Seriously thoughtful Should I switch to Ubuntu, or stay with Windows XP?

[Greg Anos]

I've ordered a $35 2.5 hard drive from Newegg. When it arrives, I'm going to swap out the existing Hard drive on my EEE PC 900 HA, and use the USB converter software to put my Ubuntu install on a flash drive and give it another go...

Thanks for the help from everybody.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by =X=

and for other flavor's of linux there's the kindle 1/2, Sony PRS-505, PRS-700, etc..)

=X=

Are you saying I need to buy dedicated (and rather expensive in the scheme of things) hardware in order to run Linux reader software?

Isn't that defeating the mantra of "software should be free"?

[=X=]

Originally Posted by wodin

Are you saying I need to buy dedicated (and rather expensive in the scheme of things) hardware in order to run Linux reader software?

Isn't that defeating the mantra of "software should be free"?

My last post was really tongue and cheek, so don't read too much into it

FYI were you aware read eBooks on your linux based PRS-505.

Originally Posted by wodin

Isn't that defeating the mantra of "software should be free"?

Open source has never made this claim. They are perfectly fine with charging for source. What they claim is that software should be free as in "liberated". It is Richard Stallman's Gnu initiative that claims software should be both free "as in beer" and liberated.


=X=

[Bookathon]

I have tried and used various relases of ubuntu and after using for few hours back to old trusty windows. Reasons
(1) runs slow ( no comparison to windows even with vista)
(2) lack of video drivers(in my case i could not get a decent resolution)
(3) needs more software polishing
(4) did not detects my wireless card ( windows detects and automatically installs it)
(5) You have to be command line know how
(6) Lack of customization in colors, windows borders and themes etc, colors and themes are really plain boring
(7) not main stream, more than 90% people use windows and I am sure there is a reason behind it

Only attraction I see is cost, but I did not pay for windws vista as it came with my laptop so free is a mute point. windows 7 is even better and I would not mind paying few bucks for a quality product. I am using vista happily and see no real reason for switching, I tried ubuntu out of curiosity but was disappointed.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Bookathon

(1) runs slow ( no comparison to windows even with vista)

I have - seriously - never ever in my live seen a Linux system (configured correctly) run noticeably slower then a Windows system (3D left apart).
Thus I believe that there was some error in the configuration or in the auto-detection (this stuff happens with every OS out there...). Some configuration would solve this.

(2) lack of video drivers(in my case i could not get a decent resolution)

Not true - get them from your vendor. This might actually be a reason (or are you using TOP-SOTA graphic hardware? And even then..)

(3) needs more software polishing

?????? Only if you never tried to install additional software

(4) did not detects my wireless card ( windows detects and automatically installs it)

Quite possible. Have a short google - chances are very good that there is an easy-too-follow-manual to install your wireless card.

(5) You have to be command line know how

I call (a small) BS on this one (at least for modern flavors of Ubuntu). Most systems will never have to be configured via CL.

(6) Lack of customization in colors, windows borders and themes etc, colors and themes are really plain boring

I call BIG BS on this one ... You can configure any- and everything.
Trust me ...

(7) not main stream, more than 90% people use windows and I am sure there is a reason behind it

Yeah ... thats a hell of a reason Their is an old saying about flies ...
Most people use Windows because it comes with their computer and they are plain lazy. (This is not necessarily a bad thing - just the fact of it). Apart from that there are some points like "gaming industry having treaties with MS to not port games to linux" and stuff like that - you can Google it for yourself.
And Linux has not been competitive for "computer unsavy" users for some years - it is now.

Sorry - but testing a new operating system for some minutes will never work. Get a linux geek to install windows and test it for some hours - he will not have a decent running system. (And yes, I did this test with some Linux geeks).
Get someone used to Win in front of a Mac - and (for the first few hours) he will have some serious problems, until he has a really running system.

You are free to use Windows - but testing Linux for some hours (various flavours .. gives some ideas about the time for each ), not really trying and then saying "yeah, thats the facts about it... " is not really fair. At least have the decency to say "I never wanted to test it, just needed an excuse to stick with Windows" (thats okay. I'm not here to preach or tell you what to do - just want you to be fair).

(Oh and "free with your laptop" is stupid - you paid for your OS. Whether it was part of the bill for your laptop or paid separately - you paid for it).

[frabjous]

Hmm... So far Ubuntu seems faster than Windows to me. Might me all the junk Windows runs in the background though... I should try cleaning it up and do some performance tests.

As far as I can tell, you have as much customizability with colors as in Windows, though there may well be fewer use-made themes to download.

Does this seem boring to you?



There are many other examples on YouTube.

But seriously, the whole "more than 90% people use windows and I am sure there is a reason behind it", once again, seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy -- and the more people who give into this line of thought, the more of a monopoly Microsoft has.

I didn't have trouble finding video drivers or with my network connection but no, I haven't tried a wireless card yet. There may indeed be issues there.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by frabjous

I didn't have trouble finding video drivers or with my network connection but no, I haven't tried a wireless card yet. There may indeed be issues there.

MOST wireless cards work out of the box, but there are indeed some cards that still need new kernels or patches - I believe this problems will be history with the next release.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Ankh

And availability of the software should be the major decision point for everybody contemplating a switch to Linux.

Well I do not agree. I have ideological and ethical reasons to use Linux and I think such reasons can decide what to run. You have to live with not being able to use some programs. It is like not being able to buy whatever you want just because you think stealing money is unethical.

[roger the rabbit]

Originally Posted by tirsales

MOST wireless cards work out of the box, but there are indeed some cards that still need new kernels or patches - I believe this problems will be history with the next release.

What was one of the big complaints about Vista when it was released - No drivers. Lots of XP software would not run. Much less of a problem with Ubuntu 9.04

[wodin]

Originally Posted by =X=

My last post was really tongue and cheek, so don't read too much into it

FYI were you aware read eBooks on your linux based PRS-505.

=X=

Yes I was aware that MOST dedicated eBook readers were Linux based. What I don't understand is why there is not more alternative firmware available for at least the more popular readers. The DEV Hub here is a beginning but there are a very many more features that could be implemented on most readers.

[Bookathon]

tirsales

so what ubuntu can do which windows can not do, be specific please, do not go into virus and spam thing, give me true and proven advantages which the guy like me will jump on it.

Let me be clear and say I am not against any OS and willing to try it on my cutom made desktop which I am planning to build next week.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Bookathon

so what ubuntu can do which windows can not do, be specific please, do not go into virus and spam thing, give me true and proven advantages which the guy like me will jump on it.

E.g. build your own kernel, configure anything, change your desktop/window manager, configure anything, gives you the possibility to configure anything via the command line (possibility != need), etc
It runs on more different systems, it uses fewer resources (RAM, HDD, CPU)
True support for terminals, virtual terminals and multi-session, open source (allows to write own patches) and shorter patch circles. Support for X. True support for "text-file configuration" (which makes config-backups much easier).
More "out of the box" software.

Let me be clear and say I am not against any OS and willing to try it on my cutom made desktop which I am planning to build next week.

Have fun

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by tirsales

Have a short google - chances are very good that there is an easy-too-follow-manual to install your wireless card.

There's a manual. Sure. Easy-to-follow, maybe, maybe not. The one I found for my card (Dell) assumes you're already familiar with Linux. It's a good thing I'm familiar with command-line. More often than not, Windows guides tend to assume you're an idiot who has absolutely no idea what he's doing. For a lot of computer users, that can be a good thing.

Another big gotcha, if you only have one computer, troubleshooting might be a tad difficult if your internet's not working.

[Format C:]

Originally Posted by frabjous

Let's just say I've become very annoyed with Microsoft lately. Lots of reasons, and you can probably guess what they are.

In principle, the idea of a community-based software platform rather than consumer/vendor model also greatly appeals to me.

From what I've read there are also a lot of advantages to Linux.

But there's no substitute for familiarity, more ready availability of software, and a broader user base.

What do you think?

P.S. If it makes any difference, I'm a very fast learner with computers in general, I've done some minimal programming, but by and large, I'm not actually an "expert".

You're asking "should I use a screwdriver or a wrench?".

Only you know the answer, because you're the one who knows if you have to tight a screw or a bolt.

So, you better ask yourself two questions:

1. which software performs the task I need to be done?
2. What is needed to run that software?

And, honestly, I cannot answer those questions.

If you put such a generic question, all you can have as an answer is: "the best is System XYZ, because it's what I use", whatever XYZ is.

And that's true about computers, hi-fi systems, cars, e-book readers, cellphones, bicycles...

[mores]

Originally Posted by tirsales

This is SO stereotypical for a Mac user ...

Just explaining it from my point of view - can't remember the all-nighters I pulled to fix my windows PCs due to corrupted registrys (registries?) and what not.
Hasn't happened to me since I switched to a Mac. Initially it was due to the "oooh, how purdy" effect I got when I set up our "demo" Mac (every multimedia agency must have a sleek looking mac laptop to do presentations on).

Yes, I have issues with my Mac(s) too, but nothing life-threatening that prevents me from finishing a project. Unless it involves a glass of red wine and clumsy hand coordination

BTW, your comment is SO typical of someone lumping together everyone who uses a Mac