I am new to alternate OS-need help choosing

[Autocratic_1st_Gen]

I want one that will operate completely independantly of all MS products.  I want it to start up like windows does and be easy to use like that, but still have a DOS program.  I want to be able to play  media files andsupport for most hardware I already have or can buy locally.  Any ideas?

I am new to alternate OSs, and am switching because MS is the evil and lies about the vast SpyWare network integrated into windows.

-Dustin

[psyjax]

Try a G4 running OS X, my fav. computer. OS X is very powerful, incredibly user friendly (hell , like it or not Mac OS rules user friendliness), yet you can get very technical with it if you desire, the Terminal is a unix style comand line terminal running straight off the Darwin kernel.

I can't stress the ease of use enugh on OS X. Considering that you have UNIX running the thing, OS X is probably the simplest, most intuative OS you can ever run. It keeps all the technical stuff just out of sight, but dosn't limit the user if he desires to toy with that side of the system. Because of this OS X is rediculously powerful and customizable, while retaining unparaleld ease of use.

OS X is disgustingly stable and has not crashed the whole time I have been running it. OS X can't be beat as far as user experience, security on it is incredibly tight, you have control of everything on your system, Apple does not spy on it's users and supports the open-source comunity by going open source themselves. The bundled software is fantastic, and the overal experience is the best around.

Or you can go with Linux on the PC (or PPC if your so inclined). Linux running one of the more popular desktops will work pretty similiar to windows (granted setup can be difficult, as well as adjusting to the new environment).

I have used it a few times on my friends computers, and while very diffrent from other OS's , it's merits are eveident. If your willing to put effort into it, Linux is an incredibly rewarding OS to use.

Check out the verious threads on the Linux forum. Or check some of the links on the front page.

Leaving M$ was the best descision you have ever made  

[kinky]

Linux OSes... are pretty damn good... but im not sure what you mean by a "DOS program" ... can you please explain

oh... and my choice of operating systems is SuSE Linux... its very easy to use

[ March 24, 2002: Message edited by: kinky ]

[Autocratic_1st_Gen]

I used to dable<sp?> in comand line stuff  

Then the HD on my 486 crashed and I was forced to forever use Win 98 on my (then) new computer.  I just got another computer so I can do whatever I want to it.

-Dustin

[kinky]

well unless you want to use an actual DOS envirnment (MS-DOS, PC-DOS, windows95/98 etc...) your not going to have a DOS command line.  If you use a Unix type OS (like Linux), you will have a command line, but its Unix, not DOS.  Youll have to learn new commands and stuff.

[voidmain]

Actually you can run the DOS emulator if you must under Linux. Don't know why you would want to but you can run DOS apps under it.

[mskarl]

I've had SuSE 7.3 for about 2 weeks now.  It's a very user friendly program and would recomend it to anyone!!!

[Master of Reality]

theres nothing wrong with mandrake, thats what i am using

[Calum]

well i'd say get linux, as voidmain says, you can set it up to emulate dos if you want, or dual boot with a real copy of the dos OS, i didn't know you could execute dos programs in a unix shell, but there you go.

you might want to try out Lindows. you have to pay for it mind, but it claims to run both unix and windows programs in the same OS.
If you do try it, tell us what you think somewhere on these pages, but i'd probably recommend linux first, and see how you go.
it sounds like any modern distribution would be fine. i have tried red hat and turbolinux, red hat is a bit "quirky" so maybe try turbolinux, or suselinux, or mandrake linux (that's flavour of the month right now i think)...

[kinky]

Lindows is just a linux distro... but it looks like they are making their own gui instead of using KDE or gnome, but im not totally sure on that one... they also took the WINE project and are modifing it for the windows compatibilty thing.

but its still going to be months before Lindows 1.0 is released... you can only get prerelease versions if you are an 'Insider' (meaning your paying Lindows.com to beta test) or if you get a copy an Insider has leaked.

i use WINE on my suse 7.3 and can run many windows apps.

if your into gaming on Linux, try out www.transgaming.com ...

[voidmain]

Correct, Lindows is just another Linux distro, and it *does* use KDE as the desktop, nothing special. And it uses Wine.  The difference is it's stripped down, customized to try and look like Windows as much as possible, and run some Windows apps under WINE.  And of course I don't believe there will be a no-charge download.  My thoughts are "Lindows is for Lusers".  Get a real distro.

[10striker01]

try a dual boot setup with straight DOS on one side and Linux on the other

[ChakanTGM]

your method seems best striker. the guy does want DOS right?

Maybe he should try DR-DOS or something   :confused:

[Calum]

sounds good, since he wants to be totally M$ free, by the sound of it,

here's the link, if 1st_Gen is interested, or anybody else for that matter...

Re: Lindows, it sounds like you pay a lot of dough to get them to remove some stuff that you would otherwise have got. these guys could make an effort and come up with an OS with the bad points of both windows and linux...
What with all the more and more user friendly linux packages these days, i do reckon that a windows user could come to grips with linux fairly easily after not too long, if they really wanted to.
The thing i think is funny is that most windows users are almost frightened to try linux because they don't know how it works, but i have yet to hear of a linux user who doesn't know their way in and out of windows fairly well...

[Autocratic_1st_Gen]

Thanks for the help.  I think those links above will work great!  Only problem now is figuring out which Linux to use.  Any recomendations?

I checked out Mandrake but am still open for suggestions.

-Dustin