What is the best OS system -  Linux products or MS products (any others)?
478345
For the average user, especially for corporate compatibility, Microsoft OS is the best choice. For the "power" home user or corporate power user, Linux (probably Red Hat, see RedHat.com) is the best choice. There are very good alternatives, these days, to MS product choices that are, for the most part, very compatible (see OpenOffice.org) and free. Linux now offers the stability, useability, and flexibility not found in any OS brought to market by MS. I'm not, however, "bashing" Windows - it is a good product for the average consumer. For linux, I strongly recommend Red Hat -- mostly because I am a RHCT ;) but they do have a strong corporate / support offering.
1019932
Windows latest version would be " vista"..Try linux it is more intresting to learn..
1174381
Be wary of questions like this, every linux user has one distro that slays all others, and its almost never the same as the next user.  All linux distro's have the security and lower system overhead than windows, all that really changes is the feel.  If you want to learn linux slowly without losing too much of the windows feel, then you should try a distro based off of kde.  Xandros is the most useable interface, but cd burning is crippled in the free version and retail is 40 bucks, but it is great to try and for most I've recommended this to it is worth the fee.  If you want free with no restrictions and a windows feel, you can't beat Mepis.  If you want to try something really new, ubuntu is based off of Gnome, which is very similar to the Mac user interface, it takes some getting used to but is typically faster.  If you have some time and want to see your computer run faster than you thought possible, then Gentoo is the distro for you.  Be warned though, Gentoo is quite difficult to install, but is well worth the effort.(you can choose which style to use during install, kde is the default though)
1000528
"Best" being entirely subjective, I would have to say it is completely dependent on your needs and level of experience.\n\nIt is certainly, in my opinion, the best FREE distro for a New linux user making the switch from windows, if only for its level of community support and general ease of use.\n\nThere are paid version that are  perhaps friendlier to the new user, such as Linspire or PClinuxOS, but paid isn't free! =)\n\nBest as in function, that depends what you are doing - and it is SOOOOOO varied. Some distros are king of security, some let you get down and dirty and don't even HAVE a GUI, many experienced users would swear by gentoo, many others would curse you for choosing anything other than slackware. Some want control over every little function of the pc, and linux can do that, some want it more intuitive, linux can do that too.\n\nI can only recommend two things for you to determine what you are seeking, to better understand your own question\n\nfirst go here: http://www.linux.org/dist/\nand answer the prompts as to what you are looking for, and it will give you a rundown of whats out there\n\nsecond, check out: http://distrowatch.com/ , it will give you a  feel for whats popular and why.\n\n\n\nhappy penguin hunting!
289681
Linux is far easier to use in many respects(IMO). I truly believe you will get equal responses on this subject (1&#92;2 Linuux, 1/2 BSD)
1015667
More user friendly?\n\nHave you tried Ubuntu?  You can run it from a live CD without installing it.\n\nIt's easy to use.  It's much easier to install than Windows also.  Took me about 20 minutes with the latest version.\n\nCheck out the "Dapper XGL" movie on the osvids.com page below to get an idea of how advanced the graphical Linux desktop has become.\n\nCheck it out:
883772
I know a few people with non genuine versions and they have been online for years. You aren't a fool. No one expects a computer to contain a os that isn't authentic. Do you know much about changing the os? Try Linux. Look on Ebay for a version with temporary support, it will cost a little but not anywhere near what it costs for Windows. SUSE(a type of Linux) comes with 30 days support when bought in box form. That is the only real drawback with Linux is the lack of official support but there are forums you can pose questions for great answers and most everything is being written for the Linux system also these days. Give it a go if you can't get the Windows to work properly, the great thing about Linux is that once you bought the system, you can put it on whatever computers you want, unlike Microsofts os. Linux want to be spread around the world. They work towards the free and equitable access to the internet and computers for all.
610920
Vmware and using a live distro although very good don't quite run linux to it's full potential, if you really want to try it properly install it as a dual boot with windows, it can always be removed at a later date.
426567
Extremely extensive support of all kinds of hardware for Windows XP compared to Linux.  Webcams, scanners, bluetooth devices, remotes, external usb devices, video hardware, etc etc - all are supported really well and detected by Windows.\n\nWhich is not to say that Linux doesn't have pretty extensive coverage of hardware, it does!!!  But Windows XP is going to be just a few more things better.  And if you have that one device that is not supported by Linux it is a bummer.\n\nAnother point is that software such as Microsoft Office runs on Windows, not Linux, although there are things like OpenOffice for you to do all the same things.\n\nIf you'd like to try Linux without installing it or affecting your PC, check out Knoppix.  You can download a CD .ISO file (image) and burn it to a CD.  You then put in that CD and boot up your PC, voila you are running linux.\n\n-PETER
983133
Well, would you like to see your computer run upto 50X faster?\n\nDo you exercise FREEdom of Choice?\n\nWould you like to take the actual path that Microsoft has taken towards more efficient computing, VIRUS FREE?\n\n"Darkside"???   NOT GNU/Linux!!!\n\nMicrosoft is the "Dark Side"!  They are the biggest  convicted pirates, multiply convicted multiple felons, on several continents!!!   They just had their PROBATION  EXTENDED for THREE more YEARS!!!!!!\n\nMS actually runs GNU/Linux on all corporate servers.  All firewalls, (Aruba corp.) and all routers (Aruba.corp.),\nand, MSN.com, HOTMAIL.com, Microsoft.com\nrun on, or behind, 45,000 Linux servers.\n\nAnyway, to answer your question, directly, I wnat to qualify it.\n\nIf you run games, stick to Microsoft, for now. \n\nIf you go on the Internet, run virus free GNU/Linux!\n\nTo start learning Linux, you download the FREE http://pclinuxos.com  and burn the CDrom.\n\nThen, you can reboot with the CD as the first boot device.\nIt will boot in CDrom, run in RAM disc, and not touch the hard drive.\n\nThis is a great way to learn!  Includes 1900 games, programs, apps.  Manual is on the desktop, a click away.\n\nThen, there are the forums, and the friendly helpers, 24/7/365.\nAFTER you are cmfortable with it, you might try doing an install, and whether you intend to dual boot or wipe out the M$ is your choice... \n\nThere are 310 LiveCDrom Distros,  at http://livecdlist.com plus another 500+ versions of GNU/Linux out there, at http://distrowatch.com tailored to specific needs.  Let me know what you need, or see ya on the forums!\nEnjoy!
117419
Xandros would most likely work, I have the community edition installed. Its a great candy coated linux with the ease of Win/OSX. As for running windows program, if you have bought it with the CodeWeaver software which is a commercial WINE, its able to run IE, MS Office and Photoshop. A few other programs I tried did not work too well on it. Hope this helps and good luck.
730692
Most flavours have "live disc" available which allow you to run and experiment without having to install (ie, booting from disc). Have a play with a few and see which suits you best. The only 'nix version I ever really liked was SUSE, but have had to stick with Windows in the end - couldn't do my job on Linux ...too many software limitations
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NetBSD is a pretty good *nix distro\nor\nFedora Linux (aka Redhat) very simple to use with good security (SE Linux), stable and free.\nor\nRedhat Enterprise Linux but you have to pay for that.\n\nCheers!
452334
You can use Linux operating system for free. you can also use some Linux live CDs like Knoppix or Slax.
411754
it is the time to try Linux :) Suse 10.0 is super
533047
Any one you choose will work with Linux.  It's all standards-based.
678681
This is the best tuturial I have found for dual booting Ubuntu and Windows.\nhttp://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p3.htm