what is so good about Linux?

Shephard

Senior member
Nov 3, 2012
765
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I go to a lot of computer forums not just this one. there are always certain people talking about how good linux is.

linux can't run most games.
it can't run most programs but someone said it's getting better.
constantly have to update to new operating systems because there are no updates.
hardware conflicts.

so why do people like it so much? I heard servers, but what can Linux server do better than Windows Server 2008 or whatever the newest is?

there is like 20 different Linux operating systems so how do you know which is good? no updates so then you have to keep changing?

thanks


Moved from CPUs and Overclocking to Operating Systems
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jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
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Why is this under the CPU Forum?

You like Linux already for many reasons your probably not aware of.
 

Stone Rain

Member
Feb 25, 2013
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www.stonerain.us
I go to a lot of computer forums not just this one. there are always certain people talking about how good linux is.

linux can't run most games.
it can't run most programs but someone said it's getting better.
constantly have to update to new operating systems because there are no updates.
hardware conflicts.

so why do people like it so much? I heard servers, but what can Linux server do better than Windows Server 2008 or whatever the newest is?

there is like 20 different Linux operating systems so how do you know which is good? no updates so then you have to keep changing?

thanks


Moved from CPUs and Overclocking to Operating Systems
Moderator PM

Steam is ported to linux now, so it can indeed run a large share of games.
Using WINE, any Windows program can run on Linux.
Updates, at least on my distro, are constant and seamless: I updated the entire OS without rebooting!
Hardware conflicts are nonexistent for most peripherals, linux automatically downloads the drivers.

To your last statement, each distro is different, pick your favorite. And they are updated, all the time, usually quicker than the Win/Mac systems. Plus, a lot of features that are recent to Windows, Linux has had for years (3D desktops anyone?)

That's why it's good :)

Plus you already use it on a lot of devices, in one way or another.

EDIT: For servers, Linux and BSD servers are faster and more secure than Windows servers. That's the primary reason they're used more and considered "better" by some.
 
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Shephard

Senior member
Nov 3, 2012
765
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I thought ubuntu was the best one? I never heard of wine before. people always talk about unbuntu and they say debian is the best server.

I know steam is on linux but that doesn't mean all the games work.
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Linux is a programmers dreamland when it comes to creating complex systems that require the use of many of the facilities an OS provides such as file I/O, networking, IPC(such as named pipes or memory mapped files), etc.

You know exactly what you are getting when you program against Linux.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,304
9,816
126
It's libre. That means you can do just about anything you want except for screwing other people. You don't have to call anyone to ask for permission when you reinstall, and you can change it, and sell your modified versions if you choose to. It doesn't have backdoors, and if backdoors get placed, they can be removed. Your only limits are technical, and not the arbitrary whims of some company who doesn't care about your needs and desires.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
I go to a lot of computer forums not just this one. there are always certain people talking about how good linux is.

1. linux can't run most games.
2. it can't run most programs but someone said it's getting better.
3. constantly have to update to new operating systems because there are no updates.
hardware conflicts.

4. so why do people like it so much? I heard servers, but what can Linux server do better than Windows Server 2008 or whatever the newest is?

5. there is like 20 different Linux operating systems so how do you know which is good? no updates so then you have to keep changing?

thanks

Moved from CPUs and Overclocking to Operating Systems
Moderator PM

I added numbers to your questions to better answer them here.

1. Its not a gaming OS. There are games for it, and ports of many games, but by and large, its not a gaming OS. Steam for Linux is out, and its getting more attention though. Linux Gaming has been growing a a microbe's pace for years, so I wouldn't hold your breath on this front.

2. Linux can run just as many programs as Windows, and probably more than OSX. It may not run MS Office, without Wine, but there are programs that match or exceed the functionality in all windows apps. Because you don't see them on the shelves at Walmart and Best Buy doesn't mean they don't exist. LibreOffice vs MS Office, Apache vs IIS, for example.

3. Not sure exactly what you mean here, Linux packages are updated very frequently, without having to upgrade the entire OS. I do agree that the 6 month release cycles are too short, but those are usually for the desktop distros. CentOS, the biggest server specific distro, does not release new versions every 6 months, however, its libraries and packages get updated just as frequently as Microsoft's offerings.

4. People like it because it doesn't force you into one method or obstruct you. If you hate the Metro Start Screen in W8, too bad. If you don't like Gnome 3 in Fedora, install whatever you wish. Or start from the get go with a distro that uses Cinnamon, LXDE, Unity, whatever. Linux respects the enthusiast and power user. Linux servers can do everything that Windows servers can faster, often with a lower system resource foot print. The tricky part, is that good Linux admins command a high salary because it takes more than 3 weeks at a crash course to learn the OS.

5. There's probably closer to 200 distros out there. :p I find that Distrowatch is a good indicator of which are more popular than others, but that's not a metric of which is better. CentOS doesn't feature very high on their HPD ranking, but thats what you see primarily in enterprise environments. Fedora, Mint, and Ubuntu are the most popular desktop versions, all with very large communities and user bases. Personally, I prefer Mint. Its Ubuntu based, so it uses their sources, has the same wide hardware support and community, but doesn't have the god awful Unity UI. To each their own, though.
 

Shephard

Senior member
Nov 3, 2012
765
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ok so wine is not linux distro?

so basically this os is just for people who like to mess around or edit it themselves.

you can program on any crappy windows computer so that doesn't really matter.

I guess it is more of a fun and play around operating system if you like to learn.

I can see why it's not mainstream with like 200 different versions as you say.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,304
9,816
126
ok so wine is not linux distro?

so basically this os is just for people who like to mess around or edit it themselves.

you can program on any crappy windows computer so that doesn't really matter.

I guess it is more of a fun and play around operating system if you like to learn.

I can see why it's not mainstream with like 200 different versions as you say.

Wine is a compatibility layer for Windows programs.

As for the rest, Every other kernel has a minority share when you look at everything. Linux runs the world. It's in your server, in your router, in your phone, and on many desktops. It's as much a "toy" as any O/S is. Which is to say it's what you make of it. When you're talking serious work, that serious work is usually run on Linux.
 

Jodell88

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
8,762
30
91
ok so wine is not linux distro?

so basically this os is just for people who like to mess around or edit it themselves.

you can program on any crappy windows computer so that doesn't really matter.

I guess it is more of a fun and play around operating system if you like to learn.

I can see why it's not mainstream with like 200 different versions as you say.
1. WINE allows windows programs to be run on linux.

2. The OS is for everyone. It's a known fact that Linux makes the world go around because it's everywhere. You come into contact with it on more devices per than windows.

3. Depends on what language you're using, but for C/C++ nothing touches it except the BSD's

4. Yes, with Linux you actually know what does what. You can modify everything on your system and I do mean everything.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,040
13,502
126
www.anyf.ca
It's libre. That means you can do just about anything you want except for screwing other people. You don't have to call anyone to ask for permission when you reinstall, and you can change it, and sell your modified versions if you choose to. It doesn't have backdoors, and if backdoors get placed, they can be removed. Your only limits are technical, and not the arbitrary whims of some company who doesn't care about your needs and desires.

This. there are no licensing restrictions, it's free, and as a company if you want to make a system that is linux based and sell it, you can go right ahead and do so.

Linux also gives you more freedom, and it's architecture is more open. Even the simple things like getting the cpu temperature as an int and throwing it into a program is 10x easier to do in Linux than in Windows. In Windows for this stuff you usually need expensive closed source proprietary programs.

Linux can be much more complicated to setup, and sometimes lack certain support. (I've been struggling myself getting 3 screens to work and running into lot of bugs) But once it's setup, it's usually very solid.

SSH is also a God send. The ability to remote into a system at the text level, but also maintain a secure, encrypted environment is awesome. SSH tunnels are another thing that is really awesome. It's all native and easy to setup. If you wanted to do the same in Windows you are paying for proprietary software.

Contrary to what an IT manager or other IT shop manager would tell you, Linux also has better support. Run into some weird issue? There is often support available either through forums, or paying 3rd party companies. With Windows, you can call Microsoft (and pay them again) but if the issue is beyond what you found on the first 100 pages of google, chances are they can't help you because they too, are googling.
 

Shephard

Senior member
Nov 3, 2012
765
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0
but how user friendly. if there are 200 different versions how do you know what to pick?

why would a casual computer user for example choose Linux over Windows 7 for example besides the fact that Linux is free and Windows 7 is like $80.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,304
9,816
126
but how user friendly. if there are 200 different versions how do you know what to pick?

why would a casual computer user for example choose Linux over Windows 7 for example besides the fact that Linux is free and Windows 7 is like $80.

Price is trivial. GNU/Linux is libre. Why would someone choose to wear chains when they don't have to?

As far as number goes, you pick the one that best suits your needs, or pick any one, and make it suit your needs. Nobody can do your thinking for you.
 

Stone Rain

Member
Feb 25, 2013
159
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www.stonerain.us
In terms of user friendliness, Ubuntu and Linux Mint both soundly beat Windows.

The only distro that's simpler for a person new to computers that I can think of is Chrome OS (which is in my view different from the others).
 

Shephard

Senior member
Nov 3, 2012
765
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0
well for me Windows 7 is the best Windows ever released. It does everything I need it to.

I will be making a new computer for a family member who hasn't used Windows since 98. I thought it might be interesting to put Linux on and see how user friendly and easy it would be for her.

It would be for watching movies, online banking, pictures, flash games, documents, and such. No gaming like me.