Metropol

Is Linux better than Windows?

That is the big question. In my experience I've found Apple Mac computers to be inferior to Windows. But then that was using an iMac back in 2001. Maybe times have changed.

How did you mean Jamez? I judge an OS by how fast I get angry at it when I'm having a bad day. In that test I find os x absolutely superb compared to windows, because windows always finds a way to do something unpredictable or hassle you in some way, like an inane notification about no wireless network being present when it's inexplicably lost it for no reason. In fact, windows' entire wifi implementation stinks compared with apple's because it's lazy - you have to repeatedly choose stuff manually that OS X pics up automatically, and on a bad day moving your laptop around that's infuriating.

I do prefer windows to linux though because you can't *use* linux as easily, because even though there's nothing stopping me getting to my desired app, my desired app doesn't exist. It also smells badly when you change hardware. Mandriva's X server refuses to start now I've changed my graphics card and while I'm sure I could spend time fixing or reinstalling, it shouldn't happen, and certainly something vaguely intuitive should kick in if it has trouble. It also stinks for any good software (not strictly linux's fault), wireless is a nightmare (PCI or USB cards) and it's *scruffy*.

gcc is good, so is microsoft office. I get them both on a mac and I have sex with it every day because I can do unixy things when I need to and I don't get harassed like with windows.

In the end, then, I'd say UNIXy things are better than windows, but only when a *lot* of effort goes into them like in OSX. Linux on the desktop, and I say this with my geek hat on, is shit.

I miss my old Packard Bell computer from 1998. It had speakers built into the monitor... which incidentally had a screen resolution of 800x600, 433Mhz processor, 6Gb hard disk space and the lovely Windows 98 music which played when you started it. Does anyone have a copy of the W98 music (not the Start Up theme, but the one with the Big Ben bong right at the beginning?).

A good old computer which was reformatted no less than 10 times due to me downloading viruses on IE4. Mwhahaha!

Jamez wrote:Does anyone have a copy of the W98 music (not the Start Up theme, but the one with the Big Ben bong right at the beginning?).

You're a clever boy James, I'm sure you'll be able to pull a (reasonable) copy from here

Yes, Win98 had that little tune, XP had the wonderful Welcome to Windows music, but Vista has f all in the way of pretty music included

Could anyone tell me what the big deal is about Linux? I've never used it, but any screenshots I've seen look like it's a bit ropey. It looks like Windows but shitter.

OS X all the way!!

I performed my first Ubuntu installation on a friends PC yesterday. It's quite nice, although it has a definite learning curve. Installing/removing programs is fiddly and can be a pain in the arse. For everyday tasks though, it seems quite nice.

I've been using the Open Circulation Edition of Xandros 4 and its quite good, and would be fairly simple for someone migrating from Windows to Xandros.

Off Linux for a moment - - I've been trying to get ReactOS (WINE) to run on VMware Player using the Easy VMX Creator, but when the setup goes to format the (virtual) drive to FAT16, the screen doesn't change to the formatting progress bar, and is left with a blue screen saying "press ENTER to continue". When you press enter however, it says that ReactOS has not been installed successfully (i.e. that I had terminated it apparently). I downloaded the ReactOS Project's ready made VMX machine, but its a bit bum and it doesn't allow for better RAM optimisation, networking and peripherals. Any ideas?

I would use Linux, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to learn a whole new, strange OS.

I've just installed Ubuntu on my decrepit old PC. I've tried downloading aMSN but have absolutely no idea how to install it. I've read a few forums which, to be honest, have left me with a rather vacant, glazed, expression.

Can anyone help? Chris, I'm looking in your direction!

Slagathor. wrote:I would use Linux, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to learn a whole new, strange OS.

So to put it another way, you *wouldn't* use linux.