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

[no.guru]

You can even taste Linux with no commitment by using a LiveCD:

http://www.livecdlist.com/

Download a CD, burn as an ISO, and simply boot into Linux from the CD. No modifications are made to your system at all. After you're done, you take out the CD and then reboot, and you're back to Windows. If you choose, you can usually install from the LiveCD though it varies depending on which distribution's LiveCD you're using.

Recently, I installed the latest Debian (stable's netinst CD) and it was extremely easy. After burning the CD, simply insert it while still in Windows and the installation takes it from there. Let me know if you want the URL for debian's installation CDs.

[Patricia]

My eee came with Ubuntu. I find it very easy to use and would quite happily abandon Microsoft on my main computer, were it not for my fondness for Book Designer. I expect to go for a dual boot option on my next main computer.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by wodin

My experience with the N800 was that there is a great deal of software available, but that the lion’s share of it was either buggy, incomplete or both. That would follow from the developer model being largely amateur driven. That’s not to say there are not talented dedicated amateurs around, but by the nature of the beast it is necessarily their second job.

I do not think that is the reason. The reason was how the N800 was targeted and how many people used it.

My experience is that commercial software has as many bugs as open source software but it takes longer time to fix the problems in commercial software if it is possible to get a fix at all.

[kacir]

Try Mint Linux.
It is basically a super polished Ubuntu wit all the proprietary codecs, fonts, parts installed "out of the box" .
There is a new version just being made available - Mint Linux 7 Gloria. It is built on top of Ubuntu 9.4
http://www.linuxmint.com/

[netseeker]

I'm the one who voted for "Go scrounge up lots of money and buy a mac!".
I'm long time user of many different linux distros (including "mainstream" like Ubuntu), some other *NIX and BSD based systems, Windows in all it's varieties, Mac OS 8/9 and finally Mac OS X. I prefer Mac OS X - even if i use Windows XP and Vista at home.
If money is not an issue then buy a mac, otherwise give Ubuntu a try. But don't forget your family, especially the kids (if you have any): If they can't play their beloved windows-only-games you will get a little bit trouble. Just my 2 cents...

[wodin]

Originally Posted by columbus

BTW why are you batting so strongly for Windows?

BTW why are you batting so strongly for Linux?

[folecr]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Linux is great if all you need are the basics (net surfing, email, word processing, etc) or if you're an expert at *nix. If you're somewhere in between, it might be difficult.

I agree with this 100% : Linux is perfect for basic tasks. And power users.

I use Mac, Windows and Linux on a daily basis (my notebook is a Mac, my home desktop is Linux and my work desktop is Windows.)

If you want a computer to fiddle around with, but are uncomfortable with using the command line or editing configuration files, then it may not be the best thing for you.

Get Windows and you'll be *forced* to fiddle around a lot, lol.

- my $.02

[CharlieBird]

I voted w/Moejoe re a dual boot of Ubuntu J.Jackalope and Win7. Although I like Fedora I think Ubuntu is probably more user friendly.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by CharlieBird

I voted w/Moejoe re a dual boot of Ubuntu J.Jackalope and Win7. Although I like Fedora I think Ubuntu is probably more user friendly.

Windows 7 is shaping up as a real leader of the pack. I've been using the betas on and off for six months, and today I was so impressed with it, I gave my iMac to my nephews and ditched OS X altogether.

[JSWolf]

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".

Do what lots of other people do... dual-boot Linux and Windows. That way you can have the choice of Windows or Linux.

[ladyjane]

My Netbook came loaded with Windows XP but also have a lap top loaded with Windows and Ubuntu I have the option to have it boot to either one.Both in my mind are decent working systems. Just personal preference.

[Ervserver]

I'm using a well tweaked version of XP and its the best operating system I've experienced and I've tried many, including Vista. Windows 7 will have to be amazing for me to switch. Linux works great on some old laptops I've brought back to life.

[Andybaby]

I used ubuntu for 3 weeks but I had hardware compatibilities, which took hours to sort out, then they creeped up 9 days into the install, after 13 days, the install took over 5 tries to boot, and took an hour when it finally did. the next day, it never booted again.

that happened on 2 different installs over the course of 3 months

I like it, but windows is just a less sucky expeiriince. its not worth the trouble.

using win7 right now and loving it

[taosaur]

I would advise against dumping Windows for Ubuntu, but it's quite easy to run a dual boot from partitions as long as you have the drive space. Ubuntu is fun to try out and quicker than Windows for a lot of tasks, but you will run into limitations, and if you do have any fundamental problems like Ubuntu not recognizing hardware, be prepared to spend hours researching and addressing the issue.

[montsnmags]

I work off two machines at home - one a lappy running Ubuntu, and the iMac upstairs.

I only recently moved to Ubuntu, and everything worked on install. It was a damned site easier than reinstalling XP, but that's mostly because of all the updates and reboots XP requires you to do to get it back up to speed if you're starting from an early release of it. From my perspective, this is really only a minor point seeing as I'd almost never have to otherwise do it, and I mention it only to highlight that my Ubuntu install was quick and trouble-free. My use of my lappy is pretty much restricted to web-browsing (I'm a Google user, so most everything I need is "online"). If anything, Ubuntu is overkill. The lappy is, effectively, just a netbook for me, and when/if it does fail, that's probably what I'll be looking for (unless Apple comes to the party with a new shiny-shiny ). One thing I immediately noticed on moving to Ubuntu is that I don't notice that I've moved to Ubuntu, seeing as I'm sitting in Firefox all the time. There is the Gimp and Open Office on here, though they're more backups or "just in case" than anything I'd likely use.

What do I miss from Windows XP (an OS I don't actually mind)? Mobipocket Reader would be one thing (for itself, and to sync with my Iliad) but only a minor thing (I can just dump books to the Iliad's CF card). I'll have to get it somewhere (probably on the iMac) to do our taxes, seeing as the Australian Taxation Office's software only likes Windows. I miss Irfanview. Basically, not a lot. I find gaps in my knowledge and the GUI, for doing things like disabling Bluetooth or the CD/DVD drive (i.e. things I don't need or use), though most things are easy to find in the community of support if I bother myself enough to look for them, and I'm happy copy-pasting the occasional "command line" instructions if required, and learning from them. I really like the "Panel" setup, with the bars top and bottom, auto-hidden, but only once I found out how to completely auto-hide them (or at least get them down to pixel-width).

I think, for a person willing to dabble and learn and program, such as yourself, you will find it as easy and simple as XP (assuming you have as easy and instant compatibility with your setup as I did), and those things that might be considered "gaps" or "negatives" by some (eg. command line) will actually be something to enjoy, because of the pleasure of the learning curve. For me, it worked straight away - anything else has just been gravy (though I wish the bloody touchpad on the lappy wasn't so sensitive under Ubuntu - it seems that the lightest brush can mess up my typing, while under XP I am guessing there must have been some automatic touchpad-lockout while typing). Things feel very user-friendly "polished" on Ubuntu, though for me, probably not quite as "polished" as MS or Apple can manage, though I don't rate it sufficiently deficient for me to notice much. I more notice how good it is, rather than how it compares (see previous comments regarding my limited use of it though)

Why did I buy an iMac? Well, the old workstation PC needed replacement, I had just retired, lots of things had changed in my life, I'd had a big move north/sea change, I'd tried Vista on my brother-out-law's new lappy and decided it was annoying ugly and confounding (personal, subjective opinion only), I liked the look of the iMac from a "furniture" perspective, but, ultimately, because I just felt like it because the OS looked and felt all shiny-shiny pleasurable to use and was a shiny-shiny pleasurable change. That workstation is mostly for photography, and the iMac gave me the choice between Lightroom and Aperture (I picked Aperture). I still have The Gimp on it, in case I want to get intensive in post-processing, though Aperture is sufficient for most images. Oh, I should mention that I also have an iPod Touch (I love my iPod Touch) and that, in my experience, the whole sync' process and iTunes works better on my iMac (and The Loved One's Macbook) than it did under XP on the lappy or the old PC (still in use downstairs, mostly for The Loved's One's telecommuting work). The iMac and the Macbook (and the iPod and the iPhone) seem to "network" better and easier too, though that's limited experience talking. The hardware wasn't perfect (my iMac has a condensation problem, and sensitive cable connections), though fit and finish otherwise seem solid. I find it harder to find system-related things on it (eg. log files) when things go wrong (eg. my scanner, once I installed Vuescan, must be on or the OS occasionally locks up, though it didn't do this pre-Vuescan), but, then, things don't usually go wrong (on any of the OS's for me). This is, of course, a knowledge thing, and perhaps it's my long-term experience with Windows XP that makes me feel those system-related error logs and monitors were more accessible there?

As mentioned, the Apple hardware is very shiny-shiny/nicely designed. If this floats your boat (and it does mine), then you'll fall in love with that bit. The OSX UI is very shiny-shiny too, and I mean that in a "user-friendly" way that feels practical, whereas Vista made me want to throw things. Note, I have not tried Windows 7, but it seems that it's getting a lot of good raps from folks from all quarters, so I've a passing interest in that, though likely insufficient to make me return to that fold on my lappy, seeing as my requirements there are so limited. My point here is, my aversion is not to MS, nor Windows, but merely a visceral feeling on use of Vista - more of an "anchovies" thing, than a reasoned critique.

All this is to say, I've found Ubuntu simple, quick, easy, "just works" (keyboard-touchpad problem aside ) and pleasant - a change that has been as good as a holiday. I also like the way it handles software packages/repositories. I found my iMac to be a complete pleasure to use (hardware problems aside) due to the all-over hardware-through-to-UI design (eg. the keyboard is a delight). I can see why one might become a "fanboy", though I do resist the temptation, not being one to concede "loyalty" to a corporation or its products.

I would think you would be happy with either, though, as others have indicated, there's no reason to make it an either/or situation (you can install them all, and decide what you like - even Hackintosh a "PC").

Cheers,
Marc