Is Linux Really Worth It?
By Josh | July 5, 2007
Well, I’ve been using Linux for a few weeks now, and I’ve experienced a lot what it can do. I’ve also experienced a lot of bugs that it can produce. Linux is nice if it works, but it seems to me that I spend more time trying to fix Linux than actually using it.
First, I had Firefox problems. Firefox would randomly crash, and I couldn’t use sites like Rhapsody. I finally got that fixed, which you can find a post about here. Next, I had trouble installing an Nvidia driver. It would install but then my computer would just boot into a blank screen. I got that fixed by installing the driver in the command prompt outside of my graphical interface (I wish that they would have said to do that in the instructions). Now that I finally have a video card driver, I want to play some games. So I download the Cedega program so I can install some Windows games that I have, and I notice that my DVD and CD drives are no longer being detected. I am currently in the process of figuring out why they aren’t mounting.
All in all, I think Linux is good for a free OS. If you don’t know what you are doing with Windows, then I wouldn’t suggest installing Linux. It takes time to get it working right, and once you think you have it working right, then another problem pops up. I know that Windows has its problems; I go through fixing a lot of them. But at least when I run into a problem in Windows, it usually isn’t as serious as my CD or DVD drive not being detected. I’ve had at least three major problems with Linux in the past week, and I don’t get much time to even spend on my computer after work, so most of my time has been spent fixing my problems. However, if you know what you are doing, then I’m sure you can get it working just the way you want (although it may take a lot of time).
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Cool post man! One day, when I get my money saved up, I am going to build a computer. I want Windows but I would also like to install Linux on a second hard drive. Thanks for the info!
Yeah, I used linux on the desktop for years - one day my linux machine died and I switched to using the mac I had fulltime. I never really looked back. I still use linux exclusively on the server side and long for sloppy focus and true virtual desktops (please let Leopard come out so I can try out Spaces!). But overall, life is much easier on OSX. You know?
I lived on windows for a bit when I was consulting at a windows shop. That wasn’t a terrible experience, but it confirmed that I didn’t want to be a windows guy. :)
I haven’t used a Mac since I was in elementary school, but I know some people that swear by it. That will have to be the next OS that I try out. I’m still working out some small things with Linux, but every now and then I’ll have to get back on Windows.