XP vs. Linux

[jes]

As I understand it, Linux is still more stable than XP, Free and not as much of a resourse hog. Is there more?

------------------
"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer a Rolls Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon and explode once a year, killing everyone inside." - Robert Cringely, InfoWorld Columnist

[diurnal]

XP beats linux any day, for right now.

------------------
Sledgehammer will save the day!

[mjc]

I wouldn't go as far to say that XP beats Linux, I know that most Linux distributions have far fewer compatability issues, but software is somewhat limited....not all the latest and greatest in that area. I know that if I tried to put XP on my machine I would be looking at a major headache (and it fits MS minimum requirements), but I have had no problems with Linux (unless you want to call my lack of sound a problem http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif... I just haven't hunted down the proper drivers for the older version I'm currently using). I also wouldn't say that Linux is better...it can be a little daunting to setup and maintain (MS tries to make all the hard stuff happen in the background so most users never notice it), but in Linux you have to deal with it out front and often times need to know a little about working without the aid of a GUI....for that matter I wouldn't say that either is the superior product...just different (unless you want go by price http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif even though you can buy Linux packages like Mandrake I haven't seen them cost as much for the full version as XP does for the upgrade version)

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Gallaeglagh]

Actually Mandrake can be had for free if you have broadband or a friend who does
http://www.linuxiso.org/mandrake.html



------------------
Indecision may or may not be my problem

[Mini-Me]

XP is cute, but it seems to have retained the instability of WindowsME in my humble opinion.
I'M not try to start a flame-war, or upset die-hard XP fans, i'm just stating what I have found personally.

XP requires you to download heaps of new drivers for relitively modern bits of hardware like scanners.
This was a pain.
XP seems to suffer from the 'ol "Windows will now not shut down..." issue.
XP startup is cute, but shutting it down seems to still require a yank out of the power plug.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
XP is horribly hungry for resources.
The machine that my boss is running XP on is a brand-spanking new machine with all the bells and whistles, 1.7GHz CPU heaps and HEAPS of RAM(about 500MB or somthing astronomical like that), high-res graphics and all that, and the machine kept crashing.
XP never made it ONE WEEK on this BRAND-NEW machine without falling over.

Sound familiar?
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif

My boss made so many complaints to the company about the instability, that the took it away and rebuilt it using a new mother-board.
It seems to work O.K. now, but it STILL will not shut down - need to pull the plug to kill it...

LINUX on the other hand, never falls over.
It is the most reliable OS I think I have found that offers REAL competition to Microsoft.(Actually, Microsoft classify Linux as "The threat.")

Many people on this globe are sick to death of Microsoft's crazy pricing structure, and many of these frustrated people are turning to Linux and getting great results.

The latest Linux i can reccomend is ELX.
<www.elxlinux.com>
This Linux is built for a Windows user's point of view, and tries to emulate the way that Windows LOOKS, so that a transition from Windows to Linux is as painless as possible...
I strongly suggest you check out this site for more details and screenshots of what ELX looks like.

Most dist. of Linux(ELX included) come with HEAPS AND HEAPS of utilities.
ELX has audio players for all common formats, video players, DVD players, Audio and video editors, and CD-burning software.
Try going to the site and asking them questions in their forums - they are very friendly and helpful.

If you are interested in Linux, but are too scared or unwilling to leave the familiarity of Windows, then you should definetly check out ELX.

ELX is due for release on the 23rd of December 2001.


G.



------------------
Windows is the most dangerous computer virus on the Internet.

[Gallaeglagh]

Thanks for the link Mini-Me and I agree with most of your points about Windows 'cepting that for the machine we have here on XP seems really stable almost never crashes. I've dabbled in and out of Linux [Red Hat, Mandrake] but it still seems a tad confusing. Windows for all it's shortcomings is easy, point and click, right click left click.

BTW, this is a unique sort of site in that there's virtually never any flames - Thank Pete

------------------
To Beer, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems - Homer Simpson

[Gallaeglagh]

One other point I wanted to make is that until Linux can run most new games it won't catch on with the general public

------------------
To Beer, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems - Homer Simpson

[rond36]

Gallaeglagh
XP and linux are just about even in the games department neither one does games very well lol thats what I keep ME around for and so I can use my scanner and burnner (without paying roxio $50 for software that should be free) I had ME, XP, and Mandrake Linux 8.1 on this machine at the same time for a while and XP is more stable than ME and Linux. As long as I don't try to install software or hardware that isn't supported XP is rock solid.

------------------
Alright who messed it up this time!