h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4361594.stm

Have I mentioned there is virtually no spyware/adware on Linux boxen?

Have I mentioned that Linux is very easy to install? Or that a dual-boot win/linux installation is only slightly less easy?

Have I mentioned there are many 'live cd' linux distributions that don't even need to be installed?

Linux is also more stable, more complete, can be much faster, can look very nice indeed, and is usually absolutely free...

Oh, and Linux will happily run on older systems

And it's not just for computer gurus anymore!

Hi Nail!

So I go ahead and install Linux. What do I gain? I run Firefox and Thunderbird, Word, Visio, Ruby, a C++ compiler and a program to catalogue my music collection. Why would I want Unix?

The prance Tsar

"Wine? How crass."

"The prance Tsar"



Nice one!


What do you gain?

Ok. Off the top of my head, so to speak:

The three 'Ss' -- Security, speed, stability

There are Open Source equivalents to all the software you mention, and many windows apps can run under Linux, using 'wine', or Crossover Office.

Why would you want *Unix? -- Because it vastly reduces the possibility of various forms of malware borking your data, thus relieving some anxiety; because it tends to run much faster -- although with newer hardware the speed increase may not be that noticeable; because it is really difficult to crash the system.

Linux, and other open source operating systems also give you access to thousands of free and open source applications, thus saving you anywhere from hundreds to thousands of $$, (or ££).

And when you're at a social event, and casually mention you run 'nix, it impresses the hell out of the girls.

*Well, Linux -- the original Unix is far too difficult, and much too expensive!

Have I mentioned that we finally migrated from Windows PC's to server based Linux at work two days ago?

YAY!



I'm quite happy with my Tiger at home, thanks!

i plan to go linux someday when i have enough money to buy both a laptop and a second desktop. the second desktop will run linux and be my web server. if linux becomes more ... standard for gaming i might even go totally divorce from Mr. Gates and his MicroBorg Collective.

Gaming is certainly the weak link in most non-MS systems. There are ways of playing MS games: The Cedega Project seems very popular, although some, including myself, find it philosophically disagreeable.
Read about it on Wikepedia, if you like -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedega

I've played few games. I don't even own a joystick
When I have free time I much prefer playing the guitar

to Ottox's employer

@ Ottox's Mac

"Mr. Gates and his MicroBorg Collective"

http://www.kmfms.com/

yeah right now I have neither the money nor the time nor the experience nor the time to gain the experience to learn how to use another OS. I do plan to try it ASAP though ...
Nerd42