Comments for Does Linux have a role in the home?

Comment from pieter cloete on 2009-07-20

2009-07-20T10:46:21Z

Do people not comment on Linux anymore (last comment September 1 2007 !) Linux Ubuntu 9.04 with standard interface, and the sister Linux Kubuntu 9.04 with the worlds nicest looking interface are now available. Load wine and you can now play many, many Windows format games on Linux. Even CAD and many other software trough wine are been converted for Linux as we speak. Magazines like PC Format recomend the change to Linux Ubuntu/Kubuntu 9.04.and most, after using 9.04 even say it is better than XP or Vista.
pieter cloete

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Comment from RuCCi4/M0LD0V4 on 2007-09-01

2007-09-02T03:24:20Z

I've been using Linux (Ubuntu) For 1 year now
and its a very simple OS for me..
I dislike the Microsoft Corporation ( For My Own Reasons ) Ubuntu has simple user interface.. I dont recommend a n00b to hop right on Ubuntu..
If you are about to make that hop, I would recommend Dual-Booting Linux With Windows ..
I said windows only because windows (XP) is the simple(st) OS for n00bs . i dont know how can you not know how to operate one, I used Windows XP 2 years ago but wasnt satisfied was looking for something harder.. I found Linux i thought it was a challenge at first but not after a while it was the best secure OS for me... But to all you n00bs
if you really want to Use Linux.. Get Linux XP Desktop search it up on google. Its compatible with alot of windows programs..

Well in conclusion Linux Rv13s..

RuCCi4/ Russian Member-
D0RiN

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Comment from Justathought on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T18:39:13Z

Hi,
I've been using linux for close to 8 years now. I started with a Slackware distro that a frien lent me. It installed from a set of about 20 floppy disks, but it was a lot of fun and worked very well. Since then I have tried many distributions and although I keep learning more and more about Linux, I seem to be gravitating towards the easy to use ones. I used Mandrake for a while, then SUSE for a couple of versions, but recently I decided to explore my options. I tried SUSE 10.1, including its very cool new 3D desktop. I know this 3D desktop is the future of Linux, but they need to still fix a couple of issues with it (3D acceleration is not available to applications). I tried Kubuntu, but to me it felt like a barely beta quality distro. SimplyMepis was recommended to me as "a better Kubuntu than Kubuntu", since it uses KDE and Ubuntu repositories. Now, this was much better. I was able to install the proprietary nVidia drivers for my graphics card without having to touch the command line, but I could see there was still some margin of error for someone that doesn't know what he is doing. I then tried a couple more that promised an "easier to use experience", Freespire and PCLinuxOS. Freespire is very good. Everything worked well. The fact that CNR (their package manager) is now free, makes it even more appealing. The only thing I don't like about it is their scheme of not having an active root account, but having users use su or kdesu to run applications that require root level permissions. To me, this creates more problems than what it solves. So, with one more distribution to try, I forged ahead to try PCLinuxOS. And, I am very glad I did. This distributions is the easiest way for a new Linux user to get going. Everyhting works. The proprietary nNidia drivers installed even easier than with SimplyMepis. Sound worked without problems (although I did have to disable the onboard sound card since I also have a Soundblaster card). MP3's and DVD playback was a matter of installing a single package from Synaptic (the package manager) for each one. And, well, I think it looks very nice. All in all, I think there are some very nice options for the new Linux user. SimplyMepis, Freespire, and PCLinuxOS are all easier to setup and use than Ubunto or SUSE, but I definetly recommend PCLinuxOS above them all at this point in time. Here is a nice review to check out:
http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/9123

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Comment from David F. Skoll on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T18:37:04Z

I've been using Linux at home since 1996. My kids (aged 12, 8 and 4) use it. My parents and sisters use it. In fact, my parents have never used Windows, having gone straight from DOS to Linux, so they never had preconceptions about how things were "supposed" to work, and found Linux a breeze.

Right now, at my house, I even run the phones on Asterisk, which is a great way to avoid telemarketers (Google for "Zapateller") and do all kinds of cool things with your phones.

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Comment from Don on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T15:00:40Z

Linux has had a role in my home for over 10 years now.

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Comment from Rob on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T11:46:08Z

Leo,

This is not an insult, but there's a term for people like you. It's called "locked in". I'm not blaming you for it, but I'd like to mention it so everybody can watch out for it. Vendors try to get customers locked in all the time.

You became addicted to certain features in Outlook. It's no surprise that Microsoft doesn't offer Outlook for anything but their own Windows operating system, is it? Years back, the same thing happenned when we all got locked in to VHS format video tapes. The result is that we continued to use a certain brand or format even though there might have been something better available.

I'm mentioning this so that other users can notice it and be careful about it. Do you save videos in Windows Media format (wmv)? That format is owned by Microsoft. Do you have a large collection of music bought from the iTunes store? When your iPod breaks, you'll surely be buying another one because no other portable players can play that music. Somebody commented on mp3 playback--did you know that it costs money to play mp3's? That's because the mp3 format is owned by a company that charges royalties to anybody who manufactures mp3 players.

The moral of my story is that if you're content to stick with Windows for the rest of your life, then go ahead and use all of Microsoft's formats. If you're sure you'll always want an iPod, then buy from the iTunes store. But if you think you might want to switch to Linux someday (or to whatever comes after that, or whatever comes 50 years from now), try to use open source and open standards. It'll make future migrations easier.

Open source is computer software that has no secrets. The source code is available for all to see. This is like the "blueprints" of a computer program. Open standards are used in file formats such as ogg (a superior alternative to mp3), odt (an iso-approved format for word-processor documents), and others. These formats are available to any individual or software company to use--for free.

There's a lot of discussion lately in governments about open standards. It comes down to one main concern: who owns your data, you or your software vendor?

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Comment from Wim on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T11:43:49Z

Hello,

Nice article, I agree with most of what is being said. But I also think that Ubuntu is not the best distro for newcomers (at least at this moment). It has far too little tools for configuration and system management. That's why I would really recommend Mandriva or SUSE who help the user through wizards (Mandriva Control Center and Yast respectively) with these tasks. This takes away the need to dive down into configuration files and command line stuff, while still allowing to do a lot with the PC. You can find an article on Mandriva Linux for home use on my website here: http://coulier.org/CMS/MDV_2006_homeusers_1_EN.html
As a long time Mandriva user, I wrote about Mandriva, but I have some experience with SUSE as well, and must say that SUSE rates almost as good in my book.

Honestly, I think that Ubuntu is mostly popular with more experienced Linux users that have to habbit of editing configuration files and using the command line. Hence the popularity in the EXISTING linux community. But that does not make it the best choice as introduction to linux for windows users.

Kind Regards,

Wim

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Comment from Sami on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T11:24:45Z

I agree with Stomfi, personally i can't understand this hype around Ubuntu, i've tested it and noticed it to be years behind SUSE in every aspect. And this Windows-like thing with root permissions, why in the world it must be like anyone can do anything with root permissions? Just waiting Ubuntu-spesific linuxmalware...

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Comment from Stomfi on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T09:15:44Z

Hi Leo,

Ubuntu, whilst having a progenitor who is really cool (Bill will have to balloon round the world), is still a hobbyist distro.

For example, one has to look on the web and follow a tutorial to get Internet sharing to work.

I've been trialing SLED 10 for Linux newbies and think this distro is definately easy for the home user.

It has everything they want out of the box. iPod and camera connectivity. DVD playing, The wonderful Beagle search tool. The outlook and office clones, and Firefox which many have already used.

And with a 3D video card and some software installation through the superior Yast administration tool, the amazing and very productive XGL/Compiz virtual desktop manager.

The menu system is different from Windows and very usable for the newbie.

I think the differences from the Windows interface this distro supplies, helps newbies to migrate, as they don't seem to expect it will be the same, something the other distros might benefit from.

Out of 11 SLED 10 installs, no one has complained so far, something I have not experienced with Ubuntu.

And really, what is $50 for someone who wants a workable free software system.

So move over Ubuntu and make way for the new kid on the block.

Kind regards,
Stomfi

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Comment from mp on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T08:44:02Z

I started with Linux when I became so frustrated at Win 98 routinely crashing. The good news was that Linux was stable, the downside was that very few things "worked" right out of the box. Now, years later, I've grown accustomed to using Linux, and cringe whenever I have to use a Windows machine.

One the other hand, when friends are fed up with spyware, worms, virii, etc, I tell them to get a Mac. For the average non technically inclined user Linux still poses challanges. It is hopeless to tell a casaul user to download an installer, open a virtual terminal and drop down to run level 3, navigate to the installer and run the script, then restart X, just so they can run a 3-D screensaver.

I think some of the few box sets out there (Mandriva comes to mind) have all these proprietary software on the disks. That is probably the best way for a newcomer to go.

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Comment from Lou Gascon on 2006-09-02

2006-09-02T21:23:35Z

Leo (Hi Fella)
As an older user on your forum, I find it interesting that you should bring up ‘Linux’ at this point in time…
MS Windows XP sp2, works fine for me and at the turn of a switch or the click of a button I have just about everything I need…
It was a bit different of course during Win 98 &98 se days, when I regularly experienced crashes, blackouts and just plain not starting, requiring me to get my hands dirty messing with the bios etc. Oh! How I wished then that I had been younger, and had had some experience at school with such technological wizardry…
However, the problems at that time were eventually solved when my comp builder man wiped the old thing clean and made a new install which was tweaked to some degree – don’t ask me how…!
At that time, I seriously considered ‘Linux’ ~ RedHat Linux to be precise ~ as an alternative to Windows in the hope that I could actually open my machine and use it without fear of the gremlins interjection… But, when I got my OS installation pack, and upon reading some of the guff that came with it, I quickly realised that without a crash course in the workings of etc, installing and running a Linux operating system was far too advanced for little old me. And Oh dear, it’s still here in its packing virtually untouched…
However, here we are six to eight years later, and having decided to return to the UK from France, I have had to consider at my time of life what it is I might do to raise a little revenue. And not wishing to take the obvious choice ~ refilling shelves of some well known supermarket ~ I have seriously considered building computers for the discerning ‘less in their pocket brigade’ and possibly for small and local schools, where of course I might sell more than one at a time…!
To that end, I am considering the use of a ‘Linux’ system, solely because it would allow me to build machines a good deal cheaper than by using Microsoft stuff, and as I understand it, ‘Linux’ would use far less resources from the machine…?
And so, over the past few months I have been receiving ‘Michaels Minutes’ newsletter from ‘Linspire’ to help improve my knowledge about ‘Linux’. This of course has led to one or two conversations with the few English speaking friends that I have here, giving rise to some alternatives such as: Debian, Suse, Red Hat, Fedora, Xandros, and now your intro to Ubuntu…
I read with earnest your investigative remarks and findings which leads me to writing and to suggest that perhaps you should start a ‘Castle Cops’ type forum where you might consider the opening question: Which System…? And Why…?
This of course would lead to the best definitive answers being saved for new users, and with the ability to update answers as thing move forward. This kind of forum can only aide the ‘Linux’ movement, and as it is ‘Open Source’, assist the variety of OS compilers and software manufactures in responding to the needs of the market…
I can see it now: Leo on Linux or Leo’s Linux…
Well, c’mon man, have you started yet…?
With Kindest Regards
Lou Gascon

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Comment from Kiko on 2006-09-02

2006-09-02T14:51:42Z

For the "closest thing to Windows" Linux, you may want to try the latest beta of Freespire - they have a "live CD" version which - for the first time of any distro- loaded and ran without a hitch on my Dell laptop- Linux and laptops don't often get along so well- Ubuntu was a close 2nd but I was really impressed - especially for a Beta - and they offer an distro which includes proprietary codecs etc....this one is ( IMHO ) the leading one that could be the "Linux on the desktop" for Joe Sixpack...and they are just starting...Linspire ( on which it was based) never worked for me...but this one I could almost go 100% for...give them a bit of time ( and support) and they could be what all the buzz was about 3-4 yrs ago when Linux was supposedly "threatening" (*cough*) the Windows market...

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Comment from Dan on 2006-09-01

2006-09-02T03:54:00Z

Ubuntu is an excellent distro. It's the first I've ever used and have been using it on my Desktop since April. I'm no expert but I find commands more user intuitive.

One graphics application you may find interesting for Linux is Xara Xtreme (http://www.xaraxtreme.org) I just downloaded and installed it, it seems very powerful.

Since moving to Ubuntu, I hate working on Windows machines, the user interface is so ugly among many other things.

-Dan

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Comment from Ken on 2006-08-31

2006-08-31T15:35:07Z

And, a note for those who think that Linux is some "new kid on the block", I'd like to point out that I've been using Linux since Windows 3.1 was brand new. I still have a set of Linux disks from 1994. It may have only recently gotten noticed by the "real world", but it's been around for a long time.

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Comment from jdanylko on 2006-08-31

2006-08-31T13:52:29Z

Absolutely!

As a matter of fact, I just finished creating my own Media PC for home and I'm a Windows guy. I just used a version of Fedora to create a MythTV system (MythDora).

It seems Linux comes up faster than Windows on this machine. Interesting. ;-)

Great post!

JD
http://www.dcs-media.com/

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Comment from Angelo on 2006-08-30

2006-08-31T02:25:44Z

Ubuntu is probably the closest, but I don't think it's quite there yet. One thing I notice about a lot of free Linux distros is that support for propriety media formats (notably MP3) isn't included--something that's virtually a given on Windows and OS X. A user has to go online and find the appropriate packages to download and install in order to do so.

OpenOffice.org is excellent, but aside from the word processor I find that the other included apps just aren't as... mature as their MS Office counterparts. Granted, it IS free, though.

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