Eugene Computer Geeks Blog

Linux Vs. Windows…Linux is now easier!

If you were to introduce your grandma or kids to their first computer, would you give them Windows or Linux? I believe Linux is easier to use than Windows, and is a better option for inexperienced computer users.

Linux has come a very long way in the last few years.  Back in the day, Linux was difficult to use, and was mainly geared towards experienced computer users.  Nowadays, Linux is easier to use than ever. It’s secure, stable, fast, has excellent hardware support, and is easy to use.

If you are only familiar with Windows, and have grown accustomed to various applications, Linux might be frustrating. This is because you can’t run most Windows programs, but there are free and open-source alternatives to almost any Windows application. There is even a Windows emulator for Linux called WINE, which allows users to run most Windows programs, including a lot of PC games.  Software developers are starting to catch on, and are developing Linux versions of their applications, and many of the programs Windows users have grown accustomed to are also available on Linux.

There are hundreds of different flavors and types of Linux with different interfaces and “looks and feels”.  For users new to Linux, I recommend Linux Mint, Xubuntu, OpenSuse, or Ubuntu.

I’ve introduced a lot of people to Linux, and a lot of them were totally new to using computers. Even my 3 year old son uses Ubuntu Linux on his own laptop! I’ve also had a lot of success with introducing senior citizens to Linux, and to anyone that keeps an open mind, and is ready to try something different.

Let’s face it, most users spend the majority of their time on their computer using their web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Safari. With Linux you can easily run Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Konqueror (based on Safari). Browsing the web on Linux is practically identical to browsing on Windows, but is much more secure and stable.

The following list gives the top reasons why Linux is easier to use than Windows:

1.  Package manager;
Installing applications in Linux is a breeze. Almost all Linux distributions have a package manager or “software center”, which allows users to install applications safely and easily. With Linux, there is no need to hunt down installation files off the web. This is similar to the “AppStore” on Apple devices such as the iPhone and other smart phones.  Package managers make installing and uninstalling software very easy, and allow users to browse packages by category and sort by popularity. Software in the package managers are well maintained, and allows users to update all programs at once with the click of a button. In Windows, users have to update each program individually, and programs have to be downloaded from websites. When users install software with a package manager, they can trust the applications are safe because they are downloaded from a trusted source.

The Ubuntu package manager called “Ubuntu Software Center” makes it very easy to install programs, similar to package managers in smart phones.

2,  Excellent hardware support;
Linux has excellent out-of-the-box hardware support. No more hunting down drivers or using discs to get your devices working. Just plug your device in, and no setup is required. With some devices that use proprietary drivers, you might have to use a utility to install. Linux distros like Ubuntu come with a utility called “Additional Drivers” which makes installing restricted drivers very easy.

3.  Better security and no need to worry about viruses, spyware, and malware;
When using Linux for your desktop or laptop PC, you won’t have to worry about viruses nearly as much as you would have to when using a Windows machine,   In the desktop environment, Linux almost never gets targeted with viruses, so unless you are running a full Linux server, you don’t have to worry about getting infected.  There is no confusing or expensive antivirus software slowing you down, and you don’t really have to worry about infections or having your system compromised.

Overall, Linux is much more secure than Windows and it’s much less likely you will ever get attacked by a hacker or have to worry about security threats. A lot of people assume Linux is secure only because it’s not as popular as Windows. This is likely one of the reasons, but their is much more to it than that.

Linux is much more restrictive with user permissions and has a clear separation from privileges. Almost all distributions of Linux have a package manager, which users install their software. This helps prevent viruses and vulnerabilities because the packages are regularly maintained and checked for exploits.. Privilege escalation plays a big part in Linux security. Even if something is compromised, most (if not all) processes these days don’t run with enough permissions to magnify that one breach into an entire system compromise (i.e. insertion of malware)

Linux is much more secure than Windows. On Linux there is no need for antivirus software, and no need to worry about viruses, spyware, adware, or malware.

4. Excellent free support;
Linux has a very large community of free support offered by users helping each other. There are free forums, chat rooms, and guides all throughout the internet.  The majority of Linux distributions also offer commercial technical support, so if the free support doesn’t meet your needs, this is an option as well.

5. Less maintenance required overall;
Unlike Windows, Linux requires almost no maintenance whatsoever. There is no defragmenting the hard drive, no malware/virus scans, and no utilities needed to keep it running smoothly.   Junk doesn’t pile up as easily in Linux, and unlike Windows, a factory restore, system restore, or full reinstall is rarely ever necessary.

6. Linux stays fast overtime, and doesn’t slow down like Windows;
After some time Windows tends to slow down.  The list of programs and services running in the background grows, and important system files become corrupted, leading to problems and a clunky computer. Having a slow computer makes using a computer very difficult and frustrating, and is something you don’t need to worry about if running Linux.

7. Developer friendly;
Developing your own software and applications on Linux is a breeze compared to Windows. No need to buy expensive software in order to write your own software. Everything is free and readily available. Linux is free, and the majority of Linux applications are open-source, which means you can easily see the source code that runs everything.  You are free to modify, edit, or redistribute the code. This gives users total freedom over their system, which is something not available in Windows.

9. Linux is extremely stable;
Linux rarely ever crashes or gets serious errors, and is much more stable overall than Windows. There is a reason that large corporations and the majority of web servers that power the web use Linux. Reliability is important. Computers are not going to have a good experience if their computer is constantly crashing and having bugs. Linux does not get BSOD (Blue Screen’s of Death), and almost never crashes. I’ve been running Linux since 1999, and have never had a serious crash or problem with Linux, or an infection of any kind.  Overall Linux doesn’t get serious bugs as Windows, and if the problem ever does arise, its very easy to boot to a Linux live disc and fix.

10. Linux is FOSS (free / open source);
Linux itself is completely free, and the vast majority of Linux applications are free and open-source.  This gives users freedom to experiment and utilize software and use features that normally you’d have to pay big bucks for if using Windows.  Linux being free also makes it easier to repair.  For example, if your hard drive crashes in Windows you have to have a functioning factory restore partition, or a Windows disc in order to do a full reinstall.  Getting a Windows disc will easily cost over $100, whereas with Linux, creating a disc is free and easy to download.  Upgrading to the newest version of Linux is also free, whereas with Windows it will cost you big bucks.

11. You can run Linux from a CD, DVD, or USB drive without installing it.
You can very easily run Linux directly from a CD, DVD, or USB flash stick, even if your computer has a broken or missing hard drive! This is very useful if you are having any problems with your current Linux installation, and need to fix problems, backup files, or recover data.  This is also useful if you want to use Linux on PC but don’t want to commit to installing.
NOTE: It’s also possible to run Windows live with BartPE, but it’s much difficult to setup than Linux and is very buggy and slow.

It’s very easy to run Linux live without installing from a CD, DVD, or USB flash stick. You can even run Linux on a computer without a hard drive! (Picture from PCdesktopwallpaper.com)

12. Very easy to setup advanced networking of almost any kind.
Linux is the best choice for networking. With a couple simple commands or clicks, Linux users can easily setup advanced networking. It’s SUPER easy to setup a full web server, file server, or screen sharing.  Networking between other computers is a breeze, even if they are running a different operating system.

13. Easy to install
Linux is now very easy to install. After you boot to the CD,DVD, or USB flash stick, you can choose to install side by side Windows, or erase the entire disc and install Linux. Ubuntu even has a Windows installed (WUBI), which allows users to install Ubuntu from within Windows, sort of like its a Windows application.  The installation is painless and child’s play compared to installing Windows.

Nowadays, Installing Linux is very simple. You can easily install side-by-side Windows. Overall, Linux is easier and less painful to install than Windows.

14. Linux is faster and runs well on old PC’s
Linux runs faster than Windows. There are bare-bone distributions that have a very minimalistic graphical interface, but are lightening fast, even on very old computers.

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Do you disagree and think Windows is easier to use than Windows? Please comment and give your thoughts.

Article by Cameron Voss of Eugene Computer Geeks. Cameron is an experienced Linux user and a computer technician / web designer in the Eugene, Oregon area.

List of the fastest Linux distros of 2012 (Picture from TuxRadar.com)

July 30th, 2012: There are many Linux distributions to choose from that vary greatly in look, speed, and functionality.  The Windows Manager is what controls the GUI and appearance of your Linux distro, and is responsible for the majority of speed on your Linux OS (Operating System).

The following is a list of the fastest Linux Distros of 2012. The list is based on boot-time speed, how light it is on system resources, and the load time for applications.  We also kept into consideration functionality and performance.

1. Xubuntu

Our top choice because Xubuntu is feature rich and lightening fast. It has an excellent reputation, easy to install, and has a very large following of users.  Out of all the different Ubuntu distributions, Xubuntu is optimized for older hardware, and was created to be as lightweight as possible.  Xubuntu uses GTK whenever possible for optimal speed.  Xubuntu also has a huge community for support, and is based on and very similar to the regular Ubuntu desktop edition.

2. Ubuntu/Xubuntu with IceWM

IceWM is a very minimalistic windows manager that is lightening fast.  Regular Ubuntu or Xubuntu running IceWM will be extremely fast, lightweight, and low on system resources.  The downside of IceWM is that it’s very limited in functionality and would not be an ideal choice for beginners new to Linux.  Some knowledge of how to use the command line/terminal is necessary, and IceWM requires some tweaking and configuring to get the menus and icons setup properly.

If speed is your primary concern, and you aren’t afraid of using the command line, IceWM can be an ideal choice. To install IceWm in Ubuntu or Xubuntu, open the terminal and type:  sudo apt-get install icewm

3. Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is very fast, and is the fastest Linux distro when running Live from a CD, DVD, or USB.   Like most Linux distros you can use Puppy Linux with no installation, and without using a hard drive by loading it live which runs from the RAM and CD, DVD, or USB you are booting with.  Puppy is lacking in some functionality that the Ubuntu based distros come with out of the box.

For instance Puppy can mount and read hard drives that are using NTFS, but can not save data to the drive.  I mainly suggest Puppy to users that are looking for a fast Linux experience without needing to install.  It can also be a good choice for older hardware, but I recommend Xubuntu over puppy for users that are looking for long-term users that are wanting to install Linux.

4. Lubuntu

Lubuntu is very low on system resources, but is about the same speed as Xubuntu.  Lubuntu uses the LXDE Windows Manager which is gaining a lot of popularity and might be preferred to XFCE (what Xubuntu uses by default) or IceWM.

5. Arch Linux

Arch is quick, and feature rich, but is geared more towards the advanced Linux user. If speed is a concern and you are an experienced Linux user, I highly suggest you check out Arch Linux if you haven’t already. Arch Linux does require some knowledge of using the command line, and some experience with bash scripting may not be necessary but would be an advantage if using Arch.

You should now have a better understanding of which Linux distro is the fastest for 2012.  Whether you have a very old computer and need a free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Windows, or maybe you just prefer an operating system that is as fast and lightweight as possible, Linux with a minimalistic GUI is the best option for most users.

PLEASE READ OUR ARTICLE ON THE “TOP LINUX DISTRO’S OF 2012“.

AUTHOR BIO

Article written by Eugene Computer Geeks, offering computer repair in Eugene, Oregon.

Please comment if you have any suggestions or critiques for this article.

My 3 Year Old Son Uses Ubuntu Linux 12.04 with Gnome-Classic

I introduced my three year old son to Ubuntu Linux and he loves it!  For his third birthday I gave him an old Gateway laptop.

We noticed his fascination with technology when he began using my IPhone when he was only two years old.  People around us were amazed that he could properly navigate the phone.  He could take pictures and videos, play various games and educational kids apps, and even browse Youtube videos.

A few weeks before my son’s third birthday, he started to show much more interest in my Lenovo laptop, and was getting bored with my IPhone.  That’s when I decided to dig out an old laptop that was running XP.  Amazingly, he was able to infect the laptop with viruses and malware. (He clicks advertisements, and was even able to install software.)  He was also able to make serious system changes, and somehow deleted the sound driver.

After formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling XP, there was a problem of not being able to find the proper audio drivers. I tried installing from the “Device Manager”,  from the Gateway drives page, and even tried Driver Genius Pro, and Driver Pack Solution, but had no success.  I was starting to think  he physically damaged the audio card.

To test the audio card on the laptop, I booted to an Ubuntu Live Disc, and the audio worked right away. I decided to install Ubuntu 12.04, and use Gnome Classic, set with “No Effects”.  The interface is simpler than Unity (compiz) for a child that can’t read yet. Unity requires the user to search and type with the keyboard to access programs and settings, so Gnome-Classic is a much better option.

Ubuntu has out-of-the box support for the audio, is way faster, and is MUCH safer when it comes to spyware, adware, malware, and viruses.

To prevent my son from making any drastic system changes, I haven’t taught him his root (admin) password yet.  With the current setup running Ubuntu,  he can click and type whatever he wants, without messing anything up.   I setup the desktop and gnome panel with customized icons, and he knows how to use the menu to select various applications and launchers.  I also installed all the pre-school applications from Edubuntu (an educational version of Ubuntu for kids), and various other games and educational software.

Some of his favorite applications are Tux Paint, Firefox (Youtube, AddictingGames.com), SuperTuxKart, Potato Guy, and Armagetron Advanced. To navigate, he mainly uses the mouse and the arrow and “Enter” keys on the keyboard.    Playing with the computer and IPhone has helped him memorize and learn his ABC’s and numbers.  He knows how to close windows and tabs, and is learning how to read certain words such as “Play”, “Next”, and “Go”.

I also have Firefox setup with various bookmarks on the bookmarks toolbar, including videos on Youtube.  Lately the majority of the videos he has been watching are cartoons in other languages, especially Spanish. I have some of his favorite movies in English and Spanish, with and without subtitles.  For his age, I believe learning languages through cartoons and films is the easiest and most effective way to learning other languages.

It amazes me how my son can figure out how to navigate to websites even when it’s not bookmarked. For instance, there is  game site he loves to visit, that he found by clicking an advertisement on a particular Youtube video he enjoys watching.  He remembered that all he has to do is go to that Youtube page, and click the advertisement to get to the game site.

Personally I feel like getting kids involved with technology at a young age,(with supervision) is an excellent way to educate and prepare them for using computers.  Most children at his age have never touched a computer or Iphone, and he will have years of experience under his belt, when his peers will have little or none.

My son is learning; hand-eye coordination, how to read, problem solving, and Spanish.  He’s also learning and understanding how computers work, and how to properly navigate and multitask with the Linux operating system.

What do you feel is the best age for children to start using a computer? Is 3 years old too young? Please give your thoughts and comment.

While the Ubuntu Windows Installer (WUBI) is a great concept, it should be avoided whenever possible. It’s buggy, and tends to run much slower than installing Ubuntu the regular way.  The WUBI installer allows you to install Ubuntu easily from within Windows as if it’s another program. It actually installs Ubuntu inside the Windows NTFS file system and uses the Windows Boot Loader to let the user choose which Operating System they want to use at start up.  WUBI makes it very easy to Uninstall Ubuntu. You uninstall just like a regular windows application by going to “Add or Remove Programs” in the Windows control panel.

If you wan’t to install Ubuntu side by side Windows, you should create an Ubuntu CD, DVD, or USB, and boot to it at start up by using the boot menu or by changing the boot order priority in BIOS.  For instructions on how to create an Ubuntu CD, DVD or USB flash stick, please follow my guides “How to burn an Ubuntu CD”  and “How to create an Ubuntu USB Flash Stick“.

If for some reason you just can’t install Ubuntu the regular way, then I do recommend trying the WUBI installer as a last resort.