Windows vs Linux

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Dutchuncle777

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I have been using both side by side on two different machines.


One machine had 7 Ultimate with an array of Linux distros as multi-boot. Sabayon, OpenSuSe, AriOS and Ubuntu. All new releases Nov '11 - Mar '12. Eventually only Mint12.

The other machine has dual-boot with XP Pro SP3 and Ubuntu 11.04.

I like both Windows and Linux but a legit setup of MS Win + Office costs up to R8k whereas the ''same'' software via Linux is FREE. LibreOffice, Evolution, or Thunderbird & Lightning will do all I will ever need. Google Chrome runs on both although Linux has its own Chromium as well. Firefox either way, so where can I go wrong with Linux?

It is for small business use, presentations, spreadsheets, small databse, some graphics design, word processing, email, softphone, etc. No gaming at all.

With Linux being user friendly nowadays, where can I go wrong? Anything I should know?

At the price, does Microsoft really give a superior product with better security and a smoother ride?

I intend to buy a laptop configured to my own spec and with the choice of software wide open. For the record, I do not allow pirate software on my premises.

Advice, suggestions, criticism?? All most welcome!
 
Use what works.

MS-Office is better than Libre Office (especially excel) but with my limited needs LO works just fine.
 
Liberated Office

Ponder: Thanks, I'm using Libre on either side and it does all it needs to.

I do miss my beloved Lotus Smartsuite and its Organizer; both Outlook and Evolution are a joke by comparison.

Will I miss out on something great if I become a Linux-only renegade? I have no Win8 experience.
 
Linux now in Sync

I always forget to remember that my reason for using Windows was Nokia Suite. The latter has failed me recently in many ways and my next phone won't be from the Fins. So I discovered this Syncables360 utility that seems to be an awesome sync & backup tool. Now one can enjoy synced contacts & files in the same way as Mac & Win users.

Syncables360 is more than most other sync apps combined, if their claims and ''expert'' reviews are true.
 
Dutchuncle777 said:
Ponder: Thanks, I'm using Libre on either side and it does all it needs to.

I do miss my beloved Lotus Smartsuite and its Organizer; both Outlook and Evolution are a joke by comparison.

Will I miss out on something great if I become a Linux-only renegade? I have no Win8 experience.
Click to expand...

Not unless you are a gamer or a .NET developer.
 
As long as you accept that the majority of PC users run Windows & MS Office you'll be fine.

I support & have legal Windows XP thru 8; Office 2007 & 2010 installed in the office but spend 99% of my productive time on Fedora/Centos :)
 
If you have to do stuff in Visio/Excel/Outlook Exchange, then using Windows 7 or 8 is definitely the preferred choice.

I'm running Windows 7 x64 Enterprise at the office, with multiple Fedora/Ubuntu VM's. Office 2010 is much much better than Office 2011 for Mac or Libre Office.

Also, if your office is using a Microsoft Domain, then Windows would also be a great help - seeing that it would have you automatically logged in on most portals (eg. Outlook, SharePoint, Network Shares).

If money is the primary concern, then by all means go for Linux. I have to admit that the past couple of years the Linux distro's has really improved in terms of their user friendliness.
Server administration (except for Microsoft's Hyper-V) is a lot easier on Linux machines.

In the end it all comes down to user preference. Like at my office we have Java developers on Mac OSX, Ubuntu and Windows 7. Some people don't really have a choice - like the iPhone developers - who are stuck on Mac OSX ;)
 
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