Stop Microsoft
All Things Microsoft => Microsoft Software => Topic started by: microsofthater on 5 October 2002, 13:40
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Hello, After reading this: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2882328,00.html (http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2882328,00.html) I have decided to never use / pay for a microsoft product again.
So..What is the best NON Microsoft os? I have heard linux is very good but i'm not a programmer and i believe thats what you have to be to use linix, is that correct? How is lindows? Thanks in advance.
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quote:
Originally posted by microsoftsucks:
Hello, After reading this: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2882328,00.html (http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2882328,00.html) I have decided to never use / pay for a microsoft product again.
So..What is the best NON Microsoft os? I have heard linux is very good but i'm not a programmer and i believe thats what you have to be to use linix, is that correct? How is lindows? Thanks in advance.
Hell no! You don't have to be a programmer to use Linux! Who told you that?!! Recent Linux distros are equally user friendly as Windows are ie Mandrake 9.0, RedHat 8.0, SuSE Linux 8.0 etc. Installing Linux nowadays is a piece of cake compared to the old days (http://smile.gif)
Personally speaking, I love Mac OSX so if you can afford to sell your Wintel box and buy a Mac that would be the perfect solution! However, you could always try Linux ;)
Oh, and don't even think about Lindows. It really sucks!!!
[ October 05, 2002: Message edited by: Panos ]
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sweet I might check out Mandrake 9.0. I heard that you had to be the man programmer to even install linux!
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Also whats the story with using Windows based products with say Mandrake 9.0? Can I? (BTW i'm new to NON microsoft Os' but already I like them more (http://smile.gif)
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quote:
Originally posted by microsoftsucks:
sweet I might check out Mandrake 9.0. I heard that you had to be the man programmer to even install linux!
That's pure bull! Get Mandrake 9.0 and you'll find out for yourself how easy it is to install. However, you first have to make sure that your hardware is supported by visiting Mandrake's home page and having a look at their hardware database. Better safe than sorry ;)
Now, for Windows apps you can always run them on Wine, which is a Windows emulator but you have to be willing to do some tweaking to get it to work. Some guys here already use it to run windows apps or play windows games. As for games that require DirectX you can always get WineX (http://smile.gif)
PS Also make sure that your modem works in Linux eg Serial modems are definitely supported while PCI modems (often called winmodems) are almost certainly not supported, although you may find open source drivers if you search a bit.
Have fun with Linux and welcome to the boards ;)
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Lindows had a thumbs up review on Extremetech
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,587751,00.asp (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,587751,00.asp)
Still don't know what to think about it, I know a few of the regulars from these forums feel nothing for it though.
If I were you I would order SuSE 8.1, it's due for release on 07/10 and it should kick ass, certainly when I look at the improvements from 8.0, and 8.0 already kicks ass! (http://smile.gif)
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Whats Red Hat 8.0 Like?
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RedHat 8.0 would be my top recommendation for a new user wanting to try out a Linux OS. It covers the entire spectrum. If you are a new user you should find it very easy. It's still familiar RedHat underneath the pretty new look for those already familiar with RedHat.
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the best overall is Mac OS X, with Mac OS 9 coming in at second, as far as *overall quality* is concerned (ease of use, app support, stability)
Now, if you wanna know the just absolute best... OS X is still top dawg, with any of the BSDs and Linux tied for second. Darwin, the BSD UNIX base of OS X is lumped in with BSD and Linux, because without Quartz, Aqua, and all the app frameworks... it's not OS X
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If ya really wanna get serious, the best overall OS would depend solely on the user and thier needs.
We could all agree that a Viper may be the best sports car or such, but what the hell would a family of 7 do with a itty bitty Viper? (my what a beautiful analogy)
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OS X. that's it.
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Someone should create a RISC OS clone with support of multi-threading, virtual memmory and memmory protection. And make a prettier GUI.
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and they should end all wars and rid the world o hunger while they're at it.
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quote:
Lindows had a thumbs up review on Extremetech
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,587751,00.asp (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,587751,00.asp)
Still don't know what to think about it, I know a few of the regulars from these forums feel nothing for it though.
If I were you I would order SuSE 8.1, it's due for release on 07/10 and it should kick ass, certainly when I look at the improvements from 8.0, and 8.0 already kicks ass!
Yes, Lindows did get a ringing endorsement on ExtremeTech. Actually, this should come as no surprise as Lindows is 99% pure Debian. What really SUX about it is that the company that makes it is playing fast and loose with the GPL, it sells for $99 (more than the boxed set of Mandrake 9.0), and the subscription for the Click and Run feature. However, you don't really need this feature as Lindows does come with apt. Another problem is that they promised more than they can deliver concerning Lindows' ability to run Win apps.
To be sure, Lindows is quite "newbie-friendly", however so are Lycoris and ELX, and both of those distros are available as ISO downloads or easily available, low-cost CD sets available from:
Linux Central (http://linuxcentral.com)
Edmunds Enterprises (http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com)
If it's a Debian-based distro you want, it would be better to go with Libranet than Lindows.
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(http://www.otakupc.com/etsig/dolphin.gif)
Computers are like air conditioners: they can't do their jobs if you open windows
[ October 06, 2002: Message edited by: jtpenrod ]
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I think the biggest problem Linux faces is the false beliefs. People think Linux is a very difficult to learn OS that is just for hackers and programmers. Getting people informed as to how easy Linux has become should be one of our goals.
V
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The 2 best Distrubutions for Linux for all would be Redhat 8.0, RedHat 7.3, 7.2 THey are all Good also Depends what you want to do as well.. If ya need Mandrake then .. all the Power to you .. I suggest Mandrake 8.2 and Mandrake 9.0 as well. all gui installs and very simple as well in Mandrake I suggest you use the expert install (Not that difficult)
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quote:
Originally posted by Doctor V:
I think the biggest problem Linux faces is the false beliefs. People think Linux is a very difficult to learn OS that is just for hackers and programmers. Getting people informed as to how easy Linux has become should be one of our goals.
V
I'll tell you something, its difficult to get an answer on things, i must go to 2 or 3 different linux sites and not one of them can ever give me a striaght answer, this is only for knowing if my hardware is going to work with their distro. Its kinda crappy really even when i say i would go and buy their distro if the hardware works. They just don't seem to want to reply so i still don't know and still don't have a distro to use on my laptop. You would of thought they would help if they wanted more ppl onboard, if they cannot answer simple hardware q's then what should newbies do?
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quote:
Originally posted by Crunchy(Cracked)Butter:
I'll tell you something, its difficult to get an answer on things, i must go to 2 or 3 different linux sites and not one of them can ever give me a striaght answer, this is only for knowing if my hardware is going to work with their distro. Its kinda crappy really even when i say i would go and buy their distro if the hardware works. They just don't seem to want to reply so i still don't know and still don't have a distro to use on my laptop. You would of thought they would help if they wanted more ppl onboard, if they cannot answer simple hardware q's then what should newbies do?
You download it for free. You try it and see if it works for you. If it does you keep it. If it doesn't you try something else. It's quite simple really. Could have had that done way sooner than trying to get a straight answer from hundreds of peoples choices and biases. The whole point of Linux is *you* have a choice.
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OS X.
End of story.
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quote:
Originally posted by Crunchy(Cracked)Butter:
I'll tell you something, its difficult to get an answer on things, i must go to 2 or 3 different linux sites and not one of them can ever give me a striaght answer, this is only for knowing if my hardware is going to work with their distro. Its kinda crappy really even when i say i would go and buy their distro if the hardware works. They just don't seem to want to reply so i still don't know and still don't have a distro to use on my laptop. You would of thought they would help if they wanted more ppl onboard, if they cannot answer simple hardware q's then what should newbies do?
I'll agree that hardware support is one area where there is not enough documantation for (guys, lets make a site). But I will say that in my experiences, I have never had any problems with hardware not being supported by Linux. Cases where hardware is incompatible with Linux are rare, its the exception not the rule. As Voidmain said, just keep trying different distros, they are free so you lose nothing. Chances are you won't be searching very long. The exception to this is the modem. There are many microsoft only modems, called winmodems, and that is somthing everyone should check before buying their computer. A good place to check is http://www.linmodems.org/ (http://www.linmodems.org/) .
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quote:
Originally posted by Crunchy(Cracked)Butter:
I'll tell you something, its difficult to get an answer on things, i must go to 2 or 3 different linux sites and not one of them can ever give me a striaght answer, this is only for knowing if my hardware is going to work with their distro. Its kinda crappy really even when i say i would go and buy their distro if the hardware works. They just don't seem to want to reply so i still don't know and still don't have a distro to use on my laptop. You would of thought they would help if they wanted more ppl onboard, if they cannot answer simple hardware q's then what should newbies do?
Erm, which sites did you visit?
3 clicks got me to Red Hat's hardware compatability list. Check it out:
http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/?pagename=hcl (http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/?pagename=hcl)
Specifically for your laptop, here is the site Linux on Laptops
http://www.linux-laptop.net/ (http://www.linux-laptop.net/)
Just ask. Most people [here] will be willing to help you if they can.