This is quite an old topic, but I am here to relate my experience. I wanted to start a new thread cause is feel there are many out there like me with similar experiences. But first, a background - I've been using windows for over 7 years now, right from 95 to xp pro here. (the only version is skipped was 2000 and me) I have become the proverbial 'guru' in my area - if there was anything related about computers, it had to be me. Then, I heard about linux. I wanted to try it out, but was shy. But then, 1 month ago I got an opportunity to test it out when windows crashed and needed another system temporarily. so i promptly installed mandrake 10.2 (i don't know the version properly). installation was fine, and i even managed to set up the net. but then the problems started. any file that i downloaded was in .tar (or something like that) and i knew how to extract it using the command line, but this is where linux fails. It took me a lot of time to find the command line editor. fortunately, i figured out how to fix windows and as soon as i did, i formatted the linux partition. bottom line - linux is not bad (honestly, even i liked it) but the basics are not in place. an inbuilt utility to open such basic files and other such programs must be embedded within the system, and not given as "software packages". Improvement is definately required, now that we are seeing a precursor of longhorn.

you might want to make sure you have a system that is compatible with running Longhorn before you think about buying it, since even microsoft is stuck on how to issue it to the public because of system requirements.

You should try Fedora Core 4 or Gentoo Linux if you want a good linux system nextime. Mandrake isn't worth the trouble of learning.

I've always thought that Linux was much better than Windows as far as the servers go but IMO I tried Suse 9.1, Mandrake, and everything else. I thought it was confusing, because you have to use terminal to do stuff while in Windows it is easier. I had switched back to Windows 2003 Server. Last but not least, if you had the money try for one of those Dual G5's with OSX Server, a lot of people told me that was the best server os they had ever use.

Well if you just wanted to give linux a try you should have downloaded the latest KNOPPIX iso. Its a live cd ie you dont have to install any thing . Just burn the CD (make sure you burn the iso image and not just copy ISO on CD) It becomes a bootable CD and then u can run Linux off that CD (yes that right no installation required...there are versions of SuSe for LiveCD too but Knoppix is the mother of all)

It detects all the hardware and even your windows partitions automatically. Its easy to setup networking (although can be hard to setup some ralrey used modems)

in KDE you can easily extract any thing by just a click.

I think Linux is an awsome platform. It depends which distro you use. Some distributions are targetted for Windows users like Linspre (its commercial and not the best ..)

You may want to reasearch on other Linux distros b4 totally ruling out Linux for Longhorn. Besides almost all the goodies which will come in Longhora are already there in any good Linux Distro.

Linux's disadvantages for home users are some user unfreindliness , bad driver support and lack of Major Software titles (especially Games ..for every thing esle u get a free open source alternative)

Altought i HATE mic$soft capital philosophy....i thing is much friendly than linux, and most of the software is design for Win os... so... WINDOWS!

Just click them.
Konqueror (the linux equivenlant of Explorer) will open tar archives asf they were standard folders, then you can just drag copy your compressed file.

OR just use one of the many kde embeded archive programs.

If you use GNU/linux in command line mode, and dont know how to use GNU, then it will seem hard.. its un-fair to compare GNU command line againsed Windows graphical.

just try extracting an archive on DOS.

Exactly!!! I am a complete home user (an amateur web designer) and a hardcore gamer!!! And since I live in India, a lot of hardware is available here (which I use often) which is not supported even by Windows, so forget linux. Besides, i prefer windows cause believe it or not, it has the most customisable desktop. you do need to download some programs, but they are easy to use and really powerful. (and i have a weakness for good looking desktops - see mine )

Not supported by windows or linux ?
and Linux hardware support is usually quite similar to the BSD's
Solaris's support for hardware is similar to Linux . Unix too.

What kind of hardware vendors do you have that make hardware in-compatable with all the major x86 OS's. ???



This simply is not true.

First of all, KDE is equally as customisable as WindowsXP, especially using applications such as karamba, and KDE themes.

Kwin themes can be created to make any window managers, and the taskbar can be customised, or completely replaced by a karamba theme.

Your Screenshot is pretty tame compared to a customised linux desktop.

And what happens when you want to customise it surther than you can with themes ?
In windows you are stuck, in linux you can use a completely different desktop.

to name but a few linux desktops...

KDE
GNOME
WindowMaker
BlackBox
FluxBox
IceWM
Enlightenent
AmigaWorkBench
TWM

And in the true spriit of FOSS, you can always code your own desktop, from scratch, or pull in bits you like from all other Desktops.

Because of what linux is, Open, Windows, a Closed OS could never be more customisable.

But yeah, sometimes, if your unlucky and have exotic hardware made by some company that doesnt even support windows, then yep, its probably not supported out of the box by linux either... (we wont get into coding your own drivers arguemtns.. [just yet, lol])

Widnows and Linux have there strong points.
its about choosing whats right for you.

I know enough about computers to buy only decent hardware,
and i knew how to use *NIX Os's from College.
So i had nothing to lose from changing to linux.
Only to gain the benifits.

But not everyone is in the same position.

Its all about Freedom to choose.

As I said before, I'm a hardcore gamer, so I need all the support I can, for which windows is much better. And you are right, windows and linux have their own strong points, it's just a matter of decision. Just like you are quite comfortable with linux and support it, I support windows, and now all the more 'cause I've experienced linux. I agree, any program can be learnt, even 3D MAX, if you give it enough time, but since i'm in the last year of high school, I need to put in extra efforts this year so i just don't have time fiddling around. Besides, my dad who's completely obsessed with windows, won't like me installing linux in his partition (where else can I install it???)

in my opinion linux is so much better, I believe that if you want to play new games use windows, use windows if you need autocad for your studies or work, use windows if your job requires it, but for everything else linux is just great, it is fast, save, no need to worry for security, on windows you can't feel save doing something especially if you're online and a computer thesedays without internet is almost nothing in my opinion, a box for games and document printing etc.