Who still using Winblows 9x/Me/2k/XP Here ? hehe...

[not1word]

Thanks, Compunuts. I think you've done a darn fine job of 'splaining it to me.

I'm thinking that I'll mostly be using Linux for a desktop, wordprocessing, browsing and such. I'm not too heavily into games. I use Open Office, and a couple other open source programs in Windows, so I rather like the whole idea of the open software ethos.

I'd say my largest drawback to stepping on the Linux diving board is my non-knowledge of writing programs or code. I hear folks talk about the kernel and tweaking things, and I get all clammy. Hardware, no problem. I get a kick out of messing about sometimes, but the mysterious C:\\@sub.bin.exe binary experience gives me the heebie geebies.

Again, thanks to all who took their time to respond. It's folks such as yourselves who give your platform a good name!

[Compunuts]

I'm thinking that I'll mostly be using Linux for a desktop, wordprocessing, browsing and such. I'm not too heavily into games. I use Open Office, and a couple other open source programs in Windows, so I rather like the whole idea of the open software ethos.

You should be very happy with Ubuntu then.

I'd say my largest drawback to stepping on the Linux diving board is my non-knowledge of writing programs or code. I hear folks talk about the kernel and tweaking things, and I get all clammy.

This is TOTALLY untrue. You do not need to have any knowledge of writing codes to use Linux (although it wouldn't hurt).

Even re-compiling kernel is done via GUI (Graphical User Interface;what they would call Windows in other OS world since DOS was a basic CLI (command Line Interface) and then Windows was on top of it).

Hardware, no problem. I get a kick out of messing about sometimes, but the mysterious C:\\@sub.bin.exe binary experience gives me the heebie geebies.

See, this is also something Linux would be good at. YOu don't deal with binaries. You configure your options through configuration files (with extension .conf to make things easier) and then let binary programs pick up your config option from that file. It's THAT easy.

Plus, with distros like Ubuntu, all you need to install a program is issuing the command like "apt-get install openoffice" and sit back, relax and watch it do the job. With Windows, you will need to download the program, go to the folder, double click it to install it and the whole deal.

When I want to have an FTP server, I did "apt-get install proftpd" and a few moments later, I go to the other PC and did "ftp://192.168.88.9" (my server's IP address) and kaboom, there is an FTP server up and running and ready for me to log in. If I want anybody to access that server, I open up a config file, change a few options, restart the service and I'm ready to serve any files I want to the whole world.

[AljoshaNL]

I have no W*nblows on my PC. I don't even want it. It stinks everything up!
I run Ubuntu Linux 5.10 and I'm very happy with it. This is what I do with it:
1) Listening to mp3's, ogg's and wma's
2) Playing PlaneShift, Warcraft III, Battlefield 1942, Command & Conquer Generals
3) Learning vocabulary
4) Writing python programs-'n-scripts
5) Doing school stuff in OpenOffice
6) Surfing the web, my email and usenet
7) Downloading stuff
8) Working on my homepage (see sig)

So why should I still use M$

Aljosha

PS. Thanks to everyone on Ljr and now OpenFree who helped me to do the switch

[Kad]

Because I can also use Linux, various flavors of Unices, and real-time variants such as QNX.

If people would simply keep their minds open, they would see each domain has its advantages and disadvantages.

In my experience, most large companies standard is: Windows. On the desktop, and server room. Yes there are other Unix boxes out there, but Windows boxes outnumber all the rest combined, by a factor of 100 to 1 at least. Even in the server world. So for my career, Windows is not a choice, it is a necessity.

But I chose Linux willingly based on merits. And am the trouble-maker always trying to sneak in Linux one way or another, into a universe of Windows.

Hey, instead of MS Exchange, I convinced our company to go with a Linux email server. "Mission Critical" they said. I replied: "No problems".

Yet, nothing is perfect. Not even Linux.