http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php The Linux Box ru CuteNews.RU 2.5.4 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html
If you are using this article to convince someone to switch to Linux, you may need to first explain what Linux is. You can find a newbie friendly article on that subject here.

We can make a good argument for using Linux with eight basic points including coolness, speed, feature richness, ease of use, support, upgrade options, low (no) cost, and freedom.]]> document.write("Cywhale"); ]]> http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment1 ANother question - i really like the firefox theme shown in the internet screenshot, what theme is this - strata?]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:01:32 -0800 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment2 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:09:15 -0800 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment3
Modern OS's have this thing called fs cache. It contains previously read "files". Good example is the following:

1. you start your computer, login, etc. get to desktop
2. you start an application for the first time
3. you close the application
4. you start the same application again, now it starts much faster!

Of course, in Windows land the applications themselves have previously handled this (plus some linking benefits) with different kind of quickstart programs. (Think of IE, Office, OpenOffice, etc.) In latest Linux distros, for example ubuntu uses sreadahead to make the booting process (and perhaps gui loading) faster.

I don't think you can compare Win7 and Linux free memory values at all; best to leave them to Win98 and WinXP comparisons.

I'd be very interested to learn how in earth you got Windows to transfer a big file faster than Linux? This is something I've never seen in real life; please describe the situtation you came up?

Where were the files copied from and where to, in file copying tests? I'd suspect EXT4 getting much better performance over NTFS.]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:48:12 -0800 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment4 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:14:47 -0800 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment5
You make a good point with the memory that it shouldn't be compared at all, and as far as the large file transfer, I was surprised as well by the result. As I don't actually have Win 7 installed, I was relying on Taranfx for the numbers. He does provide some detail about the testing conditions at:

http://www.taranfx.com/windows-7-vs-ubuntu

Thanks for the enlightening response]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:51:54 -0800 document.write("kevinrodrigues.com"); ]]> http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment6 As you have mentioned, Linux fails when it comes to playing good games. Infact, I tried using Wine but still cannot start Counterstrike (which is a very minimal resource game).

I think what puts people off is that whatever be the case, the learning curve seems step. And common users should not have to bother to type some cryptic commands on a console. While Ubuntu is one of the best Linux based OS I have seen, when something fails, the online support is ubuntu forums where a common user will find it too tedious to solve their problems.]]> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:09:00 -0800 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment7
I have to disagree on the ease of use issue. For day to day activities like surfing the web, using various social media, and writing a paper Ubuntu Linux is at least as easy, if not easier, than Windows 7. Ubuntu, like most Linux distributions come with a lot of quality software already installed and it is very easy to add additional software. Most users in Linux do not need to use the command line just like most users in Windows do not need to; but power users on either system are going to frequently make use of the command line.

What have you done on Linux in the past six months that could only be done from a command line and a typical computer user would find necessary?

Also on the issue of on-line help in the forums of various distributions I tend to find very good information, but if a newbie needs professional help from a live person they have options. Option 1: Linux has become so prevalent that everyone knows at least one Linux user that they could ask. Option 2: they can take their question to their local LUG. Option 3: if they purchased their computer with Linux preinstalled they can call that place. Option 4: they can actually purchase a support contract. Really, these options aren't all that different from Windows except that Linux users have better forums and local LUGs that will bend over backwards to help.

While I respect your opinions, and do agree that Linux is not the best gaming platform; I also think that Linux has become one of the easiest operating systems to use in recent years.

Peace,

Sean]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:21:56 -0800 document.write("David Stow"); ]]> http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment8
I use linux for more idealistic reasons and in order to learn more. But to get others to use it, I would need to be able to at least be able to tweak their installs to do the above mentioned things well.

Thanks for all the information, even if it was way over my head.]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:47:38 -0700 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment9
You make some good points about entrenched applications and that proprietary applications are always updated on MS Windows first. As far as I can tell currently yahoo, skype, and redkaraoke all work (including video support) on Linux. I know that was not always the case, but I think developers are getting better at creating cross-platform applications.

Magic Jack is cool, but once again if someone carefully guards their source code, then we are dependent on them for making ports and keeping it up-to-date. My suggestion is that Linux users whom want Magic Jack should send emails requesting support.

Thanks for the comment.]]> Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:26:05 -0700 http://thelinuxbox.org/news.php?2010/02/03/why-use-linux.html#comment10 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:40:01 -0700