Linux Discussion

[Hardi]

If some don't know what Linux is: Linux is a Open Source computer operating system(Its kernel if being straight, but in daily conversation, the name Linux, usually stands for the whole OS with all utilities and tools.) Since Linux is OpenSource and modular, it is very flexible. You can build large variety of different op systems for different purposes and for different platforms.. Or for different taste. There is already hundreds of Linux Distributions. The most common things that differs for regular users. is Desktop Environment (or maybe I should call it GUI(Graphical User Interface)?) Unlike in windows(Newer than 3.11), in Linux the Desktop Environment isn't build inside of OS. It is just an application(or collection of applications). You are not bound to use one and same Desktop Environment, u can chose the one u like most. There is high variety of them. like KDE, Gnome, Xfce, Fluxbox And many more, u may also chose not to use any of them, but just use only console. My favorite is KDE I have also slight acquaintance with Gnome and Fluxbox. Gnome and KDE are kinda in same level.. they're like rivals. Xfce and fluxbox aren't so functional but very simple and slight they working also for older computer. Example DSL (damnsmalllinux) using fluxbox as Desktop Environment. It is a light weight Operating system that run with minimal hardware requirements.

My favorites Distributions are Mandriva and Arch linux. I'm using Arch X86_64 now, I like it best. It requires little more advanced knowledge's, to install and maintenance. But it's not that difficult as Gentoo. I don't like Gentoo much, because it takes too much time to install and update, because it compiles everything. And also for educational purpose I think gentoo isn't that good as Arch for me. Things I learn by using Arch I can utilise also most of other Linux systems(probably also in other Unix like systems), but in gentoo there was too many gentoo specific commands/scripts.. Mandriva I like because it's really easy to install and to use. It was my first linux, I had(it was called Mandrake at that time).
Please see: http://futurist.se/gldt/ (Linux distributions, placed on a timeline.)

To advertise.. No no I mean, just to show how flexible and good Linux is, There also exists PcLinuxOS ME(MuslimEdition), Ubuntu Christians Edition, and Ubuntu satanic edition exists too But EC forum, users might probably be more interested of Edubuntu(Ubuntu Education Edition) It contains huge variety of Educational Games and Programs.. But I haven't dried any of those. They actually just contain some specific apps and themes..

PS. Linux is licenced under GNU GPL(GNU General Public License) which gives every person the freedom to modify and change, re-product and distribute it's code as long it is bound under the same license.. (That kind of licenses are sometime called also as copyleft which is a play from word copyright).

[edumelo]

I have Windows XP and two Linux distributions installed in my PC: Ubuntu 7.04 and Kurumin 7.1 . I can't say I like Linux, I just have it because I work as a computer technician and sometimes I have to fix a computer with it. But it's rare, 99% of the computers I get have Windows installed.

Some shops sale PCs with Linux installed but people don't like it and ask us to install Windows instead. I think Linux is not for all users yet. It's more difficult to find programs to install, it's more difficult to install stuffs... maybe it's better for companies because of its flexibility.

[Hardi]

It seems people often feel uncomfortable when they first meet linux. I think installing software to linux is actually much easier. Because Linux Distributions usually have large software repositories. U don't need to go to Internet to search software and download. U have package manager for that... Example in Archlinux, when I want to install some software I just type "pacman -Sy package name I want to install" It downloads it solves dependencies and downloads all necessary stuff from repositories.. Of course if u want install some proprietary software or something it isn't in repository, then It might be difficult to install. I think people probably just are afraid of linux, they have heard it's difficult and... I also have seen that many new linux users come to linux forum to ask help to install new software. They don't realize that in Linux, there is thing called package manager for it.. they just try to do it in windows way and get suck and discouraged.

One thing I like also is that in Linux I can more easily find reason, if there's something wrong. Usually dmesg output already gives some hints. And there are also other commands. In windows even though I used it about 10 years before. All I was able to do was reinstall when something got broken.. And Linux recognizes most of hardware by itself and loads correct modules(drivers) even without need user intervene. When I updated my hardware, Installed new motherboard and all. It did recognize all and still worked fine.. While in windows.. first thing if it's OEM license it ask you to re-registry it in microsoft.. u need to take phone and call to them and tell some numbers and explain and... actually since it's bounded to motherboard u need to buy new windows... it's so mean. And even if it's not OEM it still wont recognize new hardware so well. Probably it won't be able to boot if you replace complete system and u need to reinstall.

Well I just like linux because I'm not wealthy to buy some other proprietary software and. I don't like windows license.. It don't give user any freedom.. Linux maybe needs more knowledge, or requires some more learning by user side, but I think that's a real richness, I mean things that u learn are much more worth than those something 100$ u bay for Windows..

[LTC]

I install a Linux distro (Ubuntu) on my computer with Windows XP, for learning. Im my country, Linux is not popular. The student is not educated about Linux, Open source software (OSS), they have to study themself if they want. there is a few work for Linux and ...
In my opinion, Linux can be more capable, security than Windows but GUI (graphical user interface) in Linux is very worse than Windows.
In the present, my government in my country is moving some commercial softwares to OSS (ex: Linux, OpenOffice...), so Linux or OSS can give users more choices.

[Hardi]

I install a Linux distro (Ubuntu) on my computer with Windows XP, for learning. Im my country, Linux is not popular. The student is not educated about Linux, Open source software (OSS), they have to study themself if they want. there is a few work for Linux and ...
In my opinion, Linux can be more capable, security than Windows but GUI (graphical user interface) in Linux is very worse than Windows.
In the present, my government in my country is moving some commercial softwares to OSS (ex: Linux, OpenOffice...), so Linux or OSS can give users more choices.

I think in most countries they don't teach much about Linux. They just use Linux for negotiations with Microsoft to get discount.. Also here they don't teach much about linux, because most teachers aren't able to teach it much anyway. Though in many schools there are some computers also with Linux. Microsoft is of course interested that schools would have windows installed and teach windows stuff as much as possible. So they don't waver even to give it free for educational purposes.

Have you tried also some other Linux distribution, beside of Ubuntu? Ubuntu uses Gnome Deskdop as user interface. Maybe you like some other more.. I think for Ubuntu can also install Kde.. while install Kubuntu packages.. but I'm not familiar with buntu I have once tried some of kumbuntu and ubuntu versions, but I did not like.. I think there was some bugs with Estonian Language support... I do like linux graphical interface. I like that I can use mouse middle button to paste text that I have selected before. This is the most common thing, that makes me to want to tear my hairs off, while I'm forced to use windows.. Oh and there was a window manager that made it even easier.. it was called metisse. An Mandriva One live cd was used it a time ago.. I don't know if they still do. It was pretty cool. It did fold the front window up when start selecting text from window in behind of it. So that u could copy paste just with 2 mouse click. http://insitu.lri.fr/metisse/ They have also some videos on that page that demonstrates it..

KDE 4 also seems to be cool. Although current KDE4.0.1 Isn't not ready for daily use yet.. I even did not find it ready to dry. I hope KDE4.1 will be worthy if released. One thing I like in it. is nepomuk. I haven't fully understand what it is yet, but what I have read. It gives to user possibility to rate and comment files (over Dolphine file manager) and search by comments, or context. It will be really handy to deal with big amount of files.

[Hardi]

There's one really stupid invention I found. http://www.lintube.com/ It's Youtube for linux related stuff. It's still same youtube. It even loads files from Youtube server, only different seems that it won't work with OSS flash players. In youtube I can watch videos fine with firefox while using swfdec plugins for mozilla, but in lintube it seems not working well. I can't try, if it works with gnash, because I'm lazy to compile it by my self. And one they have in Arch repositories requires older ffmpg lib than I have.. but I did read it wont work well also with gnash.. So I don't get, for whom they made such thing? Would an real real crazy Linux fan use non GPL software? I'm actually fine with any software that works well and wont freeze, but I don't like macromedia flash for Linux, because It freezes sometime and it only have 32 bit version.

[Vega]

I've never used Linux.

[Hardi]

I've never used Linux.

Why not?

U can order Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu cds for free. Canonical Ltd even bays for postal expenses. I wonder if it's worth for it to them.. how they have money for it. I know Ubuntu was meant to earn money for selling Ubuntu linux support for big companies, but.. I don't know. I know there was some stupid kids who did order big boxes of Ubuntu cds to toy with them.. they were using them as Frisbees and such.

[Vega]

I've never used Linux.

Why not?

U can order Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu cds for free. Canonical Ltd even bays for postal expenses. I wonder if it's worth for it to them.. how they have money for it. I know Ubuntu was meant to earn money for selling Ubuntu linux support for big companies, but.. I don't know. I know there was some stupid kids who did order big boxes of Ubuntu cds to toy with them.. they were using them as Frisbees and such.

Ubuntu/Kubuntu/ Edubuntu sounds a bit funny to me. ..I don't know anyone around here using it. Well, if they really send a CDs for free, I perhaps will order one.

[Hardi]

Ubuntu/Kubuntu/ Edubuntu sounds a bit funny to me. ..I don't know anyone around here using it. Well, if they really send a CDs for free, I perhaps will order one.

What they use there around you(Beside Windows)? Here in some in reason *buntu seems popular(in Linux). I don't know why. I don't use it by my self. Free cd's can't be the reason they use it,. I think. Maybe it's because it's Debian based..