Who has abandoned Windows for Linux?

Although my laptop came with Vista, I didn't like it much. I installed XP, and Ubuntu on it instead, and have been using Ubuntu almost exclusively. The only thing I have to boot into XP for is backing up DVD's (using DVD Decrypter or DVDfab).

And Ubuntu worked with my machine straight away; no fiddling about with drivers was necessary at all.

 

I tried Ubuntu but I'm not impressed with it. There's nothing to do with it. I'm a Windows XP man.

 

I still have XP on my computer, but I haven't booted into it in about 6 months. It's just not necessary anymore, I suppose.

 

I only use Linux on my Nokia n800.

 

Was there a reason for posting this, or is it just a troll? I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt that you weren't just being a Windows fanboy ripping on Linux in the Linux forum for laughs.

Try K9copy. You shouldn't need Windows for backing up DVD's. It's quite easy to do it with fully free software. I've actually found that Linux works BETTER with most media than Windows does.

 

Thanks, I will try it.

 

Hardy Heron sure made installation a lot easier. I've played with Ubuntu off and on for a couple of years now, but as someone else said, I just can't see what Ubuntu can do for me that Windows can't (I'm very comfortable with Windows). It's a new look; free software is nice (though there's plenty of that for Windows as well); but I just don't see a compelling reason to switch over completely. One thing I've noticed with Heron is that my laptop's fans are running full-time, and often full-blast...yikes!

I will say this, though: as an upgrade OS from earlier versions of Windows, Linux is hard to beat. Instead of upgrading Windows ($) on an old Dell Dimension that had 98SE, I just installed Ubuntu and instantly brought the computer into the new millenium as far as the OS was concerned!

 

I was disappointed with Heron; like I've said, Heron doesn't have any built-in distro specific features. Its just a bunch of new program versions and a new kernel.

Speaking of the kernel, it broke the sound and modem functionality on my IBM. I can't say that I like the latest version of Ubuntu.

 

I have a hackintosh now, does that count? I am going to put on Ubuntu 8.04 in a little bit, I just have to figure out how to get Windows back on the machine. My laptop is around 98% compatible with Leopard, I just need to figure out how to get Wi-Fi working. It is really frustrating.

 

As it is absolutely NOT allowed to discuss installing an Apple OS on a non-Apple machine here on NBR, let's all assume you are joking before the thread is closed.

 

Mac OS X? What is that, something for work?

jk

 

I dunno, I can't figure out why anyone would use it.

 

Who's this Mac character anyway? IMWTK lol

 

What if it was preinstalled? So, how about those Psystars? ;/

Either way, OS X (on any hardware) doesn't count, as it's BSD, not Linux. As a wise man once said,

 

Psystar? Wow, some of their home appliances are incredible.
WARNING! LOWER YOUR VOLUME FIRST! WARNING!
Check out, this video.
I'm not sure whether it's a kpjutr, vacuum cleaner or a coffee grinder.

You could sure raise some eyebrows by claiming; 'Listen guys, my coffee grinder runs on an illegal non-updateable 500MB+ update-missing Leopard!

Legal non-disclaimer:
Psystar's products which are sold with EULA breaking software can certainly be discussed on NBR. Link

 

I'd still take one over an Apple.

 

I gave up Windows for Ubuntu linux.. for about 3 months .. had to switch back because of bugs in Flash plugin and lack of support from many companies for linux

 

That's funny, because people talking about the Psystar's OpenMac at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=240124 seem to like it, and none of the mods have a problem with them talking about it. In fact, a "Super Moderator", Sam, is participating in the discussion as well ;/

 

I see, just went through the thread now.
That's weird.
Every post or thread I've seen where someone mentions installing OSX on his Compal, Asus, etc. or even discussing installing it, has been closed by a mod because it's Apple EULA breaking/illegal.
Some mod's were very adamant about not discussing things like that on NBR.
That's why I wrote the 'disclaimer' below.
I'm changing it now!
Thanks for the thread link.

 

I dual boot xp and slackware on my desktop. It's games, random software, and that I find xp's interface comforting sometimes, like an old pair of shoes. I'm considering completely dropping os x in favor of linux though, on my macbook

 

I revive this thread now since I've just recently made the switch to Linux, have installed Ubuntu 8.04. That made my XPS M1530 work as I expected it from the beginning (shipped with Vista Home Premium).
Now I can say Goodbye to touchpad issues such as erratic behaviour from the arrow-thingie (sorry, completely forgot what it's called ) and I also had problems with the touchpad not responding after re-opening the lid. I don't know how many times I have been in contact with the Dellsupport about that "but there is nothing to do" ...

Aaaanyways, I am happy I made the switch - now it's time to get to learn the shi.. I mean business

 

I had to chose option #3 of the two: I run Vista on one laptop and Ubuntu on another laptop. Dual boot would not let me use them both simultaneously.

 

I made the switch, but sadly I'm thinking of going back, as another pointed out, Wine compatibility. :cry:
I'd rather not dual boot, I'd like to just have and use one or the other. Still contemplating after 2 months of linux. That and the constant disconnects I experience with linux, and the odd software problems (software mysteriously not working for no reason one day, then a couple days later functions again like nothing happened) are driving me back to windows.

 

Yup that's a major factor for me.

 

I'm dual booting, but have only booted into XP twice since I installed a month or so ago.
Started using VirtualBox/VMWare, if I can get them to sync my iphone I'll go Linux only.

 

Which softwares were giving you troubles?

 

Mostly wvdial and pon/poff. They'd magically decide out of the blue that it couldn't open the comm port. Although I'd see on my phone it connects just fine, for some reason ubuntu would just decide it shouldn't work. Mind you, I didn't install/uninstall any software, I didn't make any changes whatsoever.
I have to use wvdial/ppp to connect to the internet with my phone through bluetooth (lack of usb drivers ).
Then a couple days later, no changes, and it would magically start working again, and it's like this off and on. It's a pattern, happens every few days, with new installs, etc, after using it for over 2 months.
Computer just freezes some times, no explanation. Minimal software running in the background, firefox crashes semi-frequently as well (fault of firefox though, not ubuntu). Not to mention the wine incompatibilities with the games I do play occasionally.
Linux is a good concept, but in my honest opinion (with my limited experience with it, only kubuntu/ubuntu), I don't think it's ready for the masses as of yet. Having to tweak and hack files just to get some functionality, plus frequent crashes/lockups, internet connection frequently disconnecting (when it decides to work), etc etc, and I think it's time I go back to windows.
Mind you, and this is nothing against linux or the community, but with windows, my computer runs fine, rock stable.
Oh, I forgot to mention, that after a few days of a fresh ubuntu install, my desktop effects would disappear, and I'm unable to change it, an error something like "unable to enable desktop effects" or something like that. This happens every time, after a fresh install, usually within 3-5 days. Just no apparent reason. It's weird.
I'll wait until the next iteration of ubuntu before I'll give it a try again.

 

I stuck with the dual boot - Vista 64 and Ubuntu 64. I'm just way too comfortable and I'm too busy to constantly be fiddling with drivers and updates (I know, sounds funny when talking about Linux...). Besides, I have a Zune and I update podcasts dialy at work. I do like the flexibility of Ubuntu, and the fact that ton of eye candy on Ubuntu only take up 500MB - my uber vLited Vista (no eye candy whatsoever) still uses 800MB.

 

The ironic thing for me is...after spending days trying to get a perfect dual-boot enviroment...installing Ubuntu 8.04 3 times before getting the 64-bit version to be just perfect, I ended up just using Vista most of the time.

I mean, I love ubuntu and how stable it is now...especially the hard-ware support. However, I just couldn't find a good reason to 100% switch even with all the relatively similar productivity software (though no Adobe products would kill me). So now, even though I run a dual-boot I still use XP 100% on my desktop and Vista 99% of the time now on my laptop.

 

I'm another "Option 3" - in my case, running Linux in a virtual machine within Windows. Dual-booting ran into various networking, graphics, and CPU inconveniences that were a bit much effort to sort out when a virtual machine solved all of them.

Primarily Windows, however. Having a Linux VM so I can run school and research programs on my computer with no changes to the code is quite nice, but otherwise XP SP3 does what I need just as well and often (ex. games) better. Though I will grant that I've had years to find Windows programs and months to tweak XP and much less time with Unix or Linux.

 

Setting up to load Fedora (dual-boot) as I type (back-up running.)

Vista was the best marketing for Linux EVER!!! (It's like they're encouraging people to change.)

 

I've got the opposite situation. Windows XP in a virtual machine for the periodic times that I absolutely need it (**** you Excel!), and otherwise I just run Linux since it tends to just work, instead of needing constant tweaking and repair And the only games I run lately, Diablo II and Starcraft, both run flawlessly in Wine But I've been using Linux since 2000 or so, and have slowly moved over to it as my primary OS simply because it makes a heck of a lot more sense how it works, and I don't have to limit myself to what Windows will let me do, I don't have to deal with all kinds of dodgy applications and shareware crap to get anything productive done, programming and scripting is MUCH easier and more integrated into the system, and so on. There's no way I'd have my nifty custom screen switching dialog that lets me select from the specific options I want under Windows. I'd have to connect the screen and tweak the resolution and monitor layout every time I connected something, rather than just selecting the option I want

 

After dual booting with XP and Mint, then just having Mint only (and working on Arch dual boot), I found that I was playing StarCraft too much.
It runs flawless on Wine but when you start saying 'My life for Aiur!' while having a beer with friends in a bar, you know you play StarCraft too much.
So... I've got myself a legit version of Vista and know I'm playing Company of Heroes too much (If I see one more bag of f***in dirt! )

Soon I'll erase CoH (and Crysis and MTW and COD4) and install linux again.
It's just a too marvellous OS not to use...Not sure though if I will go the easy way; *buntu/Mint or a more challenging variation; Arch.

 

Hello Folks,

Outside of WoW. NwN runs np on my Compaq C551NR.
The numbers of Packages that are available makes it my first choice.
Though I have used the Debian based Ubuntu, Slack, and various distro's since about 1997.

mauser1891.
"Debian Powered"
Celeron M 440
2G 5300 RAM
BCM1390
TOSHIBA MK8034GS
TSSTcorpCDW/DVD TS-L462D
SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad