Should I use Linux instead of Windows?

Question

Should I use Linux instead of Windows?

Answer 1

if you do not want bugs, viruses, ad-ware your best choice is an apple systems, and I will explain why, The bug virus ad-ware people want to target their slime to the most people they can, whitch is widnows, because the majority of the software is written for windows. Most people who choose a computer may choose windows, because there are a lot of applications for it. apple computers have less software, but their machines have a slight edge over the rest. Linux distros are open source wich means anyone who wants to can learn to improve the software, but has less software to choose from. Lets look at it from another way. You have an idea for an exciting new program, and want to be paid, you will most likely use the os that has the most potential of making you money, witch is windows based.



what can you do to keep your windows computer safe?

1) make sure you have the re-instillation cds from your computer manufacturer mine only cost $10.00+tax free shipping

2) have a large usb removable hard drive you copy any cd's or programs you install on your computer. this way if something happens you can restore your computer easily

3) every few months copy your personal folders to the usb drive incase hard drive may fail, thay can after a 3-5 years, and also helps incase a virus eats a windows critical folder.



there are 5 free programs I recommend downloading from cnets www.download.com



1) avast home free , great free virus detection program, from my expierence even better than avg.

2) Spybot - Search & Destroy , has some tools to protect programs messing with internet explorer settings

3) Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, detects more spy-ware than spybot, but no one program catches everything.

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4) Mozilla Firefox, Ive noticed explorer 8 has a few issues on older systems, and ad-ware targets explorer more often than Firefox

5) Add Blocker Plus, a Mozilla Firefox plug in. can remove 90% of advertising on the web, will allow flash content to be viewed and remove flash ads from the majority of sites.



you may ask why do I need to do all this, The first 3 steps are just basic backup and recovery steps, any computer class will go though this, business or personal. The second set of 3 are programs from my personal experience, dealing with friends systems gone bad. seeing the latest bugs, and finding free programs that will help deal with them. hostile ad-ware that should be against the law to infect systems untill that time, use these for now. Firefox now seems to be more stable than explorer, and their add-on that is not available in explorer will display the content of websites, and remove ads. If your using a cell carriers usb evdo modem or have an isp that has limits per month, the less ads displayed, the more content per month you can view.



sorry advertisers, you plagued us with pop ups- pop unders, and now with flash ads,



I hope this helps you and anyone else protect their systems from the bugs on the internet,

Answer 2

There is no malware at all targeting linux machines, except maybe unix servers someplace. Security is excellent. Linux is free, except for full-support versions like Red Hat or Yellow Dog super-ps3 clusters. If your pc is old, there is definitely a linux out there that will run on it. Linux has been installed on just about every kind of hardware there is. Try ubuntu first, because user-to-user support is the best. It works like a giant crowd of people testing something, and once someone figures something out they post it on the forums and then there's the support. It often works better than a bunch of rude bastards in a tech support center. If ubuntu won't work on your pc, try something else. Try puppy linux if you have to. Here's one of the best reasons to use linux: you won't forget how to type.

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

UBUNTU:



# Pros: Fixed release cycle and support period; novice-friendly; wealth of documentation, both official and user-contributed

# Cons: Some of Ubuntu's own software (e.g. Rosetta) are proprietary; lacks compatibility with Debian

# Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages

# Available editions: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu Studio and Mythbuntu for 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors; Ubuntu Server edition also for SPARC processors

# Suggested Ubuntu-based alternatives: Linux Mint (desktop), gOS (desktop with Google applications), OpenGEU (desktop with Enlightenemnt), Ultimate Edition (desktop), CrunchBang Linux (desktop with Openbox), gNewSense (free software)



FEDORA:



# Pros: Highly innovative; outstanding security features; large number of supported packages; strict adherence to the Free Software philosophy

# Cons: Fedora's priorities tend to lean towards enterprise features, rather than desktop usability

# Software package management: YUM graphical and command line utility using RPM packages

# Available editions: Fedora for 32-bit (i386), 64-bit (x86_64) and PowerPC (ppc) processors; Red Hat Enterprise Linux for i386, IA64, PowerPC, s390x and x86_64 architectures; also live CD editions with either GNOME or KDE

# Suggested Fedora-based alternatives: BLAG Linux And GNU (desktop, free software), Berry Linux (live CD), Yellow Dog Linux (Apple's PowerPC-based systems)

# Suggested Red Hat-based alternatives: CentOS, Scientific Linux, StartCom Enterprise Linux



OPEN SUSE:



# Pros: Comprehensive and intuitive configuration tool; large repository of software packages, excellent web site infrastructure and printed documentation

# Cons: Novell's patent deal with Microsoft in November 2006 seemingly legitimised Microsoft's intellectual property claims over Linux; its resource-heavy desktop setup and graphical utilities are sometimes seen as "bloated and slow"

# Software package management: YaST graphical and command line utility using RPM packages

# Available editions: openSUSE for 32-bit (i386), 64-bit (x86_64) and PowerPC (ppc) processors (also installable live CD edition); SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop/Server for i586, IA64, PowerPC, s390, s390x and x86_64 architectures



DEBIAN:



# Pros: Very stable; remarkable quality control; includes over 20,000 software packages; supports more processor architectures than any other Linux distribution

# Cons: Conservative - due to its support for many processor architectures, newest technologies are not always included; slow release cycle (one stable release every 1 - 3 years); discussions on developer mailing lists and blogs can be uncultured at times

# Software package management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) using DEB packages

# Available editions: Installation CD/DVD and live CD images for 11 processor architectures, including all 32-bit and 64-bit processors from Intel, AMD, Power and others

# Suggested Debian-based alternatives: MEPIS Linux, Ubuntu, sidux. Damn Small Linux (for old computers), KNOPPIX (live CD), Dreamlinux (desktop), Elive (desktop with Enlightenment), Xandros (commercial), 64 Studio (multimedia)



MANDRIVA:

# Pros: Beginner-friendly, especially the commercial edition; excellent central configuration utility; very good out-of-the-box support for dozens of languages; installable live CD

# Cons: Lacks a comprehensive marketing strategy to compete with other major distributions, non-existent Mandriva books show lack of "mindshare" among publishing houses

# Software package management: URPMI with Rpmdrake (a graphical front-end for URPMI) using RPM packages; "SMART" available as an alternative method

# Available editions: Freely downloadable Mandriva "Free" installation media for 32-bit (i586) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors; freely downloadable Mandriva "One" installable live media for 32-bit (i586) processors; commercial Mandriva PowerPack edition for 32-bit (i586) and 64-bit (x86_64) processors; also high-end "Corporate" solutions for desktops and servers, all with long-term support options

# Suggested Mandriva-based alternative: PCLinuxOS (desktop)



MINT LINUX:



* Pros: Superb collection of "minty" tools developed in-house, hundreds of user-friendly enhancements, inclusion of multimedia codecs, open to users' suggestions

* Cons: The alternative "community" editions don't always include the latest features, the project does not issue security advisories

* Software package management: APT with mintInstall using DEB packages (compatible with Ubuntu repositories)

* Available editions: A "main" edition (with GNOME) for 32-bit and 64-bit computers, a variety of "community" editions (with KDE, Xfce and Fluxbox) for 32-bit computers

* Possible alternatives: Ubuntu, SimplyMEPIS



PCLinuxOS:

# Pros: Out-of-the-box support for graphics drivers, browser plugins and media codecs; fast boot times; up-to-date software

# Cons: No 64-bit edition offered;

Answer 5

All of the Linux distros that I have tried seem to work very well and are very stable. But there is one major draw back, and that is: Your software won't work. All programs that are written for Windows will not function on Linux. It is for this reason that most folks don't use Linux.



And don't fall into the "Linux doesn't get viruses" hole. If it's a computer and it connected to the internet, it can be attacked.

Answer 6

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 8 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 9.10 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 8 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=44



The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 8 (Helena) Installation

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-8-helena



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 8 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation



Linux Mint 8 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



Also worth looking at is Ubuntu 9.10



Ubuntu 9.10 Download

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download



The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) Installation

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-9.10-karmic-koala



Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) User Guide

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic



Ubuntu 9.10 can also be run straight from the LiveCD



INSTALL UBUNTU WITHIN WINDOWS



Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/wubi



You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Boot in to windows insert the Ubuntu 9.10 LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the Wubi installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Ubuntu (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Ubuntu is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Ubuntu







LUg.

Answer 7

As you said, there are software for Linux and software for Windows. You can not easily use most Windows software on Linux, as it is not Windows. In my opinion, many linux applications are better than some Windows or Mac applications, and not just because they open faster and run more smoothly. Linux is great, but if you try to think it is Windows as many people who are new to Linux do, you would be unhappy with it. I would strongly recommend trying Linux Mint.