Posted on 10/13/2006 7:22:58 AM PDT by Señor Zorro
The two best Linux distros for a new user are Ubuntu (or the derivatives) and Suse.
Ubuntu will even ship you a completely free CD if you want one.
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/
Exactly, but I am talking about running a VM on my personal laptop to test my projects (not work projects, for which I have a Windows computer at the office). Because my uses for Windows are fairly limited (and would be none if it were not a Windows-saturated world), the idea of paying an extra $100 or even $50 for "features" I don't need and the right to use it on my virtual hardware is one I resent.
I admit that part of the annoyance for me is that I feel like when I buy software, I should be able to run it on whatever I darn well please.
Does MS consider Apple's Boot Camp to be a virtual machine?
I sense an Apple MacBook Pro in my future!
OK can i play games like Oblivion with this OS????
MS hires very sharp people; it's not the programmers who are driving the licensing structure, however.
Thanks.
I don't think so. As I understand Boot Camp, it is basically a nice GUI to set up dual-booting.
Good point, My first Linux install was slackware.. WOW did I learn a whole lot quickly.. lol Big learning curve there.
I found redhat very easy to install and use, and will be running out this Christmas and picking up a cheapo machine from Fry's to run a Unix box once again. With all this junk MS is doing, it looks like any version of *nix is going to be worlds better then dealing with MS.
That's the question that came to mind for me. We have 3 machines in our home running Win XP (two Desktops and a Notebook). I generally reformat the hard drives on all 3 machines about once a year.
If Vista turns out to be too restrictive for reformating, etc, then after we run the wheels off these 3 machines, maybe we'll switch to Mac. They are more expensive machines, but guess I'll have to consider it.
I read the talk about Linux, and I am moderately geeky -- doing my own computer maintenance and so on, but I know and understand nothing about Linux. A few questions come to mind: How geeky does one have to be to learn to use Linux? Do you buy or build your own machine for it, and where do you get the software? Is it hard to learn to use? Can you use Windows Office, Quicken, Adobe Photoshop, Palm Desktop software, browse the Internet, .. and other commonly used software on Linux-based machines (for example, my wife takes college courses part time and must use Power Point)? And of course, I presume you can browse the Internet using Linux, download, etc.?
Read this very carefully: First, make sure your monitor is on.
I'm with you as far as not know about Linux is concerned. I've been able to run a Mac quite happily with no sense that I'm "missing" crucial interaction with Windows apps. Apple is even starting to come out with some apps that are taking one the MS Office environment, without the bloat.
How do I do that? I'm series!
Turn on a flashlight and check the power switch. I assume the power is out where you are.
Apparently one is not allowed to buy a new computer according to MicroSoft.
babu..mash here...http://linspire.com/
Wow. Microsoft's legal and marketing guys must be getting paid under the table by some rich Linux guys. I couldn't think of a better way to disenfranchise their customers, giving them a strong motivation to find something else.
Please recomment a fast linux that can run on older (p2/p3 256m ram) hardware. I'd love to move my webserver over to a linux box. But ever time I've tried linux it was just to damn slow to be useable.
MS isn't populated with complete idiots (Yes, I know this will generate numerous counter comments), they're just trying prevent users from reselling old licensed copies of Vista. If the end result is that the market starts seriously looking to alternatives to MS, then they may look for a new means of controlling the OS. And clearly the intention isn't to prevent Vista users from upgrading hardware. I'm not going to worry about it. If it comes down to it, I just won't upgrade to Vista, and if I buy a new machine I'll downgrade to XP.
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