Ubuntu 10.04 LTS?

[Osmose]

To be honest, Ubunto and all the linux freeware is good for 2 things.
1. People don't even bother to make viruses for it.
2. You can use some sneaky programming skills to lock up your files in case the police decide to bring your computer in fro illegal downloading.

Other than that - it's pretty useless. It takes some time to learn, it has a lot of uneccessary stuff(more than a MAC) and is not really that different.
You need to rely on other people to get things to work for it. New Windows live is released - now we need to wait for some guy to make the latest windows live to work for Ubunto.
Also, there's no tech support.

To be honest, you're full of it. But in responding to your trolling, I put together a decent amount of info about Linux, so it's worth posting.

1. People don't even bother to make viruses for it.

Lie. People make viruses for Linux-based operating systems all the time, especially considering that the majority of servers in the world run some sort of Linux. The case can be made that there are less viruses overall for desktop distros, but even then that's not a good picture of security.

Consider Keith, a friend of mine who runs Arch Linux on his desktop, and a Linux server as well (I think running Ubuntu Server). Because he lives on campus and has an open SSH port, he gets bombarded every couple of days by people trying to hack into his computer (and by extension the whole school network). He knows what he's doing and is able to prevent this, and the risk is less for home users, but never act like it's not there.

2. You can use some sneaky programming skills to lock up your files in case the police decide to bring your computer in fro illegal downloading.

Drive encryption is not a sneaky programming skill and Windows can do this too.Windows calls it BitLocker drive encryption. In Linux, there's several ways to enable drive encryption; I believe the installer for Ubuntu offers the option in a very nice checkbox that requires no programming.

Even then, it just encrypts your files so that they can only be decrypted with a password. Evidence of downloading from the initial detection is still enough to get you convicted. Also, there are certain situations where the police can legally require you to give up this password.

"It takes some time to learn"

Valid point. But you get so much by learning it; the power of the command prompt, the unrestricted ability to control your computer, truly free software, etc.

"It has a lot of uneccessary stuff"

Not quite sure what you're trying to say; is it that it comes with too much stuff or that there is too much stuff available? The former is a distro problem, not a Linux problem, and the latter is called having a choice.

Macs choose to limit what you can do in the name of simplicity; Linux lets you decide what's best, not someone else. If you consider things like a powerful shell prompt unnecessary, you haven't learned how to use one properly. For example, I spent 2 hours this morning trying to remove the hacked code from the website using what little I had for Windows. It would've taken me 6 times as long if I didn't have Cygwin, which is a port of several popular Linux programs to Windows.

"is not really that different"

If all you do is launch Firefox, yes, it won't be that different. If you actively try to set up things like a new OS theme, install new software, configure things like Samba sharing, etc. Then you start to see just how different things really are.

"You need to rely on other people to get things to work for it."

Uh, the same goes for Windows. What, did you program the new version of Windows Live yourself?

Furthermore, most major IM clients for Linux probably already support the new version of Live that came out: the big one is Pidgin, and not only does it support a new version of the Live protocol as soon as it comes out, it supports AIM, IRC, XMPP, and every other major chat protocol or network, all in one client.

Realize that it's not them making the latest Windows Live work for Ubuntu, but rather making it work for the chat client you use. These things aren't things that have to change or even use the OS exclusively, they're purely application-based problems.

"Also, there's no tech support."

That you even rely on tech support for fixing your problems is hilarious (95% of the time they have barely any idea what the problem is and cannot help you properly), but lets assume you are in a pickle and need help.

Odds are one of the many support sites/forums can help you. Specific problems have probably been dealt with dozens of times, and solutions can be a web search away.

So please, next time, don't mislead people with blatant lies.

[HobomasterXXX]

What do you use your computer for?

Pretty much standard computer use. IM programs, web browsing, emailing, gaming, listening to music. I really see no appeal in any Linux derivative except for the no viruses, and appeal to programmers

[Bluhman]

Your mother downloads kiddie porn.

I KNEW IT. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

[ThexXtremeXx]

Pretty much standard computer use. IM programs, web browsing, emailing, gaming, listening to music. I really see no appeal in any Linux derivative except for the no viruses, and appeal to programmers

God, just try it. I bet if you were a newbie at Computers and you heard that Windows had millions of viruses and shitty tec-support you'd be crawling to Linux or OSX. Oh and since your the general PC user, how about the MeMenu? (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MeMenu)

Just freaking try it, you don't even have to install the damn thing. Just use the live freaking CD. It's a Half hour of your life, sheesh. (depending on your internet connection.)

Also, Dual Booting.

[HobomasterXXX]

I would rather not waste ANY of my time on an OS that I can see no real beneift from at all. If you're that inistent on pushing this down people's throats, at least have a good argument.

[Archem]

Rename it "Quagsire", and Hobo will be all over it.

I'm sure he'll ignore the irony.

[Prpl_Mage]

I love how someone have to make a stupid statement for the good stuff to be written.

If anyone needs to know what Ubuntu is: Read Moose's post.

[HobomasterXXX]

If anyone needs to know what Ubunto is: Read Moose's post.

But I want to know what Ubuntu is, Prpl.

[Osmose]

Fixed his spelling, because it was obnoxious on purpose. Gogo admin powers!

[fruckert]

ZOMG ABUSIV ADMINjk,jk,we love you ozzy

[X_marks_the_ed]

GET IT NOW

Xtreme, do you realize that you're opening the flood gates, here? Currently, both my father and brother are using Ubuntu on their computers due to a speaker driver fail and a virus. Now, I can no longer talk to my father without it being about some new little thing he found, or some problem he's having figuring out something, or both. Don't force it on the casuals, it'll bite you back.

[ThexXtremeXx]

...

[Archem]

This thread is starting to get a little problematic. Can we stop forcing it on others and/or complaining so much? It's obnoxious all the way around.

[ThexXtremeXx]

This thread is starting to get a little problematic. Can we stop forcing it on others and/or complaining so much? It's obnoxious all the way around.

M'kay.

[Zerlina]

Charas Project- where an operating system is more inflaming than world politics.