Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 71675	2006-08-13 05:05:00	What Linux should I download?	matty3 (5363)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
478155	2006-08-15 10:55:00	Come on SC, you really want to suggest SUSE. I know you do. :D I you won't, then I will.... SUSE is a nice distro. I use it as a desktop distro but tend to use Mandrake/Fedora as a server distro. My advice is try some live cd's before you commit to installing one. SUSE has a live cd/dvd. OK, I'll take the bait :D Try SuSE... and you won't go back to Windows, because you won't have any Windows left :) Seriously guys... and girls, I sit here and listen to all this Linux is wonderful talk and it's about as much fun as talking to someone who owns a Mac. In the real world Linux, or at least any form of the half dozen distros I've tried, just doesn't cut it compared to Windows. I have a lot to grumble about with XP and Microsoft in general, but the functionality, compatibility and yes- ease of use is light years beyond Linux. Computerwise, I have never felt so crippled since I tried to achieve anything using Linux. There ain't no use having a decent LCD monitor if you can't adjust the colour settings, there ain't no use having a decent Video card because functionality is nobbled, there ain't no use having having a DVD recorder when you can only record CDs, there ain't no use trying to do any pro graphics stuff because the Gimp doesn't cut it, there ain't no use having a top end (well known brand) wireless keyboard and mouse because they aren't supported (and according to the makers never will be), there ain't no use having a standard wired keyboard because the keys are switched around... the list is kind of endless, so I'll stop there. Flame all you like people or just stick your head in the sand- I've tried Linux (more than once and more than 1 distro). It's a good solid opsys if you want to do basic things and that's about it. Anything more is just asking for grief and frustration :(	Shortcircuit (1666)
478156	2006-08-15 11:31:00	OK, I'll take the bait :D I will too then :p In the real world Linux, or at least any form of the half dozen distros I've tried, just doesn't cut it compared to Windows . I have a lot to grumble about with XP and Microsoft in general, but the functionality, compatibility and yes- ease of use is light years beyond Linux . Every person is different to what they need from an OS . For me Linux is just what I expect and want . Everything works as well . Mind you, I only buy peripheral hardware from vendors that support Linux, my way of showing my appreciation for providing this service . Computerwise, I have never felt so crippled since I tried to achieve anything using Linux . Window users are not supposed to be able to just use Linux and figure it all out . They must start from scratch again, a bit hard for some people to understand and work through and this will be the biggest stumbling block on whether they will suceed or not . I had it easy, didn't know much about Windows to start with . I had never used DOS or any command line stuff before in Windows apart from the odd fdisk venture . I can now do stuff in Linux without much effort, yet Windows still baffles me . You ought to see me trying to use cmd . exe in Windows at work and navigate around . I'm completely useless . :lol: Infact, the less you know about Windows, the easier it will be . There ain't no use having a decent LCD monitor if you can't adjust the colour settings, there ain't no use having a decent Video card because functionality is nobbled, there ain't no use having having a DVD recorder when you can only record CDs, there ain't no use trying to do any pro graphics stuff because the Gimp doesn't cut it, there ain't no use having a top end (well known brand) wireless keyboard and mouse because they aren't supported (and according to the makers never will be), there ain't no use having a standard wired keyboard because the keys are switched around . . . the list is kind of endless, so I'll stop there . I have a very nice LCD which works perfectly, and installing the nVidia drivers gives me all sorts of funky display tweakes via their control panel . My DVD recorder works great without having to install any additional program to use it first . K3b rocks! Also plays all my video DVDs too . Wireless keyboards/Mice should work fine . My mouse does . You may not get all the mulitfunctional keys working as it is up to the manufacturer to provide the source or drivers for Linux . Again, buy products from manufacturers that support Linux . Flame all you like people or just stick your head in the sand- I've tried Linux (more than once and more than 1 distro) . It's a good solid opsys if you want to do basic things and that's about it . Anything more is just asking for grief and frustration :(Again, it is not for everyone . People should use whatever OS suits their requirements . Linux is more than basic, it goes far beyond what you can achieve in Windows when it comes to fine tuning and complete control over your system (if that is what you want) . I can't think of any reason why I would want to use Windows at home . I have a hard drive here with WinXP installed on it, but that hasn't been booted for nearly two years now - that must say something . I actually started with SuSE 8 . 1 and installed it without ever seeing Linux before . Only had seen a couple of screenshots, but a couple of users on PF1 were using it and it got me curious . I then moved onto Red Hat 8 . 0 and bought a book on it so that I could learn as I went . I have never looked back and I am still learning . :) Linux is obviously not for you, and you did not enjoy the experience . Fair enough . Other people will not have the same experience you did, so for them it will be different, new and functional for their needs .	Jen (38)
478157	2006-08-15 11:50:00	Miss Banny Pants not know use command prompt in Windows? GASP! :eek:	bob_doe_nz (92)
478158	2006-08-15 11:55:00	Miss Banny Pants not know use command prompt in Windows? GASP! :eek:Yes, so it is just as well the main application I use at work runs on a Unix system :thumbs: Sorry for the topic hijack Matty3 :)	Jen (38)
478159	2006-08-15 16:20:00	Again, it is not for everyone. People should use whatever OS suits their requirements. Linux is more than basic, it goes far beyond what you can achieve in Windows when it comes to fine tuning and complete control over your system (if that is what you want). I will definitely second that. Like Jen I have a fully operational desktop OS hooked up to a network with a local printer accessible from all windows machines on the network. File sharing is enabled too :) My dvd player/burner works fine, as does the Ti4200. Have sound, can play mp3, ogg, and even wma (don't ask). Can even play some games (UT, Quake, NWN...) I started with FC3, went on to FC4, and was Chilling_Silence (chilly willy to some of you :p) who got me curious about Gentoo. It was hard (Gentoo likes the command line interface, but you can do most stuff graphically), but when you succeed... damn what a feeling :D Incidentally, I used to dual boot (with XP Pro), but I wiped my windows partition about 3 or 4 months ago (deliberately). Had no real use for it and it was using space :D But ... each to their own... no flaming coming from this corner	Myth (110)
478160	2006-08-16 02:19:00	I'm so happy that you are all happy with Linux and that's fine . I'm just sad that the 'blinkers are on', either from my side or the other way around . experiences with SuSE: Nvidia drivers: In XP complete colour control including brightness/contrast/gamma/digital vibrance/sharpness in all channels inc . RGB separately . Also options for diff AGP/anitaliasing etc . In Suse limited to brightness/contrast in total with no options for separate channel correction (from memory . . . and I'd love to know how Jen got everything to work!) Monitor, Samsung digital: In XP option of monitor calibration GUI In Suse 'basic' non GUI with limited adjustments, not possible to save adjustments between boots . Keyboard and mouse, Logitech wireless: In XP full control of all keys and buttons with options to assign keys/buttons . In Suse not supported at all . Also in Suse 'standard' keyboards swap key assignments so that keys such as @ and " are reversed . Printer, Minolta laser: In XP GUI with options including 'supply status' . In Suse nothing but 'Cups' . M/board: In XP options to overclock through GUI direct from Windows etc In Suse nothing . All of these parts are 'new' and up to date, I see no point in purchasing parts or peripherals to 'thank manufacturers for their support of linux' if they don't have the features or usability of 'Windows ready' components . Strange that we have two IT guys who both have a dislike of Windows and run our Linux servers etc, but have both said to me "Don't bother with Linux, the learning curve is too steep and it will never do what Windows can do as a desk top . " I just think someone is missing out here, and after trying Linux I don't think it is me . So Jen, I had a 'bad experience' with Linux . . . the burning question is- should I have had a bad experience or is it par for the course?	Shortcircuit (1666)
478161	2006-08-16 04:26:00	the burning question is- should I have had a bad experience or is it par for the course?Most users new to linux have one of those. I know I had a few. Its like learning to ride a bike, inevitably you will fall off, its up to you whether you get back on and have another go	Myth (110)
478162	2006-08-16 04:48:00	Most users new to linux have one of those. I know I had a few. Its like learning to ride a bike, inevitably you will fall off, its up to you whether you get back on and have another go That's a relief, I thought that I had suddenly become incompetent :D I may be too battered and bruised to 'get back on the bike'... but maybe if I buy some training wheels :) PS, also meant to add that, unlike Jen who just plays DVDs, I tried to record to DVD under SuSe using (I think) kb3, but it refused, it would record to CD though :thumbs:	Shortcircuit (1666)
478163	2006-08-16 06:30:00	I may be too battered and bruised to 'get back on the bike'... but maybe if I buy some training wheels :)Good on you if you do decide to take another look at a future time. You may wish to check out removable drive caddys so that you can completely separate the two OSs for extra peace of mind. I might also suggest that you just install and explore for starters without leaping in and trying to compile applications from source on day one or other challenging activities. :p PS, also meant to add that, unlike Jen who just plays DVDs, I tried to record to DVD under SuSe using (I think) kb3, but it refused, it would record to CD though :thumbs:No, I burn DVDs too without problems. You might need to run the K3b wizard to set permissions etc if it seemed to ignore your burner. Re the bad experience, it depends on what you do. You only ever hear about when things go wrong on forums etc, and rarely does someone post saying how straight forward it was. Any OS can give a person a bad experience. My record is four repeated installations in less than two days due to some, um, creative tinkering on my behalf :rolleyes:	Jen (38)
478164	2006-08-16 20:53:00	My subjective 2p Try SLED 10 (downloadable from Novell), the Gnome 3D desktop is quite enjoyable providing you have a 3D capable GPU. Alternatively go for the OpenSuse 10.1 version. To update these Suse products are relatively painless, there is a package manager called Smart Package Manager, you can use the version for OpenSuse 10.1 on SLED 10 as well. ( labix.org ). It also supports other distros, so well worth the look. Although I have cut my teeth on RedHat I found the desktops in Mandriva and Fedora unrefined compared to the polished Suse desktops versions of KDE and Gnome. Remember, this is only my opinion, 99.995% Linux users will likely disagree with me. Using Samba I have managed to fully integrate my Linux system with the Window$ network I have at home, the MS machines can even print to my shared USB printer. Wireless with WEP keys works 100% on my laptop, so too with a bit of fiddling does my Vodafone 3G card. But in the end it is up to you to try them until you find a distro you like, it boils down to your personal taste and specfic needs. An example, I simply don't like Ubuntu due to it's colour schemes, brown just doesn't do it for me. Enjoy playing, remember, Linux is a voyage to satisfy your curiosity to discover alternative options, not a destination.	BoboTheClown (5652)
1 2 3 4