For those too afraid to try to install linux

[nn_step]

http://wubi-installer.org/

[mikey976]

ive used this, pretty easy and straighforward... beauty is you can uninstall it too

[Th3MadScientist]

or you can just do a live install from the CD to try Linux.

[alexanderhuzar]

I've been told by my friends who have actually taken the time to try Linux that certain "normal" things you still have to use command prompt for and doing so requires programming input/output and etc. like it was done on the Commodore64.

I've not tried Linux because I have no reason to switch, but more than than I've heard more bad stuff than good (specifically with doing everyday things). I'm assuming that (just like windows), once you know how to do something, it will seem so easy, but I dunno...can anyone give me a good solid reason to try it?

[Xel'Naga]

I am a Linux user so here is my input:

1. Linux is NOT hard to install. If you ever installed any Windows, you will have no problems with a Linux distro with graphical installer.

2. Don't worry about the command line. You can do almost everything without it. But as soon as you learn some basic commands, you will use it since it's a lot faster and easier to type a command than clicking 10 times.

3. Although I am a Linux aficionado, I DON'T see any use for Linux by an average person. I am an EECS major (not double major, our university just has an EECS major, which is, of course, the hardest by far) and I really use my computer for lots of programming and EE simulations. Linux is a lot faster, especially if you use a stripped down version, a lot more stable and just, more suited for programming. It gives you complete control over the whole system, unlike Windows, which is the thing I like best about it.
However, the average user, which mainly games/watches movies (pr0n:D) should just stick with Windows. Linux is a lot harder to master, offers no real advantages, has no games (and wine is pretty slow and has problems with quite a lot of games). The only thing is that is free, but that shouldn't be a problem for you Americans.

[stocius]

I am a Linux user so here is my input:

1. Linux is NOT hard to install. If you ever installed any Windows, you will have no problems with a Linux distro with graphical installer.

2. Don't worry about the command line. You can do almost everything without it. But as soon as you learn some basic commands, you will use it since it's a lot faster and easier to type a command than clicking 10 times.

3. Although I am a Linux aficionado, I DON'T see any use for Linux by an average person. I am an EECS major (not double major, our university just has an EECS major, which is, of course, the hardest by far) and I really use my computer for lots of programming and EE simulations. Linux is a lot faster, especially if you use a stripped down version, a lot more stable and just, more suited for programming. It gives you complete control over the whole system, unlike Windows, which is the thing I like best about it.
However, the average user, which mainly games/watches movies (pr0n:D) should just stick with Windows. Linux is a lot harder to master, offers no real advantages, has no games (and wine is pretty slow and has problems with quite a lot of games). The only thing is that is free, but that shouldn't be a problem for you Americans.He's pretty much summed it up. For the average user there's really no OS other than Windows especially since Windows is uber compatible. I still like Linux, but Windows is pretty much what I have to use.

[s1nykuL]

@ Xel'Naga and Stocious, I absolutely agree.

Yet... I would advise those that cannot use Linux and the Linux command line to make the effort to do so. My reasoning is such. Although Windows is so easy to use and is pretty much ubiquitous. The average user has little direct control of, or visibility into what the system is doing, or how to change anything but the most simple behaviours of the OS. The abstraction between the hardware, what the system is doing and the user has increased with each iteration of Windows. This is now reached such an extent that the average user lets the OS decide most everything. What is my point here? Well my point is control.

From what I see as the progression of OS development by m$ continues, the user will be further separated from what the OS is doing and find ever more hoops to jump through to change anything of importance. I feel that eventually Windows will become a closed box system where the user has control only over the appearance of the OS and very little if any control over what the system runs and does in the background.

Now call me paranoid and talk of tinfoil hats by all means, but I don't like the idea of one of the most important machines in my life, important for so many reasons; Education and earning a living to expressing myself and relaxing. A machine into which I may type personal, financial and potentially embarrassing information, being a closed system which I cannot control or see the actions of on the most fundamental of levels.

I don't fear this with Linux, it is open, the code is there for everyone to see. Thousands of coders from all over the globe all with different agendas have reviewed the content of open source software. What would you trust most? Code that has been peer reviewed by thousands of people of different beliefs and goals or a single entity with one goal?

The user has control over and can see everything a Linux based OS does. With Linux you have choice and total control. Agreed, total control comes at a price, it's none too simple at console level and a basic knowledge of scripting in DOS or programming in something such as 'C' will go a long long way in helping to understand and master the CLI. But don't let this put anyone off, it is not hard either. Nearly all Linux cmds will have a manual page which can be brought up in one terminal whilst one plays with the cmd in another. If required all the software and the whole of the OS itself can be hacked, modified and made to bend to ones whim. With Linux the user has complete control and total visibility of system behaviour.

Linux distros are very good now for hardware support and the chances are that an install will detect and install drivers for most hardware. You may never have to use a terminal window/command line. And with the number of live CD's that can be booted from, different distos can be tested without making changes to your PC.

If one has any distrust of the corporations or the motives of the corporations that currently produce the majority of commercial software. If you are concerned that your PC is doing less what you want and more what those corporations want, then hopefully, my arguments for adopting Linux above should be enough to convince you to at least give it a try.

I think Ubuntu 8.04 is probably the most user friendly starting point. Try the live CD. It has great support as well.

One last thing: Linux is powerful and flexible. Windows limits your imagination, Linux doesn't, you decide your own limits.

[alexanderhuzar]

Hmm nice speech. Those live CD's sound like something like I got nothing to lose by at least trying it...

[Logos4]

again and again and again: guys, for those of you who never tried Linux before, just burn a Live CD and launch it !!! It's worth trying and that won't put you computer at risk. You can even order free Ubuntu CDs if you want, but for Christ's sake, just give that damned OS a bloody try with a Live CD or install a downloaded ISO in a VM (VirtualBox is a good option), and none of this will put your machine or your OS at risk. Once you've tried it, you're free to decide if you want it or not. You don't even have to get rid of Windows for that. Most distros will automatically integrate XP in their bootloader; there are software to dual-boot with Vista. OK, what more can I say...

[Xel'Naga]

again and again and again: guys, for those of you who never tried Linux before, just burn a Live CD and launch it !!! It's worth trying and that won't put you computer at risk. You can even order free Ubuntu CDs if you want, but for Christ's sake, just give that damned OS a bloody try with a Live CD or install a downloaded ISO in a VM (VirtualBox is a good option), and none of this will put your machine or your OS at risk. Once you've tried it, you're free to decide if you want it or not. You don't even have to get rid of Windows for that. Most distros will automatically integrate XP in their bootloader; there are software to dual-boot with Vista. OK, what more can I say...


I've installed various Linux distributions for myself and lots of friends and here is what I know:
1. All recent distros come with GRUB bootloader which works flawlessly with XP and Vista. Heck, at one time I had 5 Oses: XP, Vista, Suse, BSD and Tiny XP. No problems what so ever.
2. Some modified (by the PC manufacturer) versions of XP or Vista CAN have problems. It happend once with a HP laptop of a friends. After installing Linux I couldn't boot Windows anymore. Grub or Lilo wouldn't even see it. I fixed it though in a few days.
3. If you plan to use Windows and Linux at the same time, install ALL Windows OSes first.It can be done the other way, but the Windows bootloader will rewrite Grub. You will have to boot Linux with the CD/DVD/USB and than use the command line to "shift" the Windows bootloader, write Grub in it's place and link them. It's only a few commands, but if you make a mistake you are fuc*ed.

[64dragon]

not because of this thread (just graduated college and actaully have time to "learn" linux). i just installed 64bit ubuntu and it was much easier than installing XP or Vista and took 1/2 as long.

[karl_eller]

Yeah, for a first-time Linux OS, you can't go past Ubuntu 8.04. It's an awesome release, and dead simple to get used to. You can do pretty much everything through the synaptic package manager and add/remove programs, it's got great support forums, and is a really user-friendly OS.

The LiveCD is great, and installing it couldn't be easier. I second installing all the Windows OS's first if you're multi-booting with Ubuntu, as Grub is a hell of a lot easier to modify than the Windows bootloaders :p:

Eller

[Grafton]

i keep linux in a vm no need to have it installed i am *trying* to learn all the commands but i'll admit to being gui addicted