Operating Systems

Hi all

I won a laptop about a year ago but don't use it much because I have my PC. It came with Vista but it was awfully slow, so I installed XP. I have now wondered about trying Ubuntu. Does anyone have any knowledge with this system and how does it compare to XP?

The laptop has 2GB ram, 2Ghz CPU (AMD).

Thanks
Firefly

 

Stick to the Microsoft OS's.
Why dont you try installing Windows 7.
Its a much more stable system than Vista.
Regards

 

rather than ubuntu, try linux mint. i am running peppermint ice at the moment. linux has not been an easy road for me, give it a try with a live cd then you can see if you like it. i have only succeeded with linux because of the forums that have helped me.

 

Will give it ago, (ubuntu) cause I already started downloading it. I can always format again----(HOLIDAY! WHOOT!)

 

This is unfortunately a case of personal preferance. In the land of Linux you will find all manner of creatures, all convinced that their choice in distro (type) of Linux is the best. I have found Ubuntu to work well for me. As 10i has mentioned, you may need to consult forums on some issues (the wrong word really - call it challenges) you encounter. I must use Windows at work (my laptop came with 7 Pro, it didn't take me a week before I swapped that for XP again), but I'm looking to install Ubuntu soon and run XP as a virtual machine - for all those Windows-only programs (WINE is also an option here - Google is your friend). Linux requires a bit of a change in mindset, but I'm sure it'll work for you once you've gotten used to it!

 

well, what i can say is that linux operating systems in my experience, is a lot faster and uses less system resources than the windows systems, what you will have problems with is finding programmes that are compatible with what you might need, for example, i like using my nokia cell phone as a modem, this worked fine on our windows system, but when we used a linux laptop, there was no software to be found anywhere.. we eventually aborted and got a windows operating system instead.

but the speed of a linus machine is really really great, even on a mediocre PC.

 

yes.. IMO, 2 gigs is bit slow for vista and 7..

 

One hear so often about the XP simulation that you can run on Linux. I was wondering, would the modem not run on that either?

 

My home desktop runs Ubuntu, has been running it since warty(?), its a lovely system and gets more market and user friendly with each new iteration, but I would say judging any distro from a live cd is useless. Installing a system gets you the best native feel for it on your hardware. If you dont like it, wipe and redo. Its easer if you keep a partition separate for your ~/home too.

I work with windows at the office and hate the lack of functions that I have become so used to on my home PC running linux. Its a mind shift.
I do dual boot into windows for gaming though(once in a blue moon. haven't played anything in a looooong time). some games are very directx dependant and run much more hassle free in native windows. Some games run great in linux too. for gaming or MS office, installation via playonlinux repository feature helps alot to get the necessary installer scripts to run and fetch necessary dll's and such.

For everything else, linux runs awesomely.

 

yep. currently running windows 7, 64 bit, 6 gigs ram + 1gigabyte Nvidia 600 quadro graphics card on a quad -core machine. works brilliantly.

i think that is only a "shell" or an "overlay" to make it look like windows - the core OS is still Linux.

 

I'm still happily runnin XP on both my office notebook and home desktop!

 

XP is still rated as one of the most stable OS of microsoft.. when i got my laptop 2 yrs ago they still asked me if i wanted to install XP instead of Vista.. they said that lots of ppl still prefer XP as it gives less problems..

 

Yes, thats it exactly. But it gives you a way out when you need it, like with the modem issue, as it can run windoze programs.

 

Nice. Windows Experience Index? (Computer Properties)
Mine 5.9. One would expect a higher figure though. CPU?

 

5.9 is not at all bad! Mine is like 4.2 or something!

But...

It runs MOH 2010, CODBO, Bioshock 2, BF2BC2... the works, with no problems at all!

 

That is probably your hard drive that is slowing down your system.
Look at something like a WD VelociRaptor Hard drive that spins at 10,000rpm.
(But expect to pay for this drive... Something like R1800 for 300gig drive...)

That should give your overall performance a huge jump on the Experience Index

 

My C:
SAS. Serial Attached SCSII. 15000Rpm
146Gb
Seagate

hehe

 

Vista was an absolute disaster. Windows 7 is apparently quite stable. If you don't need XP for specific software, then 7 is not a bad route to go (provided you have enough RAM!)

Windows 7 is like your V8 Jeep, while Ubuntu is like your 1.4L TDi !

 

Ok then that is not your problem... hahahaha
Where is your drop in total then?

 

I thought Microsoft is just very conservative in giving scores, to allow for future hardware standards. What is your score?