UBUNTU 10.04 OR WINDOWS 7: WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AND WHY ?

Question

Hi there, this is for some personal research. Would you recommend Windows 7 or Ubuntu 10.04 and please state the reason why you would recommend one of them. Thanks guys =) xx

Answer 1

Well Ubuntu is at 10.10 now and it depends what you need it for to accept less commercial software availability?



Ubuntu has great free software, tons, but if your into games and such you need a operating system with more programs available for it and that would be Windows with the most market share.



Doesn't mean you can't use both neither. For instance buying a dual or quad core Windows 7 Pro 64bit and 4GB of RAM will do you nicely for the next five years. You can dual boot into Ubuntu by partitioning the boot drive so you get both.



Or you can run the free VirtualBox and run Ubuntu within Windows in a window, with less performance naturally.



I run OS X, Windows 7 Pro and Linux (all kinds) at the same time on my 17" Quad Core MacBook Pro.



I can also dual boot directly into Windows 7 if need be.



So with kick but hardware, there is really no limitations.



Now if you have older hardware, a single core, or even a dual core. You can put Ubuntu on it or even the nicer Linux Mint or OS X looking MacBuntu and get some decent use out of it as a general purpose machine. I've got a few single core netbooks running various Linux distros for taking with me as they are light and cheap.



But my main baby is the 17" Quad sweeeeetneeeesssss!!!

Answer 2

Depends on the person and why they have a computer.



For children, older folks, and beginners that want the basics, I would recommended Ubuntu if there is someone they can call to take care of problems



For really advanced users or users of multiple computers I would recommend Ubuntu 10.04 on at least one of them.



For intermediate users, generally I would recommend a dual boot or just windows as you have to figure out a lot of things from scratch instead of being able to use windows methods to do things.

Answer 3

I would recommend Windows 7 but with Ubuntu 10.04 installed at the same time though wubi.



http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/windows-installer



Wubi basically installs ubuntu as a program on windows but click the above link, it explains it a lot more.



If you don't want to do the above method then i would still install windows 7 if your pc in good enough. I do like ubuntu (and have used it in the past) but have always retained a copy of windows 7 on the pc as well just due to the common use of it around the world.



Pros of Windows:

- very common

- much easier if not a "computer person"

- normally easier to sort problems

- more/popular programs available

- popular games



Pros of Linux:

- light on system resources

- free software

- free to install (ubuntu itself)

- less security risks (virus etc.)

Answer 4

I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu for someone new to Linux, there is too much to learn to get it running in a civilised manner. You'd be much better off with Mint 10 which is based on Ubuntu but has been tamed and will run everything 'out of the box'.



Like Ubuntu, Mint is also free to download and use and I've been using previous versions of it for nearly three years without any trouble.



Linux is superior, not just because of cost - or lack of it! - but because it isn't attacked by viruses nor malware either.

Answer 5

Ubuntu is free, and highly regarded by computer people. You can get a refund on Windows 7 if your computer came with it. Got to OpenOffice.org and get a FREE Office Suite almost exactly like Microsoft Ofiice, only with a few extra features. Also--far fewer viruses with any Unix-based Operating System.



Windows 7 costs hundreds of dollars, but is the most popular platform, so it will run everything. It is also highly regarded by the pros at Action Computers near me, who know everything. You are probably familiar with it. You have to decide whether the familiarity is worth the virus risk and the higher price.

Answer 6

Linux is a safe secure and robust operating platform

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/



Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a propietary platform using the likes of Ubuntu and its derivative distros. However Linux does have its limitations with some applications and in particular gaming. For example I retain a dedicated Windows partition to run specific applications such as Office 2010 etc.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

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



Download Ubuntu Desktop Edition

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download



You download the ISO. image of Ubuntu 10.10 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation

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



Ubuntu 10.10 can also be run straight from the LiveCD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive



Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) User Guide

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Maverick



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 LTS and Linux Mint 10 Main Edition which are built upon Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and Ubuntu 10.10 they are easy to install and easy to use plus they come with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint has a similar installer called mint4win (mint4win works the same as the Ubuntu Windows installer so the instructions outlined above are almost identical)



Linux Mint 9 LTS Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52



Linux Mint 10 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=67



Linux Mint 9 LTS User Guide

http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php



Linux Mint 10 User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_julia.php



Linux Mint 9 LTS and Linux Mint 10 as with Ubuntu 10.10 can also be run straight from the LiveCD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive





LUg.

Answer 7

windows 7 cause well its compatible with everything and you can install all kinds of kool programs cause they are all written to be supported by windows....the downside is that some software is very expensive.



Ubuntu 10.04

is a great OS the only problem is that you dont have the compatibility that windows has other than that all your software is free!

Answer 8

I found a free download of VirtualBox here http://bitly.com/WhvunS



If you don't want to pay for commercial solutions and require an other virtual Operative System, VirtualBox is the solution.