chiskop
Executive Member
I was hoping for something a little more user-friendly. Can't I just change the look in Windows?
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Windows Vista vs Linux
- Thread starter MrJones
- Start date
I was hoping for something a little more user-friendly. Can't I just change the look in Windows?
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Fudzy
Guest
Chiskop, give me the name of a nice linux distro that is an equivalent of xp I can play with in an virtual machine.
chiskop
Executive Member
The equivalent of xp? I'll have to go back to the archives for that 
But I suggest trying Ubuntu 6.06/6.10
PM your address and I'll post you a copy - save you a download, at least.
But I suggest trying Ubuntu 6.06/6.10
PM your address and I'll post you a copy - save you a download, at least.
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ha ha Mr.Chiskop is throwing his toys.
Shame, calm down.
I never said Vista was the be all of all operating systems. Why are you getting angry for usability Linux can't match windows, period. Put all your distros in one bag and they still can't match Windows 2000 usability.
You have all this meaningless power and a true* multitasking OS and whatnot where you can't avoid using a command prompt at one time or another.
I know Vista isn't the best, never was and never will be, but for what it does it's better than Linux.
From your repeated posts it seems you haven't even used linux recently, but don't let that stop your pontification on it.
Care to point out some "facts" on how linux can't match windows "usability"? While you're at it, it might do you some good to define what you mean when you throw out blanket terms like usability.
I await your response with bated breath.
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Right on.
Suse is also good, but Ubuntu takes the cake IMHO.
Suse is also good, but Ubuntu takes the cake IMHO.
The equivalent of xp? I'll have to go back to the archives for that
But I suggest trying Ubuntu 6.06/6.10
PM your address and I'll post you a copy - save you a download, at least.
d0b33
Honorary Master
Yes, that's what visual styles do...
Visual style themes are native to XP(the default XP theme is a visual style called luna), but Microsoft decided to block the option of adding 3rd party visual styles for reasons not known, once you patch the uxtheme(done only once and wont affect XP only allow you to add new themes) then all you do is select a theme under the theme tab or appearance tab under display properties
Easy! cant think of anything more user friendly than that
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orin76
Expert Member
So you think going onto the internet to search for a patch, downloading it, installing it then hunting the net for themes is the most user friendly way of changing your GUI?
icyrus, I have Mandriva linux. I installed it, tried to play my MP3's and I couldn't.
I'm sure I'm not the only one too...
I tried to watch some HD content in the said OS and double clicking my .wmv or mpg files did nothing. Not even to bring up a media player that say's I ned to download a coded or whatever.
Once again I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced this...
However, trying to do any of the above even in windows'98 works. I can play MP3's and I can play HD content by double clicking.
See you can say distribution X does y and z, but with windows its always windows.
Usability is subjective inherently therefor you cannot get facts, all you can go on is how many people have an easier time in windows compared to those who use Linux, from looking at the current numbers I'd say Windows is easier to use.
Command prompt, yes I'll go on once again about the command prompt, because at no point in Windows 2000/XP or Vista is it necessary to go to the command prompt, but with some linux distributions it'll be hard to do anything without the command prompt. At worst with windows you will use the prompt, on Linux you will end up using the prompt at some point or another. The question is when. If the Linux body or whomever still need to sit down and decide on how to go about single installs, then clearly from an ease of use perspective, it's not where Windows is because this has been in windows since '95 and possibly before.
I won't even go on about gaming in a Linux environment as to say its pathetic would be giving it credit.
Once again Linux is good i the server space and what have you, but from an average user pov its nowhere near Windows or OSX not by a mile.
It says something if people would rather pay for an OS than take a free one.
I'm sure I'm not the only one too...
I tried to watch some HD content in the said OS and double clicking my .wmv or mpg files did nothing. Not even to bring up a media player that say's I ned to download a coded or whatever.
Once again I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced this...
However, trying to do any of the above even in windows'98 works. I can play MP3's and I can play HD content by double clicking.
See you can say distribution X does y and z, but with windows its always windows.
Usability is subjective inherently therefor you cannot get facts, all you can go on is how many people have an easier time in windows compared to those who use Linux, from looking at the current numbers I'd say Windows is easier to use.
Command prompt, yes I'll go on once again about the command prompt, because at no point in Windows 2000/XP or Vista is it necessary to go to the command prompt, but with some linux distributions it'll be hard to do anything without the command prompt. At worst with windows you will use the prompt, on Linux you will end up using the prompt at some point or another. The question is when. If the Linux body or whomever still need to sit down and decide on how to go about single installs, then clearly from an ease of use perspective, it's not where Windows is because this has been in windows since '95 and possibly before.
I won't even go on about gaming in a Linux environment as to say its pathetic would be giving it credit.
Once again Linux is good i the server space and what have you, but from an average user pov its nowhere near Windows or OSX not by a mile.
It says something if people would rather pay for an OS than take a free one.
orin76
Expert Member
Score one for windows. The linux solution to this problem is not difficult, but it is annoying.
I tried to watch some HD content in the said OS and double clicking my .wmv or mpg files did nothing. Not even to bring up a media player that say's I ned to download a coded or whatever.
Once again I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced this...
However, trying to do any of the above even in windows'98 works. I can play MP3's and I can play HD content by double clicking.
Here I disagree a bit. When installing windows (WinXP), I have to spend quite a bit of time downloading DivX, Mpeg2, Indeo, 3ivx and any other video codecs that people use on the net. To top it all off, windows does not play DVDs without drivers having to be installed. In linux, I download and install the libdvcss2 rpm file, once installed, I can watch DVD movies. Downloading and installing w32codecall fixes my video codec problems. Much quicker & easier than windows.
Score another one for windows.
That's a bit like saying that since more people have used a PS2 console, it must therefore be more user friendly than an XBox 360. I get your point, but I'm just saying most people are used to windows. Doesn't necessarily mean it's easier, just more familiar.
With current versions of Suse & Ubuntu, you don't have to use the command prompt if you don't want to. I find it faster than navigating menus but that's a personal preference. Most day to day desktop system maintenance activities can be done without the command prompt (at least when using KDE).
I won't even go on about gaming in a Linux environment as to say its pathetic would be giving it credit.
Another point for windows.
I've never used any Mac OS so I won't comment on that, but I believe Linux is ready for the destop. You point about the average user is still very valid though.
I don't know any private individual under the age of 45 who actually bought a box copy of windows. Most of of got an OEM version when we bought our computers. Sometimes you can't buy a PC without a windows licence. I think if the only way to get windows was to buy it at Incredible Connection, more people would be using free operating systems.
ShockG, most of your points are not valid.
Do you even know the reason why most ditros don't play mp3s out the box? And for those distros that don't play them out the box you can install mp3 support with a click or 2 in the relevant package manager.
"See you can say distribution X does y and z, but with windows its always windows."
So you are advocating less freedom of choice? Interesting.
"how many people have an easier time in windows compared to those who use Linux"
This is an old and bunk point. More people are conditioned to windows and they way it does things, hence they have an easier time with it.
"Command prompt, yes I'll go on once again about the command prompt, because at no point in Windows 2000/XP or Vista is it necessary to go to the command prompt, but with some linux distributions it'll be hard to do anything without the command prompt."
Which distro requires extensive use of the command prompt? New distros do not require any command prompt usage last time I checked.
Personally I use the command prompt most of the time that I am using my machine and could not live without it.
"If the Linux body or whomever still need to sit down and decide on how to go about single installs"
There is no linux body and there is no standard. This is a positive and negative, but all modern distros make installing software easier than windows. Use synaptic for a while and tell me if that is easier then searching, downloading then running install packages individually.
The state of gaming in linux is due to game and hardware companies, end of story.
Put aside your bias and perhaps look into a bit of history as to why windows is the main desktop os at the moment. I think you may well be surprised at what you find.
Do you even know the reason why most ditros don't play mp3s out the box? And for those distros that don't play them out the box you can install mp3 support with a click or 2 in the relevant package manager.
"See you can say distribution X does y and z, but with windows its always windows."
So you are advocating less freedom of choice? Interesting.
"how many people have an easier time in windows compared to those who use Linux"
This is an old and bunk point. More people are conditioned to windows and they way it does things, hence they have an easier time with it.
"Command prompt, yes I'll go on once again about the command prompt, because at no point in Windows 2000/XP or Vista is it necessary to go to the command prompt, but with some linux distributions it'll be hard to do anything without the command prompt."
Which distro requires extensive use of the command prompt? New distros do not require any command prompt usage last time I checked.
Personally I use the command prompt most of the time that I am using my machine and could not live without it.
"If the Linux body or whomever still need to sit down and decide on how to go about single installs"
There is no linux body and there is no standard. This is a positive and negative, but all modern distros make installing software easier than windows. Use synaptic for a while and tell me if that is easier then searching, downloading then running install packages individually.
The state of gaming in linux is due to game and hardware companies, end of story.
Put aside your bias and perhaps look into a bit of history as to why windows is the main desktop os at the moment. I think you may well be surprised at what you find.
Which is what? I always say this, nobody woke up and found windows the OS it is today. There was a time when it didn't exist. People paid for it, and made ti what it is today. Nobody had a gun to anybody's head but people decided with their monies. Why is it all of a sudden a mystery how windows became this dominant.
The fact that it's faster and easier for you to use a command prompt to navigate an OS is exactly what I'm talking about.
Many features that IHV' wanted to add to the GL spec took an eternity and as always you had to wait for SGI to approve and whatnot, ATI for one got tired to this everybody has an opinion thing in openGL and decided to stop bothering with it. At that point DX9 was already better anyway...
So no it's the open source community who made sure that gaming on a Linux platform is virtually impossible, not anybody else. It was a failing on the open source community, do not then pass that on to developers and IHV's.
The fact that it's faster and easier for you to use a command prompt to navigate an OS is exactly what I'm talking about.
No it isn't the end of story, there is no API like DirectX or even remotely close to DirectX on any other platform. Whose fault is that? Right now no open source APi is as advanced as Direct3D is and this wasn't always the case. There was a time when Direct3D couldn't match OpenGL, however that all changed with DX9 and ever since then OpenGL (Open!) has been getting pile driven since 2002. Now it's at a point where its almost impossible for GL to catch up.
Many features that IHV' wanted to add to the GL spec took an eternity and as always you had to wait for SGI to approve and whatnot, ATI for one got tired to this everybody has an opinion thing in openGL and decided to stop bothering with it. At that point DX9 was already better anyway...
So no it's the open source community who made sure that gaming on a Linux platform is virtually impossible, not anybody else. It was a failing on the open source community, do not then pass that on to developers and IHV's.
Its not a mystery, but it sure sounds like you are unaware of microsofts business practices.
I don't think you know what you are talking about. I could use the mouse and the file dialogs in linux just like I would in windows with the same ease but I would rather not be hobbled by that way of working.
It might be of some interest to you that I don't use linux as my desktop. I use OS X and don't regret leaving linux on the desktop behind at all and it does have its fair share of problems, but I would sooner switch back to using a linux desktop then go back to using windows every day for anything other than games.
killadoob
Honorary Master
can i now load os x on my pc because the new macs are using the same hardware as my pc cept double the price 
can i run mac os x on my pc?
can i run mac os x on my pc?
You who knows your way around linux have opted to use OSX, now what of somebody who is completely new to the OS? :/
There you go then, for the average user Linux just isn't there yet, besides all the things it cannot do yet, just navigating it proves to be a problem
Yes I am, believe me more so than many people I come across. However please think back to before Microsoft was, when it was still a two man show and called Microware. When you said the word computer it implied IBM. The iron fist that eventually caused MS and IBM to part ways was not Microsoft's doing but IBM. They were the beginning and end of computing. In the +25years of Microsoft it has grown primarily because of sales not business practices. When they were smaller than everybody and anybody are you saying they had unfair business practices? To whom were their practices unfair?
If we want to blame anybody lets blame ourselves... we let MS become like this, it didn't happen overnight. Like I said it's not a mystery how Microsoft grew to the size it is today, it didn't happen in a vacuum, we were there.
hj2k_x
Honorary Master
can i now load os x on my pc because the new macs are using the same hardware as my pc cept double the price
can i run mac os x on my pc?
yes you can. The macOSX86 project. Google it or check it out on wiki. Lank easy.
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Fudzy
Guest
Okay, I've installed Ubuntu in a virtual machine. First gripe of Linux of Windows. I needed to install the VMTools in a terminal window. Why do I need to add ./ infront of a file name to run it?
I just OS X because it is the best currently available. I still stand by the statement that a user who has never used a computer before will learn linux or windows with the same amount of difficulty. Linux has problems, many of which annoyed me no end when I was working with it daily, but so does windows - they're just different problems. My point was that linux is no harder to learn then windows these days.
To run a command that is not in your PATH environmental variable you must give the program location. The full stop just means current directory.
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Fudzy
Guest
Even if your IN that folder? That sucks.
I don't suppose its possible to log onto a Microsoft network through ubuntu? I cant access the web as my company works through an ISA server.
Also...iBurst support, what are the chances?
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
@ Fudzy - Ubuntu/SuSE/Knoppix et al have built-in Samba support, with which you can now access Windows shares.
Accessing the web with Ubuntu et al should be easy as you'll only need to ask your sysadmin about an open Ip address, the gateway and DNS particulars and all that... then it must work, ISA server or not (and if said IP address is not blocked).
Also, keep in mind should ISA be configured to block non-MS apps (or non-MS operating systems) then you won't be able to surf the Internet, and should speak to your sysadmin about this then.
AFAIK - iBurst should work with most Linuxes as long as you use the Ethernet modem with PPPoE. You might need to manually adjust your MTU and MRU size tho...
Accessing the web with Ubuntu et al should be easy as you'll only need to ask your sysadmin about an open Ip address, the gateway and DNS particulars and all that... then it must work, ISA server or not (and if said IP address is not blocked).
Also, keep in mind should ISA be configured to block non-MS apps (or non-MS operating systems) then you won't be able to surf the Internet, and should speak to your sysadmin about this then.
AFAIK - iBurst should work with most Linuxes as long as you use the Ethernet modem with PPPoE. You might need to manually adjust your MTU and MRU size tho...
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