It is very easy to get swept away with all the hype of Linux being the OS which can handle anything. I was wondering, what has Linux done for you? What could you do on Linux which just isn't possible on Windows? What tools did you use? How did you really customise everything about your system?

I'm not asking for much in the way of writing, just brief examples. Go on, inspire a curious newbie.

Linux has done nothing for me that windows couldnt.

Theres been advantages, i.e. I'm using a pretty low spec machine, and a webserver runs much quicker on linux that windows.

Its enabled me to try something new, I've learn alot of new things in the last couple of weeks.

Just while doing NORMAL things in linux, your get to feel like you've acheived something, not like windows, where it does everything for you.

I'm sure that the more I learn about linux, the more answers I can come up with for this question.

Really there's not much you can do on linux that you can't on windows, however, it's advantages lie in it's ability to run effeciently on lower specs, and it's software base in addition to the products that companies sell to perform various things, there is a large free software base which can perform almost anything, and many programs that perform functions ytou would generally have to pay for in windows. But the best advntage Linux has given me, is the server I run on an old powermac clone a PPC603ev 180Mhz, 112MB Ram and a 10GB HD. It killed the speed when I ran X on it, but by not using X, I run the whole gammit of services, and it's fast far faster than MACOS was.

--Alex

Linux has set me free!!!

Free to choose what I want.
Free to install what I want.
Free to set it up the way I want it.
Free from viruses, crashes and spyware.
Free from registrations of all kinds and stuff.

...

Everything I need to do. (no windows on my box)

for me, it is a combination of enpowerment and economics.

i've been able to learn a lot. i'm happy to kick my old version of dreamweaver to the curb and use a text editor to do web programming.

i've been able to think more computer friendly. using linux allows you to understand many of the layers of functionality from hardware, kernel, configuration, modules, etc.

i've been able to save some coin, and have exposure to a wide variety of software. i know that open != free, but as a twenty something fella, i appreciate the cost effectiveness of distros like SuSE.

Thanks for the feeback, I do read my posts!

Things I can't do in Windows but I can in Linux:

I can afford Linux, I can't afford Windows any longer.

I can Burn CDs. Windows just doesn't recognize my drive as a burner for some strange reason plus I have to buy software to do the things I want to do in Windows. My Linux distros come with lots of software already on the install CDs.

Multitasking. I can run several things at the same time perfectly without crashing. I am unable to do that under any Microsoft operationg system.

Things I can't do in Linux but I can in Windows:

Catch and spread viruses and worms, possibly unknowingly.

I can scan an image while burning a CD.

I can format a floppy and still use my word
processor.

I don't have to stupidly watch as the security
updates eat my bandwidth.

I don't have to upgrade my computer to experience
that the new release is faster. ;)

I can gather statistics and information about
stuff on my computer that I couldn't in windows
(well, there's cygwin, but why use a crutch if
I can fly?)

Linux gives me discipline ... I think before I do :)

I can buy food instead of a temporary license,
and no, I'm a christian, piracy is not an option.


Cheers,
Tink

Something about that statement made me laugh.

On Linux I can just about do anything. I configure it without being patronised.

I can do multiple tasks without having my computer get laggy on me.

I can experience a whole new world of computing. Attempt to become an expert in Linux as well as in Windows.

I second that. While so many people I know always seem to be trying to hunt down a bootleg of this or that, I don't need to.

Freedom from needing software I can't possibly justify paying so much for.

but do you never find that although there is always a linux application which can do the job of a windows application.....but at the end of the day..its not that application.

i.e. there are two applications which are stopping me from moving completely over to linux, and they are adobe photoshop, and macromedia dreamweaver.

Oh, and I'm not sure how well supported my graphic tablet would be supported in linux.

Maybe I should look into running some sort of windows emulator to use these two applications?

I'll setup another hd and install redhat on it later this week maybe.

I can install 4 programs that do the same thing and THEN decide which one i want to keep l and still go out to dinner.

I can run the latest and greates OS without the latest and greatest hardware.

I can see what I am doing to my computer when I update something or install something.

I can Run multiple users sessions off the same box without having to buy licenses

I can confidently run for months without an antivirus.

I can make any program work better and pass it along so that others may benefit

Choose exactly what I want to have on my system, what services I want running

What I cant do:
1.Run dreamweaver MX
2. run Flash MX
3. see my favorite BSOD
4. See cryptic messages that tell me nothing about why #3 just happened
5. Participate in excellent user forums such as LQ!

I don't think there are many things in Photoshop
that Gimp couldn't do, it just does them in a
different way from what you're used to.


As for dreamweaver ... all I can say that WYSIWYG
and web development are contradictions in terms.

I use emacs for my HTML :}

If you need something more fancy, try screem,
bluefish, amaya or quanta ... the latter two (combined
with CVS and their ability to upload to a remote
site should be good enough to replace dreamweavers
other features).


Cheers,
Tink

Simple answer: many sleepless night with a lot of anger and fustration.