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Linux???
Any Linux users among us???
I’m fed up with Windows. I came home to find my computer shut down yet again from another update that "required an automatic restart of your computer." Between that and the bundled software that I don’t use 90% of and such I’m just sick of it…
My husband just switched to Linux – Ubuntu, to be exact. I haven’t found anything negative said about Linux except the people that are just used to Windows and don’t like change. I was surprised how easy it is to use and how it’s really not all that different from how Windows works. It’s almost exactly the same except none of the crap… Comes with Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer and Pidgin instead of AOL Instant Messenger or Windows Live Messenger. I use both of those already because I’ve found I prefer the open-source programs anyway. Well, Linux is an open-source operating system. Boo-yeah!
It’s basically just a matter of making myself copy my files over to the external hard drive and then put them back on the new OS… I’ve had this computer for a few years now and have settled into it rather nicely.
But does anyone here use Linux??? I’m just looking for some other opinions, and if anyone recommends any other versions of Linux other than Ubuntu.
Oh and before anyone says anything, I absolutely cannot afford a Mac. I have a Sony Vaio and have been very happy with it, I just want to change the software/OS, not the hardware.
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6 Replies
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Foxy, I have used Linux extensively since 1994. It is a phenomenal OS and has come a long ways since its early incarnations. It backs more of the Internet than any other OS on the planet and is one of the most stable operating systems every. I have personally run servers that ran three years without a reboot. Where it is still weak is in the realm of video you will most likely have difficulty recording and posting videos from linux unless you are partilarly savvy.
Now I know you said no macintosh but how about this http://gizmodo.com/5156903/how-to-hackintosh-a-dell-mini-9-into-the-ultimate-os-x-netbook. You can get the Dell Mini 9 well equipped for about $300 then throw OS X on it. It’s ultra portable, very powerful and "Dude, your getting a Dell" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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Oh wow a response from the Webmaster himself! Who better to get an opinion from??? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Yes I’ve heard of people running their servers for years without having to reboot on Linux, which is mind-blowing.
I’ll have to think about the Dell thing. I can’t even afford that right now, but it’s something to keep in mind, definitely. Thank you!
So which version of Linux do you recommend?? (Like I said, my husband got Ubuntu)
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I am not sure if im right about this, but if you have vista, you may need more memory on it, and i think there is a way where you can turn off stuff in the background. I don’t know how myself, my bf is the tech nerd. I have not switch to vista yet, unfortunally new computers now only come with it. I am still running on the windows xp. I like it and I am waiting for the kinks to be worked out on vista. But hope that helps if not, webmaster may have more than an idea for you!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
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Vista is almost dead, as one of the shortest lived Windows versions they are replacing it with Windows 7 in a couple months, Vista is not an OS it is a virus. I have tried out Windows 7 and it is WAY better than Vista. Not better enough to get me away from Linux and Mac but hey…
My favorite version of Linux is Ubuntu. It is by far the easiest to use and most intuitive, I would absolutely not suggest any other version for a new user. It also makes it easiest to install new software as most of it is available for free through synaptic (the install manager for Ubuntu). Oh yeah, StudioVeena.Com runs off of an Ubuntu server. Remember Video is sorely lacking in Linux.
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https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif LOL Webmaster! my husband is sitting next to me laughing hysterically! And so am I! You’re right, Vista is a virus… I’m still using XP myself but my mother and sister both have Vista and I hate it.
And thanks for the input, Beccagirl, but I already do shut off stuff running in the background with XP as much as possible. But there’s still a lot of programs taking up space on the hard drive that are just sitting there, and I don’t know what they do so I don’t want to delete them just in case. I’d say I have above-average computer knowledge, but not nearly enough to know what every single stupid program that comes with Windows does. But thank you anyway! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
So I’ll probably install Ubuntu, but partition the hard drive and keep XP on there for now. I have several programs that I use regularly that I want to make sure that I can find a Linux equivalent to before I delete everything. I have an iPod so I’ll need to find something like iTunes, something for my digital camera (well, since my camera is broken I could go without that for now…), Adobe Photoshop (probably GIMP???), and some random games like Step Mania (same as Dance Dance revolution, but for a computer). I have Limewire too, but my husband says Linux runs off of torrents, so Limewire won’t work. He hasn’t figured out the torrents yet, so we’ll have fun with that lol. When I get it all straightened out I’ll probably get rid of Windows entirely.
Wish me luck on the transition! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
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Well I installed Ubuntu this afternoon, keeping Windows for now, and I’m already experiencing some very good and very frustrating things.
First the frustrating thing: I’m new to this whole partitioning thing and must have not done something right because I haven’t saved anything to the new OS yet, and it’s trying to install updates to Ubuntu and it’s saying there’s not enough space. Oops. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif Looking like I’m going to have to re-install and manually set the partitions. Oh well, I haven’t saved anything yet so nothing lost. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
However, in my quest to look for more information on partitions and such, I’m finding a wealth of information. Lots of support for problems and questions, and I just found a chart with the Ubuntu equivalents to Windows programs – including all the ones I want like iTunes and Photoshop. The good news is some of these alternative programs are ones I already use like Firefox, Pidgin, and Open Office. I’m going to have to use Gimp instead of Photoshop, which I’ve tried before and really didn’t like, but I think it’s just a matter of getting used to it. And I don’t have to sacrifice updating my iPod because there’s a program that can do that, too. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif So far so good.
Torrents is going to be a challenge because it’s a whole new ballpark for me. Does Linux do any direct downloads at all or do you absolutely have to use the torrents??? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif *sigh*
Any general tips and advice would be appreciated for anyone that uses Linux (and Ubuntu), either here in the thread or a PM. I swear I catch on to this stuff pretty quick it’s just more annoying when I’m trying to get it figured out by myself! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_ugeek.gif
EDIT/UPDATE: it’s now 11:15 PM eastern standard time and I finally got things running the way they’re supposed to! I had to find out how to uninstall Linux because I ended up with 2 (almost 3) Ubuntus on my computer, so I had to uninstall to get a clean install. Apparently this doesn’t happen often and it took me an hour of Googling, trial and error, and just taking bits and pieces of everything I read to do it. So I now finally have Ubuntu and it’s partitioned to just over half of my hard drive…. whew! Windows was a bit stupid when I tried to run it again, but it still worked. Now I can finally get settled… yay!
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