Switched my laptop over to Linux from Vista

[joydivision]

I just got sick of Vista and its slow loading times. I decided to format it and install a Linux distro. I have used Linux before mainly on older machines that would not run XP but since all my machines run XP fine never saw a reason to try Linux again. I have a few times but just gave up due to driver issues.

Anyway since I am ill and bed bound and am a geek who cannot stop playing with computers I decided to try it out again. I downloaded Ubunto and I have fallen in love with it. My laptop is a Celeron M540 with 1.5GB Of RAM. WIth Vista with google maps it was never smooth and would keep jamming when scrolling with Linux it runs as smooth as my much more powerful desktop running Vista Premium.

Everything worked out of the box and it took me about 20 seconds to get Spotify working under Wine even though I have little Linux experience.

For a simple web browsing machine this is far better than VIsta, it boots up a lot quicker too. Around 40 seconds from switch on desktop.

Today I switched from Gnome which I found a bit basic compared to Vista to KDE and the user interface offers everything Vista does and more.

One thing I am now certain when I built my business PC (I want to main leisure PC and my business one) it will be Linux based. However my main PC will always be Windows based.

Either way I Am very impressed so far.

 

[Skyhooker]

Ha, sounds like you're making the most of your down-time - a productive illness, I guess. Way better than just catching up on your reading.

I've still only just played around with Ubuntu myself so far, but it's a winner in my book. I've installed Xubuntu on a couple of older Pentium 3 machines, and it runs great. The only problem I've had with Ubuntu is with graphics. I installed it as a dual-boot on my main laptop, a pretty high-powered P4 Toshiba with ATI graphics. When I tried the ol' corner-drag to enlarge a game window, all the newly-opened space in the window was garbled nonsense. I know that the latest version offers the ability to install proprietary graphics drivers, but I hadn't found any back then.

I think I'll have to follow your lead and try KDE as well. A friend swears by it.

Oh, and by the way, here's something that just might make your illness a little more bearable: a cutie talking nerdy. Look for Nixie Pixel on Youtube. Here's a nice sample, on-topic:

Compiz Fusion on Your Desktop : Howto Ubuntu

Hope you're back on your feet soon!


Sky

 

[iisjman07]

Linux really has made major progress over the past couple of years, and is now actually a usable OS for nearly everyone (Google OS, etc). I was reading an article from a computer magazine about whether the UK should have it's own linux distro, and personally, I can't wait until the linux revolution comes. Until that day VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

 

[JosephLeo]

I'll admit that Linux is not what it was 5 years ago. But it still has a LOONG way to go before I will consider it a contender in the OS market. Right now it's just that "Off-Brand posing as a major brand". I'm sure in another 3 or 4 years it will become a major OS (or whenever the community completely drops the open-source puritan standards)

 

[iisjman07]

viva la revolution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[joydivision]

I'll admit that Linux is not what it was 5 years ago. But it still has a LOONG way to go before I will consider it a contender in the OS market. Right now it's just that "Off-Brand posing as a major brand". I'm sure in another 3 or 4 years it will become a major OS (or whenever the community completely drops the open-source puritan standards)

When did you last try it? Things have changed a l lot, a year ago all I wanted to is swear at it. Even Firefox dosn't damn crash. On windows it crashes every three hours.

 

[msherman]

I'll admit that Linux is not what it was 5 years ago. But it still has a LOONG way to go before I will consider it a contender in the OS market. Right now it's just that "Off-Brand posing as a major brand". I'm sure in another 3 or 4 years it will become a major OS (or whenever the community completely drops the open-source puritan standards)

Off brand posing as a major brand?

Ive been running Linux/*bsd for 12 years and it has always been better than windows.

It was just never pushed down everyones throats like windows has been for 20 years.

 

[iisjman07]

woop, my spidy sense is tingling, I sense a flame war....

 

[NickCat11]

woop, my spidy sense is tingling, I sense a flame war....

Yeah, it won't be the first time we had a win/linux war. I use both but my preference is Windows

 

[msherman]

Yeah, it won't be the first time we had a win/linux war. I use both but my preference is Windows

No flame war. I use both too.

 

[iisjman07]

I love Windows.vs.Linux.vs.OSX wars, it's funny to see people arguments

 

[msherman]

I love Windows.vs.Linux.vs.OSX wars, it's funny to see people arguments

Ive been in plenty im not gonna lie.

But its honestly like arguing politics or religion. No side ever really wins.