What OS do you use?

by **Joe'** on Tue Dec 26, 2006 5:13 pm

Title says it all: What operating system do you use? What do you think is better?
I've been inspired to do this since I've seen a few videos about Ubuntu (open source Linux-based-OS) and I'm pretty amazed at the graphics. In fact, Ubuntu and the all the main Linux desktops can have a 3D desktop (with features similar to Mac OS X's...like the genie effect and all the Aqua interface features, Exposé, Parallels, etc.).
The great thing about it is that you get all for free (Ubuntu which is the OS, GLX, Compiz and Beryl which are the software to make the whole 3D desktop thing possible) and you don't even need a great computer to run it: all you need is a 1.0 Ghz x86 processor, 256 MB RAM and an Nvidia or ATI video card with at least 64MB VRAM.
Tomorrow I'm gonna format my computer, get rid of that crap that goes by the name of Windows and test Linux. It probably won't run the best because I have a crappy PC (2.08 Ghz AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processor, 256 MB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 4 MX 440 64 MB VRAM) but I'll be getting a new iMac when OS X Leopard comes out (hopefully in March 2007) with Parallels Desktop included so I can run both OS X and Ubuntu (and if I have to play games Windows too).
So what do you guys use and what OS you think is better and why?
My choice is Mac OS X followed by Ubuntu and the other Linux-based OS's.

YouTube · by **JaoSming** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:48 am

Using Windows XP Pro on this machine
Windows Media Center 2004 on the laptop

Since I am a student at UMass Amherst I can get Vista (or any windows) for free so I will probably upgrade to Vista as soon as I can.

by **Jugs** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:50 am

I'm getting a Vista ready laptop for school at the end of january and i hope i get media center but at the moment everything is windows xp.

by **cyanide** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:40 am

Ubuntu sounds interesting. I would just worry about the compatibility with other programs and games.

Right now I use WinXP, but as soon as I have a full time job and extra cash, I'm getting the Mac Leopard OS X. The features are way too useful.

by **Donatello** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:53 am

xp pro.

i much prefer osx.

by **hipn** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:32 am

xp home...what a shame.

For some reason, my load bar is blue no green anymore. I am talking about the bar that is there when you start the comp.

by **Joe'** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:05 am

cyanide wrote:Ubuntu sounds interesting. I would just worry about the compatibility with other programs and games.
I'm getting the Mac Leopard OS X. The features are way too useful.

Yeah, I'm worried about the compatibility with programs too...
I know that when you install Ubuntu, it comes with software just like OS X but I'd like to know if I can install all the applications I have on XP or at least good alternatives.
For games there's no problem I think: I don't know if Ubuntu or Debian can play games but I know there's an app that you install on Linux that lets you double-boot Ubuntu or any other Linux OS with Windows, so anytime you want to play games, you just have to boot Windows. They're working to make a program just like Parallels Windows for Mac OS X which lets you change between two or more OS's without rebooting.

I tried Ubuntu (without XGL) from the Live CD (booting the OS from the CD without actually installing it) today and it looks pretty nice, you just have to get used to it like Mac OS X.
It looks like pretty much like this screenshot.

I'm getting Leopard too when it comes out in March: you gotta love the new features like Time Machine and the new Spotlight, not to mention the features that are already available in Tiger (Safari, iLife, iChat AV and iCal). Mac is the way to go.

xp home...what a shame.

For some reason, my load bar is blue no green anymore. I am talking about the bar that is there when you start the comp.

That happens when you install Service pack 2 on Windows XP.

by **hipn** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:20 pm

Are LiveCD's the things that let you boot like Windows XP off a burnt disk? If so, where can I get those? Or how do I make those? I have always wanted to run a Mac OS on my PC.

by **Joe'** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:12 pm

hipn wrote:Are LiveCD's the things that let you boot like Windows XP off a burnt disk? If so, where can I get those? Or how do I make those? I have always wanted to run a Mac OS on my PC.

Live CD's are installation CD's for Linux OS's, and they make possible to boot the OS directly from the CD to give you a preview before you actually install the OS.
Apple or Microsoft never released Live CD's as far as I know

by **benji** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:48 pm

ut I'd like to know if I can install all the applications I have on XP or at least good alternatives

In most cases yes...ubuntu is just a linux distribution, so all the standard linux replacements like OpenOffice.org and GAIM will work. I liked Fedora more actually.

A virtual machine is certainly excellent, VMWare and Parallels are two of the best.

Linux is easily the best operating system, because of the install base XP is a must. I have no need to use a Mac.

Since I am a student at UMass Amherst I can get Vista (or any windows) for free so I will probably upgrade to Vista as soon as I can.

I'd reconsider that...to "dual-boot XP and Vista" at the least...

by **BigKaboom2** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:15 pm

XP Pro and Gentoo Linux dual boot. Compiz/Beryl are great, but a little buggy.

by **bigh0rt** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:35 pm

XP Home, I think.

by **Joe'** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:39 pm

To benji and BigKaboom: Can you guys tell me what are the main differences between Compiz and Beryl? What is the best out of the two?
Should I install just one of them or both? Why?

Do you guys know any sites with tutorials on how to install XGL/Compiz/Beryl?
I am a total newbie at Linux and I think I should find a tutorial to install those things before I do anything that could fuck up my whole system.

Also, I heard that setting up a network connection is quite difficult on Linux, is that true?

Thanks in advance.

by **Laxation** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:05 pm

Whats vista?

by **Jugs** on Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:48 pm

Vista is the new Windows coming out

by **BigKaboom2** on Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:36 am

http://wiki.beryl-project.org/index.php ... u/Edgy/XGL

That should help out a bit. I didn't read through it but it looks good.

by **Jing** on Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:38 am

My new desktop will most likely be XP Pro. but It will definately be Vista capable, cause our school will be giving out free Vista downloads. I like the OSX though. Maybe i'll purchase a Desktop and get Vista for it, and then get a Powerbook or something.

by **dada** on Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:40 am

by **Joe'** on Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:29 pm

I just installed Ubuntu and it's fucking great even without the XGL/Beryl stuff.
You get totally free software and you can install Third-party software (including popular software like iTunes 6x) using a little tool named Automatix or something like that without the need of the Terminal.
I recommend it to all the people who are tired of Windows or those people who want to try something new.
Also, you can even keep Windows on a different partition (the Ubuntu installation guides you trough the partitioning)

What OS do you use?

What OS do you use?

Who is online