Linux poll

Khannie

Just trying to find out peoples views in general on linux..

Dr. Dre

Voted "intend to try"
So if anyone has any advice on what would be a suitable version for a newbie, please feel free to advise.
Thx.

MrPinK

Dr. Dre wrote:

So if anyone has any advice on what would be a suitable version for a newbie, please feel free to advise.

Survey says....Ubuntu.

It's really being touted everywhere as the new distro of choice for the casual linux user or beginner.

halenger

Fairly big fan of linux myself. That said, I use Windows 2000 on my main desktop. I have debian on a twin of that system (soon to be converted into a MythTV sorta system to see how that works out). I have a Powerbook now also so that's unixish.

I spend a long time during the day working on the command line. I'm an ex admin (currently a root holder) on Redbrick (http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie) so it gets a lot of my attention. I'm actually a really big fan of the command line and find it very nice to work with.

Can't say I've ever found a window manager I've ever been totally comfortable with. I haven't ever spent the time setting it up and sorting out keybindings and the like so I do take the blame. JDS seemed to be one of the most promising when I tried it but I didn't try it for long.

OS-X seems to be one of the best options for me. I've had the Powerbook a little over a week and I'm utterly in awed by it. Wonderful GUI sitting on top of unix. Suits me down to a t.

Linux is definately my OS of choice for a server, without question. I'd tend towards debian or possibly gentoo on that front. The company I work for is mainly a Windows house so I've had to set up apache/mysql/similar on my own machine (XP) for testing. I spent an age setting that up when I got here first and just kept wishing for "apt-get install apache2 mysql php5" etc.

i71jskz5xu42pb

Dr. Dre wrote:

Voted "intend to try"
So if anyone has any advice on what would be a suitable version for a newbie, please feel free to advise.
Thx.

List of the biggies here with pros/cons

halenger

MrPinK wrote:

Survey says....Ubuntu.

It's really being touted everywhere as the new distro of choice for the casual linux user or beginner.

I'd definately agree. It's a great work out of the box type distribution. I set it up for my girlfriend on an old, small, lightweight laptop she got to bring to college (her main laptop ended up being far too heavy to carry with her other stuff).

She's had some problems getting used to it but a few (online) tutorials later and she's getting the hang of it. She quite liked it from the beginning and uses it daily in college. There were initial problems but that was from a dist-upgrade (my fault for not getting a more recent ISO) but aside from that it's going well.

roamer

halenger wrote:

Linux is definately my OS of choice for a server, without question. I'd tend towards debian or possibly gentoo on that front. The company I work for is mainly a Windows house so I've had to set up apache/mysql/similar on my own machine (XP) for testing. I spent an age setting that up when I got here first and just kept wishing for "apt-get install apache2 mysql php5" etc.

Heh, you should have downloaded whats known as WAMP server

Dr. Dre

Thanks for that chaps.

Goodshape

Ubuntu!!1! WWOOO!! (actually, Kubuntu. I don't like Gnome :-/

Windows is my compatibility testing and gaming platform these days. Linux just doesn't have anything crap enough to emulate Internet Explorer

Orion

Dr. Dre wrote:

Voted "intend to try"
So if anyone has any advice on what would be a suitable version for a newbie, please feel free to advise.
Thx.

Ubuntu is the one to try. I have it installed on one box at home but couldn't get the wireless nic to work so haven't used it too much - hence the "intend to try" vote.

[edit]afaik the new version has builtin support for the wireless nic but I haven't had a chance to install it yet.

tba

what about computer science students or hobby programmers? would gento be the best option, you know deep end swimming and all that?

Dempsey

I tried Linux, Ubuntu. Couldn't get modem drivers, codecs and a few other things I forget now. Too much hassle

MrPinK

tba wrote:

would gento be the best option, you know deep end swimming and all that?

I'd still say Ubuntu. Some will say you'll learn more with Gentoo, but that's just because you'll have to go read a book while you're waiting hours for Gentoo to compile everything

HomunQlus

I voted 'I use Linux already' because it's true.

All my computers except for one are run by Linux or Unix systems. There's my gateway, which has Fedora Core 4, then there's my learning machine which also has Fedora Core 4, but differently configured, then there's the iMac G5 which runs Mac OS X which again is Unix, and my PowerBook G4, which has Mac OS X and Ubuntu as Dual Boot.

Only my games machine is run by Win XP, and doesn't have much data on it. No personal data that is.

Khannie

I'm absolutely stunned by the number of linux users there are around these parts. The unix forum is usually very quiet, with only about 10 regular posters.

tba wrote:

what about computer science students or hobby programmers? would gento be the best option, you know deep end swimming and all that?

I think ubuntu's still a great starting point. I have a comp. sci. background, but linux / unix is a very different animal to windows. I think it's best to lower yourself into the waters gently.

prospect

I chose Atari Jaguar, as I have tried it, but gave up on it after endless hardware compatability issues.

pickarooney

It were all unix when I were a lad, this fancy windows malarkey only came to the fore long afterwards.
After nearly 4 years of Mandrake I switched to Ubuntu two weeks ago (kind of by accident) and I have to say it's very easy to upgrade and maintain (apt-get pisses all over urpmi).
I think Gnome still has a long way to go before I'll really like it. It's severely flawed in some basic ways (can't even edit menus properly, what's that all about?).

I keep forgetting what's supposed to be good about gentoo...

Stephen

I like SuSE 10 a lot, 'specially now that you can download it easily - they have opensuse (SuSE 10 without any proprietary, closed source stuff like flash player, acrobat reader etc) and SuSE 10 'evaluation' version -- which is the same as the one you get when you buy it, with the non-open source bits included.
One of the linux magazines has opensuse on a coverdisc this month too.
Linux has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, but my main OS is still Windows XP, mostly because of my gaming addiction

Notably, suse 10 was the first Linux distro I have ever successfully installed ATI graphics drivers on, woo! I then went and sold my ATI card a week later and ugpraded to an nvidia 6800GT... doh.

Sadly my suse partition is dead after a hard disk crash last weekend, but I plan to reinstall it once the disk is replaced.

SolarNexus

voted "use linux already"

Well, I've got an interesting setup: my laptop has windows XP pro, my server has redhat fedora core 4, my desktop has both. Personally, I have to admit that I dislike the Gnome interface -not anywhere near as good as KDE, thats why I would promote Kubuntu before Ubuntu -the only difference is the interface (why they cant make a single installer with both options, I havent a clue... redhat manage it, allbeit on a DVD not CD).

"what about computer science students or hobby programmers?"

Being both of those, I would suggest the best foray into linux would be Kubuntu, its got great looks and its got the usual Linux 'good stuff' without very much complicated stuff (I suppose unless you install the server option -but I certainly wouldnt use Kubuntu for a server!)

Khannie

Just had a looksee....nice looking that kubuntu. Might give it a bash. Not really aware of any massive preferences I have for one over the other (I've tried gnome and kde and didn't really notice a huge difference.....no idea what I'm currently using (on RHEL4) ....which I suppose is testament to my not noticing any difference).

timeout

gone with the "intend to try" option. I've installed Suse 9.2 about 6months ago and played with it for a week or two but i've not gone back to it although i keep intending to espically since I get its boot loader every time I turn on the Pc to choose linux or windows, but i've got the default set to windows

Alvis

I just ordered five Ubuntu CDs, seeing as the shipment and everything is free.

I have tried SuSe before, but I went through dependency hell. I also tried Knoppix, but that didn't support my on-board sound.

pickarooney

I've never used linux without broadband and I'd imagine it would be an absolute 'mare trying to install stuff (apt-get go-do-some-shopping-and-watch-a-film install flash).
What distro is the most convenient for dialupers - most (useful) programs on the installation discs and most up-to-date packages as standard? I imagine SUSE?

Oriel

Where's the "I tried it but it was crap" option?

prospect

LOL

I was just ar$ing around the ubuntu site that MrPinK so kindly pointed us to.

Go to the online shop (link on the LHS of the screen)
You can buy Ubuntu branded Thongs!!!!!

SolarNexus

prospect wrote:

LOL

I was just ar$ing around the ubuntu site that MrPinK so kindly pointed us to.

Go to the online shop (link on the LHS of the screen)
You can buy Ubuntu branded Thongs!!!!!

"I've got linux for my nix'" (heheh... linux nickers :cool: )

DonkeyStyle \o/

sinecurea wrote:

Where's the "I tried it but it was crap" option?

Yeah I couldn't find that option either.
Or how about the "I've installed it more than 10 times, numerous distros and versions, spent hours reading how-to's and sweating over a hot command line, still haven't gotten my soundcard or modem working, and can no longer boot into X because my graphics card drivers have corrupted something, and I'm so new to linux that I don't know how to recover from this, and have come to the conclusion that it's not yet ready for human consumption."
I just don't have the patience to be arsing around trying to get linux setup when I've got an already perfectly funtional OS installed.

el Bastardo

I tried Redhat and Xandros, but it was a real pain to sort out various bits of hardware (some even needed change of firmware to work with linux). I eventually removed it in favour of more disk space.

Will try it again when it's 'ready for human consumption'.

WizZard

Gentoo user here. Running it on a server-ish type of PC at home and on my laptop, dual booting with Windows XP. Would like to switch to it full time but unfortunately I have to code & test on Windows a lot
I've also recently introduced linux (in general) into my workplace - Fedora Core 3 on a test worksation and Smoothwall (Firewall) on it's own little box. We're also planning on decommisioning our Checkpoint FW and moving to a box running IPCop & Snort (if I have my way)

DonkeyStyle \o/

Actually, before I get verbally raped by some smarty-linux man, I know the hardware support isn't Linux's own fault, it's the scabby hardware vendors that won't give up the required specs needed for drivers to be made.
But still, it's hassle I can only be arsed with every few months when I feel the need to punish myself.

commited

I said I use it.. but more precise is "it's installed in a PC beside me and ive used it for about 2hours"

mp3guy

Dual booted ubuntu with xp for a week or so, then removed windows, then eventually installed ubuntu over xp on the family pc. This house is now windows free

Rollo Tamasi

WizZard wrote:

Gentoo user here. Running it on a server-ish type of PC at home and on my laptop, dual booting with Windows XP. Would like to switch to it full time but unfortunately I have to code & test on Windows a lot
I've also recently introduced linux (in general) into my workplace - Fedora Core 3 on a test worksation and Smoothwall (Firewall) on it's own little box. We're also planning on decommisioning our Checkpoint FW and moving to a box running IPCop & Snort (if I have my way)

I like your style WizZard!
I'm running a home server on Ubuntu myself (Brezzy Badger Release). I only got into it about 2 months and so far i love it. Sudo apt-get is a dream for installing! The only problem i have is getting codecs for media players and the likes, but i didn't install it to be listening to music so no harm done. I have recently installed Smoothwall on another pc for security for the server, i'm going to install Snort and Smurf fairly soon as well.

The only other linux i've tried is Suse, but i dropped it because of graphics card problems. The next PC i get is going to be a Mac, purely because its Unix based and i can get the programs i need for it (Macromedia/Adobe/Audio Apps) that i can't get on Linux.........yet :rolleyes:

Archytas

Am a regular linux experimenter(and right now using it)... meaning I regularly change my linux distro.. And I've had problems and successes here... Its my dell laptop that I try everything on... Ubuntu 5.04(gnome) has been the best so far.. though suse 9.2(kde) also worked well(wireless and all) So at the moment I'm sticking to ubuntu... although may try kubuntu soon. Mandriva is supposed to be the best for laptops but have to say it was pretty terrible - no wireless!! which is very very very important imo.

Am a wee bit disappointed on the multimedia front... dvds and the like. and the linux media players aren't great. and mplayer is a pain in the *** to install..... but maybe its just me....

Am very much of the opinion that linux is definitely a tool for a couple of trades but not for all of them - i.e. I use it for server stuff, programmin etc but because of my gamin addiction I cant really use linux on my main PC.

halenger

roamer wrote:

Heh, you should have downloaded whats known as WAMP server

I'd heard of LAMP but I hadn't heard about LAMP until a few weeks after I went through the torture of setting it up. :rolleyes:

MrPinK

Archytas wrote:

Am a wee bit disappointed on the multimedia front... dvds and the like. and the linux media players aren't great. and mplayer is a pain in the *** to install..... but maybe its just me....

You should try VLC, a great media player for any OS.

Omnipresence

Linux user for quite a while now... Started back with Skynet in U.L. (1994 me thinks ..) work as programmer so got exposure to Solaris and Tru64 but now using Linux at work too... currently Fedora Core 4...

-A

Archytas

MrPinK wrote:

You should try VLC, a great media player for any OS.

Legendary!! Thanks for the advice.. and now I get to play my family videos...............*ahem*

rogue-entity

Voted I use Linux already
Linux and its ilk are unbeaten by any other OS, Sorry gates, but windows cant hold a candle to linux and the fact that it is used by over 80% of servers with 60% of these running Apache, and nearly 100% using BIND proves my point. The other proof is the fact that most webhosts charge considerably more for windows hosting and windows hosted sites are more prone to hacks (RIAA for one). Moral of story, have linux, excellent, dont have it? Get it now.

byte

I don't currently use Linux, but intend to try it out in the near future.

rainbow kirby

I use it sometimes in college, but my Mac is my primary computer.

tba

Archytas wrote:

because of my gamin addiction I cant really use linux on my main PC.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=286561

Might help a bit

Redrocket

judging by the results, either the poll is asking the wrong questions, or some of you are lying. 66% of people do not allready use linux.

tba

stevenk wrote:

judging by the results, either the poll is asking the wrong questions, or some of you are lying. 66% of people do not allready use linux.

I think the fact that 0% have never heard of lunix suggests that only people who care or know what linux is are voting in the poll...

wakka wakka :v:...

halenger

Why would people lie?

The people who haven't heard of it or shun it like the devil could well be doing that to this thread also. But this is a Computers/Technology Forum. Most people here would have be interested in that sorta thing or are here to ask a question - in which case they may not be feeling adventurous but may just be F5ing their own thread.

tba

do people ignore my posts?

Khannie

tba wrote:

do people ignore my posts?

Did someone say something?



The results are fairly skewed. I reckon people who use linux in college labs or as part of their coursework are voting themselves linux users (which is strictly accurate). I should probably have been explicit in saying "regular use" or something.

WizZard

Something like - Do you use linux as an everyday OS?

jaqian

You should have asked "Have you ever used Linux?"

I've used it but have gone back to windows as unfortunately for me its the only "cheap" usable OS. I've tried various flavours of Linux installed them,partitioned HD etc no problem but trying to actually replace M$ requires uber-geek skills: compiling and good comand of linux cli for editing fstab etc.

IMO Linux will only ever become commonplace when you can walk into a shop buy your software and install it straight away like you can with windows. Example: I use my scanner a lot for scanning documents/photos and occasionly OCR I tried compiling Sane but couldn't get it to work.

I class myself as advanced windows user but I'm a complete newb with Linux. There are too many flavours and not enough standardisation. I shouldn't have to edit Fstab file to recognise my flash mp3 player.

I love the philosophy behind Linux/FOSS but *nix just isn't usable to me. On windows I use FOSS as much as possible: OpenOffice; GIMP & Audacity.

The only *nix system I'll be using down the road is Mac if I can get it cheap. Its the ONLY usable *nix system where you don't have to be an uber-geek to set it up.

***
Btw if anyone here is looking for help with their Linux flava try Linux.ie the ppl on the mailing lists are a fountain of knowledge and very helpful and always delighted to see new Linux users.

Syth

Main desktop machine is Fedora Core. Though it hasn't been used as much recently since I got my iBook. It's Unix with a fancy GUI. I've been impressed with OpenBSD recently, since it runs UCD NetSoc's servers. It's got some nice features.

Fenster

Syth wrote:

Main desktop machine is Fedora Core. Though it hasn't been used as much recently since I got my iBook. It's Unix with a fancy GUI. I've been impressed with OpenBSD recently, since it runs UCD NetSoc's servers. It's got some nice features.

So is OS X, if you want to look at it that way...

Gentoo all the way for me, as an aside.