What if you could get most of the software you needed for free?

Nov. 11th. 2009 | b.b.e.b.

[big bad easter bunny]

After getting hit again with a nasty virus I finally pulled the trigger and did a full install of Ubuntu open source Lenox operating system, It is awesome! It's free, it's fast, it comes preloaded with 90% of what most computer users need and it comes with thousands of free programs that can be downloaded and installed with complete ease.

Also if you get nailed with one of those viruses that don't even let you open in safe-mode, install Ubuntu as a parallel and you can access your old files and put them on an external drive.

Did I mention it's free and of virus problems as well. Good bye Microsoft.

[K-oneTexas]

IMHO, Linus is a better operating system than Microsoft.

I boot Ubuntu from DVD on one of my laptops. It can access my old files in XP and Vista.

The only reason I keep Microsoft around on the main computer is I have children in school and all they have is Microsoft. Keep it for the children so they use the same at home as they do at school.

Microsoft is a monopoly and should be broken into thousands of little pieces. They have almost cornered the market by
‘strong arm’ techniques to get (hardware manufactures distributors/retailers) only their software bundled with the sales of PC’s for some time now. Major retailers have no option to Microsoft unless you increase the price. Pay extra for a free product to be installed on a new PC. That is a monopoly forcing others out of the market.

Linux is a good operating system, so is MAC. I hear less complaints from users on them. Neighbor has run Linux for over 20 years on his home PC’s. Never has had a crash. Can not say the same for Microsoft.

Oh, and I do apologize profusely that this is a Microsoft Forum ONLY and I’m talking about Linux. But it is a better product.

[Reddy]

bump

[ErnBatavia]

for us people who know how to hit the on button and the start, shutdown button

Please ping me if you get an understandable reply....I'm in the same boat as y'all.

[B Knotts]

You’ve made the right choice.

[Harold Shea]

Thats the way I`ve got moms computer set up.

Mine is dual booted with openSUSE 11.1 and Unbunto,tonight
12.0 gonna be released for SUSE,looking forward to that.

Unbunto is very good distro

Shameless DistroWatch plug here

[bcsco]

If I’m going to do that, what do I need Vista for?

That's my point. Only, substitute Linux for Vista.

How much Windows software do you need to run, anyway?

Quicken was one. There's nothing for Linux that compares.

Did you try out the Virtualbox seamless mode?

No. As stated, I see no purpose in running one OS over another. I tried WINE, but that was worthless. After that is when I asked myself 'what am I doing this for?'. I went back to Windows and have never given Linux another thought.

It's a simple decision. If what you need is Windows based, stick with Windows. If you have nothing you're tied to, then Linux may be worth considering. As for the security issues, they can be mostly dealt with through free software, proper hardware configuration, and some practical habits when online.

[Fantasywriter]

This may not be the right thread for it, but I’m having a computer problem. I run XP. A couple of weeks ago I logged on and got the error message: Windows cannot find logon.exe. I checked, and that file is still on my computer. [One of the main symptoms, btw, is that I can’t play videos, not any, At All.] After reading as much as I could online I decided it was probably a registry error. I ordered a CD that claims to repair and recover Windows XP/VISTA + DOS - BOOT. I tried to use it but I’m just not technically savvy enough. (I thought an icon would pop up with the words, ‘Repair registry’, I’d click it, and problem solved.) Any help anybody can offer will be profoundly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[top 2 toe red]

Ping to me...

[VeniVidiVici]

Can you install Flash yet without going thru contortions?

[domeika]

Goto Start menu, then "run". Type in "regedit" then enter. Find: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows NT\Winlogon

In the right pane of the window, locate "shell". In the data column, it should have "Explorer.exe" listed. If it has "Logon.exe" listed as well, double click "Shell" and when the editing dialog opens, you should see "Explorer.exe" and "Logon.exe". Remove "Logon.exe", click "OK", then re-boot.

[McGruff]

Go sell Lenox someplace else; we're all stocked up here!

[Fantasywriter]

Thank you for your detailed instructions. I tried all that once, but I’m to the point where I’m going to try it again. Maybe I did something wrong the first time.

[calex59]

The only thing I don't like about Ubuntu is that you can't view Netflix instant play movies on it, otherwise I would have done away with windows altogether by now. It takes 17GB to install Ubuntu 9.10 but when is it done you have most of the stuff the average user wants. To get a movie player(for DVDs)you have several easy install options, one is Gxine, another is VLC. Both work well. As I said, my only gripe is the instant play for Netflix and that is the problem of Netflix not Ubuntu.

BTW, it is Linux, not lenox.

[flying_bullet]

I didn't say that I didn't like Windows. You jumped to that conclusion.

I'm a software engineer by trade. Most of the stuff you currently own or will own was made possible in part by the code and applications that I and my co-workers write for our clients. You would be surprised at our customer list. I have years of experience with all types of hardware and software. They are tools.

This past week I have written C++ code in Visual Studio 2005 on (obviously) a WinXP box, java using Eclipse which runs on a Linux server, and troubleshooting regression tests on an iSeries box. Today I am dealing with an issue that deals with Japanese business document standards.

Got it?

A key principle is "does it work for you"? Evidently the original poster had a problem using Windows and has found relief using a particular Linux distribution. Good for them.

My singular point was that "if you have M$ apps that you absolutely must have", then use a VM or WINE for them. Some are better than others. Be flexible, find the best solution and mitigate the minuses when possible.

A VM or WINE didn't work for you - for whatever reason. But it is a legitimate solution for some people and situations.

I switched from Windows to Apple this past year and needed to run a few Windows applications and found Parallels to be an excellent solution. FWIW, I have yet to have the WinXP VM lock up running on the iMac.

But to answer your question: "why should I run a second operating system on top of another (Virtual Machine) just so I can use Windows by itself."

It's because I (and many others) need to. You don't. Good for you. Duh.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Okay, so you see no purpose. I see no purpose in limiting myself to using a whole host install of Windows, so I can use one or two Windows programs. Especially, when I can use them to full effect in a seamless Virtualbox that fits right into my host operating system.

Occasionally, I do some 3d design though that does require a full Windows installation. I dual boot for that. I even set it up, so that my mail client and other everyday applications are cross platform and share files, so when I switch between operating systems, I have the same settings and don’t miss a beat. Of course, it’s a lot uglier environment and is less user-friendly in Windows, but that’s the price we pay for needing those extra cpu cycles.

[bcsco]

I didn't say that I didn't like Windows. You jumped to that conclusion.

I didn't jump. I was using the word 'You' in the broad sense. Sorry for the confusion.

You're right. Its what fits the needs of the user. My point is, I see little use for running Windows in a VM environment over Linux. If the user has Windows apps they absolutely 'must' have, then why run Linux? I see nothing that Linux offers that is 'must' have. Surely not the security. Windows security is safe when one takes the necessary precautions. And those precautions don't cost anything, one a little homework is applied. Application wise, I can't think of a Linux application that isn't already offered in a Windows environment. Virtually all are applications that are offered as replacements for common Windows apps. Some (like Gimp) that are Linux originals, have Windows versions.

The speed? There's some speed improvement, yes. Although that has a lot to do with the PC. My Ubuntu 10 was no improvement on boot-up over Windows XP. The earlier version booted faster. But again, is this so dramatic a difference to make Linux a de facto choice? Not for me.

Though Linux has been around for years, much of the interest came with the advent of Vista and its horrible design. Now that Windows 7 has come, and appears to be a much needed improvement, I wonder just how long that love affair with Linux will last. All-in-all, I can see stripped-down versions of Linux as viable on older PCs. That may be a viable market. And there's always that die-hard anti-MS crowd who'll pander to 'anything but MS' offerings. But for those who have needs that only MS can deliver on, I see little use for running two operating systems when the one they already have will suffice. Finally, I wonder just how many there are who fall into that 'I (and many others) need to' category, as you put it.

Good chatting with you.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Yes. Use Linux Mint. It installs Flash automatically.

[bcsco]

As we’ve discussed, to each his own. You’re happy, I’m happy. Smiles all around. Yet as you describe your configuration in your second paragraph, It just seems to me a fairly convoluted way of doing things, but if it suits your purpose, that’s fine.

Simple is for me. If Linux offered everything I need, I’d be happy to be a Linux user. It doesn’t though. So, I’m quite happy where I’m at. And, that’s fine as well.

Good chatting with you about this.

[Big Giant Head]

There used to be a common sense approach to selecting a computer system. First figure out what software one needs to run, then buy the best system to run that software on.

Linux, Mac, Windows? Each is a legitimate OS, each having it’s pluses and minuses. Pick the OS based on what software one needs to run, just like the old days of picking the hardware to run the software upon.

I use Linux, and have used every Windows version back to 3.1. They all have a place, one is not “better” than another, including Mac. It’s what one needs to do that determines which is “better.”

[Revolting cat!]

Install Lenox