Hey, first you might want to give XP a shot on NTFS. That's pretty good on that type of format.

Lindows is probaby good... but it's not as user friendly as Windows. It'll be harder to get used to. And not all programs will be exactly the same.

If you really want to experiment outside Windows try Mac OS X. I've heard some neat things about it... and you might want to look into it, though it is expensive.

Prices:

Windows XP PRO - $199
Lindows OS 2 - $99
Mac OS X - $149 (approx)

KEoNI wrote:

Prices: Windows XP PRO - $199 Lindows OS 2 - $99 Mac OS X - $149 (approx)

Let me clarify the prices -

Windows XP PRO - $299 for the full version. Can be installed on ONE pc only and requires activation. If you want the stripped down Home edition, it is $199- and it can be installed on one pc only and requires activation. Requires 25 digit cd key.
Lindows OS 2 - $99 for a unlimited pc liscense (for one household). No activation. Requires no cd key.
Mac OS X - $129 for the full version. No activation. You can purcahse a $199 "family liscense" that allows u to legally install it on 5 macs. Requires no cd key.

jimmyt1au wrote:

rumour has it that I can run Windows programs under this OS and that would be ideal for me as I find Windows extremely unstable.I know I am still trying to come to grips with any computer but would like to learn different ways to Windows as I have not had a great deal of success with it.I am currently running XP on FAT32 and while it is the stablest Windows that I have ever run i feel I need to broaden my horizons and branch into other OS's. jimmyt

You can run a few Windows programs on it. It is really a very bad OS. It gives all users root access which is a big no no in the linux world. Convert to NTFS and you will be much happier with your XP install. If you want to learn another OS then go after one of the 'real' distributions of linux. Mandrake and Redhat are both good for those who are new to Linux. If you want more of a challege then look at any of the BSD's, Slackware, Debian or Gentoo. If you have a Mac or interested in getting one the OS X is a great OS. Is based off of a modified FreeBSD kernel.

Lindows is a noble effort that isn't going to go anywhere because of its timing. First of all, the public is not ready to release the pacifier that is Windows for at least another couple of years. Windows comforts those not familiar with computers. They know where their programs are, how to email, use the internet, etc. That is all they need.

Now for my 80 year old grandmother, or my 50 year old uncle for that matter, to make a switch to something that resembles windows, but is not windows. And the fact that there is a difference between Lindows and Windows is reason enough for them to stick with what they know.

Now let's take a younger chap like myself, or even someone of the ripe age of 30. Someone who is interested in learning alternative operating systems... Alright, we have Lindows for 99 dollars or countless other distributions of the same roots Lindows is based on for free... Hmm... Lindows 99 dollars; Slackware, Debian, The BSD Suite, SuSe, Mandrake, Red Hat... all free.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

-Weaver

While it has been a few yrs since I have seen 30 it's been since the late seventy's that I have been using MS OS / products. I myself have for some time been wanting to broaden my horizons and explore diff. OS's. For some reasons that are obvious to anyone who is truly a Computer / MS Guru at all, and for other reason's such as those of us that can't get enough from Having something diff to toy with on the Computer Techno World!

Mac OS X has caught my attention as of Late, but #1 prob. is It requires a whole other Computer just to run the d*mn thing.

Linux, well lets see ... I have had about hump-teen ver. of it and I haven't really learned them mainly because I don't have a "hardware" modem and haven't invested in one so I can't get on-line and that is reason enough to me to drop it. Not to mention that the Wine crap doesn't quite work like it's suppose to (IMHO).

Ok, there is / have been other OS out such as Be and OS2 just two name a couple. I haven't read enough good / positive reports about any of them to dedicate my time / efforts to them. Yet at the same time my desire to see something that is Equally as usable as windows and just as stable as XP NTFS if not more, still remains un-quenched.

When will this OS be brought to life? Or has it already and as Weaver has put it, "... the public is not ready to release the pacifier that is Windows ..." I would love to see someone or some company step to the front-line and be bold enough and rich enough to Give MS a run for there $$ for a "Good" OS / GUI. I use a lot of MS software just like the mass majority of PC Users today, however I think it's Time that Mr Gates and MS have a run for there money and that the Monopoly ENDS!

Well I know this is more of a rant then a posting, forgive me for being so long winded, but it's been building up for years.

Thanks for listening and please remember this is Simply my "view / opinion / thoughts" on this matter.

they claim Lindows is a lot like linux and windows. Well let me tell ya it is slow and it is a peice of *sh*t*

Care to expound on that statement? What kind of hardware are you running Lindows on? What release of Lindows are you using? What specifically is slow about it-- the boot, compiling, browsing??

Curious.

-Weaver

I have Lindows 3.0 installed on a virtual PC. It runs slower than sh*t. Even win2k runs faster than it in a virtual PC (on the same computer.) Maybe its cause its an emulated pentium (os x here), but who knows? Click-n-run is kinda cool, but seeing as it mostly free apps (cept for star-office and few others), I don't think it worth the $99. Just use OpenOffice.org (which is awesome, IMHO). At least I didn't have to pay to test it out (cause if I did, I would be pissed.) (And, Yes, I am using it legally - at least for 3 months.)

Quote:

Maybe its cause its an emulated pentium (os x here), but who knows?

I am not a bright man, but I think that would influence your Lindows experience in a negative way...

-Weaver

It might - but seeing as 2k runs great, it really shouldn't (i know it won't be the fastest, but still, it should be a lot faster than it is)