Why we like Linux desktops: Blogs - Patch Monday

graphic design programs Russell -- 10/08/09

maybe I'm just ignorant and not aware of such programs (I will do some research later this evenining) but the reason I have never moved over to a Linux distribution entirely is due to the lack of decent graphic design programs. I use Fireworks and some Photoshop on a daily basis. Now, I know it's not the fault of the Linux OS that these programs aren't supported and I know that I could setup a WINE like program to use these programs. But I'd rather be able to run some decent, native linux graphic design programs, so I could continue doing web and print work. I've tried GIMP and I didn't like it at all, that was a few years ago though.

Honestly, if I can find some decent graphic design software, I'd change in a flash.

Linux Graphics Anonymous -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320196554)

Try the UbuntuStudio Linux distribution. It has an entire suite of graphics and layout packages, including (of course) GIMP which can do quite a few things that Photoshop can't do. A version of GIMP for Film, called FilmGIMP, was used on the Lord of the Rings movies. Excellent for detailed effects.

Commercial packages for Linux include Maya which is used by Weta Digital for many CGI special effects shots. If that and Blender don't do what you want I'd be real surprised.

Bit of a learning curve though!

graphics Russell -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320207865)

Learning curves I can handle. Thanks for the heads up. Will definitely look into it all.

"Add to iTunes" button Bob -- 10/08/09

the button above and then this "Why we like Linux desktops" indeed.

Hamish Anonymous -- 11/08/09

Full-time Ubuntu user here since the 6.10 release, so almost two years now. Ubuntu just flies along and I can do everything I could do using Windows and soooo much more. Eg. want a VM? Sure! Here's VirtualBox 3 running the latest Alpha of Karmic 9.10 at full speed. Just brilliant.
Hamish

Almost but not quite there Anonymous -- 11/08/09

I've used Windows since 3.1 and did spend about 18 months two years ago using RedHat, Mandrake and SuSe only. With the addition of OpenOffice, Linux can do most things pretty well and if you have a PC at home for surfing the web, emailing, writing a few documents here or there, keeping a few spreadsheets, then it's perfectly fine and much safer than using Windows.

However, if you start edging into the business world, with large spreadsheets with macros, project plans with MS Project, completing your taxes with the program from the ATO or exchanging documents (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Visio, etc) with work colleagues, then you're asking for trouble. While OpenOffice does read most Office documents, it's not perfect and when your pressed for time trying to finish a final report for work, the last thing you want to do is fight the software.

It's a tough problem for the linux crowd. It is very hard to get it in the work environment on the desktop (servers are ok) but perhaps it needs to be pitched at the average home user who doesn't really need MS Office. I think in those cases, the software would suite fine and the cost savings would be substantial.

Windows App Compatibility Anonymous -- 11/08/09

Unfortunately there is one app that I can't get running under Wine, else I would go with Ubuntu 9.04 or Opensuse 11.x
The app is codecharge studio from Yes Software. I have emailled the crossover team and will be happy to pay a for copy of that if they can get it to run.

Security? Duncan -- 11/08/09

"it's more secure", "great features include better security". Huh?

I've been a *nix fan since the early '80s but I get sick of this "because its not popular its secure" mentality. Check the X-Force 2008 Trend & Risk Report at http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/iss/xforce/trendreports/xforce-2008-annual-report.pdf (page 40) and you'll see that the Linux Kernel ranked 3rd for documented vulnerabilities, 2 places higher than any Microsoft OS and only losing out to Mac OS X Server & Mac OS X for the title of most vulnerable.

All software written in C (my favourite language, and I don't mean that sarcastically) is inherently insecure - the programmer has to leap through hoops to make it secure. *nix, Windows and most successful applications are written in C (or possibly C++) and suffer the security consequences equally, particularly if their code base was developed before the vulnerability scene started to explode around the turn of the century. Yes its true that the bad guys have attacked Windows desktops more than any other, but for the obvious reason that there are far far more Windows desktops than any other. But when it comes to servers, the favourite target is usually the web application, most of which are running on *nix, but the OS doesn't somehow magically make them safe.

The sooner people take their heads out of the sand regarding the security of *all* OSes and acknowledge that writing secure software is a hard thing to achieve, not an inherent consequence of some quasi-religious belief in the OS, the better off we'll all be (minus the bad guys of course).

Leaving Las Linux Anonymous -- 12/08/09

Well, I am a die-hard Linux fan and a Linux user since 1994. I love it and will continue to use my Quad Core Mythbuntu system at home. For work I have been using Ubuntu (currently 9.04 amd64) on a Dual core Toshiba commodity laptop. It works well for many things, but OpenOffice has an incompatibility with MS Office 2007 that I can't deal with any longer. I do run XP in a Sun Vbox, but it makes no sense to me to continue to support two Operating Systems on the same box for me. I am in Sales now, my objective is to be compatible with the rest of the sales team and they all use Vista. I know, I know... I will hate Vista more and for many other reasons.

Russell - GIMP has really come a long way. You might want to check it out again.

Converted from xp two years ago Anonymous -- 12/08/09

My main OS now is Ubuntu and have found a replacement app for just about everything (if not everything). I still dual boot because Im a gamer and dont want the headaches of wine for games (though some older games I have work well under wine). I was mainly using FOSS under XP before Ubuntu anyway so migration was a breeze. OO.o, Firefox, Thunderbird.

I also installed Ubuntu on both my parents PC's and they have nothing but praise for it. As completely novice users and dont care what an OS is, they told me that Ubuntu was faster, prettier and easier to use. Plus they get the advantage of having a more secure system.

So from my point of view there is no reason to use windows unless there is a specific app that does not work, or there is no replacement on Linux.

My only complaint is not being able to choose Linux at retail....

Still need Vbox now and then Dave -- 12/08/09

I run Linux on several desktops at work, but still require XP under Vbox pretty often (it's part of our SOE now). Things like Solidworks (CAD drawing) Altium (PCB and circuit design) are now industry standards whether we like it or not, and there's simply not the market for a linux version of such software. Until that changes, I'll be forced to continue running XP under a VM, but would love to turf Windows entirely one day...

heh Mel Sommersberg -- 13/08/09

With so much to dislike why would one bother with Linux? If these people who are likely to be well-versed with computer security can't make a Windows box secure enough for most tasks then it makes me wonder if they are qualified to even write an article like this, as generalised as it is.

heh Anonymous -- 17/08/09 (in reply to #320207062)

The ONLY way to effectively secure a home user's windows box is to pull the power plug.

Why not linux Morgan -- 13/08/09

@mel: That isn't the point. The architecture of Linux is completely different to windows. Applications in windows even in the new vista and 7 require more privledges than they should. Linux applications in the most part are happy running as a non-root user.
I have to run windows for work at the moment, and I tried running as a non-admin, plugins and even microsoft apps stopped working, or were so much slower than when I was admin. I tried running microsofts own droprights, same thing. So now I run a software restrcition policy, and ipsec filter to drop sus traffic and stop exe's from running where I don't want them to.
But this security comes at the cost of administration, the same setup in linux doesn't effect the user, eg mounting tmp or home as non-executable fixes the malware/drive by same as my software restriction policy. But try it on windows 90% of apps run exe updates in the user profile or temp.
Windows is broken by design, they need to scrap their current model and start again.

Windows a single user system in multi-user world. Linux a server class massively multi-user system in a multi-user world. I know which I would chose if I had the choice.

Why not learn how to use a computer Mel Sommersberg -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320207695)

The applications you are using must be very specialised Morgan. I run a Windows computer at work in the non-Admin level at all times and I have no trouble running Office, Win2PDF, building management software, security camera software and much more - all on a single computer and without Admin privileges. The only time Admin privileges were ever required was for software installation.

Congratulations on your off-topic rant. I don't know what you wanted to achieve by it but it looks like it didn't work. let's get back to a discussion about Linux on desktops, not whether Windows is multi-user or not or whether Linux can run as a server or not.

Off topic Jason -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320208985)

Talking about off topic rants Mel, the answer to your question was of course - Malcolm Turnbull.

Warrrrt? Mel Sommersberg -- 17/08/09 (in reply to #320209532)

Where does Mr Turnbull fit into this Jason? I've read both my previous comments about ten times each and just can't see it.

And before you suggest that I like the bloke, I don't - he's a republican.

Don't be shy, Mel Jason -- 19/08/09 (in reply to #320222424)

Hi Mel, how have you been? It's been a while!

I"ve missed our "play time", as neither of us tends to frequent here all that often any more!

Anyway, to the topic of off topic - we were talking about off topic comments weren"t we? So that's what I presented. Still can't see the question, which I gave you the answer to though?

Admittedly, it is somewhat facetious and a little cheeky, but you will recall a particular Liberal die hard, who apparently doesn't even like his leader, who has his own biased website which promotes odd, right winged ideologies (a site where everything ultra conservative is perceived as always right and anything from the centre to left, always wrong, regardless of the facts) asking "who will be the first casualty of ute gate". Roflmfao.

The answer of course... drum roll please... Malcolm Turnbulls*it

Jumped in a little typically, prematurely there good man, much like "your unliked (your not alone there) leader did" hey? I see after the facts became clearer, you then did a turn around and said Turnbull did the right thing, blah, blah, to vainly attempt to save face for yourself and your beloved Liberal cronies, lol.

Let's be fair now, no mention of Rudd/Swan being innocent? No retraction from you for your own "non credible" accusations? No mention of Rudd/Swan simply being the victims of a "totally fabricated, dirty conservative, mud-slinging exercise, which backfired horrendously and most amusingly", rofl! Typical Mel!

I guess I can look forward to more vain bs excuses in reply too, lmao!

Come on Mel, if they were guilty you'd be all over them like a cheap suit and they'd deserve it. But as they aren't (shhh)...

So go on; show you can be fair minded just once and admit they were the innocent victims of cheap gutter politics from your Liberals, just for me for old time's sake! I won't hold my breath though!

But I think it was an inside job anyway, maybe for the exact reason you don't like him whaddyareckon? I reckon Hockey!!!!

Have a nice day.

Microsoft suffers and the Fanbois attack Linux again Anonymous -- 14/08/09

Isn't funny how every time some news comes out that is negative to Microsoft, their hoard of munchkins jump up and start attacking Linux.

The common attack vector is that Linux is not suitable for day to day work. The truth is that it is just as good as OSX and massively better than Windows.

The only problem that most people have with Linux is that it is different from Windows. They should realize that in this case, Different is better.

Why I Love Linux (and hate it at times) Anonymous -- 18/08/09

I like anti-aliased fonts, the ability to configure the desktop to look and work the way I want.

I like that it installs and runs, without hours finding disks with drivers for printers, graphics, sound, network cards, etc.

I like that it comes on one CD with almost all the software I want, and can be run live before installation.

I like the reliability and security and no anti-virus software needed.

I DONT like the need to run a Virtual Machine for the CD printing software for my cannon printer, Philips Cordless Skype phone and E-Tax software.

I am currently typing this from Windows 7 Beta in a Virtual Box VM on Ubuntu, and I can say it is very nice, has anti-aliased fonts and uses many UI features taken from Gnome. It will not replace Ubuntu in my heart, but I think it will become the standard for the next 5 years because Microsoft will always have the edge in drivers.

To quote the American Secretary of State during the Vietnam war "When you've got them by the balls, their minds and hearts will follow..." Ultimately he was wrong, but it has worked for Microsoft for a long time, and manufacturers and software developers will give Windows the most attention.

And most mums and dads just don't know there is an alternative. But I will always be a GEEK, and a FLOSS lover!

linux :) dave b. -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320226604)

well its just simpler and easier to use then windows. :) ... No viruses, no malware. I can install it for a friend and come back 6 months later and it will not be any worse off then i left it :)

+ best of all "it just works tm".

forgot to add dave b. -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320242712)

forgot to add i love being able to run linux on all my geeky stuff (phone, nas, modem, router, pbx).

Ubuntu wins over Vista Anonymous -- 28/08/09

I have a friend with a fairly spiffy Dell laptop. Of course, it came with the obligatory Windoze Vista. And it was driving my friend nuts. "Can you get rid of Vista for me, please?" she asked. Vista took all of six minutes or more to boot and be stable enough to use.

Along comes the Ubuntu 9.04 installation CD, and away goes Windows!

Boots in about a minute. Zero problem setting up wifi. Recognises and plays nicely with her iPod. Evoluation handles all of her mail. Firefox surfs the web. Openoffice handles her office tasks and generates PDFs - all straight out of the box. No added software - oh, except for a freeware project management app. No antivirus. No cost. Much happiness. Zero stress for me as Helpdesk.

I use both... each in it's own place. Anonymous -- 03/09/09

I use Windows 7 on my desktop, and laptop, and home server... but use Ubuntu for hosting a couple of websites.

And like most people who approach things with an open mind, I can see good and bad in both systems.

What I am truly, utterly sick of however, is Linux fanboys who try to preach the gospel of open source at every turn.

It's JUST AN OPERATING SYSTEM.

It does a job - in some ways it does a job better than Windows, and in some ways it does a job much, much worse than Windows.

If youa re so blinded that you think the world is divided into 'us and them' over the OS you run on your computers...

then you seriously need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask what you are doing.

that's everyone Anonymous -- 03/09/09 (in reply to #320262801)

you have just described pretty much everyone in it/ict. they are either ms lovers haters or telstra lovers haters.

idiots one and all. i have never seen so many small d**ked morons arguing over stupid s***.

go on deny it.

none of you clowns would know what a real days work really is, even if it smacked you in the face.

so wake up and go and take that look in the mirror all of you, now. w**kers.

Standards ARE the answer Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu) -- 04/09/09 (in reply to #320262894)

Yes many see the proprietary vs open debate as a waste of time, in that their personal decision will not make much difference. In that way it is a bit like voting in a national election. Your vote may count very little, but the outcome of the election process can affect our overall situation a lot.
Consider the automotive analogy. Because car batteries (non-hybrid cars) are standard, and all are 12v, buying a battery is relatively cheap. You get a large powerful battery with lots of lead in it for $90 or so. Also tyres are good value, as they are standard, with one tyre size suiting many different makes/models of car. Compare those situations to buying small proprietary parts that MUST come from the car's manufacturer. You can spend hundreds on something that you'd swear cost $5 to make in volume. Think of how standards have helped bring costs down. Imagine if all the appliances you bought used something other than 240v power feeds. It seems as obvious that all home power should work on 240v, just as automotive works on 12v, but consider laptops, where every manufacturer uses a different voltage battery, to keep replacement batteries proprietary and high-margin.
Everyone should remember the 1995-2005 period of continual changes to the DOT DOC non-standard document format and what grief it caused... Everyone should standardise on Open Office and its ISO standard and one-click PDF production. An earlier poster noted that the only objection he had to Ubuntu was that others at work used M$ Office. At my work, I've got everyone to standardise on Open Office (as it is just as good - indeed better for Australian spelling) and that way there is NO incompatibility between users. I find Ubuntu is a preferred platform for every situation except where there is a commercial app that was written specifically for Windows.... but that you can happily have a mix of OS in an office or between office and home, as long as you go with the standards-based open software at the app level (OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird etc). Convergence to a standard is how we can all share an ASCII text file, a CSV file, a CD-ROM, a thumb-stick USB, etc. And if you can't see the benefit in the world moving to standards, then you ought go out and buy a car with a 16v battery and 19.5-inch wheels.

Let me guess Anonymous -- 08/09/09 (in reply to #320265004)

...you bored them into it...

ONE Thing "Standards are the answer" Anonymous -- 12/09/09 (in reply to #320265004)

You seem to be forgetting trucks, and semi- trailers, among which there are still a lot with 24 volt only systems, requiring an "inverter" +1.

Also many imported cars do use the size of tyre you specified, are we to convert those cars to australian size wheels, as well as the many truck size trailer wheels, one size does not fit all.

Linux vs Microsoft Anonymous -- 12/09/09

When i first started using computers, the operation system of choice was a program called "Le Menu", all in DOS, the next version was Microsoft DOS 3.0, followed by 3.3 C/W windows for workgroups 1.1, all of these were operable through the DOS, which made life easier.

Then followed Windows 95, and windows 98 versions 1, and 2, and a big step to XP, which i am still using, although each succeeding version gave less and less DOS functionality, and they call this progress.

I know nothing about linux, but it sounds interesting.

My machine runs a Dual Bios, A Gigabyte Phenom 3600 Amd processor, with Vista Ultimate vittually unused, except for updates to the Vista, and the Computer Associates Security Suite 2009,

At 67 years of age, my learning curve is almost flat, perhaps some one may be able to tell me where i can obtain information in words of one syllable or less, whether, or if i can use this linux in my computer, and how it all works, cost is secondary, but i am not going to change machines, as i need contact with the net,and emails.

Re: Linux vs Microsoft ManBearPig -- 10/11/09 (in reply to #320290255)

They both certainly have their place, though if you're looking into playing with a linux distro that is friendly to beginners, then Ubuntu (latest is 9.10) is almost definately the way to go, as there are enormous amounts of information on the net on how to do anything that you may need to. I'm not going to tell you that it's perfect, as there are a few small things you will probably have to do when you finish installing it, however, Google & the linux user forums are your best friends where most questions need answering. The other good thing with Ubuntu is it has a utility at the install stage which makes very easy to set up a dual boot with windows where it will resize your windows partition & install Ubuntu on the other side, then when you boot it will give you a choice of which you want to use. Just don't be turned off by the brown-ish colour scheme, thats easily changed too! (I used to make it blue until i started using Fedora). You can get Ubuntu from www.ubuntu.com (you will probably want the x64 AMD desktop version). there is also a good installation guide which i would recommend reading on the Ubuntu site 1st also (just to get a better idea of the finer details). Good luck & have fun!

Also... ManBEarPig -- 10/11/09 (in reply to #320391241)

Sorry, i just read more of your post, & realised i hadn't answered all your questions, I forgot to mention that there is no cost (other than the data that you downloadd in terms of what your ISP charges per GB) to download Ubuntu or most linux distros for that matter. Open Office should do what you need for word processing etc, Firefox can be installed quite easily (I think its "sudo apt-get install firefox" from a command line from memory) & email is included, tho I prefer Thunderbird (same command with "thunderbird" in place of "firefox") although most of the packages you can install don't have to be done from a command line (or shell), as there is a decent graphical package manager included with Ubuntu which can find & install the packages you want from the Ubuntu software repositories. The shell is just quicker if you know what to type ;) you may need to enable restricted packages (basically stuff from adobe etc - still free in terms of cost) so you can get flash player & the other plug ins for internet browing, but doesn't take long to do. No doubt you will be surprised at how quickly it actually installs & is up & running (I know I was the 1st time) anyway, happy tinkering & remember that packages for the Gnome desktop are what you want when you add packages (or packages with the ".deb" extention) hopefully that gets you started! best of luck! :)

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Patch Monday by Stilgherrian

Why we like Linux desktops

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Talkback 31 comments

graphic design programs Russell -- 10/08/09

Linux Graphics Anonymous -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320196554)

graphics Russell -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320207865)

"Add to iTunes" button Bob -- 10/08/09

Hamish Anonymous -- 11/08/09

Almost but not quite there Anonymous -- 11/08/09

Windows App Compatibility Anonymous -- 11/08/09

Security? Duncan -- 11/08/09

Leaving Las Linux Anonymous -- 12/08/09

Converted from xp two years ago Anonymous -- 12/08/09

Still need Vbox now and then Dave -- 12/08/09

heh Mel Sommersberg -- 13/08/09

heh Anonymous -- 17/08/09 (in reply to #320207062)

Why not linux Morgan -- 13/08/09

Why not learn how to use a computer Mel Sommersberg -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320207695)

Off topic Jason -- 13/08/09 (in reply to #320208985)

Warrrrt? Mel Sommersberg -- 17/08/09 (in reply to #320209532)

Don't be shy, Mel Jason -- 19/08/09 (in reply to #320222424)

Microsoft suffers and the Fanbois attack Linux again Anonymous -- 14/08/09

Why I Love Linux (and hate it at times) Anonymous -- 18/08/09

linux :) dave b. -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320226604)

forgot to add dave b. -- 26/08/09 (in reply to #320242712)

Ubuntu wins over Vista Anonymous -- 28/08/09

I use both... each in it's own place. Anonymous -- 03/09/09

that's everyone Anonymous -- 03/09/09 (in reply to #320262801)

Standards ARE the answer Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu) -- 04/09/09 (in reply to #320262894)

Let me guess Anonymous -- 08/09/09 (in reply to #320265004)

ONE Thing "Standards are the answer" Anonymous -- 12/09/09 (in reply to #320265004)

Linux vs Microsoft Anonymous -- 12/09/09

Re: Linux vs Microsoft ManBearPig -- 10/11/09 (in reply to #320290255)

Also... ManBEarPig -- 10/11/09 (in reply to #320391241)

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