News, Windows XP Departs: Good Riddance or Sad Farewell? (RAM, Ubuntu, red hat)
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Thanks. I can't wait to get Linux. My wife is a holdout, though. Since she is so security-minded (she worries she might need the laptop I'm using as a backup) it's a challenge to talk her into the idea.
Thanks. I can't wait to get Linux. My wife is a holdout, though. Since she is so security-minded (she worries she might need the laptop I'm using as a backup) it's a challenge to talk her into the idea.
Just either purchase a used computer form Craigslist/Ebay or find one given away for free on Craigslist or one thrown to the curb and rehab it.
I have 3 Pentium 4 computers, 1 Celeron computer, 1 Pentium 3 computer, and 2 Athlon XP computers ALL found - some rehabbed, some put together from accumulated parts, and 1 that was whole and just given to me from a guy throwing things out on the curb. Also I do have a 750Mhz., AMD Duron (Pirated Windows XP SP1) computer that I found recently. When I find computers with windows hard drives I always run Windows Advantage to find out if it's authentic - this one failed. A couple of them have 2 hard drives in which from the startup screen in Linux I can choose to go into the Linux hard drive or the Windows one. Of course one can do a dual install of the Linux and Windows OS's on the same one hard drive - but I normally pass on that.
Thanks. I can't wait to get Linux. My wife is a holdout, though. Since she is so security-minded (she worries she might need the laptop I'm using as a backup) it's a challenge to talk her into the idea.
Linux is only as secure as the user makes it. Windows is only as secure as MS makes it. That means, you are at the mercy of MS when it comes to security and if you find a security hole, you will have to wait until they take action before it is fixed. With Linux, the moment you find the hole, you can patch the kernel with a repair yourself.
This is the same with all things in Linux. For instance, if something doesn't work with it, make it yourself. If a piece of hardware doesn't have drivers for it, you can essentially build a compatible driver yourself. Granted a lot of this takes knowledge and skills in software design and hardware implementation, but the point is that the user is left with full control and that is the power in an open license. Even if you do not know how to do it yourself, chances are there is someone in the community who does and has ran into a similar problem to which they created a fix.
Linux is only as secure as the user makes it. Windows is only as secure as MS makes it. That means, you are at the mercy of MS when it comes to security and if you find a security hole, you will have to wait until they take action before it is fixed. With Linux, the moment you find the hole, you can patch the kernel with a repair yourself.
This is the same with all things in Linux. For instance, if something doesn't work with it, make it yourself. If a piece of hardware doesn't have drivers for it, you can essentially build a compatible driver yourself. Granted a lot of this takes knowledge and skills in software design and hardware implementation, but the point is that the user is left with full control and that is the power in an open license. Even if you do not know how to do it yourself, chances are there is someone in the community who does and has ran into a similar problem to which they created a fix.
The Linux community does an Exceptional job of plugging/fixing any holes with updates every week it seems that they're on the ball for sure.
Even with "holes" Linux is SO much more secure than Window$.
The CORE platform of Window$ is flawed and while with Linux it's much more stable.
No AntiVirus, Defragmenting, and overall much less upkeep - plus Linux is great even and more responsive/faster in older computers while doing most of what Window$ already does.
Location: Mableton, GA USA (NW Atlanta suburb, 4 miles OTP)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian.Pearson
Thanks. I can't wait to get Linux. My wife is a holdout, though. Since she is so security-minded (she worries she might need the laptop I'm using as a backup) it's a challenge to talk her into the idea.
One easy way to get into Linux a little bit is to use a "Live CD" -- a version of Linux which boots from CD and lets you use the desktop and applications without needing to install or interact with the hard drive at all.
There are dozens of Live CDs. I would recommend Puppy Linux, Ubuntu, SLAX, PCLinuxOS, and perhaps Mandriva as possible choices, though you can many more here: The LiveCD List
I've been using Linux alongside of Windows and OS/2 here since 1992 (started with the early SLS diskette releases), and things are far easier now than they used to be.
One easy way to get into Linux a little bit is to use a "Live CD" -- a version of Linux which boots from CD and lets you use the desktop and applications without needing to install or interact with the hard drive at all.
There are dozens of Live CDs. I would recommend Puppy Linux, Ubuntu, SLAX, PCLinuxOS, and perhaps Mandriva as possible choices, though you can many more here: The LiveCD List
I've been using Linux alongside of Windows and OS/2 here since 1992 (started with the early SLS diskette releases), and things are far easier now than they used to be.
I was going to suggest the live CD too but b/c of his wife worrying about that laptop and security - I thought it was better, wise and logical to suggest picking up another separate computer cheaply or for free.
Well, I look at it this way...I still remember learning Windows when I had 98, that is, after I finally found the "on" button (it was well camouflaged). It was kind of an adventure. I won't mind learning the new Linux once I get it.
Well, I look at it this way...I still remember learning Windows when I had 98, that is, after I finally found the "on" button (it was well camouflaged). It was kind of an adventure. I won't mind learning the new Linux once I get it.
Cool thing about it Brian is that the sky is the limit. You know a lot of the eye candy features Vista has? Well, Linux has been doing it for years.
Cool thing about it Brian is that the sky is the limit. You know a lot of the eye candy features Vista has? Well, Linux has been doing it for years.
And it's all for FREEEEEEEEE and You'd be free for the M$ evil empire.
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