What OS do you use?

[followfox]

What operating system do you use the most? I's a linux user myself, Ubuntu and some home made kernel hacks.

[Lotsofnothing1]

I'm using WindowsXP Pro, but with how old this computer is, it's just too slow. I may have to get a copy of Ubuntu for it or something.

[AndalusianStallion]

xp pro sp2 for me aswell,

[Tigris_Astartes]

Windows XP Pro

But I have so many apps to run everything. The only thing I ever use is the actual operating system. My browser, players my copying app and deleting app.. everything is > Windows... Even defragmentation software ^^

Because windows software isn't very reliable and Vista can shove its self.. hate it.

[followfox]

Well if ya'll are that frustrated with windows navigate to www.ubuntu.com to get some free linux. Ubuntu is probably the most user friendly Linux you can get although Mandravia is good for beginners too. Mandravia however has been falling behind pretty bad lately and in terms of the new and cutting edge would not be your best choice...

[Psychaotix]

I use multiple OS's. Xp Pro SP3, Vista, Ubuntu, Solaris, Fedora 8, Server 08, and a heap of others. Usually at the same time as well, since I run a bevy of machines. Keeps my house reasonably warm.

Also, I chose windows, since thats the one that im most commonly using... also the one with the most common troubles.

[kcoar]

This machine used to run 98, but XP pro's installed over it

[Gibletpicker]

Linux (Major Distro) - Mandriva 2008 Spring (2008.1) with KDE 4.0

I have been using Linux for 6 years now, having had issues with Windows XP (Pro). I was having upwards of 1000+ crashes per month (mostly BSOD type), but hardware not being recognised despite drivers being installed, etc.

Since being on Mandriva (I came in at Mandrake 10.1 before the merge with Connectiva), I have had 3 crashes, and only one of those has been major, meaning that I lost about 30GB off a 250GB external HD. I had an Ext3 partition collapse.

Linux seems to me to be much more stable than Windows, and there is no way in Hell I would ever go back.

[Sha´rak]

Since my PC got a good hardware equipment, needed for games like COD 4 with full res + anti-aliasing i use vista ultimate with 64 bit, providing me my full amount of 4 gig ram

[followfox]

Linux can be used for gaming too you know. I have an NVIDIA 8800GTS 320 with an FX-27 on a gigabtye MSI board on my gaming comp. I run dozens of games on it including some of the nwer runs (oblivion, bioshock, etc) all from Linux under WINE....

[Izkata]

And even if it doesn't work well under WINE, you could also go my route and keep a Windows partition just for games. And in that vein of thought, I'm keeping a tarball of my current WinXP partition so that I don't get stuck with the most recent release.

I use Ubuntu 8.04, and have been using it since around October 2006. Yeah, not long compared to you all, but we all had to start somewhere, and my parents were against me installing it in the first place - had to wait until I had my own laptop and was away in college before I was able to.

(I don't stick to LTS releases in case you're wondering..)

[blackbeardlion]

i just downloaded kubuntu and it's pretty good.

[Lotsofnothing1]

Well I sent a request for a free Ubuntu disk, seeing as how I don't have a functional CD burner on this computer (serves as a nifty cup holder though). Turns out I can't use my other Ubuntu disk because those are 64-bit versions.

[followfox]

yeah that can be a problem. I can think of almost no reason why an end user would need a 64bit OS atm anyways. There are very few programs that can take advantage of that and most of them are for workstations and servers.

As for Kubuntu... eh, I'm not a fan of KDE, it's bulky, slow, and not really needed. My main comp uses gnome which is alittle more light weight and I use xfce for my coding computer. It can be tricky to navigate in if your used to other desktops but it's super light weight. Boots fast, runs fast... good stuff. But I know that the desktop debate will never end I'm not looking to start one here lol

[Izkata]

Heh, Window managers/Desktop environments I've tried - Asterisks next to the ones I liked:

*Gnome with Compiz Fusion
KDE
XFCE
*Fluxbox
*Enlightenment
Awesome
*WMII

Awesome and WMII are tiled window managers - very different than the usual style where windows can overlap each other. I'm in WMII right now, and actually prefer it over the others at this point. (Awesome I couldn't figure out how to configure, while WMII uses a single editable script to set everything up)

[cloudtail]

Wow. Am I the only Mac user here or something? I'm not really into gaming, (except for maple story), so it works. I find it conveint for most things I use a computer for, and I've gotten used the the format.
It's not completely cutting edge. Otherwise I would animate some stuff =D. But I'm not really interested using any other computer untill this one comppletely dies... as in forever... when it becomes more expensive to fix than to buy a new one.....

[AuroraAroma]

Still on Windoze 2000 and I'm happy with it that way. My accelerated Amiga 1200 (Sabrina would approve) is still up there on top of the wardrobe in its box.

Bit of a retro gamer so I don't need the latest fastest machine. If you really want to marvel at the state-of-the-art graphic sophistication of the things I play, Click This (http://www.cruithne3753.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stuff/jswol-aurora.png). I was surprised to bump into a furry type there too...

[Dakota Darkwolf]

I have an Apple with Leopard. You can play Maple Story on a Mac, Cloud?

[Fawkes]

I'm running 64-Bit Vista Ultimate. Surprisingly enough, I haven't had many problems with it, even with the UAC turned on. Which is really strange, because when I was using Vista Home Premium, it took me all of five minutes to realize I was going to have to turn that junk off. Only time I've seen in pop up in Ultimate is when I'm working with my network settings...

[Husky]

Ubuntu 8.04 on my big desktop, XPMCE on my Gateway, Mythbuntu on my MythTV box, XP Pro on my compaq lappy, XPMCE on my Toshi laptop, and Windows Mobile 5 on my phone.

[followfox]

O.O OS overload lol. I use a few diffent myself, most there all generally variations of each other. Although smoothwall, which runs on my firewall may be considered it's own....

[Darkness]

Hehe, Funny macs

[followfox]

The only mass manufactured computers that come in colors to match your purse!

[Darkness]

Hey! For some people they enjoy that convenience. *Whistles and side steps away from mac users*

[followfox]

That and being able to find thongs that match there laptop in hot candy colors!

[Darkness]

Probably fit over it as well *facepalms*

[followfox]

i think the base for the new imac could double as a dildo... what do you think?

[Darkness]

The I-Dildo

[followfox]

now with DRM so it's not able to be used by more then one person lmao

[Darkness]

"No one knows what it does, but everyone thinks they need it. What is this thing, an Apple product?"

Pssssh :P

[followfox]

LMAO.... you know it's sad that that's true..

[Kyros]

I use the linux Debian etch release, with KDE. However, for gaming i switch over to windows and the sorts. I don't think i'd ever even attempt to use a differ linux distro.

[Darkfox142]

i currently have vista, but thats only so dell can fix my lap top, but usually i use kubuntu which is a form of ubuntu for those who dont know :P ive messed around with xubuntu and very little with gentoo.

[followfox]

Here's my beef with kubuntu and xubuntu. They are bloated beyond belief. (Then again so is Ubuntu to some extent) I feel that if it's far more effiecent to run an install as CLI only and then add whatever display manager and desktop you like, building from there. I don't need abiword or oo.org or three different media players on my computer. If anyone does they can be easily be added.

Even if your using a live cd is not's too challenging to creat your own based on ubuntu or several other live versions (knoppix being my personal favorite in that regard) Then only what you need is on the disc and there is less concern over mem and cpu hogging non-sense.

I will say that gentoo is one of my favorite base distros but next to debian I find it a little lacking. Of course for the truly adaptable it's hard to beat slackware.

I'm curiouse what draws the linux users here to the OS?

For me it's about security, stablilty and a long standing grudge with Microsoft over being evil greedy bastards. Not too mention for one of my jobs (and my career at some point) it's almost mandatory for me to use Linux as nothing else compares when it comes to a pen-testing and fuzzing platform.

[Izkata]

I'm curiouse what draws the linux users here to the OS?
Firstly, it's not Windows or Mac.

Secondly, I'd have to learn the CLI anyway for classes - I'm a Computer Science major whose professors love *nix.

As for why specifically Ubuntu over others? It's really simple to install and set up compared to other distros (like, my roommate uses Archlinux, for example). Gnome is a nice setup in place of the bloated KDE, and still not minimalistic like XFCE and others.

Although, like I said before, I've taken a liking to the tiled window manager wmii. So that's another thing I've grown to love that's unavailable outside of *nix systems - tiled window managers and tags. Oh, and using xterm or gnome-terminal in place of a GUI to navigate and do stuff. Much faster and easier now.

Security and stability are more bonuses than reasons for me, as I kept Windows up to date and never had any virus problems, and somehow managed to only need to reboot XP every couple days.

[followfox]

Gnome is a nice setup in place of the bloated KDE, and still not minimalistic like XFCE and others.

Security and stability are more bonuses than reasons for me, as I kept Windows up to date and never had any virus problems, and somehow managed to only need to reboot XP every couple days.

Well for one I see no problem with the minimalism that is XFCE. It's actually my preferred desktop because I value performance over pretty pictures.

On the nature of stability in Windows... I don't see how rebooting every couple of days is good. Maybe for Windows but my servers are designed to run for weeks if not months without a reboot and linux gets that done... as opposed to my regular place of work where the windows based system goes down in pieces on a regular basis... lol

Not trying to bash your opinion, just food for thought

[DrBlahBlahson]

I mostly use XP since 80% of all the programs I use are XP only and there is no Linux version. I do have two machines using Linux, but I don't use them nearly as often as I do the XP machines.

[Mike Tyson]

Linux....Its good for the Brain...Lots o Commands in the Command line

[WillOTheWolf]

Yeah, I also use XP. I would use Linux if all my programs would work on it. When I ordered it, the site only offered half the computers with XP and the other with Vista. I absolutely abhor Vista (I have worked on one before) and that limited my options. I don't see XP and Vista as the same.

I really hate how, rather than fixing Vista's problems, they put more money into FORCING people to use Vista. Even bribing people to use it. Really, if you need to bribe people, there's obviously something wrong. I guess people will not own up when they've made a mistake.

[followfox]

Yeah, I also use XP. I would use Linux if all my programs would work on it.

One word... Wine.

Wine is a compatibility layer for linux that allows windows native programs to run. Not every windows program works with it but a hell of a lot do, many without the need to tweak anything.

www.winehq.org

They even have a nifty list of every application that has ever been tested with wine so that you can see how well the program you want to use will run and what you can do to make it work better.

No more excuses lol

Also... I have found an open source alternative to almost every piece of software I could possibly want. Debian based systems have over 25,000 packages availble to them and can usually run packages based on teh rpm model to if you make some tweaks here and there. All in all I say lack of apps is no longer a valid excuse to avoid Linux.

Try Ubuntu's wubi, an install that lets you keep your partitions intact by installing from within Windows, to try it out and you just may be suprised at how well everything works. You can also bug me if you can't figure something out.

[Scarry Hairys]

Sabayon all the way bitches!

[Michael Jackson]

IE helps me look up Child porn

[followfox]

Can I get this asshole's post removed please? I see that they are banned alerady but nonthless... I don't think it's appropriate to the discussion

[Izkata]

On the nature of stability in Windows... I don't see how rebooting every couple of days is good. Maybe for Windows but my servers are designed to run for weeks if not months without a reboot and linux gets that done... as opposed to my regular place of work where the windows based system goes down in pieces on a regular basis... lol

Not trying to bash your opinion, just food for thought
It looks like you agreed with me, actually.

I wasn't talking about servers, I was talking about WinXP needing to be rebooted every couple days because I used it for everything - torrents, browsing, games, music, so on and so forth. Without a reboot it would just get horribly slow at around half a week of usage.

[followfox]

It looks like you agreed with me, actually.

I wasn't talking about servers, I was talking about WinXP needing to be rebooted every couple days because I used it for everything - torrents, browsing, games, music, so on and so forth. Without a reboot it would just get horribly slow at around half a week of usage.

Ah but a server has to run all of those things at times depending on what it does. Not to mention on my primary desktop the last time I had to reboot was maybe six months ago. It had been running straight since then running through WOW, Oblivion, Guitar Hero, DVDs, Torrents, Updates (Linux doesnt need to be restarted after most updates), and everything else that my wife and I do to it.

Sorry still not seeing you eye to eye on this one.

[Calphus]

Windows XP SP2 on my main PC, and Xubunununtu on my Eee. Good times.

[Grey Wolf]

Windows XP Home Edition on my PC and Mac OSX 10.4.10 on my laptop

[jmdolan]

Totally XP Pro all the way, I tried Vista for awhile and it looks nice. But they stuff too much crap into one pile.

[kiwa_tiger]

i use debian linux on my pc (server) and in my mac 10.4.11 (thinking if i upgrade to leopard or not...) and 9.2 and in my laptop i run damn small linux

[BC fox]

XP OS

[Kyros]

One word... Wine.

Wine is a compatibility layer for linux that allows windows native programs to run. Not every windows program works with it but a hell of a lot do, many without the need to tweak anything.

www.winehq.org

They even have a nifty list of every application that has ever been tested with wine so that you can see how well the program you want to use will run and what you can do to make it work better.

No more excuses lol

Also... I have found an open source alternative to almost every piece of software I could possibly want. Debian based systems have over 25,000 packages availble to them and can usually run packages based on teh rpm model to if you make some tweaks here and there. All in all I say lack of apps is no longer a valid excuse to avoid Linux.

Try Ubuntu's wubi, an install that lets you keep your partitions intact by installing from within Windows, to try it out and you just may be suprised at how well everything works. You can also bug me if you can't figure something out.

two words

" Wine Sucks "
:p

Wine doesn't work with PulseAudio.
Wine doesn't work with the security model
Wine's User Interface Sucks
Wine's Application Compatibility Sucks
using Wine to game is just as horrible as all of the above

Shall i go on? *snickers*

Yes, ill always be a linux user, but when it comes to gaming. It isnt worth the headache D:

edit: oh and yes, Debian is win when it comes to their crapton of packages <33333 and their encryption, mmmmm. It turns me on D:

[jmdolan]

Ok I take that back I just installed Ubuntu and I LOVE IT!!! But now I just have to figure out how to install WoW on Wine. Since that's practically the only game I play LOL :grin:

[followfox]

two words

" Wine Sucks "
:p

Wine doesn't work with PulseAudio.
Wine doesn't work with the security model
Wine's User Interface Sucks
Wine's Application Compatibility Sucks
using Wine to game is just as horrible as all of the above

Shall i go on? *snickers*

Yes, ill always be a linux user, but when it comes to gaming. It isnt worth the headache D:

edit: oh and yes, Debian is win when it comes to their crapton of packages <33333 and their encryption, mmmmm. It turns me on D:

I'm not saying that WINE is the be all end all of computer gaming but it's an option. I have had my share of complaints and problems but I'm lucky enough to be able to fix almost everything myself courtesy hacks and such.

I'm not a huge fan of having 30,000 fricken packages available. I'm running slack 12.1 now (w/ my own crazy hacked 2.6.27 kernel) and I rather like having a smaller package list to sort through. I was still able to find everything I needed but it didn't take me 8 hours of searching lol.

But that's the beauty of Linux eh? Celebrate diversity lol

[Kyros]

Whoooo lets celebrate with a hawt yiff D:

[Blackwolf-Dave]

Vista Ultimate.

If you ask most people why they think vista sucks, they will not be able to tell you why. (If thier answer makes no sense or the reason it sucks is because thier computer is 10 yrs old or they bought it for $50, that dosent count as a reason.)

<3 my vista.

[followfox]

Vista Ultimate.

If you ask most people why they think vista sucks, they will not be able to tell you why. (If thier answer makes no sense or the reason it sucks is because thier computer is 10 yrs old or they bought it for $50, that dosent count as a reason.)

<3 my vista.

lol to sum up my opposition to Vista (and Mac actually). If I can't hack it, patch it and examine the code myself then I don't want it.

[Trinity_Nekosama]

I have vista and i hate it

[Cobalt Crimson]

i have vista. its not too bad i guess. i liked mac for its being easy to use.

[Sashacryotank]

Running the Dell RTM Copy of Vista Ultimate, All problems i've had were mostly due to my own tinkering, i do have game crashes but well its always on the games that crash either way or my comp over heats (well during the summer anyways)

I love vista, once you master how to use it and how to modify things you need it becomes a great OS on the level of Win2k

[slayer4u]

On one of my TB harrdives i am running windows vista home premium 64 bit (I started my build with an HP multimedia pc and that's what it came with.

and on the other TB dive we have Kubuntu 64bit (32bit libraries installed for secondlife playback)

on another note ubuntu is a great and extremely easy to use OS. very straight forward. i prefer the look of the KDE k desktop manager so i went with Kubuntu.

Kubunto has wifi support built in and recognizes most brands. Netgear does not work well with this. I love my netgear router but the adpters are bullshit on a stick. I have and ecelent card that cost me only 16 bucks. Blueray playback is non existand for Kubuntu. well at least i havn't gotten it to work burns DVDs and plays DVDs just fine but not blueray

windows is bullshit but it is compatable with everything i have in there so I'm not complaining.

[slayer4u]

lol to sum up my opposition to Vista (and Mac actually). If I can't hack it, patch it and examine the code myself then I don't want it.

It doesn't suck but like ever microsoft distro before it it has one of the most redicullous coding structures tthat require far more system resorces that linux or unix. further more windows explore is one of the most rediculously over engineered descktiop managers I've ever seen. For those who don't understand it makes the computer work harder.
the number one rule for linux is no speghetti code. there is a reason most major banks and government agencis are stil running solaris and redhat. it's far more reliable. Look at SUnmicrosystems stock and redhat. they are soon to overtack microsoft I'm sure of it. just like RIM is murdering apple's Iphone.
Microsoft also may be the most compatable of all of them but it is rediculously easy ot hack and windows firewall is a joke.

APPLE os has always been a a far less compatable solution as has linux. I like to call apple unix gone bullshit. Just like microsoft apple has stolen all it's software components from smaller companies that have no idea what they are capable of.
in short 01001101 01101001 01100011 01110010 01101111 01110011 01101111 01100110 01110100 00100000 01010011 01110101 01100011 01101011 01110011

[Trinity_Nekosama]

VISTA sucks!

[.:|Black[:]Fox|:.]

I use Windows Vista Home Pre.

I don't really see what the whole fuss is with Vista. I think it's okay. The only reason that Vista was suckish before was that the stores rushed production. They wanted the Vista now so Mircosoft gave it them. There was never supposed to BE a Vista Basic (bad suckish OS that crashed everything and nothing could run on expect for Vista stuff). Vista Pre. is what Vista was supposed to be. But yeah it does have it's kinks. Also Vista and XP aren't the same because Vista has different features than XP.

[arctic]

I use Xp Professional, wee!

[Snowball The Husky]

Macs are overpriced proprietary pieces of junk, I don't feel like dealing with Linux and I play games so Windows is pretty much my only option.

[Joppy]

Yay Linux!

I use Ubuntu Linux for most of the things I do on my computer, although a couple of times a month I boot into Windows XP for games.

My laptop came with Vista Home Premium... It was awful!


Power to the penguin!