using linux

[Patient zer0]

So I clean wiped my pc a few weeks ago and its still running slow. I have 2 gigs of ram and plent of hd space. I'm summing it all up to vista.

If I installed a linux distro onto the hd will I still be able to do the things I normally do? Like itunes, dload torrents and put them on a thumb stick etc?

Or do a lot of normal programs that I would use from my vista pc require me to use wine?

[Death Metal Moe]

From what I saw it's a mixed bag with Linux. It really depends on if the creator of different software saw fit to develop for Linux. iTunes probably has support but other things just won't.

Good thing is there is probably a comparable piece of software made for it because of it's open source nature.

If you've never run Linux it might be weird. You can always burn the entire OS to a CD-R and run it from the CD-R on another comp or even from a memory stick just to get an idea what to expect.

You may want to consider Windows 7, heard a lot of good things about it.

[boosterp]

Ok, here we go again, damn click mistake.

I find myself using Linux daily, more than Windows now. On both laptops and on my big computer I run Linux. I find even on my big computer Linux starts and runs faster than Win 7. My favorite distro is Mandriva followed by Mint which is an Ubuntu variant.

You can run most anything on Linux that you can on Windows. I use a Linux ap called Wine that I can run several of my PC games under.

Start with experimenting with software using your distro's built in add software ap then you can find just about anything on Sourceforge.

Also, use your distro's forums, they contain a wealth of information.

Any other questions I'll sure help, just post or pm them.

[boosterp]

Oh, whats distro are you looking at? Mint would be my choice for a newcommer just edging out Ubuntu and Mandriva just plain rocks even if it has French origins.

Check out Distrowatch for a great run down. (http://distrowatch.com/)

One other thing, if you have a sound blaster audio card, Creative poorly supports Linux and it can be painful getting the sound to work.

[SatCam]

I use linux every day.... i dont have a computer with windows........ i can do everything but play games made for windows. it comes with a program for torrents and I can sync my mp3 player easily (it's not an ipod, but you can do that too, just not with all the functionality of itunes)

[boosterp]

I use linux every day.... i dont have a computer with windows........ i can do everything but play games made for windows. it comes with a program for torrents and I can sync my mp3 player easily (it's not an ipod, but you can do that too, just not with all the functionality of itunes)

What distro do you run?

[opie's twisted balls]

For what its worth here's my take on linux vs. windows.

I'm by no means a power user but am comfortable enough with building/configuring my own PCs and can get around quite well in XP. All my machines are running legit copies of XP (however most of my application software has been "donated" by kind folks online) and shy of the occasional hiccup (i.e. firefox crashing) I've never had any problems with crashing or performance. Now mind you I don't play any graphics intensive games, serious video editing, etc. so my needs are fairly low.

I've tried linux (ubuntu) and frankly never saw any value. It may have run slightly faster but not enough for me to notice a difference in functionality. And it was a pain in the ass to find all the same apps I have running under windows. In the end it was just something to play around with when I was bored.

[SatCam]

What distro do you run?

ubuntu on my desktop and ubuntu netbook remix on my netbook

[instrument]

What ipod do you have?

Itunes is a no go, and hardware support through wine to use itunes is near impossible.

Whatever distro you chose do lots of research and prepare yourself for a steep learning curve.

If you're a casual user it may not be worth it.

If you do go for it check out songbird for music management.

[Patient zer0]

Thanks guys.
I have ubuntu on an old pc but need to hook it up to play around with it.
I'm just kinda getting tired of windows and its bullshit. And I want to try something new and different

[boosterp]

Thanks guys.
I have ubuntu on an old pc but need to hook it up to play around with it.
I'm just kinda getting tired of windows and its bullshit. And I want to try something new and different

I think you'll find it fun, secure, and nice ti see what an open source OS like a Linux distro offers. Play around with different distros too, find the one that best suites you.