Thread: Tell me about Linux........

.........Please.

I am using my older PC to run web content and DVDs and I'm having some stuttering and sound issues that I am unable to resolve.

Soooo, I'm reformatting my HD atm and thinking of not even putting WIN XP back on this system.

I've been reading a little about this LINUX fella and was wondering if anyone had opinions on the following puzzlers;

1) Can you have a WIN OS and LINUX on the same HD? Do you pick one at system start up? Or would they both run?
2) What percentage of web sites are LINUX compatible/friendly?
3) Does LINUX have any issues with playing DVDs, streaming web content or flash plugins?
4) Does LINUX use flash, adobe, ect players?
5) What is best/worst of LINUX?
6) Would I maybe be better off installing WIN 7 on older PC? Even if the same WIN 7 is running on Primary PC?

7) How do you feel?

7) How do you feel?




Thanks!

1) Can you have a WIN OS and LINUX on the same HD? Do you pick one at system start up? Or would they both run?
Yes, i wouldn't recommend it. Depends, but usually yes. Also depends on which OS you install first, if you're more a Windows guy, install XP first, then Ubuntu (i recommend that for noobs ); during the install Ubuntu will prompt you to import your "Win profiile" if it finds any; so you can access your My Docs, Pics, Music, etc. You can run both "at the same time" by installing and using VMWare (which is often my configuration).
2) What percentage of web sites are LINUX compatible/friendly?
All, Ubuntu and 99% of Linux distros include Mozilla now.
3) Does LINUX have any issues with playing DVDs, streaming web content or flash plugins?
What War said. Google is your buddy, so are the forums (linuxquestions.org and ubuntuforums.org).
4) Does LINUX use flash, adobe, ect players?
Yes, but I think you're referring to browser plugins, it's all compatible.
5) What is best/worst of LINUX?
Worst is getting used to it when you're a Microsofty. The thing is, stick with it, it's an invaluable OS in the business world. Most of what War has already stated, and it is part of the Open community so you have more developers that are truly interested in "fixes" and enhancements then you do with Microsoft. The Linux community is more interested in a stable, working, product than $$$$. I could keep going.
6) Would I maybe be better off installing WIN 7 on older PC? Even if the same WIN 7 is running on Primary PC?
Nothing wrong with more than one Win7 PC, there are some cool features that I've enacted in my house. The home network is part of it, makes it easy for the kids to get to my movies off the Media Center and watch in their rooms, or the Music server which houses terabytes of music. If the specs of the older PC meet those for Win7, do it.
7) How do you feel?
I'm impartial, i love both Win7 and Linux. I however, use Linux distros for more work purposes than pleasure, my PC that runs VMWare I do tinker with Fedora Core because I like messing around with stuff. Linux, with Perl modules, Apache, etc is a far better web server than anything Microsoft could EVER come up with, IMO.

Dual-boot windows and linux until you are comfortable using it. I used to run Ubuntu but I went back to only windows at home. I get enough linux trouble at work these days.

Delete partition was greyed from Win Xp desktop, so I reformatted using XP disk.

Now running XP + whatever the updates are/were......

Vid seems better, audio is a lil jumpy at beginning of segment.
Will have to verify and correct later.

I'm using this PC for multi media and surfing so I suppose I will stay with xp for the moment since it seems to be working better than it was.



Well, at day one anyway.....



Thanks for all the insight, and................


What would your recommendations be for learning LINUX;
Installing as Second OS, or getting fed up for 8th time this year and clean install on old PC?

Honestly if you go with a disto like Ubuntu you will be fine. Most people who think linux is too difficult either haven't used it lately or are trying to run windows apps on it.

The latest versions are in fact easier to use than Windows. I set my parents up on Ubuntu 9.04, and they have had no problems. They are absolute software noobs, but they love the add remove software feature. Also, they love that they only get one update notifier that manages all of the OS and installed software updates.

Now the downside of Linux. It is not Windows. If you want to run windows apps you are going to have to jump through some hoops. It is possible, but it generally does not "just work". I play TF2 on Linux, and occasionally have to mess around with my configurations after updates.

Also, do not attempt to run Linux with an AMD/ATI graphics card if you want good 3d support. AMD/ATI open sourced their driver, but even with all the work going on in the community it is just not very good yet. Nvidia has a much better driver, but because it is not open source you can not install it through apt. You have to download and install manually. There is very good 2d support in the basic 2d drivers though so this is a non issue if you do not plan to game on the machine.

For learning Linux just use it. You will be surprised at how little you really have to learn for all of your basic computing needs. Gaming, and other more advanced features do require some work, but there are generally very good tutorials, and a very helpful community on the Ubuntu forums.