What is Linux?

[Aerry408]

What is it?
and is it free? if yes how would i be able to get it

[dom]

It's free and it's like a supercharged version of windows.

The only thing is you need to fill in an application and get approved.

Just visit a best buy or electronics retailer and ask them if they have linux applications and advise them you want one.

[Amarisa]

It's free and it's like a supercharged version of windows.

The only thing is you need to fill in an application and get approved.

Just visit a best buy or electronics retailer and ask them if they have linux applications and advise them you want one.

or you could just download it from the internet. like for example ubuntu, xubuntu, and kubuntu

[TheDrop]

i think its a kind of OS like windows...not sure tho

[Jstar1]

have fun pulling your hair out trying to find linux compatible programs, especially if they are less mainstream.

[NuclearSilo]

Linux is for development and working. Not useful to play games, hear music, watch film.

[Buddhist]

Linux is for development and working. Not useful to play games, hear music, watch film.

Well I can play games, listen to music and watch films whenever I want and without a single problem. Linux is way better than Windows.

[Ilove2quack]

Linux is for development and working. Not useful to play games, hear music, watch film.

[ping_lo]

have fun pulling your hair out trying to find linux compatible programs, especially if they are less mainstream.

Application repository and W.I.N.E. will take care of that. Actually most of the time any more the issue is trying to decide which of several programs you want to use. Frankly Linux has more non mainstream programs than about any other OS. The real issue is exactly the opposite of what you claim. Finding mainstream applications with support for Linux or even Mac can be tricky at times but then again that is where W.I.N.E. comes in.

Linux is for development and working. Not useful to play games, hear music, watch film.

Again wrong. 30 different apps at min to hear music in more formats than windows provides out of the box. Plays more video formats than windows out of the box as well these days as many distros come with VLC. You may not be able to play the latest greatest "Windows" games but then again there are not that many that are that great really and Mac has the same issue. Further W.I.N.E. can allow you to play many of them under Linux or Mac just fine.

There will be issues of one sort or another no matter what OS you choose. Linux costs less than Windows. It is generally much more secure than Windows. It generally installs easier than Windows and in less time than Windows. It generally supports more hardware out of the box than Windows. However newer, obscure, or less popular hardware may not be supported as much of it is often officially supported only on windows due to their general monopoly of the market. Mac is often in the same position.

Everyone copies everyone else. Windows has taken ideas from *nix and Mac OS and vice versa. Generally these days Linux is every bit as capable as any other major OS including Windows. However even today if you have a hard time installing and troubleshooting things under windows etc it is not really harder to do under linux you just might have more instances of it.

Having used Linux since 1995 it has come a long way and is not stopping yet. I reccomend downloading a live CD to play with first though.

[NuclearSilo]

so Linux is better than windows?

[BuDo]

Neither Windows or Linux is better than the other. It all depends on the user's perception and their needs. Most people don't use Linux because they are not PC experts. Linux put a lot of it's features right at the finger tips of the user. If you know exactly what you are doing then it's OK. If not then you could mess things up huge.

When you hear someone say Linux is better its because they are most likely very knowledgeable about the features of a computer's Operating System. And Linux give those users lots of free range to do whatever they want.

On the other hand windows limits the users in an effort to prevent them from messing things up (sometimes this limitation gets annoying for some people).The casual user doesn't have to worry too much and windows make certain things easier to understand for the causal user.

Each operation system (Linux Windows or Mac) appeal to a user based on the user's level of understanding and needs. Its not that one OS is better than the other. It all boils down to what you like to do and what you already know and what you find easier to understand.

[Midori]

It generally installs easier than Windows and in less time than Windows.

only if you know how to install it. otherwise its not easier.

[Azilius]

If the guy doesn't know what linux is, do you really think he's going to go through all the effort of finding out how to use it? Chances are he's not incredibly proficient with computers (no offense) so what silo said more or less does apply to him.

Of course that's a broad assumption but nevertheless one that won't hurt.

[Aerry408]

If the guy doesn't know what linux is, do you really think he's going to go through all the effort of finding out how to use it? Chances are he's not incredibly proficient with computers (no offense) so what silo said more or less does apply to him.

Of course that's a broad assumption but nevertheless one that won't hurt.

ahah thats true... i think imma just get windows 7

[Toasty]

If the guy doesn't know what linux is, do you really think he's going to go through all the effort of finding out how to use it? Chances are he's not incredibly proficient with computers (no offense) so what silo said more or less does apply to him.

Of course that's a broad assumption but nevertheless one that won't hurt.

What i was about to say..

[Squirt]

Linux is like that hot girl in your school. If you manage to get her you have to micro manage everything you do and say just in case if your new at dating

[[SD]Master_Wong]

It's free and it's like a supercharged version of windows.

The only thing is you need to fill in an application and get approved.

Just visit a best buy or electronics retailer and ask them if they have linux applications and advise them you want one.

look dont make comments like that its an os as all os's they are designed for as many purposes as possible but linux excess as a server os it is not stronger then windows either prolly about the same

[_Equal_]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question246.htm

[NuclearSilo]

Windows is better for beginner user, plain and simple. It offer good support user interface and graphic. You can do everything with button clicks. While with Linux, if offers more capabilities but you have to mess up with codes which is absolutely useless for a beginner user.
You can find more support and general machine problem fix for windows than linux. People usually give files to fix the system, the registry so you only have to double click to have a fix. In linux, you still have to mess up with codes.

[dom]

Windows is better for beginner user, plain and simple. It offer good support user interface and graphic. You can do everything with button clicks. While with Linux, if offers more capabilities but you have to mess up with codes which is absolutely useless for a beginner user.
You can find more support and general machine problem fix for windows than linux. People usually give files to fix the system, the registry so you only have to double click to have a fix. In linux, you still have to mess up with codes.

[chickenfeather]

You know Dom, because of your sig, I heard Jackie Chan narrating as I read what nuclearsilo wrote...

[Azilius]

Windows is better for beginner user, plain and simple. It offer good support user interface and graphic. You can do everything with button clicks. While with Linux, if offers more capabilities but you have to mess up with codes which is absolutely useless for a beginner user.
You can find more support and general machine problem fix for windows than linux. People usually give files to fix the system, the registry so you only have to double click to have a fix. In linux, you still have to mess up with codes.

Well if you manipulate it from NS English he does have a point, hard to find as it may be.

[-.-]

um... linux is often gui based now too... same as windows/mac :S

the terminal in linux is useful, not necessary if you dont want to learn it... like using command prompt in windows if people prefer but not needed. (dont know equivalent in mac lol)

I installed XPUD onto computer, they have a handy installer that installs it directly to windows partition so you dont even have to repartition it, although making new partition and installing from CD is faster... but their windows installer makes it easier for windows people. I like XPUD for fast movies/internet because it loads fast and well gets the job done and I wont need to do anything else on it, if not I can switch to windows.

Ubuntu has an installer that works within windows as well, but I dont know what its called :S forgot since I dont use Ubuntu lol.

I mainly prefer XPUD and Puppy linux because they are small/fast and lets me get on just to look something up online/check email/watch movie without booting a full OS.

[Skyve]

Why W.I.N.E ? If I want Windows I'll just use Windows =)

OS WAR GOGOGOGO (For once it isn't Win vs OS X)