windows..

[iGuest 3]

i use windows XP sp2....i would like to download linux os...any recomendations? should i really switch over to linux?

[deivid1405241470 0]

If you want to start to work in linux, I recommed Red Hat or Mandrake distributions, there all simply to use and ready for final user , or if you only want to try, donwload knoppix, it work from cd, no partition to adjust, nothing just put cd, and run linux. Well if you want more, linux fedora for some people is the best distribution, but it's very difficult to handle. Well if you become a linux user, you can decide what distribution is the best for you.

[Bierhelm 0]

I think, Windows is better and if I were you I wouldn't change, but ...that's my opinion

[deivid1405241470 0]

uhmm there is no better or worst operating system, all have weaknesses and strengths, windows maybe is better because you have all set, i mean, when you put a cd, if it contains music, the program will be launched and started to play the disc, in linux is different you have to configure this action, this is the beauty of linux, you can configure almost everything, the backdraw is you have to search, read and learn, how to do these things, and for some users with timeless or not very handy with computers is very difficult and choose windows, the weakness of windows are the security holes and their tipical errors, like as I said each one has its strengths and weaknesses but it is thing of each user wich one to choose.

[Hercco 0]

If you have no previous experience with linux I agree Deivid that Red Hat or Mandrake are probably the best way to go. I have used both and my opinion is that they're not any harder to use than Windows.Just to prove my point I want to mention that I intalled Mandrake Linux on my mom's computer and so far she has had no problems using it. For three weeks time she has had the linux installed, she hasn't called me once for help. However in this time I have helped her three times to get VCR programmed... So if my mom can work with Linux, you can too .

[Herbert1405241469 0]

Or go with both Windows and Linux!

 

If you have 2 hard drives available, I suggest doing that, rather than partitioning so you won't need to mess with partitioning your drive. Hook up one fresh formatted drive by itself, and put Windows on it. (If you have the option, stick with FAT32, rather than converting it to NTFS because Linux won't be able to write to an NTFS file system if you want to save something on your Windows drive)

Then get a second hard drive and make that one the master drive, and the Windows one the slave (check your jumpers on the hard drives). Install Linux, and Lilo (a boot loader) should let you select Linux or Windows whenever you start your computer.

 

Notes: Linux can read the Windows partition, but when you're in Windows, you won't be able to access the Linux partition.

 

I personally have tried Mandrake and RedHat. They're pretty similar. I like Mandrake's installation better, but that was a couple versions ago. They change em so much it might be different now.

[qwijibow 0]

You dont need 2 different hard disks to Dual Boot between windows and Linux !you can shink your windows partiton to make a few gigs spare on your disk, add a couple of linux partitons, and install to them !it will then replace your windows MBR with Grub (Grand Unified Boot Loader)which in english is a pretty blue screen that apears when u turn the pc on, asking you wethr you want to boot windows or linux.id be happy to talk you through the porcess if you like.and im all for tryng linux !some people try linux and go back to windows.. most try linux and love it !if you never try, you will never know.my favorite OS is gentoo !its by far the easyest distro when you know how to use linux... but intill then, stick with a fedora or mandrake distro.

[kelp 0]

Why? What do you need to do. Linux, for me personally, is used for servers because I can't find a use that Linux has that Windows doesn't. Mainly because I play games on my computer so Linux won't work for me. Try out Knoppix, you just burn it onto a cd and it's a bootable linux. You can try dual booting, I used LILO as my boot manager.

[qwijibow 0]

Why? What do you need to do. Linux, for me personally, is used for servers because I can't find a use that Linux has that Windows doesn't. Mainly because I play games on my computer so Linux won't work for me. Try out Knoppix, you just burn it onto a cd and it's a bootable linux. You can try dual booting, I used LILO as my boot manager.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Linux runs far more games than people realalise.

 

Things that a Linux Distro will do that windows cannot....

Burn / Rip CD's

Encode / Rip DVD's

DNS / web / FTP servers (and many more)

Compilers of many different languages

Development Tools

Complete Office Suite Software

Professional Graphics Tools Like the GIMP

p2p File shareing.

Professinonal Encryption Tools

Secuript tools like Tripwire, root kit hunters and Packet Sniffers

 

the list is endless....

and its all free...

 

when you buy windows you get...

well.... a (very poor) web browser and email client..

and a very poor media player...

and... notepad and mspaint.

 

if you actually want to DO somthing, then that will cost you extra.

[kelp 0]

Well, if I want to surf the web, I can just boot into Knoppix and load Airsnort. But that's the only thing I do on Linux. I don't need any of those servers. I don't really have a need for it. I tried that WINEX, can't play all games. There's a GIMP for windows. I don't really use it. I just make my websites with pure css. http://www.oswd.org/ are some templates I look at to get ideas with no pictures. Just download a free programs and you get anything on that list.I don't really like Windows, but you know, I use it and have no problems. It's all about preference. If you play games, Windows, all those servers, editors, and tools, you can shoot for Linux. I'm not really into programming, so you know. GAMES!