almost feature for feature.
(Credit: GIMP Project)
Posted on 11/06/2013 6:02:00 AM PST by ShadowAce
Had it up to here with Windows? Can't take another "blue screen of death"? Another 10-minute wait for your laptop to boot? Another spyware or virus hassle? Heck, maybe you just think Microsoft got it so far wrong with Windows 8.1, it's time for a change.
In fact, maybe it's time for Linux.
The open-source operating system offers users a Windows-like alternative with a few key advantages:
Sounds pretty good, right? Needless to say, Linux isn't just for disgruntled Windows users; it's also a fine way to extend the life of an older PC and a good choice if you want to earmark a system just for younger kids.
Whatever your purposes for the OS, there are some important factors to consider -- especially if you're looking to put Linux on your primary PC. Here are some key things to know about Linux before you take the plunge:
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| GIMP for Linux matches Photoshop almost feature for feature. (Credit: GIMP Project) |
Take inventory of the programs you currently use. Microsoft Office? There's a Linux equivalent in the form of OpenOffice (among others). Outlook? Try Evolution. Photoshop? The ever-popular GIMP can fill in.
In other words, lots of popular Windows programs have Linux counterparts, or at least alternatives, very often with similar interfaces and total file compatibility. If you're a Chrome user, for example, you'll find the Linux version virtually identical, and all your bookmarks and passwords will sync immediately once you sign into your Google account.
However, there are plenty of Windows apps that have no Linux equivalents. If you need to, say, sync an iPhone or iPad with iTunes, Apple doesn't offer a Linux version. If you're a Spotify or SugarSync user, you'll find no native Linux clients for playing your music or syncing your files.
One well-known fix: Wine, a free tool that allows you to run some Windows programs in Linux. It may not solve all your software-compatibility issues, but it's worth investigating if software proves a major stumbling block.
Although current versions of Linux have built-in drivers for a large assortment of video cards, networking adapters, and peripherals, there's no guarantee you'll be able to use your printer, your second monitor, your fitness band (which is likely to have a software issue as well), and so on.
The only real option here is research: Check with hardware manufacturers to see if they offer Linux drivers for their products. If not, check Linux forums to see if users have found (or created) solutions. You may be able to find a workaround, or you may simply be out of luck.
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| Linux comes in a lot of different flavors. Do some research to figure out which one you might like best. (Credit: Fun With Linux) |
Ever heard of Sudo? Know the differences between Debian and Ubuntu? Linux may look and operate a lot like Windows, it can be complicated in spots, especially when you delve into settings and try to run emulators like the aforementioned Wine. (See Rob Lightner's "How to easily install Windows software on Linux machines" for some invaluable assistance.) I've been a reasonably tech-savvy computer user for most of my life, and I got stumped a few times while trying to figure out seemingly basic Linux tasks.
The good news: there's plenty of support available. The bad news: it resides almost entirely in online forums, and even finding the right ones can be a challenge. Plus, there's a lot of language thrown around (drive mounting, Sudo, and so on) that can add to the confusion.
I'm not saying you should shy away just because there's a learning curve, merely that you should be prepared for it.
OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration. There are lots of games available for Linux, many of them outstanding, and in fact Steam has an entire section devoted to them. But the vast majority are indie games; if you're looking to play Batman: Arkham Origins, BioShock: Infinite, Call of Duty, Tomb Raider, or nearly any other high-profile modern release, you're out of luck.
About a week ago, I installed the Windows 8.1 update on my Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook. The results have been disastrous: screen-resolution problems, error-prone VPN clients, iTunes crashes, sleep-mode oddities, and BSODs. Issues before 8.1: zero.
Needless to say, I'm more exasperated with Windows than I've ever been in 20 years of using it. So I'm taking a long, hard look at Linux. As a technology writer, I probably can't abandon Windows entirely, but I no longer want it in charge of my primary PC. I have such basic needs (Web browsing, word processing, e-mail), yet somehow Windows manages to screw up even those.
Maybe Linux is the fix, and maybe not. But I'm in the process of evaluating my software, hardware, gaming, and educational needs, and then I'll decide whether or not to move forward. I recommend you do likewise.
If, on the other hand, you're already an active Linux user, and especially if you're using it as your primary OS, hit the comments and share your own thoughts as to its viability as a Windows alternative.
While a lot of what the author says is true, the whole story also depends on how much of a "power user" you are.
Linux equivalents may not have all the same esoteric/rarely used functions as the Windows versions.
/johnny
The solution in one word: grub
It meets all of my needs as well. I can access my work’s (windows-centric) network without issues, and can IM co-workers. They don’t even know I’m running Linux most of the time.
The biggest non-game hole in the Linux repertoire is a solid replacement for Project. Unfortunately, no one is working on one.
The games issue does turn a lot of younger “power users” off of linux, but Steam’s new OS due out soon should help a lot there, since many of their bigger titles will probably get ported to it eventually (and thus onto most other Linux platforms as well).
One other thing to be aware of, especially with regards to the OpenOffice/LibreOffice replacement for MS Office: the open-source versions try very hard to conform to the standards for document handling. MS does not, so any document you create in Linux is likely to look messed-up when opened in Windows. Installing the MS fonts helps, but it doesn’t solve everything.
If you have a pc that can run 8.1 then it also can run virtualbox (free)and you could download various prebuilt linux appliances to see how you like them.
Also, vmware workbench (free trial) will allow you to create a virtual appliance of your old xp system, so it can live on in your new system.
Don’t know why Microsoft doesn’t provide these functions built into windows. Virtual machines make more sense than using windows users.
It also helps if you are an experienced Unix sysadmin.....
True, but putting it on your system helps you learn it as well. Nothing makes you learn better than immersion.
It’s right for you if you want to devote a serious chunk of your life to your computer. If you want appliances that just plain work when you turn them on, get a Mac, an AppleTV, and some iThingies.
I was a Fedora dabbler for a while. I got frustrated with the very fast revision timetables and let my Linux fall by the wayside.
When Ubuntu Server was released, I was hesitant but started dabbling. I run a VMware ESXi server at home with Ubuntu servers doing everything from DHCP and DNS to VPN. I’ve also converted by tech-handicapped father to Ubuntu on his older desktop, and he loves it for what he does. I use Ubuntu for just about everything, but I do still have a Windows gaming machine for exactly that.
With a properly configured environment, you can browse comfortably and confidently and Windows can be a thing of the past.
The best news? It’s all free.
Just rescued a Dell 1018 Netbook. First tried Mint 15 on it and couldn’t get tapping on the touch pad. Lubuntu runs like it was designed for it.
I can understand that. I enjoy watching the development/evolution of Linux, though, so I don't mind the fast revisions.
If you liked the Red Hat model, though, you can always go with CentOS which does not have the quick/frequent updates that Fedora has.
How does BF4 run under Linux?
Both fall well short of what MS Project 2012 provides.
Not talking about a project in Project that runs a linear course,
More advanced work, which most Project projects are, once you start putting in loopbacks (i.e. testing procedures, inspection reports, stepped stages with interdependencies), the Linux options just give up the ghost and die on you.
And Project is now seamlessly integrated into Exchange, OneNote, Outlook, Outlook Exchange Server, several IM programs, Skype, *nix VOIP, Cloud storage, real time Excel/DB connections, and etc integration, meaning you can open any part of a project, open the info tab, double click to immediately call/IM/Email/SMS a person responsible for that bit of the project, or connect directly to a database with relevant underlying information.
The quthor just barely skimmed the surface. One of the features I really like is the automated software installation tools. I use yumex when I'm looking for software that does something, and I'm not sure what the actual name of the package is.
You don't have to go out on the internet to dodgy sites that want to you install other software just to enable you to download their stuff (something I recently ran into when attempting to get some stuff for my work laptop). Instead, you'll be able to just select the programs you want from a list, and let it install them while you're off doing something else.
For those unfamiliar I'm posting a few screen captures grabbed with the ksnapshot program. In the first example below, I'm running yumex, and have entered "video" as a search term. You can see some of the results displayed. You'll notice I have one particular entry highlighted. When you click on a package, it will give you a brief description of what it is. just select the checkbox beside any program you want to install. Once you are ready to actually install the program(s) you want, select the "Apply" button, and yumex will go off and resolve any dependencies that you might need for the particular program you selected. Once it has done this it will show you everything it plans to do, and offer you the opportunity to abort or continue.
I really think this beats the hell out of searching the web for stuff. You'll notice the flide bar on the right indicates that there are many programs available that have something to do with "video".
It's always a good idea to make sure that any programs you have installed are up to date, so you will have the most recent bug and security fixes. With Linux you can set up your system to automatically go look for updates daily, monthly, or just whenever you want. I don't use automatic updating because I prefer to have a more hands on approach for managing updates. You can also use yumex to update all your programs, as seen below. Here, it has taken a look at the packages you have installed, and has found all the programs that have updates. Note, that unlike windows, you can update all programs that have been installed through the standard software repositories. You're not just updating your OS, then have to go and find out if each individual program has newer versions.
If you want, you can tell the program to "select all" then "apply". The number of packages you have to update, and the size of the packages themselves will determine how long this update will take.
Yumex is just one Linux tool that I think is far superior to anything found in the Windows-centric world.
As I said, the author just skimmed the surface (as did I). Linux isn't for everyone, but then again, neither is Windows or OSX. I'm just glad we have choices available to us, so that we can make our computers work for us, not the other way around.
These days, even though I can boot into Ubuntu at any time, I use Windows (8.1 specifically) the vast majority of the time
Why? Because my work requires Windows, and I find no compelling reason to load and run Linux. In the future, I might just run it in a VM if I find I ever need it. The upfront cost of Windows is minimal, over the life of the PC, and as for software, I havent had to pay for anything either. No, not warez, there is plenty of free software available for Windows as well.
Every once in a while, I'll check out a new distro, and some of them are very enticing, but for 99.99% of what I do, Windows (8.1) works just fine.
I haven’t used yumex very much. I’m a big fan of yum on the command line, though.
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