I know there are a lot of posts on this out there on the internet, but I thought I’d add my 2¢ on the subject. Generally speaking, Linux has a steep learning curve if you’re coming from Windows. The easiest distro of Linux to start with would have to be Ubuntu. A lot of things have a graphical user interface (GUI) with that particular distribution, and it will make the transition easier. You’ll still have to do a number of things on the command prompt, however. In all actuality the command prompt is much easier than the GUI when you get used to it. Instead of clicking clicking clicking and trying to find the right options, you can just type them in. Sometimes you are sitting around going from the command prompt to the GUI which is silly. Just try and use things in the command prompt, it’s better overall.
Heading over to Windows territory, this puppy is completely driven by GUI. There’s absolutely no need to use a command prompt, and the DOS command prompt is almost useless because you can’t really do much with it. Sure, a few things here and there, but I do not think it is nearly as powerful as Bash. This is actually a drawback to me. I’d prefer to have something like Bash in windows. It would make the incessant clicking go away.
Basically, what you can do in Windows you can do in Linux. There are tons of open source applications for it. Unlike Windows, where they want you to pay for every little thing. The only real drawback for Linux is it does not having gaming functionality. I would use Linux 24/7 if I could game on it. For some reason Microsoft doesn’t want to port DirectX over to Linux, and game developers rarely support Linux.
Installing a program on Ubuntu/Debian is as easy as typing “apt-get install *program*” and that’s about it. Sometimes you’ll have to go into the /etc/ directory and configure a .conf file. You might have to compile some programs. So what? What’s the big deal. Getting a general desktop up and running is as easy as installing the Linux disc. They all usually come with most applications you would generally use, it’s not “bare-bone” like Windows. So if you use generally applications you might not even have to install programs.
With Windows, you just click the installation .exe and you’re off to GUI heaven.
If you’re wondering about security, Linux is 100X more secure than Windows. It does depend on your distribution, but most are highly secure. This has been proven over and over. Almost everything targets Windows, there are some Linux virii/trojans, but it’s much less likely you’re going to get infected with things if you’re running Linux.
So, it’s your decision. If you want to learn, Linux is a very powerful operating system with a huge community behind it. Windows is run by Microsoft. If you want something that is very easy, go with windows. If you want something that you can tweak and manipulate almost every little thing, you want general programs, security, and fairly easy to use, go with Linux.
I myself use both Windows and Linux, and I know many others do as well. So if you can’t make up your mind, go dual boot. There are many things on Linux you just can’t do with Windows.
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Oh, come on. Sure, there are not as many games for Linux as Windows XP, but saying “does not having gaming
functionality” is too much! Thousands of games in the official repositories, tens of thousands available for download, Flash games online, Java games online, and they are all for free. Plus, there are dozens and dozens of commercial games released and supporting Linux desktops every year! I saw a list at Linux Gaming World, where they have a list of every commercial game for Linux for the past several years. I put the link above.
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Hello, yes this is true. I was thinking more along the lines of recently released games from major game developers such as Crytek, Sierra, RockStar, etc. It’s true that you can game on Linux, however you’re not going to get insane graphics on Linux if you have a top of the line graphics card, you’re better off having windows. I currently have an HD4850, will that get used much on Linux? I don’t think so.
don’t forget, Linux distro mostly comes for FREE!
but I agree with the gaming part, and some image processing software I used to have in Windy.. too bad wine didn’t works all the time
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Free is definitely another plus to Linux.
I have RH & XP. But they are on 2 different boxes! LOL
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Gaming not for Linux??
Hmm, Unreal Tournament 2004, Enemy Territory – Quake Wars are just two commercial games that run well under Linux. There’s plenty there if you look…
I run a dual boot with Vista (for work purposes) and OpenSuSE 11.1, never had a problem. Like eye candy? Check out my post here about OpenSuSE 11.1 and Compiz:
http://www.agt.id.au/?p=630
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Linux is better than being compared with low lvl OS like Windows.
Andrew, yes, I know about Compiz, I know that there are games out there made to work with Linux. I realize that I may have generalized a bit too much with my statement. That, and DOS vs Bash, I realize that DOS can be as powerful, but really I’m just trying to be general. People that don’t want to sit around compiling & tweaking this and that to get a game to work, will most likely see that Windows is the easier choice. There’s nothing wrong with Linux gaming, it’s just really not all that easy so my post reflects this. I use Linux for everything except gaming. When I game I just switch the OS.
Please don’t be offended about this.
Thanks.
I found this article today and thought I’d share it with you and your readers.
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/community_posts/why_games_are_not_key_linux_adoption
Interesting article. I think that games need to be more universal, myself. Games should be made to run on Mac OSX, Linux, and Windows. This “Games For Windows” crap is bull, and I know there are people that work very hard to make games work on Linux/Mac OSX.