What are the advantages/disadvantages of using Linux instead of windows?

Is there any? Would I notice? Would you buy a new computer with Linux?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using Linux instead of windows?
My answer is slightly long winded, but thorough and based on an expensive disappointment at the hands of Vista.





This is an ideal opportunity to try out the new Linux Ubuntu 7.10, the graphics and effects are far superior to Vista see link below :





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5Oz...





Ubuntu is free as it is open source, the download link is :





http://www.ubuntu.com/





Once you have downloaded Ubuntu 7.10, you will have an ISO image file. You will then need to create a bootable disc of the file.





This can be achieved by using Nero Burning ROM if you have it or MagicISO a free trial of which is available for download :





http://www.magiciso.com/





Once you have created the bootable disc, we are going to call it the LIVE CD.





Start your PC from the Ubuntu live CD, select start or install when prompted, once the Ubuntu desktop has appeared in the top left hand corner there is an option to install, double click and the installation screen will appear.





Once Ubuntu has asked you about regional settings etc. it will then take you into the partitioning table, if you select the default setting which is on the top, Ubuntu will then automatically sort the space it needs and install its own Grub bootloader.





I am so taken with Ubuntu 7.10, I have ditched windows altogether and I am now running Ubuntu as my primary operating system.





You can run quite a number of windows applications on Ubuntu using WINE, a piece of software that emulates windows. For details of this visit :





http://www.winehq.org/site/download-deb





http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/wine





Ubuntu 7.10 is also incredibly easy to use and has online support second to none :





http://ubuntuforums.org/





Ubuntu vs Vista (these ratings based on personal extensive experience working with both)





I will break it down in to categories and give each system a rating out of 10.





System resource friendly :





Ubuntu 10/10


Vista 4/10





Graphics (Eye Candy) :





Ubuntu 10/10


Vista 7/10





Ease of use :





Ubuntu 8/10


Vista 9/10





Software compatability :





Ubuntu 6/10 (Open Source alternatives in some cases are available) also WINE as described above can be used.


Vista 8/10





Wireless compatability :





Ubuntu 5/10


Vista 8/10





Networking compatability :





Ubuntu 7/10


Vista 8 /10





Security :





Ubuntu 10/10


Vista 7/10





Gaming :





Ubuntu 3/10


Vista 8/10


This category sourced from various sites.





Office software :





Ubuntu 10/10 (Free)


Vista 2 /10





Price :





Ubuntu 10/10 (Free)


Vista 2/10





Overall performance :





Ubuntu 9/10


Vista 6/10








Of the two for me Ubuntu wins hands down.





The only favor Vista did for me, was to encourage me to discover Ubuntu
Reply:As stated by $¢®îptêd, it is targeted less by hackers and virus/worm writers, but that does not make it less vulnerable.





If you are not familiar with configuring operating systems and a competent C Scripter then stay well away from Linux, it's not a beginners platform.





If your primary use of a computer is gaming, then stay away from Linux.
Reply:Advantages:





Free to use,no DRM or MS style end user agreements.


Free or very nearly to obtain just a few £s if you choose to buy


Usually very stable .


Powerful


Secure


Very resistant to viruses etc.partly due to there being nothing like as many viruses as aimed at MS and partly due to the structure of the Linux operating system which makes it much harder for viruses, worms etc to do any system wide damage.


Huge choice of distros to choose from,PCLinux,Ubuntu Open Suse,Madriva,Mepis,Linspire and many many more


Some very helpful and friendly forums exist to help you should you run into difficulties.


Software is free,and there is a lot to choose from.


Doesn't use your system resources up like the big commercial OS does.


You can customize to your hearts content (if thats your thing)


You will learn new techniques








Disadvantages:


No real commercial software available(although some can run using WINE )


Can be a steep learning curve.


Some hardware issues:USB modems,lexmark printers.





Would I buy a new PC with Linux? not sure as it's so easy to get hold of and easy to install,I think I'd just buy the Hardware and choose my own distro...but if you want a yes or no answer then Yes.
Reply:LINUX





pros: open source (free),many distros (variant),more beautiful user interface than windows,and light system requirement





cons : Limited software,not all people use linux
Reply:linux is free





there are not may viruses for it.


its open source and updated more regulaly.


its as powerful


there are lots of other bits of sfotware available which is free too.


its also more secure.





you would probably be better in getting a windows pc and then dual booting it with linux aswell.





disadvantages are that allot of games dont work well with linux.
Reply:these guys said it all you can have windows full of viruses or linux with 0 viruses that kind made my choice easy linux mint
Reply:Advantages.


1. Best Gui features from windows.


2. More secure than windows.


3. Free version are available.


Disadvantge.


Much Complex to work than windows.


Mostly used in server only.
Reply:Yes, i would buy a computer with Linux.





http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/
Reply:Hi, here r the advantages of Linux:





1. It has a Unix heritage and works in almost the same way as the original Unix and that makes it a lot more stable and secure.


2. Running Linux means that u never have to worry about ur security cause there is nothing out there that can harm u in anyway though u must always run a firewall though no matter what OS u use.


3. Its free and open source meaning problems get fixed sooner since source is available to everyone and anyone can modify it and improve it.


4. Linux itself is very stable and almost never crashes at all, u could leave Linux running for a month and still not notice any decrease in performance.


5. With Linux u have all the software in the world u will ever need and some commercial software is used by Linux as well and Linux has proprietary drivers for everything now.


6. Since Linux tries to support all hardware out of the box, it has better hardware support then any other OS.


7. Linux is fully customizable and u can personalize it and make your system look like whatever u want.


8. Linux has different desktop environments for u to use giving u a choice such as KDE or gnome.


9. You have your privacy using Linux as no one can monitor your computer as the case is with other OS's.


10. There is no digital rights management in Linux so u r free to use any type of media u want.


11. Linux uses compiz fusion for its 3d effects which no operating system can beat.





Now here r the disadvantages:





1. Linux is difficult in the beginning no matter which distribution u use and there is a lot of learning to do.


2. Some commercial software is not supported on Linux.


3.Not all hardware is compatible with Linux though this is very rare these days but lets say lexmark printers and stuff support for Linux sucks. Almost any Hp printer works on Linux though and their support for Linux is awesome.


4. Linux and even Mac OS X r not gamer platforms so even though there r many games out for Linux, majority of them r for Windows only.





I am using Kubuntu 7.10, for some one just starting with Linux I would suggest Linux Mint 4.0 which is based on Ubuntu 7.10 but is slightly easier to use, more stable, looks better, and has some good modifications made to it making it more user friendly.





I hope I helped.





Good Luck!