Linux vs. Windows

Protocol Droid · #31 01-23-2003, 06:53 PM

Its important that we know that Bill Gates is not responsible for this great PC revolution. It is generally thought that Windows 3.1 was the first graphical OS that made the PC useable by everyday people. The first computer to do that was actually the Mac, and windows 3.1, made later, very similar to the interface of the Mac.

Now some people are probably thinking: Well, windows back then windows was better and beat the mac because of it.

Wrong, windows beat out the mac because of buisness deals with PC makers, business deals that prevented them from selling computers with other OSes. These deals were in place long before windows, when Microsoft was selling DOS.

Linux is easy to both install and use. Applications for it are also both easy to DL, install, and use (ok, not all, but most are). As easy as windows. DL the app. Double click it, enter the computers password, and your good to go.

Applications and esp. games are still in lacking for Linux. Its only a matter of time.

curtybob · #32 01-24-2003, 07:04 PM

i love the way macs look, "feel", and most importantly, actually run, but honestly how much time do they need? please don't think too much less of me, but i think they have had plenty of time to figure out that if they would make their products more cost efficient, that they would be on top. now with the whole isubscription bologna, they didn't gain any ground. i would rather pay half the price and buy something to tinker with than buy a lamborghini that i would be afraid to drive incase i mess it up.

dumdum · #33 01-25-2003, 10:07 AM

I have checked a few Screen Shots of Linux out, and am very interested in trying it, But Would like to try it in an older machine first. Will this be possible? I couldnt find specs anywhere! Also could someone recommend a newer cleaner version, I have seen Mandrake 9.0 Looks awsome!!!

beeboy · #34 01-25-2003, 10:22 AM

Ya, Mandrake 9 is awesome. Checkout
www.distrowatch.com for all the popular distros. Linux has excellent hardware support. If you dont have anything really exotic you will be fine. My machine is 2 years old and I do not have any trouble with the new distros. There are several "small" distros available, Peanut, being my fave, is under 400 mb for the full install. Yoper is a new up and comer as well - the next version should be awesome.

dumdum · #35 01-26-2003, 12:04 AM

Can you use officeXP or 2000 software on linux???

xtekz · #36 02-10-2003, 03:37 PM

I am currently running Windows XP, and...and I say this with no offense to anyone who likes Micro$oft... I hate it. I had to reformat my HD three times now because it is so unstable and everything. I am getting broadband the end of the month, and I'm installing Linux, no doubt. I've heard that Red Hat Linux 8.0 and Mandrake 9.0 are good, but I don't know which to get? I'm an absolute newbie to Linux, but I've read a lot about it, and I do a lot of very advanced Windows stuff, like batch programming and writing DOS programs in C++, but I can't do this Micro$soft thing anymore. I must switch to Linux now >_<; Well, thanks,

-xtekz

beeboy · #37 02-10-2003, 03:58 PM

Sorry you've had trouble with XP. I have the opposite experience - xp being indestructible. I prefer Mandrake over RH. Mandrake just seems to be better over all. Better hardware support, nicer install, and its more "polished" to me. About the only things that lack are poor 3d acceleration, poor digital camera support, not much for webcams, not a lot of choices in scanner support; but mine is in Mandrake. Mandrake is close to releasing 9.1 final and RH will have their final out this spring. I've heard lots of good about both. Its a real treat to switch from my XP to Mandrake - surfing is so fast - everything is fast and stable. But you just cant beat the variety and usability that windows offers.

xtekz · #38 02-13-2003, 07:31 AM

That's why I was going to dual boot. Now, though, I'm thinking of booting four OSes ^_^ I just can't make a decision at all. I'll probably just end up with three, though. I'm going to be doing a lot of research over the next few weeks because I need to be ready for my DSL. Well, thanks for the pointer on Mandrake.

edit: I only need you to answer one question and then I'm going to dual-boot XP and Mandrake. Is Mandrake's installation easy, and is it easy to change the system settings? The only reason I ask is I saw the "See Red hat in action" thing from Redhat.com, and the installation looks really easy and so does changing system settings. Thanks a lot ^_^

dumdum · #39 02-13-2003, 08:08 AM

Do you have any info or links on how to dual boot Linux with XP? or is it the same as dual with 98 or 2000?

curtybob · #40 02-13-2003, 12:00 PM

i found one that looks helpful, right here.

beeboy · #41 02-13-2003, 12:02 PM

Dual booting linux and Windows is easy. Linux installs its own boot loader during installation allowing you to boot both OS. Multi-boot scenarios get more complicated. Curtybob's link is excellent. I used the newbie guide to freedom for my first install. http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_other_00020.asp
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/fdoc.php3

xtekz · #42 02-14-2003, 05:42 AM

I have dual-booted before, so I know what I'm doing. But after reading the links above, I'm thinking it may be a little different. Can I reformat my hard drive and then just simply install XP to the whole hard drive. Then with Partition Magic give the other half to Linux, then install Mandrake on the other half?

I'm positive I'm getting Mandrake 9.0 now, btw.

beeboy · #43 02-14-2003, 07:26 AM

That is the best way for a mult-boot situation. Install XP - install - Partition Magic - install boot magic - spend some time thinking out how many OS you will want - create and format all the partitions. You will share one swap partition for all linux OS. You will have to mount the linux boot loader for each OS in its own partition(some linux flavours will let you install in the home partition). You can configure one linux boot loader to boot the other linux OS as well but its more complicated if there is different kernals. You can then use Boot Magic to boot all OS. I have had up to 9 different OS installed using this method. PM 7 does not recoqnize Rieserfs file system but I think 8 does. Hope this helps. Its a blast having all those choices but now I have dropped back to just XP, Mandrake, and Redhat. I will probably drop RH for something else like the new Yoper eventually.

xtekz · #44 02-14-2003, 09:18 AM

Thanks a lot

I'll be sure to tell you how it works out once I get my DSL

Thanks again

Protocol Droid · #45 02-19-2003, 04:04 PM

Here's what I do. I start with an empty HD, and run fdisk off a floppy. Using Fdisk I set the partitions. One for Windows, and one for Linux (both being NTFS). Now that the partitions are preset, I install windows (I dislike XP, its activation, and bugginess, so I still use windows2000). Then I install Linux after that, Linux's bootloader takes over, and all is good.

I have to say that I feel that Redhat is smoother than mandrake. But Mandrake might be best for newbies, its a bit easier to install, and it does a few things automatically that you have to do manually in redhat.