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Computer Ig'nant Thinking about Linux

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muffler dragon

muffler dragon

Bien. Bien chiludo.
Question for you computer savants out there: I have an old laptop (Win7, 5-7 years old) that no one in the house uses any more. Any way, it's fully functional, and I'm thinking about playing around with Linux on it to learn that OS and what it may/may not bring. Is this a good idea or a waste of my time?
Thanks.
 
Linux Ubuntu and Mint are very easy to install and learn. I've gotten to the point that I only use Windows when absolutely necessary. That old old laptop would be perfect for running Ubuntu 14.04, I run it on a similar machine. You can set it up for Dual Boot with Windows, or completely replace Windows with your new Linux install. The installation disc will guide you through the steps required. Start to finish, a new install will take roughly an hour.
You can download the .iso file here http://www.ubuntu.com/download , burn to DVD, insert in your disc drive and restart your machine, and you're on your way.
 
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@gmen6981 what do you mean by "use Windows when absolutely necessary"? What does Windows have that Linux doesn't?
Overall, I've read scant thoughts on this whole process; therefore, I'm still getting a foundation. But for you personally, what are the reasons to have a Linux system?
 
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I prefer LINUX - the problem is work usually prefers Windows so I keep a Windows laptop and a LINUX laptop that has Windows VMs on it.

When our house is done, I'm going to have a LINUX server set up as a fileshare for the entire house.

@muffler dragon - the reason I prefer LINUX is it's fun to set up my own stuff with in it, turn on/off features I want or don't want, and I don't have to think about whatever it Microsoft hasn't told me about yet in terms of vulnerabilities or patches that may or may not end up bricking my system. Since people are moving towards LINUX more, there are more applications available and all that, which wasn't the case all the way back when I first made the switch in 2007.
 
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Mike nailed it. With Linux, you can customize your OS how YOU want it. Everything from installed software to how your desktop looks. Want it to look like Windows? No problem. Want it look like OSX?, piece of cake. Not to mention how much more secure it is, and lighter on system resourses.The only issue I've ever had is that the native graphics drivers don't work well with my laptop and I have to change to the Nvidia drivers.......a very simple task done right in the settings menu.
 
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As @Mike80 said, both Ubuntu and Mint are good for beginners. I started with Ubuntu and found the help forums and tutorials to be a fantastic resource. One suggestion if you take the plunge.......Since LINUX is open source, there are some things the developers can't put in the original installation setup. After installation, I recommend going to www.noobslab.com and following the instructions for installing these features. These include the codecs for DVD playback, and some other things that make you OS much better than the initial install. Great tutorials also.
Good Luck if go for it, and have fun tinkering with it, that's half the fun of LINUX!
 
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It has to do with the way LINUX is written. Everything is more or less compartmentalized. Another reason is the same thing that use to apply to Mac OS......Windows has such a large share of the market that most malware is directed at it. As LINUX is becomes more popular, I don't doubt that some issues will arise, and it It IS a good idea to keep yourself behind a firewall of course. As of right now, I believe there is still only one AV program (Clam AV ) that is even written for LINUX. Some of BP's more tech savvy IT guys can probably give you a much better explanation.
 
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Just to add... being more secure is relative. Its about not being the low hanging fruit on the tree + sheer volume. That's why windows is "less secure" than a Mac etc... Windows gets hacked more because its on what 80% of the computers... with iOS & OSX becoming more popular you'll see more and more exploits and bugs. Its the same with Linux, there are holes everywhere the biggest question is.. is it worth the hackers time to try to find and exploit.
 
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gmen6981 said:
Linux Ubuntu and Mint are very easy to install and learn. I've gotten to the point that I only use Windows when absolutely necessary. That old old laptop would be perfect for running Ubuntu 14.04, I run it on a similar machine. You can set it up for Dual Boot with Windows, or completely replace Windows with your new Linux install. The installation disc will guide you through the steps required. Start to finish, a new install will take roughly an hour.
You can download the .iso file here http://www.ubuntu.com/download , burn to DVD, insert in your disc drive and restart your machine, and you're on your way.
Click to expand...

Dumb follow-up question: how about for a laptop that doesn't have a DVD drive?
 
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