Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX
Dispersing the Linux Lies
10striker01:
ok win98se on a 1994 nec 66mhz 8 meg edo ram generic vga video sb soundcard 4.3 gig hd
avg load time 3.5 mins
incredibally bad graphics from lack of available memory bad sound frequent crashes
redhat linux 7.1 same machine
avg load time 1 min inferior video and sound (but better than win98se) was better able to use the ammount of available ram but was still crawling
never crashed
win xp on a custom built machine
2x amd thunderbird 750
1536 meg ram
nvida geforce3 128 meg ddr ram
sb audigy pro soundcard
4x 160gig maxor 7200 rpm hds
usb and firewire
24/16/8/4 cd/dvd rw
52x cd
frequent crashes and virus problems with win xp
inferior sound and video even with superior hardware(sound pops when video runs)
with mandrake linux 8.1 same machine same hardware
havent had a problem yet
new machine fic sd11 mainboard
slot a athlon 750
326 meg ram
maxor 20 gig 5400 rpm hd
riva tnt 16 meg video
aztech washington soundcard
win 98 se frequent virus and blue screen failures
mandrake linux 8.1 no problems(becides unable to setup soundcard)
as you can see from the above windoze has a history of failure on any system old or new fast or slow it dosent matter
linux has never had a problem on any of my systems becides the old ass soundcards i use(im too cheap to buy new ones)
Master of Reality:
according to the windows crash theory windows98 cannot go more than 49.7 days without crashing.
iancom:
Fascinating thread, I missed it while it was really active.
Garden GNOME - respect... intelligent argument from someone who obviously has experience with both sides.
I actually agree with a lot of what you say. Not all, but a lot. I have had to really, *really* work at getting a truly working Linux system on my various computers (in fact FreeBSD/KDE was a much easier install on one of them, but I prefer Linux for desktop use).
The hard work has paid off, though, and I now have completely functional Linux systems on all my home PC's (one dual-booting Win2000 for work purposes). I was surprised when I found that my Linux Celeron/400 actually plays MPG/DivX video far better than my Win2000 AMD/550 (both with ATI 8MB cards).
I too encountered strange problems to start with on one of the machines - at one point crashing every time KDE loaded. I think it may have been the same problem that you had with the NVidia card (which incidentally I couldn't get to work at all on Windows 98!). Fixed by installing KDE 2.2.2 and hasn't crashed since.
Linux does have a fair way to go on the desktop, it's true... but the useability gap is quickly closing. I believe the major obstacles for widespread adoption among the "non-geek" community are:
- availabilty of familiar, trusted applications
although equivalents for all the major players are already available, this just adds more levels of doubt to people thinking of switching. The GIMP is pretty good, but not up to the standards of Photoshop, and so many people are so familiar with MS Office they will be more reluctant to move away from that than moving away from Windows itself.
- proper compatibility of major websites with browsers other than IE.
very sadly, a large number of websites seem to be developed exclusively for IE... even to the point that a couple that I've come across actually redirect any other browsers to a page saying "please open this site with Internet Explorer". Many others fail to display correctly.
- integration of popular plugins in the default install of Linux browsers
It is a nightmare to gather together all the plugins you need and get them working with any/all of Mozilla/Konqueror/Nautilus/Galeon etc. And RealMedia really need to give us updated ports of their most recent versions!
- availability of complete systems preloaded with Linux.
How many normal home users have ever installed any operating system, even Windows? We know it's not difficult, but I remember the first time I ever installed an OS about 8 years ago (OS/2 bizarrely enough) and it was intimidating. It wasn't actually difficult, but it's the unknown factor that causes the problems...
A well put-together Linux preloaded system has the potential to be at least as easy to use as Windows. Sell it with the printer, scanner, modem all chosen for Linux compatibility and preconfigure the drivers. Preload OpenOffice and freely available DVD/AVI playing software, CD Writer etc. Bundle in Doom, Quake etc and whatever other games are cheaply/freely available at the time, and I reckon you've got a winning system.
Of course the major obstacle to achieving any of these goals is Microsoft themselves.
On another note, can't wait for the final stable release of KDE 3.0, should be any time now and if the hype on the KDE website is to be believed, it should be something special. Not risking installing dev releases at the moment, since I've got my systems the way I want them!
As for the recent posts...
Druaga: unbelieveble, but true - I once had a Windows 95 box up continuously for over six months running a PBX monitoring system.
striker: is your shift key broken/
Just my thoughts....
Ian
binskipy2u:
I really hate to say this.. but you guys talking bout having to reinstall windows xp over and over again..is just purely a problem on the user end as in YOU...
i dual boot with rh8/xp pro.. since red hat8 came out, and before that it was rh7.3...
ive NEVER had a problem with xp.. for many reasons..for one.. i checked the hardware compatability on the MS website, i also checked the compatability of all my programs..and got the ones that were xp ready.. hell i even did the computer compat test on the windows xp cd.
and i tweaked my MTU, my menus, my start up, my services, even my harddrives in the bios and/or registry..
ive done as much tweaking as linux users do comparatively on their boxes..
and ive had NO issues at all.. so i think, while NOT trying to start a flame in here.. since i use linux too..and when i get my scanner and dig/web cam working in linux, i may never again boot into windows... (since i got my cdrw 48/24/48 working even nicer in linux then windows..
so in closing i wanna say.. if you made all those comments bout crashing and reinstalling.. on 9x/me systems, even NT id believe it was totally the OS's fault..but in 2k/xp in my 3 1/2 years experience..ive had ONLY 2 bluescreens, and both were hardware related..
so dont go bitching bout xp/2k..cause in regards to stability..and tweakability... 2k/xp come closer to linux in those regards then ANY former MS product..
and as for open office..i use it, like it..but there is ONLY one flaw to it.. its ONE HUGE program..instead of many ones like office xp.. which take up lots of ram just to open.. in linux, but it still performs like a champ..
so like i said above , i'm not starting a flame war here..but most xp problems are "PBKnC" related..thats (Problem Between Keyboard n Chair)
well have fun.. i'm recompiling my kernel.. if i screw it up, i can just go into my MS repair console, fix the MBR, aNd start all over again installing linux..its FUN DAMNIT
[ November 25, 2002: Message edited by: BRaD_in_FLoRiDa ]
binskipy2u:
ok everyone repeat after me..
"windows 9x/ME sucks"
and YES i'm a windows user..
to make any comparison of 9x/me to linux is futile...
NOW if you wanna compare 2k/xp to linux, now theres a real fair comparison..
i think if some of you put as much effort into learning hot to install windows properly as some of you say you put into linux, you proberly would have a stable , clean, effeciet dual boot system..
**********************
ignorance is bliss, thanks for the orgasm
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