Linux vs. Windows? Installing and updating.

What OS would you rather INSTALL?

About a month ago, I decided to sell my wife's over-weight, under-utilized Dell Vostro 1500. We had Ubuntu on it so I wiped it clean with and put a fresh Windows XP OS on it using the cd's supplied by Dell. Even with the factory cd's, I found myself tied to a RJ45 cord downloading all of the proper drivers. I spent 4+hrs on that thing.

A week or two later, we got our new Acer AS1410. I plugged in a Ubuntu Netbook Remix Live image on a USB stick, tested it out and installed it. I gave Easy Peasy a try too. Each one took less than 20 minutes. Sure, maybe there is some fancy updated driver out there for Windows, but my system works very well. I suppose it all depends on the hardware, but Intel is is good to the Linux community, so anything "Centrino" is pretty painless.

I've been using Linux for a few years now and can honestly say that I think distros like Ubuntu have gotten to the point that they are actually easier for the average person to install (and use) than Windows. I think the hardware support is at an acceptable level and software support is getting closer.

Funny, how installing Windows is more difficult than installing Linux these days.

 

The thing is, windows usually comes preinstalled with all the drivers, so that's even more simple than installing ubuntu. But I agree with you, I though Ubuntu would be alot of configs and tweaking when getting it, but it all worked out of the box except for the nvidia driver, which was fairly easy to install. Synaptic makes it pretty easy nowadays. My main complaint about Ubuntu would be that it seems less efficient on laptops than windows. The power management isn't as good, and I have a small bug that prevents my laptop from running on battery settings.

However I've built a bunch of computers and I can say windows (vista) isn't that much harder to install. About 1h and I have all set up with drivers.

I've never owned any mac so I can't tell about mac OS X.

 

Your windows install will go much easier/faster if you collect the drivers in advance on a usb stick.

That said, I voted Linux because I believe that a distro like ubuntu is generally faster/easer to install, provided that you have done a few installs before of course.

 

I love how this is in the Linux forum and all the votes are for Linux. Weird how that works...

That being said, while I haven't tried any Mac OS install before, I can unequivocally say that installing Ubuntu is far less painful than any Windows install I've done.

 

Linux mint is pretty good, you download it, burn it to disc, load it from disc, try it and if you like it, double click the install icon on the desktop and there it goes. Although i had problems partioning my hd as i wanted to keep vista, but other than that it was good.

 

For all of 'em, it's what? Clicking "next" about 5 times?

This is like - what's easier - booting up an Xbox or PS3?

 

I use Ubuntu for business because if I hose the installation somehow working out in the field, I can be reinstalled and back on line and working again in 20 minutes...virtual machine up with bus. programs et al....

 

Installing from a live CD does have one enormous advantage. If you need more information about the install choices you're making, you can open a browser and do the research there and then rather than aborting the whole process, guessing or going off to find another working PC.

 

with windows i can just xcopy the dvd to usb and then install; note sure about linux... I think you need special boot apps to set up the usb

 

I'd rather install the OS I'm going to use... so I voted for Linux (big surprise).

Windows has gotten better since Vista with drivers and getting to the console during setup. OSX has always been quirky but I have no real complaints, just did a Snow Leopard upgrade to a friend's Macbook Air with remote install (pretty neat). Linux slaps it all but it depends on what installer you are talking about for the specifics, I use Debian.

 

Most Linux users still install Windows, but there are a lot of Windows users that don't know what Linux is. I figured this was the most appropriate place for the poll even though the results are biased.

 

Yes, it's true, most people buy their computers with Windows pre-installed.

I won't disagree with that statement. Try PowerTop in Linux.

That's 3-4 times longer than it takes me to install Ubuntu. My last XP install took FOREVER by time I got all the drivers installed and got the SP3 update.

 

If you haven't installed Linux then why the hell did you vote? If I wanted this kind of feedback, I would have put this in the Windows forum. It's not really about the poll, it's about what people who have actually installed these systems think.

I clearly stated that I thought my WINDOWS installs are taking a lot longer and are more trouble than my Linux installs. So I have installed both. I'm wondering if I others feel the same or do I just suck at installing Windows. Maybe you should read my original post again.

 

Thanks for the tip. I assumed the factory CDs that came with the system would have the correct drivers. I guess I was wrong. lol

 

Thanks for not voting.

So if you have no experience with Linux or OSX, then what's your reason for even being on this thread? Oh, that's right, to say "There is no point in making a poll where you know the results will be heavily biased", "You should just try installing both of them yourself and make up your own mind" and that "you just keep hitting *next* quite a bit" to install Windows. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

Linux beats Windows in the Linux forum and vice-versa.

 

Now now now.... I for one didn't take offense at your post, however, I've been installing Windows since the late 1980's, and linux off and on for several years, and it's much quicker to come up to a 'final' desktop with Linux than Windows IMO. With windows for me, I would have to reinstall all my business programs one by one, and move the data files back over...with Linux/VM, I avoid all that...move my .vdi file back over to /home, and bam...it's all back...but I digress I guess with windows I could restore a disk image, but taking those snapshots everyday would suck big time

 

Oh, I forgot to mention how incredibly superior the Ubuntu update system is to Windows.

 

Not trying to be a jerk, but you are a MORON! Again, if you have read my posts, you would know that I have tried it myself. Go troll somewhere else please.

 

Someone's gonna get whacked with the mod-stick...

I wonder what the results would be if I made a poll to see what's harder: tying your left shoe or your right one.

Personally, I find my left shoe to be harder since I have to click "next" one more time, but what are your guy's thoughts?

 

I agree with you. I just turn off automatic updates on my windows installs. I can't stand needing to do something and having Windows Update hogging all my resources or keeping me form booting me to another OS. I just check for updates periodically and that works fine for me.

I like the default update settings in Ubuntu. Is is possible to set Windows auto updates up to notify you of updates without automatically installing them? It's been so long since I even poked around in there. Maybe I'll boot up XP or Vista and check it out, but the default settings are way too intrusive for my tastes.

 

Yes, it is possible. That's the setting I use. I believe it's even possible to have it download without installing, but I've never been able to get that working.

 

Under windows update settings, you have :

-Install updates automatically

-Download updates but let me choose whether to install them

-Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them

Windows isn't so complicated

 

Depends on which version you're talking about, especially with Windows. If you're talking XP, especially 64-bit, Linux is probably easier. Not that XP is bad, but as you noticed, it doesn't have all of today's hardware's drivers pre-installed. If you're talking Windows 7, Windows wins. Windows 7's install is remarkably streamlined, and it does an excellent job of finding drivers on Windows Update. As of the Release Candidate, I didn't have to install a single one myself. Vista is in between XP and Windows 7.

For updating, it's not difficult in either one. The big difference is Windows usually just updates the core OS (occasionally IE as well), whereas most Linux distributions that I try include updates for everything that came installed with it or that you installed through the package manager. Which method you prefer is a personal preference. Linux will keep you up to date, but you might accidentally update a program that you didn't want a newer version of.

No idea how Mac compares on a Mac, but it's definitely nearly infinitely harder than either Windows or Linux for installing on a PC. Generally speaking it hangs on an image of an apple on a white background.

Didn't vote on the poll, as it depends on the version, especially of Windows.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Good to hear Windows 7 installs are better than XP and Vista. I'm actually looking forward to trying it out.

Also, thanks for the tips on the Windows updates. I stoped using the automatic updates years ago when I figured out that it was crashing all of my C-series Dell Latitudes. These days, I don't spend enough time in Windows to worry about it, but I might put a dev stack on Windows 7 when I get my upgrade.

 

You noob (I'm sorry, but I can't resist). Next time you sell a unit, let the buyer take care of setting up the machine.

 

Yes, it is improved. But when I installed Win7 and Ubuntu a couple days back, I now have all my Ubuntu programs and settings customized. In Windows 7, I have yet to get my speakers and touchpad scrollbar working. It's like the reverse of what used to be the case.

 

Thought I would follow up since I just did a Windows 7 install on my Acer AS1410. I have to say that a it was easy and fast. I did a clean install in about 20 minutes. I haven't spent much time using W7, but it looks good. I think everything is working fine except I had to update a driver to get the scrolling functions to work on my touchpad. Also, I don't have any webcam software, (come to think of it, I really don't have any software. ) It did crash after the first update (would you believe it?), but it was fine after rebooting.

Overall, the installation was pretty easy. Compared to my UNR 9.10 install on the same machine, Ubuntu actually had all of the drivers for my system and comes with more software. Also getting the driver for W7 and setting it up correctly took more effort than it should. (Actually, I'm still trying to figure out how to get the Synaptic track pad driver in my startup folder.)

So in my case, I had two very good installs with both systems and Ubuntu 9.10 edged out Windows 7 by a hair. Of course there are plenty of people out there who have had disastrous results with one system or the other. I guess it's luck of the draw when it comes to hardware.

 

That's why I started this thread. It's amazing how far the major Linux distros have come in the past few years. When I first started with Ubuntu (6.10 or 7.04) it seemed hard. Even though the installation process wasn't too difficult I had to choose the root and swap partitions. I thought my Windows XP was going to be hosed and my computer would never work again. It was scary as hell! Then I couldn't get my broadcom wireless card to work. Someone helped me out and put it in a wrapper, but it was flaky. (After that, I made sure all my hardware was Intel based and things went smooth.)

Now (especially with XP and Vista) it's the opposite. I'm worried about which drivers I'm going to need, how much time it's going to take to set up? Will I be locked out of Linux because Windows took out my boot menu and will I be able to restore GRUB? These day's I learning how to deal with the issues Windows presents, not the ones Linux use to throw at me. lol

If total noob asked me which system to install from scratch, I would tell them to try Ubuntu first. If everything works, fantastic! If it's a disaster, run like hell and get Windows 7.

 

Yeah, at least with XP, if you dont have the drivers at hand, it can be very difficult to install, with all the driver hunting. Heck even with the drivers CD, you would need to manually install the drivers. So much easier with Debian/Ubuntu.
Reminds me, about 4 years back, I was using a thinkpad. XP would play .wmv/.avi files choppily at full screen. I tried changing settings, updating drivers, poking around in windows forums, nothing helped.
Linux would play the .wmv etc files at full screen flawlessly.

Windows not being able to play windows media files, but linux playing them flawlessly, it was so sad it wwasnt even funny

 

LOL lithus..

that depends on what thread u are going to put it in..the which is harder.."left shoe" or "right shoe" ok..anyways..back to topic..

after working with linux..I find linux easier..and quicker..
updates are easier..getting certain things to run are easier..i've also gotten the games i want to run..directx was a breeze after figuring a few things out...as well as my ati catalyst control center..i also really like the new ubuntu software center compiled with 9.10 and of course the good ol synaptic package manager....anyways this is from my perspective..
there will always be problems for people with linux..for example trying to get certain wireless drivers to work..certain printers...well linux anyways..
but yea i find also that linux's installation for drivers has become better supported over the years...

 

Rolling release FTW

 

Hello everyone
I bought a new PC running Windows XP service pack 2 but i want to install Linux OS. So the main problem is that how would i install LINUX in my PC? Because i want to do Shell programming. Can i install both OS in one PC? Tell me whole installation process of Linux OS. I have read so many books of installation process but it is not worth for me. If anyone knows some latest Linux books reply me. your suggestion is worth for me.

 

It's best you decide which Linux distribution you want first. Because unlike Windows, Linux comes in many variety that caters to different user's needs/likes. For beginners I recommend Ubuntu. Go to the website and download a copy (using torrents is faster).

You're definitely going to have to read up on wikis on how to install Ubuntu. There are some dual boot guides online. Linux is a new process, so be humble, and don't expect things to be the same. It's not harder, just different.

And it's best you start a new thread for this.

 

Yeah, but Arch certainly doesn't win in ease of installation. I tried it for the first time recently, and while I did get get LXDE and XFCE working for the root account (for some reason they don't work properly for non-root accounts), it's the most time I've ever spent installing an OS where compatibility wasn't already dubious. It is kind of cool to be able to set everything up to one's liking, though. By far the least pre-installed software I've seen on a Linux distro, too, with only DSL really coming close. Just not very efficient compared to the Mints and Ubuntus of the world with their 6 or 7 set install processes.

Generally on the Windows vs Linux install thing, it probably is worth mentioning that YMMV depending on hardware, as well. Ubuntu and Windows 7 are pretty comparable, and which one will be easier for a person will depend on their hardware (though I still suspect Windows 7 will be slightly easier for the majority).

 

Well, to each their own. I spent 4 hours setting up everything, and now it never breaks. Comparing this so the re-installation of my XP partition last time every so often, it's very good. In installing arch, the arch linux wiki and the forums are brilliant.

 

Installing Ubuntu using Wubi took less than an hour to download and to install it. I could have installed faster had I had a faster Internet connection.

 

Yeah. Most of Linux is reliant on updating as you download. I really really pity those that have 56K (if they still exist)

 

Windows 7 has greatly improved install times (I think...I also got an SSD, so not a fair comparison). With Linux, my experience has been all over the map, depending on distro and release. It has been a few years since I have had a serious hardware issue reinstalling Linux, and the last SUSE install I did went very well, and Linux has the added advantage that all of my commonly used apps are installed at the same time as the OS. I have not installed OS X since 10.1.

 

I would easily choose Linux/Ubuntu for simplicity, but Windows does give more customization.

I used this guide and it took about 20 minutes, 15 of which was spent loading things.

 

The only Windows discs that include ALL the drivers, also include ALL the BLOATWARE, at least with Linux you can pick your Distro.

every time I've installed XP with Dell's factory media, it was still a PITA to get all the CORRECT drivers installed, never mind do a retail box install, I end up using my laptop(Ubuntu) to google for drivers( windows can't use the internet with out a NIC driver)

Am I correct in assuming you have to have internet access for "Windows Update" , if so, how do you get your network driver (you can't go online with out it, you can't get it with out going online)?

Most of the time I'm reinstalling Windows is because someone's drive crashed or they're so choked up with virus's/spyware/corrupted registery, that a clean install is needed.
"disc's what discs, you mean I needed to KEEP those ??"
"I didn't know I had to burn my recovery CD's BEFORE my drive crashed ??"

90%+- of the time I can stick Ubuntu in someones computer, and copy their files to external drive ( with internet access if needed).