Been spending more time with linux operating system than windows these days, and have discovered how much it has grown. i have particularly spent time focusing on distros that are comparable to windows and very much not interested in security and stability of these distros.

usability, simplicity and attractiveness are the major things that have taken much of my time. since i am a windows person, {cut/paste} i have ''tested'' linux distros that offer the same drag and drop, cut and paste and click. so far i have found out that there are dozen of linux distributions that offer equally the same technology, easy of use, 3d interface and simplicity like windows xp and vista.

this has prompted me to ask why people are not massively switching over, or at least running linux side by side with windows?. days are gone when one has to know some basic command to be able to use linux . and it cost absolutely nothing to get every fun out of linux system

I've been trying with each release of Ubuntu Michaels, but I can never get it to install on my WD Raptor hard drives. I need to get my act together and get an old IDE hard drive installed for it.

So really the reason I'm not running it is hardware related.

Well, there was really no option for me to vote on so I'll explain here. Even though I have tons of time, since I don't work anymore, everything is easier in Windows probably because I'm familiar with the OS now and I don't have to search for a 'how do I do this' every time. There are some really good distros out there that I like, but being an 'old man', this dog just doesn't learn new tricks too easily.

I might try it again when I build my quad core to keep the costs down but I doubt it. I guess it's a comfort zone issue and not a *nix issue per se.

Grav!ty wrote:

I've been trying with each release of Ubuntu Michaels, but I can never get it to install on my WD Raptor hard drives. I need to get my act together and get an old IDE hard drive installed for it. So really the reason I'm not running it is hardware related.

i had this problem myself when i had ide/sata drives mixture. i am having sata drives only, no raid, and every distro out there is very happy with that configuration.

@augie, 2/3 of all desktop oriented linux now are more click and click until installation finishes. there is really nothing scary about them now

my favorite is mandriva {2008} even though i can't love it that much. i would be stuck with it, and i am not ready to settle down yet

I would use it more often but:

1. I intern for a company that does web development using ASP.Net, and I can't run VS2008 or a webserver that runs ASP.net code in Linux

2. It doesn't like my 7800gt.... I can't get dual screens working for the life of me.

3. When I want to jump in a quick game, I have to restart and load Windows. Wine does an alright job with some, not so much for others.

I've tested different builds on my rig and for the most part they seem to run well
I think the main thing that turns me away from most Linux's is installing new programs
Using programs isn't that difficult, but adding new ones for some reason always messes with my head

Michaels wrote:

Been spending more time with linux operating system than windows these days, and have discovered how much it has grown. i have particularly spent time focusing on distros that are comparable to windows and very much not interested in security and stability of these distros. usability, simplicity and attractiveness are the major things that have taken much of my time. since i am a windows person, {cut/paste} i have ''tested'' linux distros that offer the same drag and drop, cut and paste and click. so far i have found out that there are dozen of linux distributions that offer equally the same technology, easy of use, 3d interface and simplicity like windows xp and vista. this has prompted me to ask why people are not massively switching over, or at least running linux side by side with windows?. days are gone when one has to know some basic command to be able to use linux . and it cost absolutely nothing to get every fun out of linux system

People aren't switching because if their computer doesn't work they just buy a new one. LOL

My biggest problem with Linux is that there is no unified executable install system. The installers just don't work like they do on Windows (or even Mac). I've been trying to get Firefox, Thunderbird, and Gimp to install on the newest version of Kubuntu (without KDE upgrade) but I've very little luck. There always seems to be some package missing and I have to run through commands I've printed off the internet.

I do like that Linux is very customizable, much more so that Windows or Mac but I won't be switching as a main OS until they get the installing problems fixed.

i use Linux all the time, for games, web servers, programming etc... for gaming mostly though and if i cant get wine to run a game then I'll start it with cedega. never had a problem.

gries818 wrote:

Michaels wrote: Been spending more time with linux operating system than windows these days, and have discovered how much it has grown. i have particularly spent time focusing on distros that are comparable to windows and very much not interested in security and stability of these distros. usability, simplicity and attractiveness are the major things that have taken much of my time. since i am a windows person, {cut/paste} i have ''tested'' linux distros that offer the same drag and drop, cut and paste and click. so far i have found out that there are dozen of linux distributions that offer equally the same technology, easy of use, 3d interface and simplicity like windows xp and vista. this has prompted me to ask why people are not massively switching over, or at least running linux side by side with windows?. days are gone when one has to know some basic command to be able to use linux . and it cost absolutely nothing to get every fun out of linux system People aren't switching because if their computer doesn't work they just buy a new one. LOL My biggest problem with Linux is that there is no unified executable install system. The installers just don't work like they do on Windows (or even Mac). I've been trying to get Firefox, Thunderbird, and Gimp to install on the newest version of Kubuntu (without KDE upgrade) but I've very little luck. There always seems to be some package missing and I have to run through commands I've printed off the internet. I do like that Linux is very customizable, much more so that Windows or Mac but I won't be switching as a main OS until they get the installing problems fixed.

That's my main complaint. I thought it was confusing. I tried SuSE once and never looked at it again.

It's great for servers, but I still like XP for my desktop. Ironically I think Windows Servers kinda suck when compared to Linux.

Gries, with Ubuntu and Kubuntu and any other distro that uses the Synaptic Package Manager, you're supposed to use that to install programs, not download files from the net. Firefox is the default browser in Ubuntu... but if it's not installed on Kubuntu, just fire up the Synaptic Package Manager and search for it. Almost any program you've ever wanted to use that has been compiled for your distro will be available, and if other packages are required they'll automatically be downloaded/installed too. Installing apps in Ubuntu is so much easier and unified than installing them in Windows. You must have just overlooked that

And actually, I think rpm files install like exe files in Windows. But nothing is easier than Synaptic.