Linux Favors

[dolluper]

Hi Guy's I've being playing with a few,like grml,knoppix,ubuntu,mepis They all seem to be a little different...Any boby else using any of these or different ones I'dd like to hear your opinions ,pro's and con;s I think I'm going to install one of them on a second hard drive for a dual boot rather than making a new partition for it ,any thoughts or experience with such?? Is there a good antivirus for Linux systems If you use or have experience or use any linux software please let me know your thoughts......Thanks eh!

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Linux Favors

Linux does have an antivirus program and it will be on one of the installation CDs but I don't think anyone bothers to write a virus for Linux.I can't think of the name of it right now but it will be easy to find.
I seem to like the Mandrake distro (Mandriva nowadays) better than the others but none of them will ever surpass Windows for the average person needing an operating system for a PC.I have been dual booting on the same drive on a few different computers with moderate success.
Windows has too much software written for it that cannot be duplicated in Linux and cannot be ported to Linux that I cannot see Linux as being much of a threat to take over what we have now.
I can imagine that the Enterprise versions are easier to use and have more capabilities but they are asking nearly the price of the Microsoft products which negates any supposed advantage to using Linux in the first place.
It is fun to experiment with but I will never give up my Windows and all that it can do for me.Ron G

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Linux Favors

I've been playing with Ubuntu over the past couple of months. Super easy to install, fast, easy to use. The support forums are terrific. For an above-average home user, it would be a perfect swap for Windows.

The best part about it is you download it, burn it to a CD, and boot from it. You try it (it'll run much slower than if it were installed) before you commit to it. So, if you don't like it, eject the CD and reboot. Nothing changed.

 

[i386]

Re: Linux Favors

It's pretty hard to beat Ubuntu for ease of install and use. Fedora is close but not as polished in my opinion. I have watched Ubuntu make significant improvements with each release too, especially with my laptop.

AV for linux? Yes. AVG has antivirus for Linux and there's also Clam Antivirus. There's probably others too.

I don't see Linux replacing Windows as a desktop operating system anytime soon (for most people). However, for those wanting to try something different it is a really solid alternative.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Linux Favors

I am using Ubuntu for my Myth Tv DVR. I booted a version of Mythbuntu, which is a Mythtv specific distribution based on the Gutsy version of Ubuntu. It booted on my laptop and picked up the wireless perfectly. Wireless can be a challenge under linux if you are not using the right chipset.

I'd highly recomend it.

I knew nothing of Linux when I started, but with all the forums were of a great help..

 

[HyperFox]

Re: Linux Favors

Ive used ubuntu, kbuntu, slax, debian, mandriva, and PClinuxos. Ive pretty much come to the conclusion that ubuntu, and Kbuntu are probably the easiest of the linux flavors to get up and running on most systems, with the best forum-based support.

Overal, I think that Slax is the easiest when it comes to installing programs, download modules, put them in /modules, and when you reboot, the programs are automatically installed.

Really the only downside to linux, is probably the out of the box compatablity with some hardware. A driver may not be availible for some things at the present moment. Keep in mind, most drivers are coded by volunteers, and keeping in mind youve probably spent less then a buck to download, burn, and install linux.

I used to use Slax on my usb drive, which was nice as it was litterally a portable OS on a jumpdrive, not only a neat trick to your computer buddies, but handy for some repairs on non-linux computers. Not to mention some linux distros run fairly light on the ram, making it great for older computers.

On my home computers, I use XP SP3 Beta. Why? Well, my wife has always used Windows, and my kids use windows at school. I consider myself to be an "Advanced" computer expert, while they are "Basic". They are used to it, and enjoy it. So I leave well enough alone. Xp is a good OS too, and IMHO, 100% better then Vista.

Use what you and your family are comfortable with. I would start off with Linux on a partition, or on a USB stick first. If you like it, then replace windows all together.

Best of luck to ya.

 

[rwise]

Re: Linux Favors

Panda is also available for anti virus, not that I use it! I have been running ubuntu for a year or so, not one problem! Linux still does not support games well, but that is changing. Almost anything you need or want is out there for free, there is pay software also. If you use or have use office then open office will be an easy switch, and comes prepackaged, as said above download several burn to disk (some will need a DVD) boot on said disk and check it out. I have used a knoppix disk to rescue files from a windows ntfs hard drive. ( found his school work and his sons porn ) I for one will not have another billyware os!


Edit: I found it easier to install to its own hard drive than to set up partitions on one drive, and it sat up 3 partition during install. (I am still dual boot but have not booted windows in almost a year) I run an HP laser printer, after installing only issue is it needs to be turned on first, then boot up. Also I use a digital camera and after I installed the software, picked it up with no probs!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Linux Favors

I 've only looked at ubuntu but it looks like there is alot of support for it and easy updates,having windows and it on one machine with 2 drives may be an easier way to go,also after I asked I did find out AVG free has software for Linux also...Mepis looks along the lines of ubunu with the support also PDF manual ,but my first thought was ubuntu was better,I found grml was a great tool if you know all the cheatcodes still learning......3 partitions sounds like better off on a seperate drive to me Thanks for the reply's guy's