Is moving to Linux really worth it?

[hitman050]

I have heard a lot about Linux in these forums. I have been using XP for 3 years now. I will say that I have not been totally overjoyed using XP for so many years. Many times I have encountered the BSODs. I have to reinstall Windows atleast once every 4-5 months, and after a few weeks, XP slows down again. I haven't had many viruses, but still I do feel that the system slows down very often. However, saying that, I am not completely unhappy with XP. As a matter of fact, I have almost got used to the problems of XP, as I haven't used anything before, and I am able to do most of the things I want smoothly.

However, I have really got interested into Linux after hearing about it.
My main computing is programming in Python and C++. Ive heard it has some great IDEs, and is great for programmers. It is also the Operating System of hackers. So, I want to know, is moving to Linux really worth it.

I obviously cant say XP is really bad becuase I haven't tested anything else. But ive heard that Linux is quite difficult to operate, and it doesn't play and MP3s and Videos. Many ppl say XP is easier to use.

Neither does Linux have Photoshop, and Windows Live Messenger (both I use a lot). I am a bit confused here. Also the various distros are confusing me even more.

Can anyone help?

[Tech Geek]

Since you are using it the first kepp XP on one drive and install linux
__________
every operating system is tough to use the first time

[eagle_y2j]

dual boot is a gud option for windows fans In my opinion Linux is far better than windows .

Originally Posted by hitman050

I obviously cant say XP is really bad becuase I haven't tested anything else. But ive heard that Linux is quite difficult to operate, and it doesn't play and MP3s and Videos. Many ppl say XP is easier to use.

I don't think so as my Suse box plays anything without any glitch it just needs some effort and GUI of linux are far more sexier and easier than regular windows .

Originally Posted by hitman050

Neither does Linux have Photoshop, and Windows Live Messenger (both I use a lot). I am a bit confused here. Also the various distros are confusing me even more.

There are alternatives for costly softwares like photoshop for free with same features in linux and if by chance ur fav software is not having its linux alternative then WINE is there to run windows softies in linux box ..

As far as my verdict goes go for linux as it is cheaper +more dynamic

[mehulved]

Originally Posted by hitman050

I have heard a lot about Linux in these forums. I have been using XP for 3 years now. I will say that I have not been totally overjoyed using XP for so many years. Many times I have encountered the BSODs. I have to reinstall Windows atleast once every 4-5 months, and after a few weeks, XP slows down again. I haven't had many viruses, but still I do feel that the system slows down very often. However, saying that, I am not completely unhappy with XP. As a matter of fact, I have almost got used to the problems of XP, as I haven't used anything before, and I am able to do most of the things I want smoothly.

Try out a live cd like Knoppix to give you a feel of linux. But, live cd's are a lot slower cos they operate from optical drives. When moving to linux you will have to learn new things and relearn a few things. If you're ready to do that then install some distro on your PC and set up dual boot. Any *nix is for people who want to make their computer follow their way, so things are difficult in the beginning since newbies don't have much idea. But, once you get used to it, you could do a lot more than you can ever do on windows, it is a matter of putting in efforts and learning.

Originally Posted by hitman050

However, I have really got interested into Linux after hearing about it.
My main computing is programming in Python and C++. Ive heard it has some great IDEs, and is great for programmers.

Yeah it has. Though many of those are available for windows too but on linux they have a couple of things more. Many of those tools have a longer learning curve than anything seen on windows, but it's worth it.

Originally Posted by hitman050

It is also the Operating System of hackers. So, I want to know, is moving to Linux really worth it.

Ah well it is but not totally true. There are distros like Suse and Mandriva today which hardly ever require you to use CLI. But, when those users encounter a trouble more or less they're clueless. If you want something that's not too difficult to learn and gives you a nice GUI for almost everything, distros like ubuntu, suse, mandriva, fedora core and many more are there.

Originally Posted by hitman050

I obviously cant say XP is really bad becuase I haven't tested anything else.

Well everything has a place for different people. XP suits some and doesn't suit some. So goes for linux distros.

Originally Posted by hitman050

But ive heard that Linux is quite difficult to operate

Well not exactly. But you don't master anything the day you start. And as I said before linux has a bit of a higher learning curve. But, in the end it doesn't give unfathomable errors like "application crashed:error x5532iwr34" which makes no sense. If you're into programming you will find those error messages quite readable. Even a non-programmer like me can read those messages. Now, an error like "cannot build: gcc not found" now this message is quite readable by the end user. Though a new person may not understand what it means but those who have used linux for even a few months can understand that something called gcc is missing.

Originally Posted by hitman050

and it doesn't play and MP3s and Videos. Many ppl say XP is easier to use.

Not by default cos of licensing problems. But, you can download the codecs and install them. There are some distros which even include a few codecs like mp3 and such.

Originally Posted by hitman050

Neither does Linux have Photoshop

Not till Adobe decides to make one for linux. But there's gimp, which can do unless you are a professional and absolutely need everything from photoshop, and it's missing in gimp.

Originally Posted by hitman050

and Windows Live Messenger (both I use a lot). I am a bit confused here.

there's gaim, kopete, amsn for that. Though they can't have all the features of WLM. And till MS doesn't make WLM for linux nothing can be done. So, goes for yahoo messenger.

After such a detailed reply by tech_y_f, if you need a little bit of more inspiration,then my friend here is my experience so far :

I have been hearing about Linux since started Digit about 2 years ago and installed many times but never gave it enough time to learn anything.

I was trying to configure GPRS on linux for past 3/4 months, and taking help from other senior members here I succeeded last month. This increased my interest in linux.

Once you have installed a software in linux, or configured something yourself, with help of other generous linux gurus, you will find a new energy & confidence to try some more. And this learning never ends in linux.

You see, we can directly install Gtalk in Windows and use for chatting. But in linux, there is no Gtalk. So what you will do ?? You will search for it. Then you will come to know that Gtalk uses the Jabber internet protocol to connect. So now you can configure any chat client available under linux to use Jabber protocol and you can use it as Gtalk.

In this process, you learned the in thing, that is Gtalk uses Jabber protocol, which you are not likely to bother for in Windows. You learned a new thing.

I think this everyday learning is what makes linux tick.

Incidentally today morning I have completely switched to FC5, no Win OS in my pc right now. My primary use will be to learn C++ and Java programming in linux. OpenOffice is there for Office needs. Regarding enabling multimedia, I know by taking help from various sources & searching I can install all the necessary things.

I think when using , reading online documentations and man pages etc give a very nice idea about any query.

So I think I am gonna use Fedora as my OS, till I marry, be a father & teach my children how to use computer running Linux.

[mediator]

@hitman...The only thing i wud say that linux lags is "Gaming". U can play games, but experience is not the same as in windows! Since u r doing programming then its best to do it on Linux! So just install linux or use knoppix for the time being and experience for yourself!
Don't worry about the codecs, for I rate it as a neglible problem and is only a one line install command (u can install via GUI too, but its easy via command). Windows also dosn't give all the codecs by default, does it?

So just experience it for urself! In the mean time Njoy the desktop screenshots!

[hitman050]

Thanks guys, you have just convinced me to give Linux a try! Just wondering though, what distro to use? Is there really any significant difference between the distros?

[mediator]

I wud say, if u have even a little doubt then try knoppix first. I loved it when I installed it on my hdd. Neways it depends, if u have a 40 gb hdd, then I'll say install Ubuntu, but u'll have to install plenty of packages afterwards. Dont worry its a piece of cake. Vist http://ubuntuguide.org and select the corresponding version and ur through!

Otherwise I'll advice to install fedora! Others may come up with distros like Suse,Mandriva,debian. But IMHO fedora is the best. Neways u shud pick any popular distro that has been given with some magazine, instead of downloading one. AFAIK, fedora 6 was given with LFU or PC quest/world (can't remember).

[cranky]

Take this test, it will recommend a distro that'll suit your needs:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/in...firsttime=true

>You will get the best support for a linux OS than windows and that too for free (unlike windows)

>A great number of linux users are out there on the net to help you out...
more help -->more questions--->more you get to learn

[mehulved]

Start with a knoppix live cd. No installation and all that. Should give you a taste of linux. Though it's not exactly the same as installing on hard disk. Cos live cd's are slower and you cannot add/remove softwares from it as easily. You have to remaster them to add/remove softwares. But that's not of concern at the moment.
If you want to install, then suse is good. If you want something really minimal, and you have a good net connection to download additional software then ubuntu is great. And with ubuntu's next release just about a month away, the next release is expected to have quite nice improvements at user level.

[hitman050]

Thanks for the help guys! Yeh ive heard a lot about Ubuntu, Suse, Knoppix and Sabayan. Can anyone give me links to some Linux forums and sites, so I can have a look around? Btw, I can download softwares easily.

[mehulved]

linuxquestions.org for a lot of discussions on various distros. Then also look at stickies in this section. A lot of links have been given. There's a link to a thread containing a lot of nice links. It's there in '[Readme] These topics have been covered' sticky.

[drsethi]

Practical solution is to keep both XP and Linux.
Use Linux preferably for all purpose but whenever you feel that a given job can be better done in Windows,switch to it temporarily.
Suse Linux is easy to install, have all types of programs, runs multimedia very well (after installation of codecs), surfing and downloading is very easy, no antivirus needed
Moreover it looks very good!

[NucleusKore]

Seeing your post I am tempted to ask, are you using licensed versions of windows, photoshop, etc.

[hitman050]

Originally Posted by NucleusKore

Seeing your post I am tempted to ask, are you using licensed versions of windows, photoshop, etc.

Why?

[dominatorcs]

If ur onto gamin then no linux yaar. stick to windows

[Pathik]

i got the answer...
btw if u seriously want to take up linux than start wit opensuse 10.2 or fedora core 6...
and if u hav a decent net conn then try ubuntu...