What are the benefits of linux?

Question

My friend recently uploaded the Linux ubuntu os on my laptop after i got a virus. Im not a big computer wiz, but from what He told me i would get the benifits of free software and It would be easier to use (well still kinda hard to get used to)

Anyways what is the advantages to linux? Virus, programs, file sizes?

Answer 1

Why Linux is Better

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/



Linux and Viruses

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/items/viruses/index.php?lang=



Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using OSS. Linux does have its limitations with some applications and in particular gaming.



Ubuntu is just about the worst Linux distro. available these days. Canonical who produce Ubuntu have become arrogant and ignored users needs however well voiced across the many Forums that make reference to Ubuntu. For example Ubuntu 11.10 doesn't offer the classic GNOME Desktop and it doesn't include the Synaptic Package Manager despite the fact many users did not want these changes. I used to have much time for Ubuntu starting with Ubuntu 6.10 finishing with the last decent release which was Ubuntu 10.04 LTS



You would do much better to work with an alternative distro. I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 11. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 11 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=81



Linux Mint 11 Release Notes/Installation Guide/User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_katya.php



You download the ISO. image of any of Linux Mint 11 then you need to create a Bootable LiveDVD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Linux Mint 11 can also be run straight from the LiveDVD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive





LUg.

Answer 2

Viruses - You won't have to worry about viruses in Linux. This is partially due to security through obscurity (Linux isn't a big target because there aren't many Linux desktop users) and also partially due to the secure nature of Linux. You don't run as an administrator at all times like you do in Windows, and must elevate yourself to administrator level by typing in your password when you make system changes like installing software. The system is also kept on a separate partition from your personal files so if it does crash you can reinstall the system without losing any of your personal files or settings. Additionally rather than getting software from questionable sources on the internet you get your software from secured repositories, which helps eliminate the possibility of you accidentally downloading a virus.



Stability - Linux is more stable than Windows. The file systems used usually don't need defragmenting and the entire system itself runs in command shell first and GUI second, so if the GUI crashes the system keeps on running. In comparison Windows' file system needs constant defragmenting and runs in GUI first, so if something goes wrong with the GUI the whole system crashes.



Programs - The programs in Linux are excellent and some of them are even better than anything you can find in Windows. There's a Linux equivalent to practically any Windows program you would want to run. The only exception comes to gaming. There's lots of games in Linux but they're not the same as Windows games. Still you can run a lot of Windows games using WINE, which is a Windows compatibility layer for Linux.



File sizes - Files in Linux are a lot smaller than files in Windows. A Linux distribution only takes up about 5gb of hard drive space. Many of the same library files are shared so this contributes to the small size of programs in Linux. The quality of the code is better as well, which results in smaller file sizes.

Answer 3

No operating system is immune to viruses, however the likelihood of getting one on Linux is extremely low.

Security out of the box is generally much better then Windows or Mac.



I actually find Linux to be quite fast and never really slows down over time.



If you get tired of using Ubuntu (or any other distro) there are hundreds of other distros to choose from.

There are also a number of different desktops to choose from (gnome, KDE etc.)



Community. If you have a problem or question, I have found the Linux community amazing in assisting me.

Answer 4

Linux is as easy to use as Windows - just different. Get a book out of the library to soften the learning curve.

If you are struggling with the switch from Windows, though, there are windows managers that mimic Windows far more closely than the default Unity GWM (graphics windows manager.)

I realize that sentence is confusing, but hopefully I can clarify it somewhat.

A windows manager is the software that makes the screen look like it does, controls the icons you click on to start programs, etc.

XFCE, for instance, looks kind of like a cross between a Windows machine and a Mac.



You can explore different windows managers using the Ubuntu Software Center. just type "windows manager" into the search box.

And get familiar with the Software Center - it is the easiest place to access all that free software your friend was telling you about.

Answer 5

Linux (Any Distribution or "Distro") is a very complex operating system that should only be used by persons that have an advanced understanding of computers. While Linux is widely used for, and somewhat intended, for use on servers, OS's like Ubuntu, Gnome, Debian, etc. are usually optimized for use on a Personal Home Computer.



Linux takes up A lot less space than Any of the Windows Operating Systems, leaving somewhere in the Range of 280 to even 300GB of Space left on a 320GB Hard Drive. As far as Random Access Memory (RAM) goes, Linux uses nowhere near as much memory as Windows. All of it's applications and programs are built to consume less memory, while at the same time running at speeds meeting or surpassing Windows application start-ups and use.



Viruses are a very Rare occurrence on Linux Operating Systems. Like a McIntosh Linux Distributions are written with a different Shell than that of Windows. Windows is (Obviously) the most widely used and popular Operating System, that has a Shell know as "Batch", Or .BAT. Over the years, hackers have found ways to exploit this shell and target it with damaging viruses. In this case, Macintosh and Linux Operating Systems get viruses less often because they are not as widely used as Windows; Most Hackers seeing it as a waste of time to build a virus that targets less used Operating Systems like Linux. It is believed that Linux is the most unlikely to get a virus of the three.



In the case, of programs you are somewhat limited. Most software (and Hardware) is not optimized for use with Linux. To Run games and a majority of Third-Party Software, examples being Adobe Photoshop, one would have to run it through a program known as WINE. Do note that some Linux Distros are not capable of Running this Software. When Linux is installed, you have a selection of Software that is preinstalled that should meet most needs. An Office Suite and Photo viewer among the many others, but this can vary on the Linux Distribution chosen.



Installing Programs can pose a bit of a challenge in Linux. Linux is not able to Run any .exe files (WINE only is compatible with a select type) making Installing a tricky task. In most cases you will have to extract the files, TAR.GZ, .DEB, and .RPM among the most popular, and use the "Terminal", A Command Prompt like Hub that is the control center of the OS, to install it MANUALLY.



An Example of an "Install Code" is this. Apt/get install WineHQ.tar.gz. You will have to do this almost every time you want to install a program, unless you have an application that automatically installs the program. RPM files are mainly auto installed though, but they are mostly configured for the GNOME Distribution.



Linux is truly an Operating System in which you do everything yourself. But at that cost, Linux is compatible with a very limited amount of programs, and is sometimes even incompatible with SOME Peripheral Devices (Mice, Keyboards, Printers, etc.). So there is a good chance that you will lose the ability to run and use may of your favorite programs. But, there are some upsides. It is almost unheard of Linux crashing (BSODs are non-existent) and the ability for a Linux Machine to run for literally months on end without the need for a shut-down.



I personally would not recommend you download and using Ubuntu Linux as your Default Operating System. If you still think that you would like the opportunity to learn more about the Operating System, Manual operation, and even the Computer as a whole, you can download it as a Live-CD demo which offers all of the features and programs of Ubuntu without the Operating System actually Reformatting your Hard Drive.



If you do wish to put Ubuntu Linux as your default OS, be warned that (No Offense) inexperienced users such as yourself are entering into dangerous territory. But, Linux gives you the opportunity to learn things new that you never knew before about a computer. Linux is always changing and evolving, leaving the users to adapt to the change and make the system Their's Truly.



Play! Experiment with the Operating System using the Live-CD demo (Just be sure that you do not activate the install through the disk) and get to know it. Get a Feel for the new User Interface, and look at it opposed to Windows. You may like it and decide to select it as your primary OS, that is a good thing! Believe it or not, many Technology companies would be impressed to learn that you have had experience with an Operating System that is So user Reliant!



Just be sure that you have gotten a feel for the OS as a whole, that you are prepared to work with the OS, and that just in case you want to go back to Windows that you have everything backed up onto an external Hard Drive.



You do what you think is Best based on this information!

Answer 6

ok initially a definition of domicile windows. that's a customer OS for commodity desktops. As a customer OS it does extra issues for you. I say for commodity desktops because of the fact on an analogous time because it basically runs on particular machines, Microsoft would not lead them to and is barred with the aid of American regulation from workout consultation any high quality controls. it is likewise a proprietary product more desirable with the aid of human beings who're in lots of cases barred from even asking what human beings engaged on different areas of the OS are doing. Linux or -- on the grounds that's what i exploit -- GNU/Linux is an OS which more desirable out of UNIX between 1983 and 1991 whilst the Linux kernel grow to be written. that does no longer propose it grow to be "finished" in 1991 even though it does propose that as a BSD-Derived OS that's relating to the OS on which networking and present day pc technological understanding has more desirable. this implies virtually the coolest purchase of this is been examined and debugged by the years. on an analogous time it may grant an outstanding platform for experimentation. in the time of the 2000's as an occasion a application stated as Compiz more desirable which Aero on domicile windows copied -- on an analogous time as making use of lots extra memory and different supplies. Linux being Open source means that folk engaged on distinctive areas of the OS have extra get admission to to each others artwork than domicile windows builders. So even with coming from many distinctive distributors (Intel crimson Hat IBM are 3 agencies which pay human beings to strengthen for it and component to that's owned with the aid of MIT) that's a extra integrated product. It has inherited UNIX's secure practices shape although that's compromised now with the aid of agencies who strengthen products for Microsoft's flawed "trusted supplies" scheme which has allowed the malware industry to bootstrap itself into the multi-billion dollar monster it now could be. it remains extra secure, that's extra effectual so this is the two speedier and facilitates you extra area for archives records, and it frequently makes use of excellent report structures like ext4 which will defrag your disk immediately with out wanting a separate consultation to do it.

Answer 7

Free, stable, open-source (only really matters to programmers). Very, very few viruses are written for Linux.



It's a good choice for some servers, such as web servers or custom applications. It's not a great desktop OS though, only really good for playing around.

Answer 8

linux is better for viruses because there are not so many viruses for linux yet.



try visit this site

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/