is linux worth it?

hey guys so basiclly mycousin has been fed up with windows and i had to install some new ram for him and he asked about linux and i really dont know much about it so i thought i asked u guys.

That really depends on how much he likes gaming. The thing about Linux is that almost any type of software you could want for it is free, available for download from software repositories around the net. You really dont have to worry about viruses, and the OS is constantly updated. Literally when a bug or exploit is found it is usually fixed in hours. On top of that, Linux is free. And it will likely be this way for the rest of our lives, due to the nature of open-source software.

Now the negatives of Linux, well the biggest one is gaming. There are some free games, and there are ways of installing some Windows games onto Linux. But the thing with the latter, is that the games on Linux will usually never run as good as they do on Windows. Think having a modern computer running Linux playing Oblivion in DirectX 7 at 20 fps, when a windows system playing that game flies through it. On top of that, getting windows games to run in Linux is often like getting DOS games to run in Vista, with no DOSbox.

Another to consider about Linux is the fact that you basically have to learn a new operating system from the ground up. Some things that are easy in windows are crazy complicated in linux. Even little things like navigating the GUI, to installing new software, just even the most simple things you can think of, you just basically have to retrain the way you do things. Not a big thing in the long run, but in the short term you gotta have some patience with it.

I could really go on and on about this, but I will end it by saying that if your cousin is interested, he should at least try it out. He has nothing to lose by doing this, you can even get some linux distros that run off your CD drive, so you dont have to reformat anything. I would recommend Ubuntu as a good starter, its very noob friendly.

I really don't get the "is linux worth it?" question, it's free and alivalable as download, if he ask's about it then he should try it.

I don't know of why he's not happy with windows but if he want's a problem free PC linux isn't the way to go, as he will be really frustrated when he have to write lines and lines of text in comand just to get some small apps to work..

Kubuntu and ubundu is the most userfriendly enviroment from linux iv'e encounted but you have to remember this is a OS made and designed by mainly people knowing a lot of PC configurating and programing, i wouldn't recomend linux to people without high PC knowlage as their targeted group is the same people that made the program.

Sure he can try it, he doesn't have to be forced to pick one over the other. Just partition your hard drive, and grub will handle the bootloader. Just please make sure Windows was installed first because Windows is evil and overwrites your bootloader without asking you. Hence installing Ubuntu, or whatever distro second it will put grub on so you can select your oses. I hope Microsoft makes a change and has a question that asks if you want your boot loader overwritten :(

thxalot guys and my cuzins gonna try it out tmrrw btw uguys know if u can do c++ programming on linux?? (i think that question sounds kind of stupid)
)

thxalot guys and my cuzins gonna try it out tmrrw btw uguys know if u can do c++ programming on linux?? (i think that question sounds kind of stupid)
)

iliatay

have him try ubuntu first, it is probably the best distro for new users.ferret-gamer

personnaly i enjoyed fedora over ubuntu but thats just an opinion.

[QUOTE="ferret-gamer"]have him try ubuntu first, it is probably the best distro for new users.aura_enchanted

personnaly i enjoyed fedora over ubuntu but thats just an opinion.

Well tell us why Fedora is the ishX360PS3AMD05

As some people have already stated, have him try it first.

Infactthere is a software emulation of ubuntu linux, without having to partition anything.

Everytime he boots up windows, he has the option to boot to windows or linux. Worth a shot.

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]Well tell us why Fedora is the ishJigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"][QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]Well tell us why Fedora is the ishX360PS3AMD05

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"][QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"] Well it's basically RHEL, except more experimental aka newer unstabler packages. I like Ubuntu though, I always liked Debian more than RHEL.JigglyWiggly_

amen here here!

Linux is worth it if you're looking into programming. It's also worth noting that it's a lot faster than windows, will boot quicker and will let you customize your computer more. It's worth having at least a partitioned installation of linux on your computer

Forget Linux. Linux is broken. I have osx86 installed , and i hate linux more than windows now, well at least since windows 7 was out.vegita92

Linux is free , therefore it's not professionally maintained by huge corporations. Linux software are also free but they are incredibly stupid and not useful , and they look like they are made by some 10 year old. Most of the software are command-line based which is yet again a huge pain in the... for new people. If you want to install commercial software , you have to bang your head against the wall on how to figure out what libs you need, dependencies and whatnot. Plus there are no commercial games, and no support whatsoever(you have to rely on 60 year old men on forums for help )The only thing I liked about linux is customization and no viruses :). vegita92

Linux is free , therefore it's not professionally maintained by huge corporations. Linux software are also free but they are incredibly stupid and not useful , and they look like they are made by some 10 year old. Most of the software are command-line based which is yet again a huge pain in the... for new people. If you want to install commercial software , you have to bang your head against the wall on how to figure out what libs you need, dependencies and whatnot. Plus there are no commercial games, and no support whatsoever(you have to rely on 60 year old men on forums for help )The only thing I liked about linux is customization and no viruses :). vegita92

What do you mean "is it worth it" It's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!gmaster456

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

alright so he installed linux and is using ubuntu and so far hes loving it!

[QUOTE="gmaster456"]What do you mean "is it worth it" It's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!aura_enchanted

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

[QUOTE="gmaster456"]What do you mean "is it worth it" It's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!aura_enchanted

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

alright so he installed linux and is using ubuntu and so far hes loving it!

iliatay

Tell your buddy he should pick up Moving to Ubuntu Linux by Marcel Gagne. You can get it at amazon used for around $5-$10. It isnt required, but it will make getting used to Ubuntu (and linux in general) a LOT easier and quicker.

[QUOTE="aura_enchanted"]

[QUOTE="gmaster456"]What do you mean "is it worth it" It's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!JigglyWiggly_

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

ah so one would think but unix linux and all its derivatives are open source they are changeable in countless ways and your free to do so. which is good because it opens customization but it also means you f up and you can really f up!

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"][QUOTE="aura_enchanted"]

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

aura_enchanted

ah so one would think but unix linux and all its derivatives are open source they are changeable in countless ways and your free to do so. which is good because it opens customization but it also means you f up and you can really f up!

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"][QUOTE="aura_enchanted"]

free doesnt always mean good. things are free for a reason..

aura_enchanted

ah so one would think but unix linux and all its derivatives are open source they are changeable in countless ways and your free to do so. which is good because it opens customization but it also means you f up and you can really f up!