Is Linux Only For Techies?

JMH

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Currently, I’m running a dual boot system – Windows 8 Developer and Ubuntu Linux – so much for the rumor that Microsoft has locked out dual booting Linux on Windows 8.

In fact, I’ve been running dual boot systems for years – various flavors of Windows, and Linux. I wouldn’t, for example, do my online banking in any OS other than Linux. So, I’m comfortable with the idea that I can offer my opinion on how “hard” or how “easy” it is, to run with Linux.

I like to think that my opinion is an “educated” opinion. An opinion based on long term usage and direct observation. So, it definitely burns my ass when I read fluff from Windows bloggers who pass judgment on Linux and who, without the benefit of personal knowledge, go into a “let’s trash Linux” mode.

Is Linux Only For Techies? | Bill Mullins' Weblog – Tech Thoughts
 

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Nice read thanks. As an avid Ubuntu fan I have to say its not just for geeks
 

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I've managed to use Ubuntu a bit in my time, but I could never really get the hang of all that Terminal Jargon... So I just stuck to Windows.
 

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Well, after I read it all I am not sure what the guy is trying to tell me. I use Ubuntu since a few years (off and on) and I am not convinced that Linux is easy - or easier than Windows. A lot of things you do have to do on the command line and that is even more complex than the Windows cmd.
 

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A lot of things you do have to do on the command line and that is even more complex than the Windows cmd.
Yeah, and luckily for us there are larger Windows communities online, like the one we are using right now! :)
 

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I tried Linux a number of times, there where many things I liked. Then I'd come to a site that required some specific video viewer, I couldn't figure an alternative. Sometimes I'd download something and had trouble finding it. Most likely it was too many years with Windows. Some programs I use and like in Windows currently don't have Linux alternatives as far as I know. Examples a Blu-Ray player, Adobe Lightroom. Photoshop, Outlook. I've tried some alternatives like Gimp, but don't like the GUI used.
Linux would be great if I were just starting out and didn't have so much invested in costly programs.

I've considered a Mac, but I like building my own PC, keeps the initial costs low and allows you to add more hardware as you go. Mac desktops with multiple hard drives are over $2,000. Don't like the all-in ones, plus no Blu-Ray.
 

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I've always liked Sabayon Linux, partly because it was the first distro I learned about and used. Linux is not just for techies anymore. In fact, I've seen people who are terrible with computers enjoy using Linux for their everyday tasks.
 

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There are several Linux distros that make life a bit easier. E.g. Mint is a nice one. But once you want to dig a bit deeper into the system, you always end up on the command line. And that is certainly not easy to use.

For someone who has his Linux all set up and does only mail, webbrowsing, some picture processing and music, operation is OK. But if you want to go beyond that, Windows is easier.
 

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so much for the rumor that Microsoft has locked out dual booting Linux on Windows 8.

Huh?

He has the wrong end of the stick.

MS are requiring oem's to use secure boot as part of the win 8 licensing terms.

That means if you get an oem machine pre installed with win8 - it will be locked down.

Clearly that does not apply to the Dev release - there are no oem pre installs of that as far as I know.
 

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I want to eventually roll my own Linux Distro. If I ever get around to learning how to do this, a few things I already know it would have:

- KDE
- OpenOffice (or similar)
- VirtualBox (or similar)
- WINE (or similar)
- Mono
- Moonlight
- Some package manager (preferably similar to Ubuntu's)

Of course, the packages used would depend largely on the license terms of distribution, etc., but that's the general idea.
 

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    Mozilla Firefox
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I want to eventually roll my own Linux Distro. If I ever get around to learning how to do this, a few things I already know it would have:

- KDE
- OpenOffice (or similar)
- VirtualBox (or similar)
- WINE (or similar)
- Mono
- Moonlight
- Some package manager (preferably similar to Ubuntu's)

Of course, the packages used would depend largely on the license terms of distribution, etc., but that's the general idea.

That's why every program that runs on Linux out of the box(internet box in this case) is open source, no payments needed!
 

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I like Linux but I confess that I'm a noob. Now I have Ubuntu 11.10 in a VM, but used to dual-boot 11.04 along with W7.
 

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The closest I have to linux atm, is an inaccessible Mint 10.

I use it so little these days I haven't bothered fixing it yet.

Finding a new distro is also bit of chore now - none of them really seem to be much chop out of the box these days :(

At least metro feels superior to gnome3 / unity at this stage, if a little restrictive.
 

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Hi there
Lots of "Stand alone" applications based on Linux are used by Windows users -- typical apps such as the boot from CD versions of GPARTED / Partition Manager / Acronis Backup / restore etc.

The GUI is usually pretty similar to Windows and a lot of Windows users probably wouldn't even know that the application is actually running on a stripped down Linux version.


Cheers
jimbo
 

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I think linux probably is mostly for techies as stated above by the techies. :)
The mac os is essentially a version of linux, but that's for the ignorants.
 

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I find it a bit ironic that this thread is on W8 forums...

I don't k now what's funnier... the uber-elite computer nerds of the Windows community talking about "other computer nerds"

Or the fact that so few people have messed with Linux.
 

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Not so ironic, winston. It is, after all, in the "Chillout" room. There are a ton of posts, in all rooms, which have little, or nothing in many cases, to do with Window 8
 

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Linux is not just for techies. I love Ubuntu distribuitions, but I confess that I'm a noob :eek:
 

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    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
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    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
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    IE, FF, Chrome
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    AVG Internet Security 2015
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    Some wired stuff
I've been an avid Debian fan for years, and prefer it as my Linux flavor, with wine nowadays you can basically have
any version of windowblinds you want, and having a CNE & CNA it is quite a bit easier than AIX Unix to run.
 

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I have to disagree that Linux and all it's versions are not just for techies. While Ubuntu and Linux Mint are certainly more user friendly there are still a lot of software that's not installable through the gui and requires the command line. Not to mention driver compatibility issues that can arise on older hardware.
 

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    Custom Build
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