What does linux do for me that windows doesnt?

[Rudyard]

Have often been thinking of giving linux a try to see if there is a better life outside of windows. Sorry mac people but I have no intrest in being stuck to a mac pc if you know what I mean (the hardware), I like being able to pick my own combo of 'guts' to suit my needs.

I am content with windows xp but am curious about the other option.

So i guess what i need to know is what benefits does linux have over win xp?

I will need to keep windows for work related things incase i need it so a dual boot I guess is a must.

I am semi computer literate in that I use one every day and am not a complete novice, am the family expert but a dunce compared to the experts on here.

My uses would be:

vid editing (vegas, virtual dub, ulead vis studio)
sound editing/recording (cakewalk sonar)
minor gaming (civ series)
general use (net,word processing etc)
work (cad, rendering programs)
listen to music/watch video

I also tend to multi task a bit i.e. encode video whilst using cad and internet etc)

For me what would linux do better than windows or that windows wont do at all?
Why do people feel its worth it to learn to use it?
If its just a stick it to the man thing but is not actually any better, well thats not my go but if there are useable advantages im all in!!

[Forum Troll]

install Linux on a second empty hard drive. That way you don't have to mess with your Windows drive and can easily dual boot. That, or get a second computer to install it on. Most varieties of linux don't require extreme hardware to run, so any second-hand machine would be fine. even a Pentium II or III would be fine.

[thecoalman]

They make versions bootable from a CD, I keep one around in case of a Windows failure. Google Knoppix, there's others as well.

Just my experience but the version of Knoppix i have had no immediate support for my graphics card and I didn't want to take the time to see if I could get it working. I didn't even experiment with it that much because of that fact, staring at a pulsing video screen for any amount of time really hurts my eyes. I see now they have drivers listed for Linux now so perhaps it's time to have another look.

[Abbadon]

Hi,

You will be better served if you keep using Windows for your video, and sound editing tasks, including gaming, the rest is well supported.

[betamaxman]

I sugest you give PCLinuxOS a try. It is a live cd and you can install it by simply clicking the "install pclinux" icon. The installer is very intuitive but opt for the "expert" option and be sure you select the second drive if you go that way. Or let the wizard partition your drive automatically, just remember this though workes for many peoply, automatically partitioning your windows drive and creating a linux partition, does indeed have the risk of messing up windows so backup first and except that risk. The mentioned add a second hard drive does have the less risk and will only fail if you install to the wrong drive. There are no drive letters in linux so the second drive will be hdb if it is an ide drive and sdb if it is a sata.
Pclinux is actually geared to making the conversion easier for the windows user, the software repos are installed to your software installer (synaptic/apt get) and you should find any application you want via it, it has all the multimedia goodies 3d vid card support and all the latest 3d graphics goodies (XGL/beryl) and your experience will be the best you can get, the pclinux forums provide the best support you will find. So join the forum first, ask questions then try.
They even have a free downloadable monthly pdf pclinux magazine with tonnes of tutorials and tips. I can't think of a better distro for a new to linux person to try.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/news.php

[GMaq]

Hello,
As I have just started with Linux in the last month (SimplyMEPIS32) I'll throw my 2 cents in. The LiveCD's from the various distros are phenomenal with the hardware support that they have, on the machine I'm running Linux on everything including my Wireless NIC worked "out of the box". The inclusion of FireFox and Thunderbird as well as Open Office should satsify 90% of users before they head to the program repositories. The problem with Linux is the remaining 10% of us who are heavy duty into multimedia are going to find it lacking in number of dedicated applications. If you want to capture there are very few choices that someone used to Windows could stroll up and use without some commandline/console experience, also ATI video cards are generally poorly supported. If you are into MPEG-4 Video for an iPod there are very few encoder choices with GUI's. that being said there are some very good choices for DVD ripping/authoring and creating AVI files. You can run (some) Windows apps with Wine, but if you have a dual-boot system it's better to let Windows do Windows and Linux do Linux (in my opinion). I am by no means an expert on either OS I'm just letting you know some of the challenges you'll be facing in the first month or so. The upside is that Linux in general is on fire, Vista and the constant security issues associated have really got a lot of people interested in Linux, myself included. In a nutshell I would say keep a dual boot config, find a Linux distro that appeals to you and take it slow and easy trying it out thoroughly because it has a lot to offer, and I and many others believe it is going to grow in leaps and bounds in the near future. Best of luck!

[tekkieman]

The upside is that Linux in general is on fire, Vista and the constant security issues associated have really got a lot of people interested in Linux, myself included. In a nutshell I would say keep a dual boot config, find a Linux distro that appeals to you and take it slow and easy trying it out thoroughly because it has a lot to offer, and I and many others believe it is going to grow in leaps and bounds in the near future. Best of luck!

Very good grasshopper! Now, when you can snatch the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to go (and further spread the teachings of linux).

[GMaq]

Grasshopper.....now that's funny!! Your pebble will be safe for some time to come, but for how long....but for how long????

[ranchhand]

If you want to experiment with Linux without investing a lot of time, Coalman's suggestion is a good one: Linux Knoppix 5.xx is out, and works a treat. I fire it up and really enjoy taking it for a spin, including surfing the web. Loads straight from CD into memory, no install required. I can't begin to number the amount of users that I have helped by retrieving data off their hard drives that were hopelessly corrupted by using Knoppix to enter their OSs.

[Rudyard]

Thankyou all for your replies and suggestions, I may try it out on the older P3 600mhz before I convert my more modern work machine.

One question I would like to know though, is how is linux better for me than windows?

So far it has been suggested that Video editing/sound editing and gaming are a bad choice for linux systems.

I dont quite understand what benefits I will have other than a free OS that doesnt do quite as much as windows. (i dont mean to sound negative or anything im just trying to understand why people would make the switch i.e. there has to be a useable benefit other than avoiding MS products)

[Rudyard]

If you want to experiment with Linux without investing a lot of time, Coalman's suggestion is a good one: Linux Knoppix 5.xx is out, and works a treat. I fire it up and really enjoy taking it for a spin, including surfing the web. Loads straight from CD into memory, no install required. I can't begin to number the amount of users that I have helped by retrieving data off their hard drives that were hopelessly corrupted by using Knoppix to enter their OSs.

Hmm sounds interesting, loading straight into memory....does that mean once I turn off my PC the OS is gone and if I never wanted to use it again nothing has been affected?

[ahhaa]

Thankyou all for your replies and suggestions, I may try it out on the older P3 600mhz before I convert my more modern work machine.

One question I would like to know though, is how is linux better for me than windows?

So far it has been suggested that Video editing/sound editing and gaming are a bad choice for linux systems.

G'day Rudyard!

The theoretical advantages are two:
... that Linux & all open source code is constantly evolving; so you'll always have the most up-to-date software available.
... that you won't get stymied by the policing role that M$ has adopted. I do audio interviews, and its annoying to have my work called 'songs' by M$, and be asked for permission to use my own work...

to check out Linux more thoroughly, go to http://distrowatch.com/ they have are kinda linux central; you might be particularly interested in Puppy- http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=1
its a small but respected Australian distro with special versions for media development, like http://www.grafpup.com/

[ridgerunrbunny]

(A little background here) I have 3 HD's 250,250 and 120. I Edit my dvds in Premier 6.5, compile in DVD lab and burn with IMG burn in the windows partition. I installed Puppy Linux on one of my hard drives about 3 weeks ago. I thought I would just put it in a little corner of a one of my 250G drives and play with it to see if I liked it. There is a sight learning curve to overcome but man I'm gonna tell you this Linux OS disto is Awesome. I have not gone into Windoze for days and have had no real desire to. I downloaded an Animation program by the name of Blender and have been attempting to get my brain around it. I put two browsers on the desktop DeerPark and Seamonkey and switch back and forth from one to the other with ease. (there are a few features I like in Seamonkey) that Deerpark (firefox) does not have. I can burn my films from the windows side without having to go thru clicks uponclicks. I can put things in windows and take them out. If I want to listen to music, I can listen to any of it. There are no barriors. And it only cost me $9.00

[Rudyard]

ridgerunrbunny,

By browsers are you talking internet browsers? Or browsing the computer so to speak?

I can switch between different open windows in XP copying and pasting things with the click of a button....I dont get it, whats the difference?

Also can you explain what you mean by burn films from the windows side without going through multiple clicks? You dont have to specify burn settings? If not how do you adjust them to your needs?

Lastly, I thought the big thing about linux was that it is open source i.e. free?

[ahhaa]

Puppy can read & create NTFS files; so it can 'see' into the Windows OS; that's one of the reasons people are now using it to repair crashed computers.

Puppy will run from a CD without any installation onto your HD, so you can see if you like it... and its only a 70 meg download.

END OF UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL

[Rudyard]

As im interested in booting of the CD without installing (just to test it) I am trying to download puppy....however the download page has all these files and folders and I cant seem to find instructions on what to do. Do I download all the things in the link below and then burn them as is? Or is that many parts and I only need a particular part?


http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/

[ahhaa]

You download a single ISO file & burn it to CD, use the links above.
The one you want there is
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/puppy-2.14-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso

There are instructions for everything you could possibly want at their forum too!:]

[Rudyard]

Thankyou, DL now!

[ridgerunrbunny]

Browsers: Both. Windows does not like you using a foreign web browser, even if it says you can. Users comes up against glitches all the time. In Puppy I have the Firefox derivitive Deerpark and the mozilla Seamonkey. I can go from two separate and distinct desktops in one click and have two web browsers running at the same time. There are a few features I like in Seamonkey like the HTML editing that I can switch to, on the fly if I want. I can also go into the NTFS windows area and work with anything I want. Windows will not allow you to contact anything except its authorized bull poop. I am looking for a Linux film editing program at present to replace my Premiere 6.5. If there is one better I may never go to windows again. Except to stare and giggle.

[tekkieman]

I am looking for a Linux film editing program at present to replace my Premiere 6.5.

If you haven't yet, you might take a look at Cinelerra, KDEnlive, kino, Jahshaka, and LiVES.

If there is one better I may never go to windows again. Except to stare and giggle.

Somewhat subjective, and probably not, but if it works for you...

[stiltman]

Here's a good article on replacing Abobe CS3 with freeware apps. I'm pretty sure every app mentioned is a linux port to windows

[ranchhand]

**"OS is gone and if I never wanted to use it again nothing has been affected?"**

Exactly. That is why Knoppix is used by so many folks including myself; I can enter a trashed XO OS, retrieve data and burn it to a CD or save it to a thumbdrive. And I agree with the others - its really great, and I am about to experiment with Ubuntu (although that is an installed system).

[ridgerunrbunny]

I just sent away for a cd with a collection of media on it. I don't think Jahshaka was one of them tho. I just don't have the download capabilites in the middle of no where to do downloading. I did download Kino but have not been able to access it.

[ridgerunrbunny]

Somewhat subjective, and probably not, but if it works for you...

I am not quite sure what you mean by that. I am highly opinionated. I like Adobe 6.5 It does what I want except compile and burn. When I find something better and afordable (like free) I will use that, and probably like it just as much if not more.

Oh by the way, I do have a volumn of Major Motion Picture screen credits going back a few years and am a vested member in the Motion Picture Health and Welfare. So I don't think my ideas are too subjective. Only opinionated and at my old age, I can afford to be that way. There is not much difference between what was created on film than what is created on a computer, the function names change, the movements have changed, but the appearance of an ordinary film (moving picture) is very much the same.

[lordsmurf]

Linux can please you in ways that Windows never will.
Linux can aggravate you in ways that Windows never will.
With the good, comes the bad.

Here's a good article on replacing Abobe CS3 with freeware apps. I'm pretty sure every app mentioned is a linux port to windows

"basic functionalities of Photoshop" .... hardly a replacement.

[Rudyard]

Well I booted puppy and must say my first impressions were one of curiosity. Looked very much like windows with a different theme of the desktop.

Recycle bin is trash, there is a version of paint that looks very basic, same with a MS word copy.

The window boxes have a bit of a win 3.1 feel to them, not that I care if it does the job.

I need to know a little more about partitions though....If I let puppy create a partition, will that take a chunk of my HDD and reserve it just for puppy? And if so how much does it take and does windows recognise it as another drive or will my HDD just show up with less space in Windows??

Same with my net connection, as I use a router for connection sharing will anything I do in linux affect the way it works when I reboot to windows?

[stiltman]

Here's a good article on replacing Abobe CS3 with freeware apps. I'm pretty sure every app mentioned is a linux port to windows

"basic functionalities of Photoshop" .... hardly a replacement.

That was for paint.net wasn't it?
Gimp is a direct replacement for photoshop.

[lordsmurf]

Gimp is a direct replacement for photoshop.

GIMP is to PHOTOSHOP and DOGSHIT is to CHOCOLATE BAR.

Gimp is not even remotely close to replacing Photoshop.
Gimp is more like Microsoft Paint with some Paintshop functionality and the ability to do layers.

[ahhaa]

Well I booted puppy and must say my first impressions were one of curiosity. Looked very much like windows with a different theme of the desktop.

Recycle bin is trash, there is a version of paint that looks very basic, same with a MS word copy.

The window boxes have a bit of a win 3.1 feel to them, not that I care if it does the job.

I need to know a little more about partitions though....If I let puppy create a partition, will that take a chunk of my HDD and reserve it just for puppy? And if so how much does it take and does windows recognise it as another drive or will my HDD just show up with less space in Windows??

Same with my net connection, as I use a router for connection sharing will anything I do in linux affect the way it works when I reboot to windows?

Ok Ruddy, hang on a bit... consider what you are looking at in those 80 Puppy megabytes: an Operating System, and a whole bunch of utility programs, plus extensive drivers; that will run Live from CD.

There are all sorts of programs like Open Office or Gimp that are the equal of their commercial rivals, altho free. They may be 10 times the size of Puppy itself.
You can also use many programs designed for other members of the Linux family.

Don't judge Puppy by what you are seeing before you customize it. To do that properly you need to go to their forum and find the step by steppers that meet your needs... good luck!

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php?f=2

[Rudyard]

Yes the 80mg amazes me, does it decompress into RAM (creating a RAM drive to run) and the actual OS is much more than 80mb? This machine has 1ggig and it had 650mb free which is still impressive compared to windows size.

I have only got to play for a very very short time, that was just my first impression.

I will go to their forum and see what I can find.