Linux Users?

Jon Foster · 07-01-2010, 07:04 PM

So how many Linux users do we have here?

We use and install Ubuntu Linux on more computers in our store than any other operating system.

Jon.

JDtech · 07-01-2010, 07:06 PM

Count me in. I've installed ubuntu on one box here and am just becoming acquainted with it.

Why are you installing so much linux? Are people asking for it?

Jon Foster · 07-01-2010, 07:23 PM

In the past I really tried to push Linux. But since the release of Vista I haven't had to push it much. Most people just want to know how Vista can be fixed without buying Windows 7. Now I just show them one or two of our old PC's running Ubuntu and they are sold. The price gets most of them (free), the fact that no virus, malware or spyware software is needed also gives them a big push. And using it to chat or play on Facebook also seems to pull them in. Being able to keep and use their old hardware seems very popular too. Heck some of the people that buy new Windows based PC's give us their old PC's to clean up. We put Ubuntu on them and in a lot of cases the old PC's run faster than the new machines with Windows 7.

Every computer that comes into our shop with any version of Windows on it seems to have some type of infection. Cleaning them over and over really gets old. Buying the next new software package to keep the computer clean also gets old for most people. I'd say Microsoft themselves are turning more PC people into Linux users. The people that don't seem to like the idea of Linux too much tend to buy a Mac instead.

Jon.

JDtech · 07-01-2010, 07:25 PM

Okay, so do you recommend simply downloading the latest distro and trying it out? How about compatibility with the majority of Windows users out there? Open Office? And how about PhotoShop? That obviously doesn't run under Linux.

Fedaykin · 07-01-2010, 08:09 PM

Running Ubuntu 10.04 right now. I've used Windows from Windows 98 through 7(great) and Linux from Ubuntu 7.10 onward.

Jon Foster · 07-01-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDtech

Okay, so do you recommend simply downloading the latest distro and trying it out? How about compatibility with the majority of Windows users out there? Open Office? And how about PhotoShop? That obviously doesn't run under Linux.

I've become a big fan of Ubuntu in the last 2-3 years. I had it running as a test bed on about 200 PC's and laptops in a private school system. It was absolutely fantastic. Having said that, I wouldn't run out and change everything without having a test environment to be sure the release you choose is the best option for you. But, with each release of Ubuntu they seem to bring what consumers want to the market in a big way.

There are several Windows based programs that will run fine on Linux with WINE. We also run virtual Windows boxes on Linux with good results when the need is there. I'm a slave to Photoshop for my photography work and have it running under WINE in Linux too. But, if you don't mind the learning curve, GIMP is an extremely strong tool as well.

Open Office works great too. For the most part it's compatible with all versions of Microsoft Office. A feat Microsoft can't claim about their own software suites.

There are Linux based programs for most of the other Windows based programs people could need too. And most are FREE as well.

Ubuntu is also nice in the fact that you can run it from a live CD (demo and installation disc) to see if you like it. It doesn't run as fast as if it was installed on a PC but it still gives you a good idea of how nice it is. We use the live CD's to repair Windows PC's that come into the shop before anything else now. Data recovery in Linux is a snap too. It really makes life much easier for us.

Jon.

JackAZ · 07-06-2010, 11:23 PM

Converted the family to Ubuntu about 1 1/2 years ago. They've never been happier with their pc (neither have I - for the first time I don't have to manage the updates, etc).

Been using Linux OS's on and off since the '90's. Moved all of my personal work (other than a few engineering things I can't) to Ubuntu shortly before converting the family. I've recently moved several workstations at work to Linux (mix of Ubuntu and Fedora) and am moving our critical servers to Red Hat this fall.

Jon Foster · 07-07-2010, 09:54 PM

My wife and kids all use Ubuntu exclusively now too. They are constantly on Facebook or chatting with people so it really works out great on the security side.

Jon.

Bodryn · 07-17-2010, 10:04 PM

I have, or had, Fedora Red Hat as one of three systems on a single computer. Win 98 and Win XP were the other two. Unfortunately, it was not set up to go online in Linux, and as I didn't know enough not to set up several accounts so as to go online in XP with a LIMITED account, and my free AVG antivirus suddenly expired, I suddenly got a bad malware problem on it in both 98 and XP. I brought it to a dishonest computer company which claimed to have fixed the problem but instead, it came back with Win 98 missing, XP still contaminated, and no sign of Linux on the PC at all. Just a 20 GB drive C. Moreover, the 250 GB data disk, with all the data on it, no longer appeared to exist at all. I hadn't backed it up for a month. And then, things really started to go wrong!

Jon Foster · 07-18-2010, 03:03 PM

Bodryn, that's a terrible experience. I hate to hear stories like this. A virus/malware situation like yours is actually pretty common when any Microsoft operating system is involved. But, the loss of data because of an infection is pretty rare. Even the nastiest infections can be cleaned up with a little patience and skill.

Give Linux another try when you have some free time. It really is nice.

Jon.

07-01-2010, 07:04 PM	#1
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	Linux Users? So how many Linux users do we have here? We use and install Ubuntu Linux on more computers in our store than any other operating system. Jon. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

07-07-2010, 09:54 PM	#8
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	My wife and kids all use Ubuntu exclusively now too. They are constantly on Facebook or chatting with people so it really works out great on the security side. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

07-17-2010, 10:04 PM	#9
Bodryn Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota; Manitoba Posts: 75	I have, or had, Fedora Red Hat as one of three systems on a single computer. Win 98 and Win XP were the other two. Unfortunately, it was not set up to go online in Linux, and as I didn't know enough not to set up several accounts so as to go online in XP with a LIMITED account, and my free AVG antivirus suddenly expired, I suddenly got a bad malware problem on it in both 98 and XP. I brought it to a dishonest computer company which claimed to have fixed the problem but instead, it came back with Win 98 missing, XP still contaminated, and no sign of Linux on the PC at all. Just a 20 GB drive C. Moreover, the 250 GB data disk, with all the data on it, no longer appeared to exist at all. I hadn't backed it up for a month. And then, things really started to go wrong! __________________ Bodryn ======== "Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?"

07-18-2010, 03:03 PM	#10
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	Bodryn, that's a terrible experience. I hate to hear stories like this. A virus/malware situation like yours is actually pretty common when any Microsoft operating system is involved. But, the loss of data because of an infection is pretty rare. Even the nastiest infections can be cleaned up with a little patience and skill. Give Linux another try when you have some free time. It really is nice. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

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07-01-2010, 07:06 PM	#2
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 286	Count me in. I've installed ubuntu on one box here and am just becoming acquainted with it. Why are you installing so much linux? Are people asking for it?

07-01-2010, 07:23 PM	#3
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	In the past I really tried to push Linux. But since the release of Vista I haven't had to push it much. Most people just want to know how Vista can be fixed without buying Windows 7. Now I just show them one or two of our old PC's running Ubuntu and they are sold. The price gets most of them (free), the fact that no virus, malware or spyware software is needed also gives them a big push. And using it to chat or play on Facebook also seems to pull them in. Being able to keep and use their old hardware seems very popular too. Heck some of the people that buy new Windows based PC's give us their old PC's to clean up. We put Ubuntu on them and in a lot of cases the old PC's run faster than the new machines with Windows 7. Every computer that comes into our shop with any version of Windows on it seems to have some type of infection. Cleaning them over and over really gets old. Buying the next new software package to keep the computer clean also gets old for most people. I'd say Microsoft themselves are turning more PC people into Linux users. The people that don't seem to like the idea of Linux too much tend to buy a Mac instead. Jon.

07-01-2010, 07:25 PM	#4
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 286	Okay, so do you recommend simply downloading the latest distro and trying it out? How about compatibility with the majority of Windows users out there? Open Office? And how about PhotoShop? That obviously doesn't run under Linux.

07-01-2010, 08:09 PM	#5
Fedaykin Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 12	Running Ubuntu 10.04 right now. I've used Windows from Windows 98 through 7(great) and Linux from Ubuntu 7.10 onward.

07-06-2010, 11:23 PM	#7
JackAZ Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 20	Converted the family to Ubuntu about 1 1/2 years ago. They've never been happier with their pc (neither have I - for the first time I don't have to manage the updates, etc). Been using Linux OS's on and off since the '90's. Moved all of my personal work (other than a few engineering things I can't) to Ubuntu shortly before converting the family. I've recently moved several workstations at work to Linux (mix of Ubuntu and Fedora) and am moving our critical servers to Red Hat this fall.