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Thread ID: 53588 2005-01-21 13:21:00 Linux... Windows. Questions Onyks (6908) Press F1
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316681 2005-01-21 13:21:00 Can anyone explain the main differences between WinXp and Linux (new vers)

Does Linux have a specific set of programs or can Windows programs be run?

Could file extensions prevent sharing of data between the OSs?

I am building a new computer (i posted about it too :p) and i just wanted to know how linux, in general, measures up to windows. im way too poor for windows but i could run a non-updatable version if i had to. Id like to do the SUSE Linux eval iso but i dont have a computer as of yet, so i will sit and ponder and hopefully you all will ponder with me.

If theres another alternative that i am unaware of... or if im just way off on what i am talking about plz dont let me be ignorant :D

Thx and have a good one
Onyks (6908)
316682 2005-01-21 13:31:00 win xp is licensed, differnet kernel to the linux kernal, linux is free under the gnu general public license. yes linux can run windows applications under software such as wine. if you are just your box standard internet gaming and email, then windows would be best as it is more common and more compatible with everyday software such as games, and office. While theoretically you could do eveyrthing you could with windows in linux, you need to know what you are doing in windows. I suggest you trying knoppix (bootable from cd), if you like what you are using, i suggest you partition your hard drive to include both a windows version and a linux distro such as mandrake or debian. Tux (606)
316683 2005-01-21 13:47:00 Thanks for the info
Knoppix, what is it? lol And if possible, where to get?
I will try it. i have some pretty good partitioning software i can get hold of i think

is there a program that allows multi-os setups...? like a prompt that comes right after system/bios checks asking "which OS would you like to use today"?

I still would like to use the -straight from dvd- iso approach to eval linux just for kicks.

Would it be possible to run two hard drives both with separate OS?

Thanks again
Onyks (6908)
316684 2005-01-21 13:52:00 it just called dual booting, its setup in the bios. you can either set it as, if you want it to alternate everytime you boot the computer or ask. Knoppix is a boot from cd os, no installation, you can get it from dse i think for about $4. OS's dont usually come on a dvd however. Yes you can run 2 different hard drives, its just like partitioning one hard drive, it shows up as 2 or more "hard drives" in which you can set the capacity. hwen you set up windows xp it has a partition wizard or you could use the partitioning utilities found in linux when installing or partiton magic Tux (606)
316685 2005-01-21 19:31:00 Yes, Linux excels at Dual-Booting.

Basically you want to install Windows first, and then Linux. During installation it should all be done automatically for you.

Ive not been a fan of SuSE - It wasnt stable enough when I last used it in 9.1 personal edition. I would suggest something like Fedora Core 3, or Xandros even.

Knoppix is great, PM me if you want it, I always get the latest versions when I find out about them because its so great to have for so many reasons.

There's many different flavors of Linux Distro's (Distributions), all which have their own specific aim etc.
Xandros is designed for the average joe at home coming from using Windows
Fedora Core is a distro that caters to the tastes of many
Debian has a reputation for being... err... less than easy to install.

Im heading out this morning to help a friend format his PC, and a 2nd friend wipe WinXP and switch to either Xandros or Fedora Core 3. He's having so many virus problem, and spyware etc.
He only does web surfing, email, chatting, and uses MS Word. All this can be easily done on Linux without the outside world knowing you're any different.

I agree with Tux, why not Dual-Boot?
Chilling_Silence (9)
316686 2005-01-21 20:18:00 Yes, Linux excels at Dual-Booting .

Knoppix is great, PM me if you want it, I always get the latest versions when I find out about them because its so great to have for so many reasons .



i think he is in the USA

and with knoppix you can see your ntfs partions, which is handy .
with these latest games, do alot of them support linux?, overall how good is the support for linux in games?
Prescott (11)
316687 2005-01-21 23:59:00 Having just made a post on home LAN problems,
how does Linux manage LANs compared to Win OS?

Does anyone know if Quicken runs OK on Linux?

From comments in the thread, is it fair to observe
that if word processing, web-surfing, e-mail, spread
sheets and graphics (incl scanner and OCR) are the
dominant uses, that Linux would serve as well, if not
better than Win?

Perry
Perry (4966)
316688 2005-01-22 00:29:00 Can anyone explain the main differences between WinXp and Linux (new vers)

Does Linux have a specific set of programs or can Windows programs be run?

Could file extensions prevent sharing of data between the OSs?

Funny thing is, when I really got into open source, Windows-only programs didn't seem to matter so much anymore . I became "independent" of formats, file-extensions, and the like, because open source forced me to learn and to manipulate most of them at will .


I am building a new computer (i posted about it too :p) and i just wanted to know how linux, in general, measures up to windows . im way too poor for windows but i could run a non-updatable version if i had to . Id like to do the SUSE Linux eval iso but i dont have a computer as of yet, so i will sit and ponder and hopefully you all will ponder with me .

Poverty started me down the open source route as well, but now it has become a sort of belief with me . I refuse to buy a PC for more than $100 . And that's the great thing with open source . You can have a very useable system for that little money .


If theres another alternative that i am unaware of . . . or if im just way off on what i am talking about plz dont let me be ignorant :D

Thx and have a good one

Yeah, there are alternatives . I think I have found the best - FreeBSD .
vinref (6194)
316689 2005-01-22 01:19:00 Perry: Unix is nearly 30 years old and has been running LANs and WANs for well over 20 years. The Ethernet protocol TCP/IP was built on Unix. The Internet was built with Unix.

Linux is a "*nix". It networks "natively".

Windows isn't. It doesn't.

:D
Graham L (2)
316690 2005-01-22 01:34:00 Having just made a post on home LAN problems,
how does Linux manage LANs compared to Win OS?

As GrahamL inferred, Linux/Unix were designed from the outset to be multiuser/networked OSs .


Does anyone know if Quicken runs OK on Linux?

Just googled for that, and people have run Quicken on Linux via CodeWeavers CrossOver Office . I have had a look at GnuCash (http://www . gnucash . org) , but double-entry accounting twists my brains . It is meant to be the open source equivalent of Quicken et al .


From comments in the thread, is it fair to observe
that if word processing, web-surfing, e-mail, spread
sheets and graphics (incl scanner and OCR) are the
dominant uses, that Linux would serve as well, if not
better than Win?

Perry

I would say Linux is better in a great many ways, but that is my experience . Give it a go - it's (almost) free . If you don't like it, then just delete and go back to Windows .
vinref (6194)
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