Replacing a desktop computer.... Ubuntu OS?

[DISshopkeeper]

Anyone have any thoughts on this operating system? The CPU's with this OS are hundreds cheaper than Windows systems.

Thanks!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

How PC savy are you? There is definitely a great market need for these machines, but if you're a basic user you may get frustrated with drivers, configuration options, usability, etc.

 

[joanne312]

DH runs Ubuntu. Are you familiar with other Linux operating systems? If you are Ubuntu is great. If you've never used Linux before, or aren't computer savvy, I would recommend sticking with Windows. I'm pretty computer/tech savvy and Linux sometimes still frustrates me. What specifically do you want to do with the machine? I might be able to give more input if I know the things you will be doing with the machine.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Thanks for the replies. Mostly I surf the net, DD plays the Sims, I work with documents and pics.

I am definitely computer savvy, DD less so. I have never used Linux. I am one of those people who really kind of enjoys figuring out how to do stuff on the computer.

 

[joanne312]

The Sims is not designed to run on Linux OS. It will take time getting drivers, etc to figure out how to get the game to play correctly. You also won't be able to use Microsoft Word or Excel... It's a little bit more complicated and things might not run as smoothly without putting in effort. You can use Open Office which is similar but I don't like it, especially if you are used to Microsoft Office. Honestly you are probably better of sticking with Windows unless you want to put in a lot of effort. When I ask if you are tech savvy, I'm thinking on the level of someone with a computer science degree. Most of the people I know that use Linux OS are computer science majors (my DH and his friends/coworkers). That is really the target audience for Linux.

 

[jsmith]

The Sims is not designed to run on Linux OS. It will take time getting drivers, etc to figure out how to get the game to play correctly. You also won't be able to use Microsoft Word or Excel... It's a little bit more complicated and things might not run as smoothly without putting in effort. You can use Open Office which is similar but I don't like it, especially if you are used to Microsoft Office. Honestly you are probably better of sticking with Windows unless you want to put in a lot of effort. When I ask if you are tech savvy, I'm thinking on the level of someone with a computer science degree. Most of the people I know that use Linux OS are computer science majors (my DH and his friends/coworkers). That is really the target audience for Linux.

While there are some valid points here-Linux is not targeted at CS majors. You can run windows in a virtual enviroment on a Linux system to do all your windows stuff. Linux is more secure than MacOS or Windows-but if you are not proficient with a command line and are mainly surfing the net-you might be happier with a windows box. Personally-i would totaly buy a Ubuntu machine-but im a Sys admin for both windows and linux and i like thinking for my self.

 

[nd5056]

... You can run windows in a virtual enviroment on a Linux system to do all your windows stuff...

True. But the OP was looking to save $$$ by not getting Windows based PC. If OP likes this stuff, get a windows PC and create a dual boot to start with. It would be a mistake to get it just to save money without knowing what Linux is all about.

 

[Tiggeroo]

My OC has duAl Ubuntu windows operating systems. There are thing such as word that don't run on Ubuntu. There are work around a but I'm not tech savi enough to do all of them.

 

[timmac]

Having Windows-specific* software you want to be able to run, like the Sims, is all but a deal-breaker. There are some ways to get Windows software to run under Linux, but it takes some rather painful setup, and often still doesn't work perfectly. (It may even require finding and downloading cracked versions of the software, at best a legal gray area.) Much as there are many things I like about Linux, it would be a very rare case that I'd recommend it for a typical home user.

Do you have links for these examples that are $100s cheaper than Windows counterparts? That simply doesn't sound accurate, but I'd love to be proven wrong. In all likelihood, the systems themselves are vastly different, and it's not just the OS that is the issue.

*Side note: I do realize that the Sims, like many other games, can "run" on MacOS, but under the hood it just runs in a Windows emulator anyway (a Wine wrapper of sorts).

 

[timmac]

It would be a mistake to get it just to save money without knowing what Linux is all about.

This. 100 times over, this.

 

[nd5056]

...

Do you have links for these examples that are $100s cheaper than Windows counterparts? That simply doesn't sound accurate, but I'd love to be proven wrong. In all likelihood, the systems themselves are vastly different, and it's not just the OS that is the issue.

...

Since Linux doesn't need Hi-End machine like windows does (you can run Linux on 486 machine if you find one ) you don't have to have Mega amount of RAM or top CPU to run it. This plus the cost of Windows OS will save you some money. I'd guess that the Ubuntu box OP is talking about is seriously underpowered to run Windows efficiently.

 

[timmac]

Since Linux doesn't need Hi-End machine like windows does (you can run Linux on 486 machine if you find one ) you don't have to have Mega amount of RAM or top CPU to run it. This plus the cost of Windows OS will save you some money. I'd guess that the Ubuntu box OP is talking about is seriously underpowered to run Windows efficiently.

I'm well aware, and that's basically what I was suspecting, but wanted to see the specifics to be sure. For browsing a web page or typing up a doc, the difference in power wouldn't be an issue, of course. (For that matter, nor would running an older Windows release on older hardware.) For something like game playing--ignoring all aforementioned issues-- it would be a blatantly obvious issue, though.

 

[nd5056]

I know you did, but not sure if OP did so i gave a hint. Shouldn't have quoted you.

.

 

[timmac]

I know you did, but not sure if OP did so i gave a hint. Shouldn't have quoted you.

.

No worries.. didn't mean to create a misunderstanding there

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Thank you all so much for the input. We have a microcenter store here where I saw their house brand "powerspec" machines starting around $379. Linux machines at around $250. Microcenter . Com.

The machine we are replacing is a Powerspec which we have had zero issues with for about 6 years!

Based on these ever so helpful responses, windows it is!

Gotta love that I can come to a Disney board and get some sound advice on computers !!

Thanks again.

 

[timmac]

Thank you all so much for the input. We have a microcenter store here where I saw their house brand "powerspec" machines starting around $379. Linux machines at around $250. Microcenter . Com.

I love microcenter

 

[LilyWDW]

I have used Linux in the past. Love it, but it has quite the learning curve!

Since you have decided to get a Windows based PC, you could run a box of Linux on that PC and see how you like it. It would allow you to play around without having to deal with the main issues. My ex ran a Windows Vista PC with a Linux box and a Windows XP (maybe 98) box.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I love microcenter

Me too!

Saying hello from my new Windows Machine!