Do you use Linux ?

[Holy_Pilgrim]

** Geek Warning **

What Linux Distro do you use.. or find the best. I personally use (UNIX) AIX 5.2/3 at work but at home I prefer to play around with Ubuntu via a VM (Virtual Machine).

Anybody else ?

[WibXL]

I've tried various distros on a few different occasions but have always come away feeling that it was more effort than it was worth.

[Holy_Pilgrim]

Well I thought that, but Ubunto has got to be the easiest to use out there.. I
Give it a try

[JohnG]

There's a linux forum on avforums now

[Old_Biker_John]

Currently trying multi-boot Dreamlinux, Ubuntu (8.04 & 7.10), Bluewhite64 and Sabayon.

All easy to use basic wordprocessing, spreadsheets, databases (Open Office) and browsing (Firefox).

Other software usually easy to add from their respective repositories.

As a long-time Windows user, it is not always easy to see how to tweak settings for network and graphics functions. However, a bit of browsing usually solves the problem.

John.

[WibXL]

Originally Posted by Holy_Pilgrim

Well I thought that, but Ubunto has got to be the easiest to use out there.. I
Give it a try

I tried Ubuntu a couple of weeks ago as I wanted to try out MythTV and whilst some things seemed easy enough the rest of it felt like I was trying to learn a foreign language where the words were the same but had different meanings. In the past I've tried dual booting various distros but then decided that it was easier to just use Windows, installed it on to my PS3 to set it up as a LAMP server and installed it on to my NAS again to use a LAMP server.

In the end though whilst it was fun to mess around for a while I've always gone back to Windows as the Windows way of doing things seems so natural to me now that anything else seems wrong.

In future I think that I'll only try Linux again if there is something that can only be done using Linux, or if I need to setup a basic PC for browsing etc.

[makaio]

I've been using some form of Linux off and on for about 5 years. I've tried so many different distros it's hard to keep track, but there's only 1 (well, maybe 2) that I'd ever recommend for people looking for a standard desktop environment for every day use. Debian (the second being Ubuntu, obviously). They seem to be leagues ahead of everyone in terms of usability, package management, system stability, upgrades, etc.

For servers it's obviously down to individual requirements, and resources at hand.

[Edge99]

I've been using Linux for a few years now too and Kubuntu is my main desktop O/S. I also have a server running Debian

I've tried many distros over the years, but I always come back to the Debian based ones - they can't be beaten imo.

[LinuX-Kid]

I would go for ForeSight 2.0 or 4 n00b's Mandrive One 2008 Spring.
Not a big fan of Ubuntu.8.04

[teppic74]

Ubuntu mostly. I quite like Fedora 9 too - the theme's a bit better than Ubuntu's, but isn't quite as friendly as Ubuntu. Linux Mint is a small one based on Ubuntu and it looks like it's coming along well.

[Mickey G]

I'm using ubuntu for my PC.

m.

[gilgongo]

I've been using Ubuntu at home for the past three years, and Windows XP at work. I don't mind which I use really, but the reason I use Ubuntu is mainly because it's less likely (well, pretty much impossible) to get hit by malware, but also because I feel a little out of control with Windows. If something goes wrong in the Win32 world, there doesn't seem to be much support, whereas even with incredibly obscure issues in Linux, there's always somebody somewhere who's had the same problem and fixed it, or is willing to help you out. Also, I like the fact that there's always an alternative method to everything with Linux, whereas Windows always seems to want to force you into one way of doing something. I suppose some people might like that though.

One definite advantage that I've come to appreciate with package-based distros like Ubuntu (and Debian and Red Hat) is that installing and maintaining software and drivers for Linux is far, far easier than Windows. For example, let's say I want to use a different media player than the one that comes installed with the OS:

For Windows, I have to Google for stuff, wading through seas of adverts, commercial software and irrelevant gubbins until I discover something like Winamp. I then have to navigate to the "download" link on the Winamp site and make sure I'm choosing the free version. Then I download it. Then I run the installer, then I delete the installer. Then I use it. Then I get nagged to buy the full version (sometimes on a regular basis). Months later, an update comes out (perhaps an important security one). It's then pot luck as to whether the software will alert me to that fact (in which can I have to repeat much of the above to download a new version), or not, in which case I'm none the wiser.

For Linux, I open "Add/Remove Programs" and, with the exception of very beta stuff, just about every single media player available for my distribution is listed. I check the one(s) I want, hit "Install" and I'm ready to roll. Any updates will be installed automatically next time my computer checks for them. I also have yet to encounter any Linux nagware.

Media codecs are also a huge issue with Windows, whereas with Linux they don't seem to be a probelm at all for some reason. I still can't get my Windows laptop to play videos from my phone, whereas my Ubuntu machine can play them right after a clean install. Linux is always my first port of call for anything to do with video for that reason.

Of course, all this is personal experience/opinion. I know lots of people say they find Linux hard to use - I never understand why though. Perhaps they're very old or something? I suppose if you're above the age of 30 maybe you get used to stuff being a certain way and can't change? I think more Linux users should respect the over 30s though.

[1saintly]

Originally Posted by gilgongo

I've been using Ubuntu at home for the past three years, and Windows XP at work. I don't mind which I use really, but the reason I use Ubuntu is mainly because it's less likely (well, pretty much impossible) to get hit by malware, but also because I feel a little out of control with Windows. If something goes wrong in the Win32 world, there doesn't seem to be much support, whereas even with incredibly obscure issues in Linux, there's always somebody somewhere who's had the same problem and fixed it, or is willing to help you out. Also, I like the fact that there's always an alternative method to everything with Linux, whereas Windows always seems to want to force you into one way of doing something. I suppose some people might like that though.

One definite advantage that I've come to appreciate with package-based distros like Ubuntu (and Debian and Red Hat) is that installing and maintaining software and drivers for Linux is far, far easier than Windows. For example, let's say I want to use a different media player than the one that comes installed with the OS:

For Windows, I have to Google for stuff, wading through seas of adverts, commercial software and irrelevant gubbins until I discover something like Winamp. I then have to navigate to the "download" link on the Winamp site and make sure I'm choosing the free version. Then I download it. Then I run the installer, then I delete the installer. Then I use it. Then I get nagged to buy the full version (sometimes on a regular basis). Months later, an update comes out (perhaps an important security one). It's then pot luck as to whether the software will alert me to that fact (in which can I have to repeat much of the above to download a new version), or not, in which case I'm none the wiser.

For Linux, I open "Add/Remove Programs" and, with the exception of very beta stuff, just about every single media player available for my distribution is listed. I check the one(s) I want, hit "Install" and I'm ready to roll. Any updates will be installed automatically next time my computer checks for them. I also have yet to encounter any Linux nagware.

Media codecs are also a huge issue with Windows, whereas with Linux they don't seem to be a probelm at all for some reason. I still can't get my Windows laptop to play videos from my phone, whereas my Ubuntu machine can play them right after a clean install. Linux is always my first port of call for anything to do with video for that reason.

Of course, all this is personal experience/opinion. I know lots of people say they find Linux hard to use - I never understand why though. Perhaps they're very old or something? I suppose if you're above the age of 30 maybe you get used to stuff being a certain way and can't change? I think more Linux users should respect the over 30s though.

WO WO WO Hang on there Was with you all the way on your post until last paragraph, should be banned for ageist comments like that im over 30, not telling by how much and have taken easily to linux! why is over 30 ''very old'' didnt no there was a age limit for learning new things, maybe i should tell my brain actualy i seem to find the older you get the more patience you have! and willing to rant over, just jealous and wishing i was still under 30, ahh mad times

[Singh400]

No, but I feel I should. Pretty much conquered Windows now. Think I might try Ubuntu. Eventually I'd love to get down to basic CLI. Also would love to sink my teeth in various aspects of *nix security.

[jetinder]

Originally Posted by Holy_Pilgrim

** Geek Warning **

What Linux Distro do you use.. or find the best. I personally use (UNIX) AIX 5.2/3 at work but at home I prefer to play around with Ubuntu via a VM (Virtual Machine).

Anybody else ?

I'm not a Unix Administrator but I am very hot on Unix (Solaris8 & 10, AIX, HP UX, Digital true 64 and Linux).

At home i have an old Sun Ultra Enterprise 2 with Solaris 8 and 10 (which i use a fair bit).

Solaris is great at work i only use that to run huge Sun Sparc servers, at home i use it to work out and find faster ways of doing my job without the risk of crashing a live server (at work) if i muck up.

Over the years i also tried different versions of Linux and finally settled on Ubuntu as i feel that gives a "windows feel" with the power of Unix.

Originally Posted by gilgongo

I suppose if you're above the age of 30 maybe you get used to stuff being a certain way and can't change?

Its attitudes like that which keep a lot of highly skilled age over 32 IT professionals out of work for endless years...... and thus have their careers and lives wrecked by people "in power" who think any one over 32 needs a zimmer frame.

If you set your mind to it you can learn any thing.........

39 years ago Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and he was 38, Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon and he was 39.

Most Concorde pilots where in their late 40s to early 50s...................