To all my hippies who hate corporations, especially multinational (please /bump this)

STOP USING MICROSOFT WINDOWS. Microsoft operates in 99% of every country in the world, and 85% of all pre-fabricated computers come with this product on it. If you don't want to look like a hypocrite, stop using windows. Try a mac, or try a Linux distrobution, such as www.Ubuntu.com ... Ubuntu does what vista does, if not, more. You can run every windows program on it with little to no effort, and your computer's speed will greatly increase. If you want to upgrade from corporate monopolies such as Microsoft, then do a google search for "Free Linux OS" .,.... You will see truckloads of results with numerous different versions that are made for every different reason and usage. Everything on Linux is free: The operating system, programs, themes, style, you name it. All you do is download, and burn the .ISO image to a disk, reboot with disk in computer, and it's all self explanatory, and doesn't take 4 hours to install like windows does. Windows also has numerous compatibility issues, and they also refuse to let their own system recognize Mac or Linux systems. SO if you need to reinstall on a hard drive which has Linux, it forces you to delete Linux so their product can take over and hog your computer resources. Oh and by the way, a virus on Microsoft Windows is common, frequent, and very annoying. With my Linux, I have no anti-virus, no anti-spyware, and no anti-adware. Does a virus exist with Linux? Yes ... How common? Extremely rare by someone extremely bored and the system usually makes it go away without telling you it fixed itself. Spyware? I've browsed "suspected malware sites" ... and nothing has happened yet. I'm serious about the hypocrite thing to ... Microsoft is a multibillion, multinational, ego driven system with thousands of proven instability and incompatibility issues. At least Linux asks you for an administrator password often to help you understand why you need to enter it for whatever reason you chose to type it in. Games are free, and it can run just about any windows based 3d game with full speed easily.


If you have any questions about Linux software, feel free to ask at cr4kkr@yahoo.com, or IM me at my AIM name which is "wanna bone" .. Yes that name is real. Don't expect a response right away, but I will help you turn away from the bad guy windows.

 

I agree, I switched from xp to Ubuntu on my last box and it was night and day, spyware? virus? it doesn't even know these names. And my all time favorite is that it won't change your settings without you knowing as does windows. You have complete control of your computer, and there are tutorials that teach you how to change the more advanced settings. I thought it was great.

 

Yup, Linux is much better, espicially with new distros like ubuntu, which are alot more user friendly (no editting .conf files!)

 

yes, and your point, being... what exacly ?

When was the last time you went near a busy modern office ? and also I dont think you understand the word "hypocrite" do you?

Little to no effort, well I can do that with windows XP so is there a difference here?

So a minimal increase in computer speed is supposed to offset around 2 or 3 thousand hours of learning a whole new operating system eh?

If you are referring to SAMBA compatibility, think again. SMB is a Microsoft protocol. Which means it is Linux that has the compatibility problem. If, however you are referring to the bootloader then your information is a few years out of date.

Well after such an informative post I think I will decline your offer and, if I do decide Linux desktops are worth the effort I will engage the services of someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

Windows is technically the OS with the compatibility issue. It doesn't work well with OSX, Solaris, Linux, BSD, Plan9, AIX, HP, and other common OS's. It so happens that Linux plays very well with all of the OS's I listed. I'd call that OS compatibility.

SAMBA has two faces, client and server. Both the client and the server can be run on Windows, Linux, and OSX, among other OS's.

I think the original poster missed some of the best points.
1. Free.
2. No viruses or background code execution.
3. Stability defined.

Honestly, this whole thread makes Linux seem weak. I'd voice my opinion on this thread if I weren't a mod.

 

linux has viruses, they're just less popular, because who wants to infect linux? really?

 

Linux does not execute privileged code in the background. It will also protect it's vital system files from modification. You will not get a Linux virus, ever, unless you specifically install it as the privileged user.

Windows, on the other hand, will execute privileged code in the background without any consent. It will leave ".dll" files open to modification, among most other system files. The user needs to simply visit the wrong website with an infected advertisement to get a virus. No a virus scanner and Windows updates are never enough to protect a Windows system.

One very common method of Windows virus infection involves a ".dll" file. The code will remotely execute in the background that directs to a system file. The file is infected with the virus, and propagates itself amongst the local system, then propagates on the connected network. Virus scanners will likely not catch it, but even if they do, it will come back. Thanks to Windows Restore Points, the virus creates a Restore Point with the infected ".dll" file included. Windows only see's the ".dll" file as a valid system file.

Basically, when you remove the infected file (via antivirus or by hand), then reboot the machine, Windows will restore the infected virus for you. Thus, you are once again infected. A prime example of this would be the recent "W32.*" worm that crippled thousands of proffesional Windows networks. It is complicated and can be costly to remove a virus. If Windows protected it's system files like Linux, viruses would most assuredly NOT be an issue.

This same scenario can occure in relationship with the Windows system registry.

I am well thouroughly trained in Linux, and currently training for Information Security. :cheers2:

 

considering many servers run linux , it would be ideal for hackers to infect them first.

as for this thread- i think linux is ideal for most people , it is free , secure and can run on modest specs. if you are a power user who must have the latest version of photoshop or an office running mission critical windows application then obviously linux is not for you.
i believe that in the 3rd world linux is especially important. poor people cannot afford windows' license and need somthing stable that runs on old hardware. the fact that it can't run some games or microsoft office is not important because the vast majority of user just need a browser a media player , a word processor and a simple picture editor - they can find all of these in linux.

 

I believe cross-over allows MS Office to run on Linux. I haven't tried it myself though.

 

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