If I'm playing games a lot, I switch back over to Windows for reading email, etc.

This is a game downtime, so I've been in Debian for about a week. RH has left a bad taste in my mouth, so I'd avoid it all together. Try Mandrake, or if you can get a copy Progeny Debian. I've heard it's easier to install than "regular" Debian. The packages have merged, I don't know about the installer.

I didn't find Debian hard to install, so I dunno.

 

[japetto]

I think Linux is worth checking out for anyone who is interested in using computers for anything more than video games and/or for anyone who does not want to contribute to Bill Gates total world domination.:disgust: Even if you have a negative experience, Linux can show how much power a computer really has. Because even though it seems that using microsoft o/s's provides the ability (freedom) to use the majority of software available on the market, using their products can make one feel opressed. Especially when I read articles like this or that. It's probably also important that you research open source and see what you will be getting into. Oh yea - besides this rant - I recommend Mandrake-Linux for newbies. Also go for a clean install (old box maybe?), or dual-boot. There are plenty of Linux newbie resources on the net. Here's a few... Linux.org...Linux.com...Linuxnewbie.org...Linuxnewbieguide.com

 

[Flatline]

Mandrake is probably the easiest to use. I like RH 7.3 for the most part, but the installer is a little fscked up (I have yet to install it without package errors-you would think they would have tried installing it before they released the bloody thing) so I would suggest going with Mandrake 8.2 or another distro which has the newest Gnome & KDE.
The dual boot is probably worth it, especially if you have a lot of gaming time. I hope you don't have anything too new on your system, as it sometimes will trip you up...for instance, I have an Audigy sound card in my system which no distro that I know of has native support for, although my Radeon 8500 video card works fine in pretty much all of the new distros.

 

[ceZium]

I like Mandrake and would recommend checking Linux out if you are interested in computers for more than gaming as said above. It can be a little daunting, but that's the fun of it.

 

[Sivar]

To answer that question well requires questions for you:
- What do you use your computer for, organized from most to least?
- Are you genuinely interested in computers, learning how they work, and learning new things? Linux is so utterly different than Windows that many find that getting used to one and trying the other is an alienating experience.
- Are you content with your current setup?
- Do you have plenty of free time and patience?
- Are you sincerely interested in having a great deal of power over your computer, rather than being able to do just what a particular vendor thinks you want to do? Computers are capable of much more than Windows is capable of (or any OS for that matter)
- Are you interested in programming? Linux is a better experience if you know C.

As far as the best distribution of Linux-- What do you value? Some distributions are easier (Mandrake, Lindows, Lycoris) some have superior systems of software installation (Gentoo, Sourceror) some are blazing fast from the get go (Gentoo, others) some are particularly popular and well supported (Redhat, Mandrake), some are outstandingly easy to install (SuSE, Mandrake, Lycoris, NOT Gentoo).
For a brief look at a large numbre of distros, you might be interested in Distrowatch.com, but that site is of limited real use. Everyone has a favorite distro. It might be best, if you have the time, to try several and pick whatever works best for you. Good luck--you are about to exit the world of beginner operating systems.

 

[eviltoon]

I just installed Suse 8.0 on my second computer with Win 98. Sivar's post is pretty much bang on. You need to think about what you want to use your computer for and ask yourself if you want to learn what computers are cabable of doing. Windows is a great entertainment environment. Linux is all about learning. There's entertainment, but there is always learning.

I've been very fortunate to have experienced Linux people to help me out though. Do you know anyone you can talk to about the LInux OS? It's a fascinating and often frustrating experience to the Windows user.

I installed it on my older PIII because it couldn't work with some of my newer hardware.

 

[drag]

Linux is good if you want to try to get the most out of your computer. I runs runs with all the power (i mean what i can do not how fast it does it ) of a any high price mainframe or server in the world. Especially if you have a desire to understand and use the internet in any way other than surfing the web Linux will open up a new world for you. Have your own privite e-mail server, ftp server, run a website from your desktop, whatever you want. you can even install a cups server and allow people to use your printer from around the world if you realy wanted to. The sky's the limit. You can customize and tweak your desktop in ways unimaginable in XP with Enlightenment .

Of course you pay a price for this. It means lack off hardware support from some companies. Lack of gaming support etc. etc. (As long as you do your research before purchasing hardware you can alway have a state of the art system) Another thing you give up is the 'easy answers' you get from vendors such a microsoft. Since there is so much you can do and so many ways you can do it you will face seamingly inexhaustible layers of complexity. (this complexity exists in microsoft -its just hidden, thats why it f's-up so often and there is nothing you can do about it).

With modern vendors like Mandrake and Redhat it's fairly easy. Using microsoft's products puts you in a unhealthy state of mind of dependence. The transision from Windows to Linux usually involves a pretty bad culture shock. But once you learn to think in terms of Linux's definitions and systems instead of always trying relate them to Microsoft's systems and practices, It will be like second nature to you.

It's like making a transision from English to Japanese or visa -versa. Once you get it you got it and you realise taht Microsoft's stuff is not as easy at is seems, you are just use to it. It took you a couple years to learn how to realy use and tweak Microsoft Windows without crashing it. Linux takes effort to learn too. (probably will consume at least a couple nights a week for the foreseable future).

And the sucky part (or cool part) is that there is so much more to learn in Linux.

If you think this sounds like a pain in the ass to you. Then Linux probably isn't for you. And there is nothing wrong with that. Buy a Mac!

ps try gentoo it's looking pretty sexy. And has a nice new package manager.

Gentoo, Baby!

 

[lorlabnew]

Give Linux a try. You'll find tons of free applications which you can use instead of buying expensive Windows based software, using time-limited demos or freeware apps spiked with spyware, feeding you ads all over the screen....

I got to the point where before I'll get new program for my WinXP machine, I'll first check whether there is an open-source alternative around. The chances are that I'll find it.

Do yourself a favor and put Linux on decent machine if you want to have it as desktop OS with all bells and whistles; it 's pretty power hungry. For server use it can run on whatever old PC you may have, pretty bulletproof too.

Recommended distribution: SuSE 8.0 Professional

Have fun!

 

[MGMorden]

I'd definately say Linux is worth it for several reasons:

1. You might want to just use something different that's not from Microsoft. Linux is good here.
2. You might want a job in the IT industry. Even if you don't even use it Linux/Unix knowledge will look good on a resume and might help land you a job.
3. If you're like me, I pride myself on being the "computer guy" of the community. Regardless of hardware, settings, or OS, I like to know what's going on when someone's talking about or using ANY type of computer. It's just like reading books (I'm talking like fiction or the classics or whatever) just to expand your knowledge base. Do you need to do it? No, but most people fell better just by learning something new.