Hello, i am new to the Lunix/Unix information. I am currently running a Windows 98se OS, 96mb RAM, and 13gb hard drive. Since i will be upgrading soon i was wondering which is better? Windows or Lunix/Unix. What does each system offer on programs, internet, games, etc. If you can give me any information it would be great!

Well, it depends upon you which is better. Anyone that uses Linux only, would most likely say it is better. Anyone with Windows and never uses Linux, most likely says windows is better.
Me, I usually boot into Linux more often. I don't play games so often so Linux can do anything for me Windows does. I still have Windows since my scanner and printer aren't supported under Linux and I use Macromedia Flash still. other than that, Linux is my choice. Its stable, never really have any trouble with it either as much as I do with Windows.
Best thing to do is just try it, see what you think, that is how your going to know if it is better for you or not. I think anyone who really doesn't play games, should love Linux and could adapt really easy with it.

Oh and another thing I like, all of it is free. If your wanting to try it out, I would recommend using Mandrake, most distro's are close to what is packeaged with them, if it doesn't have waht you want though, it is easy to find it downloadable off the internet somewhere.

Which is better?? That's like asking whether a Ford is better than a Chevy or vice versa. It all depends on who you ask. Do the same with OS as you would a car. Take it for a "test drive". That'll answer your question for you.

Everyone in this forum who posts regularly had better say Linux or else!

Only joking, I'll save the threats!

The two previous posts are right, it is a personal choice, mainly because the two OS have the same 'type' of software (how different can a text editor be in terms of the basic componants?), and that Linux products are making the jump easier by using interfaces similar to Windoze.

The only area slightly lacking is the games, but this will soon change, hopefully!

My advice is to try Linux, you won't need to upgrade at all (save you money), and you may like it!

[Edited by CragStar on 03-07-2001 at 09:40 AM]

Just for the record, I personally prefer Linux. And the more I deal with it, the more I prefer it.

But CragStar, this was a simple question, no need to go overboard.

i've been using linux for a few months now and i think it is awesome. almost everything is free, and it is very stable. i like to run kde off my 233 mhz amdk6 with 80 mb ram and it has never event paused to think. it is ***efficient***!!! too. not really a ram hog like recent versions of windows.

also, it comes with a wide array of gui's. try mandrake, or slackware!

As others have said... it depends. Personally, I think the only areas that Windows is superior are areas that Microsoft has used questionable tactics to give themselves an edge.

I support WindowsNT and Linux professionally and I can tell you that 99% of the calls to do with Windows is due to something that broke and 99% of the calls to do with Linux have to do with installation and configuration and NOT things that break. That's just my experience.

The two are so different, its almost like comparing apples to oranges. If you are determined, you can definitely use Linux for most of today's tasks. You will certainly have to compromise in a lot of areas but everything CAN be done with Linux.

I use Linux a general desktop and server OS at home. I do have a dual boot to Windows, but it is slowly becoming obsolete.
Examples:
1. converted all of my Quicken files to GNU-Cash files for home accounting
2. I use Netscape, X-Chat, and Jabber instead of IE, Mirc, and ICQ.
3. I bought the Linux version of Quake3, converted my Unreal Tournament Windows install to Linux with the help of Lokigames, and I run Counterstrike through WINE.
4. I use PHP and CGI for webpage stuff instead of ASP and VBscript.

I still have a ways to go, but I am slowly converting everything to Linux. Personally, I am doing it because I ENJOY it. If you are one who just wants to turn your system on and have it work, go with Windows (or better yet, buy a Mac), but if you really want to tinker with things, you will fall in love with Linux like I have.

A piece of advice though.. if you do start tinkering with Linux... use two computers, one that you can use, and one to play with. You don't want your tinkering to always have you fixing your only computer.

i agree with kevinj. with linux, you can fully customize your system(all though it might take a lot of effort), but if you want something done right, do it yourself. because linux is open source, you can pretty much mend it to your liking. unlike with windows, you don't have to put up with what bill wants your computer to be.

I'm liking what I've seen of Linux, but let's face it; Windows is easier to work with for the computer-illiterate. Linux is more powerful, and easier on your system; If you're new to computers and need help to turn it on, go with Windows. If you've been using computers since before Windows 3.1 came out, go with Linux--at least it's easier than DOS was....and if you've been using computers that long, even for word processing, you've surely picked up enough to handle Linux, and you'll get more out of it than you would Windows.

I've been using computers since I was 6 (And it wasn't until last year that I set my computer to boot into Windows instead of DOS), so I've been kicking myself for not making the switch to Linux sooner.

Popular belief is that Windows is easy to use. IT IS NOT. Try explaining to someone who has NEVER looked at a computer before how to setup a printer in Win98. How to load a driver file.. etc. etc. Its really not intuitive at ALL.

I am not saying Linux is MORE intuitive. Its not. But the reason people perceive it be "difficult" is because it is DIFFERENT than what most are used to. (It took me a full afternoon to get my uncle learning how to use the mouse on his first computer).

You can teach a person who has never seen a computer before how to use Linux just as easily as Windows. That's being proven every day in third world areas like countries in Africa.

But.. consider this for a minute: Take a computer, configure it with just about everything a person could want, games, office apps, etc. etc. And then LOCK IT DOWN. The user has to come to YOU to add anything. Now... which do you think would be better for that... Linux or Windows?

With Linux, I can remotely install applications, shell into the user's box and fix problems or make changes. Its far more secure, its far more stable, and with a little work and planning I can give the user EVERYTHING they could want, provided they don't want some proprietary technology that Microsoft has created an artifical market for.

I quite agree with KevinJ on the whole idea of windows not being easier to learn. Windoze is not an intuitive OS, it was not at all obvious when I first used comps, it took me ages to get to grips with the OS. I ended installing windoze almost every night because of the errors which I would cause due to my inquisitive nature.

Compare this to my Linux installs, 3 times in 3 years (for different distro's). I'll admit that I am more wise than I was 6 years ago, but the fact that Linux is so stable, which leads to less problems, (I can shut it down when I want!) is a massive bonus for me.