QOTD: Have You Replaced Windows with Linux?

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I have been using Ubuntu for a year now, and this was my first try with Linux. I am not sure about the stuff that I hear others complaining about Linux because modern Linux builds work with nearly ALL hardware automatically, requiring no driver installs or downloads, it just works! I plugged in several printers to a machine with a fresh install of Ubuntu, and I was able to print on each of them with out any setup or driver Wizards... So when I hear others say "Windows just works," I laugh. Running Windows, I required so much VIRUS SOFTWARE, that my entire experience with the operating system was through frequent UPDATING requests from the OS and the virus software. Files would still disappear and corrupt in Windows XP for the entire time that I used through ALL security updates, I maintained the same bugs!

Try Ubuntu today, it is so easy, especially for the CASUAL user of the OS, not the EXTREME GAMER. I can run Counter Strike and other shooters on Ubuntu, but Windows is much more solid for just that.

But for someone that doesn't want to have to worry about updates and buying new security software all of the time, get Ubuntu!
 
I switched to a dual-boot for a short time about three years ago, but I think I only booted windows two or three times in the few months I had it set up that way, then I had a windows problem one of the few times I did try to use it, and replaced the windows install with a different linux distro to try it out.

Similarly at work I was using a dual-boot setup for a while, but at a certain point I was able to do everything I needed to in linux, and during a mandatory boot into windows to let it update itself it ended up completely corrupting itself, so I left it dead and I've been using linux full time for two years now.

I find it difficult to work with windows systems now since I customize my linux desktop environment in ways that are not possible in windows, and I can't stand working with it anymore.

I don't really understand the reasoning of people who say things like, "I work with computers all day so I just want things to work when I'm at home.", because with linux if you have a problem it generally shows up on install, you find out what the issue is and fix it, then it's smooth sailing.

Also if you have experience doing fresh windows installs, it is NOT the cakewalk people seem to think it is. Hunting down drivers all over the net from disreputable looking sites because the manufacturer can't be bothered to make their drivers available on their site, or in some cases because their site design is so bad that you can't find the drivers even if they are there, installing drivers from multiple vendors because they don't tell you exactly which version of the hardware you have (I'm looking at you dell and HP), downloading gigantic bundles of drivers that support every piece of hardware the company has ever released, except the older ones that they've dropped support for and don't offer a driver for at all anymore (I'm looking at you Nvidia and ATI)

ohh yea, it's great fun.
 
I use a dualboot with XP. I prefer Linux, but I love the office 07 menu strip so much that it's hard to switch to Open Office, as great as OO is. Plus games. Windows is a necessary evil for me.
 
I tried fedora a couple of years ago, but it wasn't stable, so i dropped linux. I am happy with windows XP 64bit, do whatever I like. Don't plan to move neither to vista, nor to windows 7, and not even to windows 8 (only if XP won't be supported anymore, I'll move to the latest windows, or maybe try linux once more)
 
I run Ubuntu via VMWare to get better PPD from the SMP Folding@home client, but other than that, no. From what I've experienced of Linux just in setting up the F@h client, I don't think I'd want to use it even part-time. I may not have seen all of the things that Linux can do better than Windows, but I've also been using Windows since before I can remember, and am far too used to it to feel comfortable with other OSes.
 
[citation][nom]goryachev[/nom]I tried fedora a couple of years ago, but it wasn't stable, so i dropped linux. I am happy with windows XP 64bit, do whatever I like. Don't plan to move neither to vista, nor to windows 7, and not even to windows 8 (only if XP won't be supported anymore, I'll move to the latest windows, or maybe try linux once more)[/citation]
Fedora guys are trying to be on the cutting edge of Linux. They are usually the first one to introduce the new developments, so it is not recommended for new users. Next time you can give a try of Linux Mint or PCLinuxOS for example. They are targeted more for users that are looking for familiarity with Windows.
Good Luck.
 
Seven or eight years ago I got Red Hat up and running, back when it wasn't so easy. Only experimented with it. A couple years ago I set up a dual-boot with SuSE 10 and used it most of the time for a couple years, but found my self frequently re-booting to Windows to use AutoCAD, Quicken, or to scan something or do a high-quality print job. My HP scanner and HP network printers were not supported well. Recently I installed SuSE 11.1 and everything works so well that it's much less fun.
 
Started out with Linux on my first PC in 1993. Never really tried windows, and the DRM stuff ensures I'll keep staying away from it.
 
When I was in high school and the undergrad level I always wanted to become a linux user. But that was because I wanted stuff for free. (I do have several low budget devices that indeed use linux because of this) By the time I was a Senior in College though I realized the convenience Microsoft products give is worth the price, which really isn't that bad. Combine that with the fact that the vast majority of computer users are familiar with windows means that is what you will be using in the workplace. People shouldn't have to spend the time maintaining their system that linux requires. Get used to it.
 
Man, I won't even start on how arrogant and uninspired you sound. If you dim witted employees would look past your fence and take a look at the outside world, that maybe you would write a filter for open office in that 1TB monster of a program you call Office. But that's a snazzy way to keep your ground in the software world, so spare me your Microsoft graduation propaganda before someone with more knowledge than me puts your face in the dirt.

I am uninspired. I'm not arrogant. I have spent years trying to teach myself linux to keep my this system running on a budget thats less than I'm used to. We have a rack of Pentium 3 800mhz SMP systems. I wish I was a linux guru. I am not. I am just saying there is an attitude in the Linux community that is so anti microsoft that they become there own worst enemy in terms of getting more people to adopt Linux as thier OS.

The truth is most networks use both Linux and Windows systems and it is not a crime to have a mixed enviroment. I work for a non profit organization. One of our tasks is to teach job skills to indivduals who are seeking work. 80% of US companies use Microsoft office and require there employees to be able to use Microsoft office to perform there job functions. It just a fact. I dont have time during my day to think about "fighting it" or who is right or wrong. If you are a disabled carpenter or construction worker you need to have practical computer skills that are relevant to the occupation you are seeking. That means, in this day and age, using Office, Excel, Word, Outlook. I'm not inventing this and I'm not going to change it. I am trying to get these people jobs and Home Depot wants them to use Outlook.

I wish I had tech support to call. I have 500 PC's in 10 cities covering 6000 square miles. I work alone. The branch offices are staffed by mostly retired volunteers. Most of of clients are in there 50's and have never owned a PC.
 
I switched to Ubuntu last year on my home computer, and I don't regret it a bit. Six months already since I run Linux on my office laptop and works like a charm !
System is far more reliable and most of all : it's fast and it's free ! Installation and system boot-up is way faster (especially on Ubuntu-Jaunty). With tons of software available (I still remember the frustration of sharewares on Windoze !) and with online support getting better every year, I'm definitely not switching back to Microsoft.
Not to mention the eye-candy 3D effects on the ubuntu desktop, some of them I use every day : the desktop cube to arrange my open windows, desktop zoom for a quick detailed view of a screen region, and opacity.

I do a lot of presentations from my laptop at work, and people always ask me 'what's the system you have there, is is a Mac ? What did you do to make documents open up so fast ?'.
At work, I need access to network shares on Windoze servers, email, network printers, compatibility with M$Office dowuments, dock-undock frequently, manage dual-screen and a bluetooth desktop. I have everything set up and running.

On the other hand, manufacturers finally stopped ignoring Linux and are now developing or helping the opensource community to support their hardware.

 
I did since 2000. However, i moved back to Windows when Vista SP1 came out since I can't constantly dual boot. It was a time vampire and I started to get annoyed by it.

So, on Vista64 atm.
 
If walmart, home depot, best buy or any major company requested there non it staff learn to use Ubuntu I would switch. I am simply trying to give non tech people vocational skills and I cannot name a comapny that wants you to know ubuntu. I grew up in a 100% apple household. It was a steep learning curve for me to learn Windows. Knowing only Apple was a disadvantage for me in college for a year or so. I worked for HSBC prior to moving into gov/non profit sector. Most people will not need to know how to write a program or build a server. Most people need to learn office and perhaps specialize in an application like great plains or peach tree or some databse. If you are going to be a software engineer or a network administrator you want to learn linux. Careers have been made by being an Excel or Access guru.
 
Until at least one big corp officially accepts Linux as their primary desktop OS --- I repeat, desktop OS, not the servers --- software vendors and IT pros will keep Linux at "toy" level.

On the other hand, no big corp will accept a "toy" level OS as primary desktop.

Bad circle, huh? Unfortunately it is true. What Linux has done is eat into the shares of Sun Solaris and some other commercial Unix systems. Both Windows and linux market share has been growing in the past 10 years.
 
I did to my (office, internet working stuff) only pc as to avoid virus like i have with windows. But I had one more pc for design(no other choice to run 3dmax). The thing is I like to use all OS as tend to get boring with one by switching with others. Nevertheless, the only diff is one is free n one is not, I hope w7 will run fast like XP did. :)
 
My Employees are dim witted. I do not dispute that. I teach people who, quite often do not have a highschool education, enough computer skills to use the online job application process alot of companies require. We also provide certification testing, and distance learning in a very rural area of the United States. What the agencies and companies request us to teach is Microsoft Windows and Office. Quick Books and Peachtree are up there too.
 
All my productivity apps are on Linux. The only reason I keep a Windows XP box is for games that won't run in Wine or its variations. Anything else is done using my Linux box, where there is no Windows partition. I have been using Linux since 1996. My current "distro" is Gentoo (since 2002).
 
Dual Boot on laptop

XP/Ubuntu 7.04 - everything (hardware wise) worked right off of install for Ubuntu (even wireless card) impressive!

Main comp is for gaming though so unfortunately no Linux there 🙁
 
You may be more savy than I am. I had alot of problems with productivity apps when I exported them to windows. Such as my resume losing all its formatting and converting to courier font. That made it practially illedgible. The HR person making $8.00 an hour is often not going to email you to let you know this happened. They will just delete it and take the next one. I was unemployed a few years back and had sent out over 100 resumes before a company called me and said you may want to fix this.... I had never been so embarressed.
 
Like many people here, I've tried linux every couple of years (a bunch of redhat, slackware and ubuntu). It has some good, but way too many things are painful to configure, most linux developpers seems like they quickly run out of patience when developping user interface and force you to do way too many things on command line with extremely strict commands. I have tried all windows from Windows 3.1 and I must say that I would clearly run Linux before I would run a win 9x (95/98/ME), but instead, I chose the NT 4.0 / 2000 (since beta) / XP / Vista path. Btw, to all those who say Vista sux, you are wrong, it's a great OS, but it's meant to run a fast computer with lots of RAM (and that annoying UAC disabled).
 
I went to ubuntu exclusively 5 years ago, after losing data for the third time to viruses and malware obtained by guest users. My Computer is my livelihood, I lose an email and I lose money. I can't afford the blue screen of death. Current computer is almost two years with out a voluntary reboot. (power failures longer than ups battery excepted) I'm not looking back
 
I've been using Linux for everything but gaming for the last 3 years.

I started with Ubuntu, and when I realized that it didn't fit with my philosophy, I moved to Fedora, and I've never been happier with my computer.

I'm currently running Fedora 10 on a Dell 1525. The Dell couldn't play video and surf the web at the same time with vista. With Fedora, I can play 720p video, browse the internet, create a presentation, work on CAD, and still have plenty of spare resources.

One thing I could never get working with Vista, the sound over the HDMI-out, works on a fresh install of Fedora 10, with no tweaking, drivers, or hassle.
 
I REALLY tried to like it, but there too many stupid issues that I just don't have to deal with. I'll pay money to not have to type a line in the console just to delete something from the recycling bin. The console and security make Vista look laid back. It's just down right frustrating to use.

PS, linux SECURITY, it's really that secure. It's just that it's a small target, just like Apple. If you use linux, just be happy that you're a minority.
 
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