Comments on: Windows breeds fear and ignorance.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:49:19 +0000

The easiest way to get Linux on your Windows box (without messing with what's already there) is to install Wubi -- which I used to get Linux on Nokia's netbook. The latest Ubuntu is a good distro to start off with, or there's always Linux Mint!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:49:00 +0000

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:04:38 +0000

I’ve been dabbling off and on with Linux for a couple of years now. I started with using the Knoppix live distro for an old laptop that I had and absolutely loved it. I have since installed Puppy Linux on that old gateway lappy and have DSL on a usb stick to mess around with at work on my Windows Laptop. Unfortunately, I haven’t had enough time to fully understand the inner workings of a linux install especially when it comes to installing new programs or updating and would really like to use linux more. BUT, I do 3D modeling with SketchUp and drafting with AutoCAD. I have been looking for a open source version of each to use. I think that Blender might come closest to SketchUp (though not as intuitive) but I have yet to find something that works like or can deal with AutoCAD files. I realize the it takes work to learn something new and the best thing is to jump in and start using it. With time being short for practice (12 -14 hour work days) does anyone have any suggestions? I am ignorant of Linux but very curious. I am not a fan of Windows and only use it out of a perceived necessity. Help me Obi-Wan(s) you’re my only hope!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:04:00 +0000

By: CarlosHawes

CarlosHawes — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:31:03 +0000

I began tinkering with Linux a few years back. First RHEL and then Ubuntu. It soon became a secondary desktop at work. At one point, my Linux Desktop went over a year between reboots. ONE YEAR. Try that with ANY windows box. I never had to install anti spyware or anti malware tools. I never had to defrag the hard drive. No registry to clean. No dll conflicts.

Then about 6 months ago, I basically ditched my XP box and made it my backup desktop. I use it only for exchange email and some of the SQL Server tools I have to use at work. Now whenever I have to use XP, I absolutely cringe at how unbelievably SLOW everything is. I have gooten spoiled by almost instantaneous program response. A windows user who has never used Linux has no idea of what computing is like without “hourglass hell.” Those little 4 to 5 second delays don’t seem like much until you get spoiled by almost instant response.

And most windows users have probably never opened task manager and examined the process CPU and memory usage as they go through their workday. They have no idea how much of their potential CPU horsepower is wasted by the constant need to run all of the security tools that a windows user cannot do without. They aren’t aware that at some points of the day, spikes of 50-80% of processor capacity is chewed up just keeping them safe from the bad guys. Absolute waste and rot!!!!

Give Linux a fair trial. Get help from someone in getting through the initial learning curve. You will never go back!