Are you ready for the ride of your life?

So you want Linux? Wait... Not all computer users are lucky enough to be suitable for the red pills today, and here is a brief run through to to see whether Linux is for you:

Case 1: You'd better think THRICE

1. Heavy gamers especially those that command state of the art kind of graphics. Currently there are only a limited number of games that supports Linux natively, and configuring top end graphics card on Linux can be a challenge.
2. Run a lot of special applications that do not have Linux port. For example, your company's ERP system, customized accounting packages, and so on.
3. You have a piece of special hardware that you need absolutely and there is no Linux driver and work around for it.
   
4. You absolutely hate changes, and you are even too lazy to install Firefox in Windows (or have absolutely no idea how to do it).
   

Case 2: Linux has your name on it

1. If you use your computer mainly for internet surfing, chat, email, bit torrent, music, documents, spreadsheet, presentation slides, and etc.
2. If you use more applications than above, but have an appetite to tinker around. In other words, you are an explorer, someone who loves challenges, and who doesn't give up easily.
   

Case 3: What are you waiting for!

1. You hate Microsoft.
2. You want more control of your own PC.
3. You do not want to keep paying for upgrades that you do not need.
4. You are tired of keep spending money on firewall, anti virus, anti spyware, have all these loaded, bogged down your system performance, and scan your system from time to time. In other words, you are sicked of PAYING MORE for GETTING LESS!
   
5. You want to go legal on ALL of your software.

In any case, you do have the option of dual booting or install Linux on an old PC to enjoy the best of both worlds :) I would say try it, dual boot Linux with Windows if you are not comfortable with leaving Windows entirely. Start using Linux for your internet acitivities which is way more safer than Windows, and use Windows for games, and those special applications which have no Linux ports.

Internet Explorer 7

An interesting read I found on the net:

Excerpt from the article:

"What do you call a program that gets loaded in surreptitiously and without your approval, has the potential to lock down your computer so you can't get access to it, takes up significant system resources and promptly crashes upon running. Normally, I'd call it a virus, except for the last part, viruses are usually stable (and well written) once they start. On the other hand, it's a perfect description of Internet Explorer 7.0."

Reality Check

Time to do a reality check before we proceed further.

Operating System is just a platform for our work and entertainment, well, unless you like tinkering and take that as an hobby. It should not cause major frustrations and affect your normal routine. You do not want to end up screwing your one and only PC, and unable to work on an urgent report and get fired as a result of that. Therefore, if you are happy with Microsoft Windows and do not mind the "force down the throat" kind of attitude from them, WGA, DRM, and etc., by all means continue to use it. You can still use many Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) on MS Windows such as OpenOffice & IBM Symphony, as many FOSS applications are cross platforms.

Linux, like Mac OSX, is just another option opened for you, and the good thing about Linux is, most distribution is completely free, well, not entirely, you still need to pay for a blank CD to burn the OS though.

Linux is a completely different operating system started out as a hobby by Linus Torvalds. Just as Mac OSX will not run your PC game, you cannot expect the same on Linux (though it is possible to run MS Office and games in Linux, that's another story). When you switch over to Linux, do expect you are going to do things a little differently and use very different applications to accomplish your tasks.

Here's a list of some alternative applications:

MS Windows ---> Linux alternatives

• MS Office ---> OpenOffice/ IBM Symphony

• Internet Explorer ---> Firefox/ Konqueror

• Outlook ---> Evolution/ Thunderbird

• Media Player/ iTune ---> Amorak/ Quod Libet/ Totem Movie Player

• Adobe Photshop ---> GIMP

Be mentally prepared for changes-- the familiarization of the menu systems, OS, and applications will take anywhere from a couple of days to weeks. Basically, modern desktop Linux is mainly GUI driven with little need of typing commands in terminal. As you progress and get more comfortable with Linux, you will probably be using the terminal more and more as it provides a direct, efficient way of control & configuration.

I will end this post with an article: Linux is NOT Windows, and will talk more on Linux Suitability Test in the next post.

Is Linux the only other OS option?

So you want to get away from Microsoft for whatever reasons, does that mean Linux is the only other choice? Nope, you have 300+ of Linux flavors to choose from :-D

"I mean other than Linux..."

Ok.

If your main reason to jump ship is because you are sicked of the virus and security issues, and just out of hatred of Microsoft, Mac OS looks like a viable option for you.

Benefit of using a Mac is, cool hardware design, easy to use desktop, pretty interface (a fully configured Linux desktop can achieve this too), work flawlessly with your ipod & iphone, and there are some Windows applications available on the Mac platform.

However, if the reason you are getting away from Microsoft is due to DRM and OS lock down, Apple is worse than Windows in this respect. Not only the OS is proprietary, the hardware is as well (even though they are using Intel platform nowadays). You probably have to spend a lot more money on hardware using a MAC. The OS is also full of DRM controls, and the only good thing out of this as compared to Windows is Mac OS does not have draconian piracy protection like the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA).

"How about other OS?"

There is another fairly popular Free OS, FreeBSD and its variants, based on UNIX, and which many believed Mac OS is built on. It is rock solid stable and efficient, making it an OS choice for some web severs. The downside of FreeBSD is less hardware and software running on this platform as compared to Linux. If you have problems with Linux in this respect, it is worse on BSD.

"More?"

There is one called React OS, which looks promising as the objective is to build a Free and Open Source OS based on Windows NT. I am not sure how usable is the current version, you gotta try it out yourself. There is another, called Syllable OS, which has a stable release.

"Any verdict?"

Apple is a very viable alternative for most if you don't give a hoot to DRM and have some money to spare; whereas Linux is recommended if you want to continue on the PC platform, and you want to have Freedom and make use of the abundance of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

For the rest of the OSes such as Free BSD, React OS, and Syllabus, give them a chance and try them as a secondary (or tertiary) OS if you have time to tinker, the hardware and software support on them is less as compared to Linux which makes them less suitable as a main general purpose desktop replacement for most users.

Mythbuntu!

Finally, I manage to get Mythbuntu to view and record the local channels in Singapore! Made a silly mistake as I thought the tv tuner port on the Hauppauge PVR 150 card is S-video port -.-

At least it is working now and I will get a remote control next to set it up before transferring the whole set up to a HTPC casing.

I will compile some Singapore specific settings and post here.

Busy with Mythbuntu

Have been very busy with installing Mythtv, decided probably easier to install a packaged system such as Mythbuntu, KnoppMyth, and MythDora.

I am glad I did not buy a special HTPC case, and all other specialized HTPC hardware. I am having a hard time configuring MythTV, at least on the part of setting up the channels because there is no xmltv in Singapore.

Gee.. I might abandon the project or put it KIV, all I want is to able to watch and record some tv programmes, I do not need the all the nice features built in.

Why Linux? (part III)

Because Linux has a cute mascot called Tux! On more serious note, here are some advantages of using a GNU/Linux:

1. Low cost of ownership. Some Linux distributions do charge, but the price your pay is miniscule comparing to MS products. Most are Free anyway :-)

2. Linux is more secured unless you do really stupid things. Even if you are unable to use Linux fully, it is good to install it into a spare computer or another partition for internet purpose, especially for younger kids who might not be security conscious.

3. You are Free. There is no complicated End User License Agreement to worry about, and you can copy as many copies, distribute to as many people, and install on as many computers as you want. Did you know that your OEM Windows License (license that comes with the computer), does not allow you to install that onto another computer? The license is meant for that computer only! With the introduction of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) in XP and Vista, swapping components in the same computer may deactivate your computer!

4. Abundance of Open Source Software. Your favourite and old software may not run on Linux, but there are many replacements available, some of these are available on Windows as well, eg., OpenOffice, GIMP, and Firefox. There are a lot more software exclusively on Linux, and it really provides you a chance to explore, play, and use many applications which is not possible in Windows environment unless you burn an extremely big hole on your pockets.

E.g, Kompozer to design web page vs paid MS frontpage or Dreamweaver; GIMP for simple to advanced graphics design vs Adope Photshop (professionals may still prefer Photoshop though); OpenOffice vs MS Office; GanttProject vs the expensive MS Project, and the list goes on.

5. Linux is powerful. You can use it as a normal desktop OS, or you can stretch it to run as a webserver, without ever have to worry about paying for additional licenses. All the applications and tools are available to you free or minimum cost.