which OS system should i use?

[easonadam]

I'm currently running window XP [came with pre-installed on laptop]. I'm no computer buff but was browsing this forum and have seen there quite an anti-window themes around here so i though i'ld ask what you think is the best OS and where i can get it, also whats so bad about windows and what are the advantages of other OS's?

 

 

 

I've also just started using firefox and was wondering if there's any add-ons in particular you'ld recommend me getting.

 

 

 

thanks in advance :)

[Olgath]

If you aren't a computer buff, stick with Windows. Most(notice I said MOST) people that bash it are just ignorant 13 year old trolls who just installed another OS the day before and have no idea what the are talking about.

 

 

 

XP will do anything the average user will want to do, and will do it very well. It isn't a bad operating system by any means, it's just widely exploited. Run a good firewall(hardware AND software), a good virus scanner, and practice safe surfing and you should be more than happy.

 

 

 

However, if you wan't to experiment, I'm a big fan of Ubuntu Linux. You can get a live CD(put it in the cd tray, reboot windows and you will start with Linux. Reboot the system with the cd out and you will boot into windows). This will let you play around with the system without having to actually install it. There are other live CD's for other linux distrobutions so you can check out different ones to see which you like the best.

 

 

 

You can also download VMWare Player and install Linux on it. This way you can run Linux inside windows. It will slow down both computers though, so only run this if you have a lot of ram.

[m1cha34l]

XP is a resonable operating system, as are all the most recent WIndows operating systems, and I personally recomend you stick with even if you are 'a computer buff'.

 

 

 

Linux is usually used by buisnesses etc. as it is more versatile and uses less rescources than Windows. Even thaen it is mainly used to run server based applications, again, because it uses less system rescources, but also because it manages system rescources better.

 

 

 

The reson I would not recomend using linux is due to the lack of interfaces, you need quite a bit of experience with it before you can use it effectntivly.

 

 

 

If you want to run a live linux distro however, as (Olgath) mentioned then I recomend you try one called Damn Small Linux (I'm not being rude, that is actually its name). It sould be the 1st result in Google.

[Ape]

Yeah, I agree with the above. Most people hate Windows because they think it's cool to hate it. But, as I've used other OSs, I can also see some of the downsides, aswell as the good parts of it.

 

 

 

Personally, if I were you, unless you plan on graphics designing, or coding in the near future, I'd stick with good ol' Windows. (Get OSX for Graphics Design and a Linux Dist' for coding, if you're actually interested) If you're looking to get some experience with OS's, I'd suggest stick with Windows until you become familiar with some basic codes, then try and implement them by installing Linux manually, or something like that. But seriously, don't try it unless you know how.

 

 

 

As for Firefox, I got a really cool add-on called "Stumple-apon", it's a button, which takes you to random pages of the internet. I usually click it a few hundred times if I'm bored. You can choose which parts you want to go to, also.. Such as "Online gaming", or "Humour", and I have to say... If it wasn't for Stumple-Apon, I'd be dead of boredom by now.

 

 

 

Hope you like it as much as I do.

[m1cha34l]

 

 

 

Personally, if I were you, unless you plan on graphics designing, or coding in the near future, I'd stick with good ol' Windows. (Get OSX for Graphics Design and a Linux Dist' for coding, if you're actually interested) If you're looking to get some experience with OS's, I'd suggest stick with Windows until you become familiar with some basic codes, then try and implement them by installing Linux manually, or something like that. But seriously, don't try it unless you know how.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In terms of using Linux for coding, it depends what you are coding, and if you have a choice I would always go for Windows.

 

 

 

I'm not disagreeing, just wondering, but why Mac for graphic design?

 

 

 

Edit:Hmm ok thanks

[Nadril]

 

 

 

Personally, if I were you, unless you plan on graphics designing, or coding in the near future, I'd stick with good ol' Windows. (Get OSX for Graphics Design and a Linux Dist' for coding, if you're actually interested) If you're looking to get some experience with OS's, I'd suggest stick with Windows until you become familiar with some basic codes, then try and implement them by installing Linux manually, or something like that. But seriously, don't try it unless you know how.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In terms of using Linux for coding, it depends what you are coding, and if you have a choice I would always go for Windows.

 

 

 

I'm not disagreeing, just wondering, but why Mac for graphic design?

 

 

 

Honestly the only reason is its a bit easier to do color adjustment for your screen, but its not difficult to do that on a windows based PC.

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly I don't think I could use another OS. I'm simply too used to being able to have whatever I need. When I'm gaming, doing artwork and programming I obviously need a platform that can do it all.

 

 

 

Plus once you have the right software windows is plenty safe.

[Ape]

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure why. My uncle is a professional graphics specilist and he's always used Macs, as he thinks they're better. I don't know specifics when it comes to OSX, quite frankly.

[Nadril]

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure why. My uncle is a professional graphics specilist and he's always used Macs, as he thinks they're better. I don't know specifics when it comes to OSX, quite frankly.

 

 

 

Macs are just suposidly the 'standard' for graphics, while they can do the exact same tasks in photoshop as a PC can. I've used the macs in our computer lab now for a good number of months and photoshop is exactly the same.

[Ape]

I've always used a PC + Photoshop to graphics design, too... But seeing as my uncle's the expert, I just took his word for it.

 

 

 

But, I'm sure when I was playing about with his Mac, I wasn't using Photoshop. Maybe he was using a program which is exclusive to Mac, only. -shrug- I'm unsure. :P

[adam_ross0]

I prefer Linux nowadays...but Windows xp is still a solid OS. If you like Windows XP, stick with it. I like XP...mainly because it's the second best Microsoft OS I've ever used besides 98SE.

 

 

 

If you like Windows, stick with it. Be sure to have a decent system, and keep your computer protected and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it.

 

 

 

If you ever get tired of it though, there are multiple Linux distros available to try on a Live CD....as described above. I'd try Ubuntu for a normal system, or D**n Small Linux or Puppy for a smaller system.