Whats Keeping me from quitting Windows

[onering]

I can't shake WInXP for one reason. Video Editing. I know, Kino is pretty good, but not nearly as good as Sony Vegas. I've had not luck getting Vegas to work in WINE or VMWare. For now, until an equivalent program comes to Linux, I'm stuck with keeping WinXP on one of my boxes.

[Vince4Amy]

Since I've been using Kubuntu for over a year now. I switched all of my machines today.

[HonyTawk]

I used to run two hdds, one winXP and the other Ubuntu.
I broke winXp and was about to re-install it when i thought i might as well go full ubuntu.
Now im running Ubuntu on one hdd, 'cause i broke my bigger one!
I've still to put GIMP to the test, used it once or twice, nothing serious.
I'm looking for a good web-development program, any suggestions?
But in the end, its good to be away from the big bad microsoft!

[rwmcgwier]

I have just recently installed Windows XP SP2 under kvm and now I am going to try Xen to see which one gives me the best flavor. I have a Core 2 Quad Extreme and yet still this is not sufficient hardware virtualization support to seem to support USB, Firewire, etc. Neither does Virtual PC 2007. I will be very happy whe we have IOMMU support from either Intel or AMD. When that happens, I am inside and on board and my Windows days will be over.

I am required to run software that only runs on and develop software for Winblows.

Bob McGwier

[drunken_sapo]

Almost nothing, I've succesfully made it in most of the machines I use on a regular basis, and I'm really happy with ubuntu. However I was given a new HP laptop at work and intel 3495 wireless card wont work. So I havent touched a windows for almost a year, until this problem came up.
Forums are plenty of posts about it but not a single concrete thing to do in my case.
Its a pity, but it renders my laptop almost unusable.
I feel really sad about this.
Regards,
Juan

[soxs]

I'm looking for a good web-development program, any suggestions?

bluefish

I am100% xubuntu/ubuntu user!!! (I hope starcraft2 will work with wine *g*)

[kaptengu]

2. No decent website managing software. I currently use Frontpage 2003...



http://www.userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/07jul/uf010526.gif

[Stormspace]

http://www.userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/07jul/uf010526.gif

Funny cartoon. The only real option for Linux presently is Bluefish and while that app has some great features, it still does not have some of the productivity enhancements available in Frontpage. I'm going to try it however and see if I'm just missing something. :)

[mooscape]

I have vmware (great program) with windows ( ](*,) ) so that I can plot .DWG (AutoCAD) files. Is there a Linux alternative out there?

[eqo314]

i've bought too many songs on itunes and ripped too many songs into aac. I'd burn them all into cd's and re-rip but that would take too much time. Also, i love the office and heroes i intend to subscribe to the third season when those come out.

when someone figures out how to get wine to work on itunes, goooodbye windows.

[mszl_1]

i moved to linux cold turkey since i felt it was best. learning curve galore but worth it in the end. still have loads to learn but it all takes time!! i voted 100% linux and it is so at home mainly, but a have a HDD with xp on it so th ewife can play some games. i dual booted so i could print since i had too much many problems in sorting my brother dcp 130c printer out. sinc i now have a HP it is all linux (ubuntu) i like to play around with different distroes. i just wished MS had more to offer other than make people lazy as far as OSeS are concerned.
:lolflag:

[mango42]

I would love to have hit the 100% Ubuntu button but some weird problem won't allow me to cold boot into it!

So I have to boot into Win2k then restart into Ubuntu - must be karma...

If anyone feels like helping me to a WWW - world without windoze - I would be very grateful. More here:-

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=525374

[gimpguy2000]

So far i'm 100%. While I do have windows on the other drive, it's simply...just there. I haven't been into it in a couple of months now. For a newbie, that's fairly good. Most struggle was finding the right flavor and here I am.

Paul:guitar:

[g2g591]

I'm technically dual-booting, but I havn't used windows in months (except one time when I did a hard shut down and had to in order to access the other partition).

[markp1989]

I have been using Ubuntu on and off for about a year, but i only started using it properly about 4 months ago when i didnt have a spare product key for my laptop, with in a few weeks i installed it on my desktop, which is currently dual booting Ubuntu and windows XP(rarley boot into windows)

My reasons for keeping windows are:

1) familarity
2) Am reasonably new to linux so i want to keep windows encase i do somthing wrong and break my windows install
3) Friends who use the computer dont understand how to use linux and are to stuborn to learn
4) I paid for it, so i want to get my moneys worth
5) I dont want to lose any of the software I paid for

[ignos]

I left windows because it's the anti-christ.

[Amazona aestiva]

There is only ](*,)ONE](*,) program that I can't run under Ubuntu:
Ulead Video Studio 11 Plus
Have anybody solved this?

[eel]

I have Ubuntu on my laptop and Windows on my desktop. Well, that is, i intend to reinstall windows on my desktop since it crashed on me 2 weeks ago, but i am going to move so i figured that i'll get to that when i have more time. The reasons i am keeping windows:

1: I can't use Ableton Live in linux (or i guess i can with wine but i when i started using linux i had
a mac-before-the-intel-switch so i couldnt run wine. I still have to figure out this, as i will also
want to use various VST plugins and i am afraid that doing everything through wine will slow
down the whole program + plugins resulting in recording latency and hours of extra work.

2: I the GIMP doesn't support CMYK and as a graphic desinger / printer that's a bit of a bummer
Same as with 1 i should try using wine to install photoshop but everytime i decide upon trying
i get printing work that has to be finished so i can't risk it.

My heart is ubuntu, it's only parts of my soul i sold to the devil :)

[KCPokes]

Sadly I'm still a dual-booter. I bought a new laptop, which came with Vista (awful) so within an hour of having it I had Ubuntu installed and made that my primary OS. Problem is, unless I go the VM route, I still have to rely on Photoshop, as I'm just not a Gimp convert yet, thus I do tend to boot into Windows solely for the purpose of using Photoshop. If I could overcome the hurdle of CS3 under Wine, I'd be a complete convert.

[ma3stro]

3DSMAX
Nvidia FX Composer
Xbox 360 Development Kit (XDX)
DX10

[MattAd]

for me it is speed which keeps me from kicking winXP. Ubuntu is simpy slower; slow boot, slow desktop handling.
WinXP has natuarally a advantage here, since its GUI runs in kernel-mode. But Im still confident, that Exa will speed up cairo a lot.

Another point are games - but this is not that critical, since there are ports of the games Im intrested in. (UT2004, SS2, Darwinia)

Ubuntu boots pretty quickly for me, actually... a little slower than Windows XP after reinstalling it to an empty hard drive, but otherwise it gets up and going from no power to desktop in about a minute or so (unless I need to run fsck, which it does at times due to the age of the disk). The OS responds slowly sometimes, but I usually just chalk that up to not having much physical memory available while I'm working- I have this bad habit from working in MacOS X of having a billion windows open at once, plus I do graphic design, and GIMP hates me and grinds away slowly when I work on high-res artwork when I only have 256 MB of memory and a gigabyte of swap.

Games are a big sticking point, though. I play a couple of games that don't have major commercial releases (the biggest I can think of is the sprite-based MMORPG MapleStory) that aren't ported to Linux. I don't have a Windows partition on my laptop anymore, but I wouldn't mind having one just for games like that.

[dveej]

The inability to get my Intel 3945 wireless card working in Ubuntu. If I want to use wireless on my laptop, I have to boot up in Vista.

I hope that someone corrects this - maybe in Gutsy? I'm only a Linux noob and have been spending DAYS:confused: trying to install wild-goose-chase drivers and patches and packages and you name it. Very frustrating - especially since I want to like Linux.

But so far it's a very good thing that I haven't completely removed Vista, since it's my only option for wireless internet. :confused:

[hadiriazi]

One thing that is keeping me from 100% ubuntu is VS.net 2005. Powerful and simple IDE. I'm a programmer and have to use .net (c#) to program. I know there is the mono open project but that's still not as powerful as it has to be. Hope some day I could use ubuntu 100%.

[wislon]

I agree with hadiriazi. the only thing keeping me from switching is that I work for a Windows shop and have to do dev work in Delphi and VS2K3/5. They're not too hot under Wine (yet!) :)

[OttifantSir]

Really, as of yesterday I am 100% Ubuntu, but hit the option of having Windows in VM, as I intend to install it into VMWare Server Console soon (relatively).

Because I can't seem to convince my friends and family that GNU/Linux is more stable than Windows. I have witnessed firsthand that it is. The hardest to convince that it is more stable, is my mom's boyfriend. He runs an accounting business and has Windows-servers. He simply won't believe me when I state the facts: Windows servers are down more than GNU/Linux servers. And he certainly doesn't believe the proven fact that Microsoft used to run GNU/Linux on their own servers. As his system is a thin-client system connected to the servers, I guess it would be easy enough to have GNU/Linux running at the bottom, then use VMWare or other virtualization to give him and the others the "benefit" of Windows.

I also have a server at home for connecting my external hard drives to so I can use my laptop as a laptop, not a slim-line desktop. This runs XP Pro simply because I can't get it to accept CD as a boot option in BIOS. Its specs are quite low, so I don't know if I'll run Ubuntu Server in a VM on it. Might give it a try. That will, kind of, release me from Windows. Unless someone has a script I can put on a floppy that will boot the CD. (DSL might have a chance of doing this? I have the possibility to boot from USB though)

So, I am planning on going off Windows almost completely. I just need it to be able to help my family and friends fix their PCs. And that means not forgetting what I know about it.

A few things are not as good as Windows programs, I agree. I have yet to find a music manager that looks, and performs as good as MediaMonkey Gold, and I love µTorrent and eMule (there are equivalents, and I know they can be run in Wine). I have yet to find a video transcoder/encoder/converter as good as eRightSoft's Super.

If I can find a way to install Ubuntu Server on the server, I probably won't have a problem with not seeing the external harddrives except for in Nautilus and MoviePlayer.

To end, the sound isn't perfect. Have to manipulate both PCM and LFE to get audio that doesn't sound like a tin-can or the inside of a diesel-engine. WiFi isn't up and running yet. Anything else is covered as far as I have been able to find for now.

[Beliar]

A windows xp server? ouch. But how did you install windows if you cant boot from cd? Thats strange, because booting from cd is so basic, even very old pcs can do that. But no reason to use windows. I heard of an Ubuntu installer for Windows, but I couldnt find it.

There are also other ways, like booting from network (PXE) and booting from usb-stcik/hdd.
I wouldnt use Ubuntu as a server os though (and if I would, then only the server edition). Maybe Debian or something, but I cant anyway cause my parents would kill me if they see the electricity bill ;)

Another idea, modern Linux distris have automatic hardware detection. The IT Admin of the company I "work" for just has made one Ubuntu installation and packed it (I guess with dd command) and they just roll it out on new machines. No problems with incompatible drivers, you couldnt do that with windows.
So you could just grab the harddisc, put it in another pc and install the os and put it back.

greets, Beliar

[isecore]

I wouldnt use Ubuntu as a server os though (and if I would, then only the server edition). Maybe Debian or something, but I cant anyway cause my parents would kill me if they see the electricity bill ;)

Actually, the only difference between Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Server-edition is that the installer on each system differs. It's not difficult to turn a "regular" Ubuntu-machine into a server, all you need to do is install the server-related applications (Apache, MySQL, whatever your needs may be). The installer on "regular" Ubuntu is more geared towards desktop use and doesn't assume that the user needs those.

Also, the differences between an Ubuntu Server and a Debian Server are very tiny and small to notice unless you know what you're looking for. The main difference is that Debian is a bit more conservative with releasing updates and tend to wait a bit longer than Ubuntu to make sure that they're tested and proven and won't bork the system.

(Disclaimer: I haven't actually tried running Ubuntu Server, this is just based on my general experience with how Debian and Debian-based distros work)

As for the electricity bill, yes it's quite horrible :-) I know, since I run a 24/7 Debian-server in my home.

[Beliar]

Well AFAIK there are some more differences with the ubuntu server edition. I tried it once, its a while ago, so I'm not sure about all of this. Sudo should not be installed by default. Thats an absolute no-go for servers. Also, I think it has another kernel and by default no X.
So I think there are some important differences on security and daemons installed by default.

Debian has of course older software versions, but the more stable and safe ones. Of course you can go testin or however the branch with the newer stuff is called. But I guess than again its kind of pointless to use Debian anyway...

[isecore]

Also, I think it has another kernel and by default no X.
So I think there are some important differences on security and daemons installed by default.

That's pretty much what I said, if you had bothered to actually read my post.

Debian has of course older software versions, but the more stable and safe ones. Of course you can go testin or however the branch with the newer stuff is called. But I guess than again its kind of pointless to use Debian anyway...

Of course Debian Stable has older software. That's because older software has been more thoroughly tested rather than cutting-edge versions of the software. Also I would really like to know why it's "kind of pointless to use Debian anyway". Perhaps it's not the ideal choice for a desktop, but as a server it's a very competent distribution.

[Beliar]

Well we have kind of a communication problem here I think ^^

That's pretty much what I said, if you had bothered to actually read my post.

you wrote:

Actually, the only difference between Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Server-edition is that the installer on each system differs.....all you need to do is install the server-related applications

And I was saying, that there are also different kernels, and that Ubuntu Desktop has a lot of things installed that dont belong on a system. I guess it would be difficult to find all that and remove it. Or maybe its just a matter of installing a meta package like ubuntu-server (does it exist like ubuntu-desktop). I dont know.. whatever..

why it's "kind of pointless to use Debian anyway".

Well I guess now you didnt bother to read my post.
Because I said that Debian has older but MORE STABLE and MORE TESTED packages. (what you repeated in your last post).
The statement "kind of pointless ..." was related to the usage of TESTING and UNSTABLE packages in Debian. I wanted to say that Debian is a good choice for servers because its main advantage is its stability, but you would loose that advantage if you'd install unstable branch.

Everything unclear now? ;)

greets, Beliar

[linux.spider]

even though i am very new to the Linux platform, there is nothing in the world that will convince me to run windoze again..The only thing good about windoze that i can tell is the ability to play games...but since I am a button-masher not a pc gamer..I am not going to cry about it...:lolflag:

[antharr]

Well I dual boot... but I havn't used windows in months. I have it there just incase.

Thats exactly what I do. I have to sync with my Motorola Q. If Ubuntu could do that.......I am Windows free.

[oneadvent]

I use windows exclusively on my laptop and on my home computer, but at work I am forced to use Windows.
(I am the IT Manager, and I made a run getting everything on linux, but I still haven't figured out how to install an ODBC driver for Informix.)
I have a Windows Mobile phone, and cannot sync it to Linux no matter what I try. I also use an Exchange server at work, and again cannot sync Evolution to it.

So what I do is this: I RDP to Windows at work when I have to. Otherwise, I don't.

[The Pinny Parlour]

If there are ways to do the following things just as quickly and nicely on Ubuntu, let me know.

Now that that is out of the way. What's preventing me from going full time Ubuntu?

1. A decent Web designer. NVU just doesn't cut it, (no behaviors support)
2. Bittorrent. I use uTorrent in Windows.
3. Networking. Samba is very un-user friendly and just plain doesn't work sometimes.
4. Printer support and implementation.
5. Opening .pub files

[Beliar]

@Pinny Parlour:

ad 2: I like deluge: http://deluge-torrent.org/
ad 4: Well I heard that will be improved in Gutsy Gibbon. It includes also a new Printer config GUI

[Grellin]

Dual booting while primarily using XP. Ubuntu is a nice enough OS but I still find doing common things like playing videos, games, and general maintenance more trouble than they are worth. As much as I have heard people complain about Windows, I have never had to spend 3 days trying to convince my XP box to properly use 3d acceleration. Also, the look and feel of the machine carries a lot of weight. Sure I can tolerate rough interfaces, terrible fonts, and generally ugly web browsing, but why should I?

[Gustavo Sobral]

A few months ago I decided to use Ubuntu as my work platform, but kept Win XP just for gammin' and kids and wife's MSN messaging. Also, I couldn't mak my M$ Lifecam to work on Linux and they use it too much for chatting with my sister who lives abroad.

Well, I hope Ea and other game studios port their products to Linux, so I can quit using it.

Regards,

Gustavo

[rzrgenesys187]

Two things for me

Gracenote CDDB in iTunes to name music (i've tried xmcd but have no idea how to rip using it??)
TI-Connect software for my calculator

other than that windows is pretty much useless

[multifaceted]

I only have to boot Windows to add or write to my iTunes Library and then of course, synch it to my iPod. Other than that, at home I use Ubuntu practically all of the time, for everything. It works!

[tiger74]

For playing windows games on linux you can use http://www.cedega.com/

[bam1234567]

49% ubuntu / 51% Mac OS / -1% Windows / 1% BSD

[Chilongola]

I have been 100% ubuntu at home. Only a matter of time before I stay back a weekend and load Ubuntu on my pc at work. However, I have a question which is better Ktorrent or Deluge? I loved my windows music players with lots of features... Not much to go with in Ubuntu or I may not be looking in the right place. Also tried to make a bootable unattended cd for my daughters pc with windows xp on it but could not create it in ubuntu... Any tips? By the way still trying to convince her to cross over. And not satisfied with Wine nor Crossover.
Cheers!:guitar:

[Gustavo Sobral]

For playing windows games on linux you can use http://www.cedega.com/

I wouldn't pay a subscription like that for playing games, since I have a OEM Windows license. Anyway, thanks for the info.

Rgds,

Gustavo

[seng1978]

what keeps me from quitting windows is:


i have businesses running DVR Centers. On windows i can use two methods to check
on my cameras in the store.
First is using the provided software. Installed on windows i can access my stores camera
and see 8 or 16 cameras on one screen. Double klicking one camera gives me the enlargement.
Second is via IE(ya again Active X Control, man). IE shows me then all 8 or 16 cameras as I wish.

But no way with linux huh?
I asked the DVR Guy who provied the cameras along with the software whether they got
anything for linux, at least for the client side.

No chance
:(

[zetsumei]

The best website editior is VI, EMACS, any TEXT editior. Stop being lazy and actually code your sites instead of dragging options around a pretty program. WYSIWYG's are close to the most annoying, if not the most annoying thing on any computer.

[Krank]

Dualbooting, for now. I prefer Ubuntu for many reasons, but some things just don't work. I still haven't gotten my webcam to work, for instance. And then there's software.

* Photoshop. No, for the last time, Gimp isn't good enough. It lacks a lot of tools. Sure, I can reach the same result in Gimp, but before Gimp gets a decent interface and a better selection of selection tools (PS CS3 has a few I just can't live without anymore), not to mention the ability to proprtly import vectorized brushes from Photoshop, it just doesn't cut it. It may be free, but it just isn't good enough.

* InDesign. No, Scribus doesn't work. At all. Mostly because of its horrible way to handfle tables. Same thing here - can achieve the same result, but it takes a lot more time.

* Myst Online: Uru Live. This is the real kicker. Photoshop and InDesign I can run through VirtualBox (which means I'm not strictly abandoning windows, but whatever), but this one? Not a chance. Wine hates it, Cedega won't run it, and no VM solution has thus far proven to have good enough DX3D/OpenGL-support. And I really like Uru Live.

* Foobar2000. There just isn't anything like it. Quod comes close, but no cigar. Not simple nor customizable enough. Lucklily, Wine can run foobar2000. Not good, but acceptable.

I've found replacements for most of my other stuff. I still prefer Miranda over Gaim/Pidgin, but I'll manage. City of Heroes and Guild Wars work just fine in Cedega, as does WoW (which I only play on a private server). Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice I already use in Windows. Xlink KAI has excellent Linux support.

All in all, I'm getting there. But I really hope Adobe will make Linux products some day...

[BigD77]

I dual boot with both XP and Ubuntu Feisty Fawn 7.04.

I like Linux, but I won't quit Windows for these reasons:

Software; I use Adobe Audition for audio editing and nothing I have seen on the Linux side comes close to what I want or need. The same with Photoshop.

My wireless just isn't working on my lappy. I have aa HP/Compaq nx6325 with a Broadcom 4311 wireless card. I have posted on this in another forum, but no replies. The wireless card lights up, sees the networks, but doesn't connect. Why? I can connect easily with the same networks using XP. I even went to a mall with free wireless and still no connect.](*,)

[d_iane1954]

if you are using wine to run programs that are windows oriented have you truely switched over solely to linux?

[Dylnuge]

VMWare/Wine for me. Windows blew up in my face-Linux saved the files, but I don;t trust NTFS anymore, so Ext3 running a fake NTFS is fine.

[Dylnuge]

if you are using wine to run programs that are windows oriented have you truely switched over solely to linux?

Yes. If you need prop software, using wine is fine. You still are using Linux.

[egotistical]

Been playing with Ubuntu for about a year now. Installed it 100% last month on my newest box and I have been using it ever since.


I

[isecore]

The best website editior is VI, EMACS, any TEXT editior. Stop being lazy and actually code your sites instead of dragging options around a pretty program. WYSIWYG's are close to the most annoying, if not the most annoying thing on any computer.

http://www.userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/07jul/uf010526.gif

[misfitpierce]

100% here baby woooo :) Been that way for a looooong time too.

[panda726]

Two things for me

Gracenote CDDB in iTunes to name music (i've tried xmcd but have no idea how to rip using it??)
TI-Connect software for my calculator

other than that windows is pretty much useless

Try going to adept manager, or synaptic if you are using gnome. Get the package TILP. I have gotten mine to work when I run the program as root, but it is possible to get it to work as usr with a bit more work.

[-Outcast-]

A good photoshop equivalent for ubuntu, sorry gimp is not a patch on photoshop for pro photo editing work, the same with video editing. This is what prevents me.

I want firefox to work well, on windows it does, but on ubuntu it rarely plays videos no matter how many plugins I install. Having said that I also have to install flash, and java separately. To a layman windows does all this for you or rather its good to go. Yes it is true windows needs updates too, lots of them, but at least it is easy.

Windows boots faster, and comes out of hibernation faster and easier.

At the end of the most people would switch to linux / ubuntu if there was not so much techno talk. If I want to install a program I want to double click it and make it work, synaptic is good but needs better GUI for neebies or non pc literates to use.

I do not want to know about RPM's .Deb's or anything else. Much like a General Practitioner knows what the heart does and how to keep it good, but has no interest in open heart surgery.

Keep it simple, keep the techno talk away from average users. Things like Dapper Drake and Fiesty scare the hell out of average users. 7.04 is better, but really folks the .04 gives the average user a fear that it is not finished.

Having said all that, Linux / Ubuntu offers so much more depending on you requirements.

It's safe and secure

Virus free nearly

Robust

looks good

Works well.

Ubuntu has pushed linux into the mainstream much like Suse and red hat several years ago, but they dropped the ball with the GUI, Ubuntu has it. A few more big tweaks and good software and for sure it will take over my pc

[maybeway36]

I use nano, not vi.

[Chilongola]

So, how does one know when a virus is on board in Ubuntu? How does the computer behave. Do u get a pop notice?

[Mirtma]

1. Can't install my printer, which is connected to router
2. Can't install scanner (Canoscan 4400F)
3. Working with Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign) - I don't mind learning new programs, but...

[avryhof]

The only reason I keep Windows around is for the very few places where absolute compatibility is a must.... and Second Life.

For the most part, I just let the Windows box sit on the other end of the KVM and do most of my tasks on the Kubuntu box.

I've managed to get most of Macromedia Suite 8 (Just not Contribute) running under the latest builds of WINE (Not even Crossover) - See http://luiscosio.com/how-to-dreamweaver-and-flash-8-running-on-ubuntu-dapper

Photoshop 6 runs nicely, and the only thing I really miss is nesting layer groups.

For the most part, if I want to see it how it looks in Word, Word Viewer will suffice, but I generally use ODF for anything I create and convert to DOC/ PDF/HTML on an as-needed basis since ODF doesn't tie me to one platform.

I use a combination of Google services, T-Bird and Firefox for E-Mail, scheduling, etc... so that's all platform agnostic as well.

I'm almost there with Second Life... I can get it to start, and login, but the screen just doesn't refresh fast enough (even with Beryl turned off). I assume more system memory and a better video card will solve this to some extent since I'm running an old 32Mb GeForce 2 MX and 768Mb of memory.

I'm still looking for a better IDE for my php coding. I tried a few... Eclipse is nice, and Quanta is great for most web work. Dreamweaver is almost there... for some things, but I like code hinting because I'm constantly forgetting what order arguments go in, or losing track of brackets. (I would love to use Zend Studio, but it's waaaay too expensive)

I have a feeling I'll be 100% Ubuntu by the time KDE4 comes out either way, since I'm getting used to coding PHP without any code hinting.... perhaps the php IDE for Eclipse will get better too.... that would be great since I like Eclipse and want to find a use for it, but it's always overkill for the simple tasks I try to do with it.

[dondad]

After this Ubuntu Breezy Distro, most of my linux quams have been satisfied. It just works. Hibernation, Wireless Network Switching, Read NTFS, Application Maintenance, the list goes on.

But there are two things keeping me from booting to ubuntu every time.

1. No decent calendaring that works with my Pocket PC PDA (I realize it's windows, it is what the boss ordered) I have searched and searched, seen some things about multisync and evolution. I don't want to have to do all that. I want to put my PDA in the cradle and sync contact, calendar, files, and emails automatically. If anyone knows of such a program, please post and let me know! (That is why I am posting)

2. No decent website managing software. I currently use Frontpage 2003 (I can hear the boo's), but, it works. WYSIWIG works, resize images in wysiwig AND optimize. Drag and Drop, move local files to remote seemlessly. I have tried NVU, and thought this was my answer, but it is still to rough. I would PAY for a decent website managing software if it was available (also would pay for calendaring solution as well), some kind of dreamweaver port or something. I know I can use fp 2000 with wine, but, I hate 2000. Alot of the features I like about FP are in 2003 only.

If anyone has any suggestions, please post. What are the true "converts" using? I am using Thunderbird for email (IMAP), tried the calendar extension, but still buggy and my mail server is still implementing iCal (MerakMailServer.com)

Thanks,
For web pages, I use a text editor. (I know, masochist ;-))

[thinsoldier]

hhmmm.....

dvd drive won't open when in ubuntu
dvd drive won't mound the cd or dvd in the drive
ntfs drives don't mount if windows crashed last time I used it (EVERY TIME D'UH)
usb/fire-wire drives don't mount if windows crashed last time I used it
it's 100000 times easier to get write access to the folder where I need to put html files for them to show up on http://localhost/
I can find my DNS servers but I can't find my IP address
I can't change the file browser display to Thumbnail while I'm looking for a different wallpaper!

Since I'm dual booting I should be able to synchronize settings between open source apps that I use in both Ubuntu and Windows.
Examples:
firefox passwords and bookmarks
Unreal Tournament Installed Files
Start torrents in windows and finish them in Ubuntu
Now I know this isn't really any of Ubuntu's business but it would be nice of some people in the community came up with some scripts that could simplify the process for doing similar stuff.

I have no idea what I will need to do when someday I've installed so many applications that I've run out of space on my Ubuntu Drive.
I have multiple 100 to 500 gig drives and I can install apps to any folder on any drive I wish. Not so in Ubuntu it seems.

I NEED the ability to set ubuntu to not ask me for a password after start up but to just log in automatically and play a particular song after the desktop loads ( I set my bios alarm and use my computer to wake up to my favorite music)
Alternatively if I could somehow just program ubuntu to mute all audio between midnight and 6 am (although it's unlikely that ubuntu will randomly throw up error prompts with loud sound effects all through the night) and then turn the audio on in time for some scripted music player to start playing.

Ability to make a shortcut that always launches a program with admin rights so a non admin user can have that on their desktop to edit an important text file when they call me on the phone for help. Or so I can save html files to my web root without having to rememer that I need to open a console and sudo open a text editor just so I can actually save things in there.

My wacom isn't working.
I can't print. I tried installing the printer driver. No response.

I can't get the Houdini 9.0 demo to install.
I can't get the Linux version of maya to install.
( I don't have the time to learn Blender and even if I did I tried learning it a few months back and it just didn't agree with me )

But mainly I just don't feel like I can "trust" Ubuntu to read/write to my NTFS partitions for some reason. And I hate not being able to access my many drives just because windows crashed. WINDOWS ALWAYS CRASHES. You know this. Work around that reliable fact.

Is there any user friendly, cross platform, open source, image browsing + cataloging + keyword tagging software? I've been using ACDSEE for years but it's latest versions aren't all that streamlined or user friendly for my purposes and I KNOW that someday I'll be switching to Mac/Linux only and it would be a waste to go to all that troubling tagging thousands of photos just to have no access to ACDSee's database from a different OS

[jrharvey]

For me it is the lack of GOOD architecture programs. I still boot ubuntu about 70% of the time but when it comes down to it i need windows for my classes. Wine is a VERY good program but still has alot of bugs. I need to run illustrator and photoshop, sketch-up, vectorworks, Artlantis R and Rhino. None of these run very good in wine. Buttons are missing screens go black and adobe suite wont even install. When wine can support these I will be 100% Ubuntu and this will be a great day.

[mjrclark]

hhmmm.....

I NEED the ability to set ubuntu to not ask me for a password after start up but to just log in automatically and play a particular song after the desktop loads ( I set my bios alarm and use my computer to wake up to my favorite music)


This can be done- passwordless automatic login is under system->administration->login window->security.
Running a program automatically at start up is in system->preferences->sessions

I would use mpg123 for this, after installing it (package name mpg123) add under that sessions dialogue "mpg123 ~/Music/* -Z" where ~/Music/ is the path to your favorite music , -Z tells mpg123 to shuffle, there are a load of other options for it too.

Oh and the admin rights shortcut thing, if they have sudo rights just preface "gedit filename" with gksudo eg "gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list" in a launcher shortcut (the default type of shortcut)

Finally the "install anywhere" issue- this is definately possible, but it gets messy. For this reason apt does not do it, you have to do a manual installation and hope your system has all dependencies already. This is process you will carry out if you download a .tar.gz or similar file- this is what you will do if you download Firefox straight from Mozilla at http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

[dn_desaku]

A lot of people don't like Linux and that's why Tux is sad. :( I dual boot Windows Vista and Ubuntu (with WINE) and Ubuntu is not compatible with much of the hardware I have.



http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/dn_desaku/tux.jpg

[celticbhoy]

I think the hardware support first, and then the choice of software is what keeps people from giving up windows for good. Unless you build a rig to suit linux you have a lot of work to get it all going.

[RebounD11]

School... but in a few years I'll be free .. I hope :D

I would like to add that I use Windows with Parallels not VMware, and I'm trying to make it work on Qemu or VirtualBox.

[isecore]

School... but in a few years I'll be free .. I hope :D

I would like to add that I use Windows with Parallels not VMware, and I'm trying to make it work on Qemu or VirtualBox.

Windows runs fine for me in a VirtualBox-machine. It runs actually faster in VirtualBox than in VMware (haven't tried Parallells though so I can't say anything about it). What's the problem, if any?

(not that I'm some kind of VirtualBox-guru, just trying to pull my part of the load)

[fatray]

Read my Sig

[rahimveron]

My Lexmark X1185 AOI prints but does not scan at all.
To scan i have to boot into Gates and Windows :(

[FriedChips]

Well, I run Fedora, Ubuntu, and XP. Mainly I use fedora but I keep up on the *buntu side of things too. Direct3D is what keeps me in windows. Seems that most of my OpenGL games will run pretty well in wine, but direct3d is still behind.

In my opinion, OpenGL would be prefectly suitable for all games and I don't see the need for this Direct3D garbage.... Look at a game like Doom3 and Quake4 and tell me that you can't get the same amazing graphics out of OpenGL. I am very excited that OpenGL is supposed to have a new version coming, and hope that will change some things. Even if game developers don't start providing native installers for linux. OpenGL games are much more easily ported than Direct3D. ( Correct me if I am misinformed. )

Fried

[be_free]

I'm a Windows admin and I'm impressed by Ubuntu, and it is the first Linux distro that I've kept more than a week (going on several months now). I've tried Linux several times before going back 10 years, but it's simply been too difficult to get to do simple stuff.

Same now, one appearant drawback is I move around a lot and I haven't found an app that can automatically detect and hop on pre-configured wireless networks. And I'd had to lower the security on my wireless b/c I can't figure out how to configure it wit h WPA2/AES.

I struggled a long time with my graphics driver for my Thinkpad Z61p, and T42, and it took me several weeks to figure out, attempting variations of the same (to me) instuction from different sources.

And it wasn't entirely trivial just to get Flash, and Java plugins to install. Of course I can't watch videos on my home country's news websites b/c they only accept WMP and QT (minor issue, but a bit annoying)

My other complaint is that I don't always know what I'm doing. There are different ways to unpack and install apps, and I find myself trusting the community a lot, because they can give me any sort of cryptic command to run to install something, and I really don't have a clue. Of this reason, I'm not keeping anything important on the computer for now since I don' feel that "I own" it.

I would have to say, that I'd never been able to accept Ubuntu if I hadn't already been a geek, and this is probably the most user friendly distro there is (that I've come across). But I can't see ANY of my 60 somewhat Windows users @ work even attempt to run Ubuntu. Family members not a chance. Girlfriend, maybe with me supporting her 24/7 for 3 months. Other friends, highly doubtful.

I'm yet to find a PPTP client that will launch after I install it. Google earth is installed two times but not running, and I have no idea how to get rid of it. And so on, and so forth.

But you know what, I like and trust the Ubuntu community, and I will stick it out. In a year or two hopefully I'm savvy enough to install a server and Edubuntu on the computers that we donate every other year, so I can volunteer to install it to a school and teach the kids. Windo$e does pay my bills, but philosophically, from a cost point of view, and the sheer monopoly and abuse of power aspect of Microsoft disgust me to the core -- so I'm finally on my Linux path now, and I'm sticking to it.

[Skorzen]

After selling my Creative sound card (actually unsupported by Ubuntu), I've done a total format on my PC and now I just have Feisty on it and I'm totally satisfied. As I'm not a gamer, it completes all my day-by-day requests in the best way... and it's free!

[Chilongola]

I have now been on Ubuntu for perhaps 3 or 4 months. Have had NO problem with regular devices. Just the spell I was fighting with internal modem for faxing. Now that I have a new external modem all is "hunky dory" - local term meaning all is well.

[JustDon]

I do my job on a company website that utilizes ActiveX scripting alot and since I cannot process that with Linux I have no choice other than to run VMWare and with Windows on it.

[HokeyFry]

i killed vista trying to dual boot on my laptop.
i wasnt terribly disappointed, but then my video driver (ATI Mobility X1400) didnt work.
i tried to get vista to work again but that wasnt happening, so i destroyed the partition,
downloaded the video driver from ati.com, got it to work (using my wii to read a guide), and now i have a beautiful laptop with Compiz, media support, dvd support, and GAMING (Cedega). So i am set and i think I can say "Kiss my [butt]" to Microsoft, and im perfectly happy.

although i would be happier if i could find a program for guitar tabbing. and also a linux equivalent of OneNote. But otherwise im set

[mivo]

I switched 100% to Kubuntu a little while ago after having wanted to do this for several years. Problems were usually that some hardware pieces caused trouble, I was addicted to an MMO ;), or because my employer's Windows program did not fully work in Wine. When all of these had been fixed, I was free to drop Windows -- after fifteen years. (I used to have an old box running FreeBSD that acted as a firewall and file server.) No regrets so far, quite the opposite! Better performance, higher productivity, and an exciting amount of new things to learn!

[Armadillo Kilr]

i used to dual boot xp and ubuntu 7.04. but i decided for once to sole-boot ubuntu ultimate ed. 1.4 i'm seriosuly thinking of reinstalling windows (i dont know how to dual boot with ubuntu as main desktop and windows as secondary just yet but i know how vice versa) so that i can run the damn zune program and play some games (virtual box is giving me too many problems to care anymore):guitar:

[stijngysemans]

I actually am already running Ubuntu fulltime for more than a year now on both my desktop and laptop. It's great for my daily tasks like chatting, surfing the web, listening to music and organizing my photos.

However, there is still a pressure to switch back to Windows, partly because of the limited profesoinal applications. As a semiprofesional webdesigner, I want to rapid develop my websites using Fireworks or Flash. I'm dissapointed that Adobe isn't releasing those kind of products on the Linux platform.

To video chat with my erasmus friends, I still need to use Windows Live Messenger (Kopete does not fullfill my needs, neither does aMsn).

As an (amateur) music artist, I still use Windows on another Pc for Propellerhead Reason, which is still the best All-In softh synth solutions (in spite of the effort of projects such as ubuntustudio).

I think if you want to get things done, I still prefer the applications that are available for the Windows platform (I do not like the OS itself, I just have to use it!)

Each time, I still try to convice myself that Ubuntu is the right way to go (no cracked applications, the right ideology and a superb OS), but I catch myself thinking about using Windows again. :(

[James7]

I have used Ubuntu exclusively for nearly a month and would not be able to go back to Windows, even on a dual boot or VM. It's just that, while Windows does a couple of things I liked that can't (yet) do in Ubuntu, Ubuntu does so many more things I value that Windows can't. I use a couple of Windows programs on wine, but they work fine there and that was all I really felt I had to take with me from the Windows world.

I am now in the process of shifting the family desktop to Ubuntu and once that is done then the house will be 100% Linux.

As for any small shortcomings Linux has at the moment, I just think how far it's come and how fast it is going. And how slow Windows has moved over the years. Vista will be their main system for maybe half a decade, judging on past performance. Whatever shortcomings Linux currently has will disappear much sooner than Windows can improve itself. Linux really is the future.:)

[Lux9698]

I'm working with Ubuntu quite a while,

but there is still some really important stuff missing.

- GAMES: The Computer industry runs on games. I'm so frustrated that WinHQ, every other
Update just doesn't do the trick.
- Printing: Nice thought, but still to many problem.

I LOVE the Ubuntu project from the bottom of my heart. And as soon this problem are fixed. I'll go ahead and even register my company.


Sincerely

Juergen

[glosman15]

100% Ubuntu, and staying that way, unless I start to like a different distribution more. Windows and Mac are permanently finished, both are so horribly bloated and full DRM at this point that I just can't stand using them anymore.

[elkanguro]

Unfortunately I have to use IE with JAVA and can't make it works on Ubuntu. That is why I have to have Microsoft's OS too:/

[montres]

I boot into windows about twice a month, on average. The main reason is that I have to use ms visio. I intend to try and run visio under ubuntu with wine. If that works, then I guess I won't use windows again. (or at least for a very long time!)

[zach12]

I dual boot Windows
right now for ft2003 and itunes
but i buying more RAM and will run XP in vbox then will be 100% UBUNTU:)
lol

[rusyear04]

for me the LIN/ubuntu - concept is perfect... i think it has the power to become a "killer-application".
i mean feisty fawn was a major step forward. WIFI without troubles. smooth&fast install (although you need to know a bit about partitioning -last one was better)
etc.

BUT!
...still a lot of things don't work really smooth. biggest things for me:
1) monitor resolutions with external / dual screen for notebooks... giving me hell!
2) lack of software -in some fields. in general: adobe software
3) open office did improve. but still it does have a "cheap" look and feel and you can forget spreadsheet...
4) compatibility with them damned M$-office documents. i know that this is not a LIN fault. but it is a big flaw. its hard to get a M$office doc, open, edit & save it on LIN and it HAS TO HAVE same layout in M$ again... suckxx! big time.
5) GUI look & feel did improve really big!!! but a little twisty edge would be necessary to get that "standard windows user" to take a second look.
6) simpleness. already quite far as for install of additional progs / repositories. but here MAC is leading with its: just-one-solution-for-your-problem.
you don't want to spend time twisting? then ubuntu (as well as windows) are not ripe yet.

just a word about me:
i prefer ubuntu about windows -and i'm a recent switcher (1 year or less). i really dislike win in the meantime.
but i will most likely buy a mac because i don't want to spend time with tuning & twaeking. i want a solution that works. simply ;)

best regards!!

and great thanks to the developers & all helpers in this forum!!
ubuntu is great!

[CulleyS]

I have three dual-boot machines now running Feisty and XP. Two at home, one at work.

Why I stay with Windows:

1. Lack of Dual Monitor support. I have dual monitor working in Feisty, but it works better in Windows. I purchased a new gfx card - Geforce 8600GT - to replace my ATI X800 XL. With the ATI, I tried AIGLX, FGLRX, and finally went with the ATI proprietary drivers to get dual monitor to work. Only problem is, ATI doesn't support resolutions higher than 1280x800. One monitor is 20" runs at 1600x1200, the other is a 42" Plasma TV, runs best at 1900x1080. When I get the new gfx card, I may switch over to Ubu as my primary OS. That is the last thing I need from it. :)

2. Well, maybe not the last. The other thing that keeps me with XP is Directory Opus. Maybe some folks here use it? Maybe not. I simply have not found an All-in-One ssh/file manager/image viewer/ftp/sftp/terminal/drive mapping client that looks and works like Directory Opus for a Linux environment. Tried Nautilus, Konqueror, and GNOME Commander, but none are even close to what I get from Directory Opus. As I manage web and email servers that run Linux and Windows software, Directory Opus is one reason that still keeps me booting into a Windows OS from time-to-time.

I may never switch completely for professional tasks, but am hoping to switch completely as a personal user very soon.

[wangjiaji]

Drivers!

[EmmyCee]

As I posted in another thread of this type, the thing that keeps me tethered to Windows XP is the markup functionality of MSWord. My editor sends me revisions done in MSWord, and I have yet to be able to see the comments left. I can see some of the markup, but I can't see the comments. Unfortunately, that's a deal breaker for me. I have to be able to see what my editor has to say.

If I can find a way to fix this, even by buying Crossover Office, I'll fix my online games to work in Linux and give up Windows. Until I can see those comments, though, I have to keep dual booting. Which I hate. Because you know...after my master boot record fiasco, I really never want to see Windows again.

[Irihapeti]

As I posted in another thread of this type, the thing that keeps me tethered to Windows XP is the markup functionality of MSWord. My editor sends me revisions done in MSWord, and I have yet to be able to see the comments left. I can see some of the markup, but I can't see the comments. Unfortunately, that's a deal breaker for me. I have to be able to see what my editor has to say.

If I can find a way to fix this, even by buying Crossover Office, I'll fix my online games to work in Linux and give up Windows. Until I can see those comments, though, I have to keep dual booting. Which I hate. Because you know...after my master boot record fiasco, I really never want to see Windows again.

I recently did an editing job for a friend of my son. Before I started I tested out the comments function. At the time I had a copy of Word 2000 that I use for this purpose (dual boot). I could see in Open Office comments I'd made in Word, and vice versa. I'm using the 'official' version of Open Office, not the one from the repositories. Could that be making a difference, I wonder.

Irihapeti

[ShadowVlican]

only mentioned two times in this whole thread, but another reason for Windows is Monitor Colour Calibration and Management, a must have for photo/graphic editors

u'd be surprised by how much colour can vary from monitor to monitor, printer, paper, etc....

though this is not important for the regular joe checking his email, surfing the web, listening to music, and even watching anime or movies...


(did a search in ubuntu forums but didn't find anything of particular use regarding colour management and calibration... no biggie since i have WinXP on another machine for that type of work)

[AndyCooll]

I originally posted in this thread a couple of years ago!

I'm now happy to report that there is nothing keeping me from quitting Windows, indeed I've been 100% Ubuntu for the last year or so.

The last reason had been my Football Manager game, however I eventually got that to work under Wine. It has meant my WMware image has been gathering dust ...until a couple of weeks ago when I accidentally deleted it during one of my purges! Oh well, I wasn't using it anyway. If I ever have to use XP I guess I'll just have to create another image when the time comes.

:cool:

[pixeltarian]

ProTools...

is it possible to run protools and plugins for it under linux?

[measekite]

Poor Hardware Support from Hardware Mfg.
No solid replacement for Quicken
Gimp printing cannot match Photoshop
Good choice of free backup software with point in time restore
No support by Camera mfg.l
Poor support by ISP for Linux - they do it begrudgingly depending on who you talk to.

[measekite]

I think the hardware support first, and then the choice of software is what keeps people from giving up windows for good. Unless you build a rig to suit linux you have a lot of work to get it all going.

And once you get is going well it is time to upgrade and maybe start all over again.

[Elderlygent]

One thing is that I have an expensive printer/scanner/fax by Canon that isn't supported in Ubuntu. And I'm not about to junk it just for a linux distro.

The biggest snag, though, is that I don't know the "insides" of Feisty. E.G. the forums are full of terminal stuff that is meaningless unless you know what you are doing already. Maybe I should buy a book, or take a course. I was quite a dab with DOS before Windows. But I really haven't the time and probably not the patience. Maybe I'll try Fedora which seems to work well for a nonitechie friend of mine.

[Starcraftmazter]

I have windows for gaming and gaming only. Everything else I do in Ubuntu :D

[Rob500]

I have Windows running in VirtualBox, works a treat :)

[abhilash82]

I am using windows only for some applications.. Default boot is Ubuntu

[screaminj3sus]

WHY DO GAMES HAVE TO BE SO DAMN FUN, or I would totally be 100% ubuntu.

[Pauly Psychotic]

Really? I have found that Ubuntu is faster at everything compared to windows. I guess maybe it depends more on what software and desktop environment you like to use.

All my programs that I have installed on both windows and Linux run faster on Linux. Ex. OpenOffice, Firefox, Acrobat Reader..For me Linux blows Windows right out of the water in speed.

The *only* reason I still run Windows is for games and for a few programs that there are no Linux version of (fancy electronics software for school). Linux is lacking in the professional software department. No AutoCAD, Protel, SolidWorks, etc.

I am dual booting WindowsXP And Ubuntu Feisty Fawn I rarely use my WindowsXP anymore considering Linux is free. Also i find that Linux also runs everything faster and I can run more programs simultaneously at the same time more on Linux than I can with WindowsXP especially considering I have AVG always scanning in the background whereas Linux I have nothing scanning constantly :)

[merado]

What is Keeping me from quitting Windows/Mac OS X?

*Drivers (Scanner, Wireless, Tablet, Graphic, Dual Monitor...)
*Photoshop
*EAC
*MS Office/iWork
*Quicksilver (I tried Katapult and was disappointed, don't know other alternatives)
*the "it simply works" approach of OS X
*Dragon Naturally Speaking

BTW my heavily customized XP (500 MB installation) as well as the standard OS X are definitely booting way faster than Ubuntu (20-35 sec compared to more than a minute).

[weird_c00kie]

dual-booting for me and looks like it'll continue to be that way.

ubuntu doesn't like my printer very much. in dapper i couldn't print at all and in feisty it produces various minor artefacts on the page. other than that, i use windows to update my ipod since i like to keep my song ratings and all the ubuntu ipod-dealing alternatives stupidly allow scores from 1-100 which screws up apple's equally stupid 5-star system. also, windows has my new-found love; Orbit Downloader. priceless tool for hassle-free 'tube site downloads
AND FINALLY, i sitll have windows because i think all the dvd-burning software in linux sucks and blows in comparison to their windows counterparts. dvd-rip takes a billion years to rip 1 dvd. 1-click-dvd-copy does it in 10-15 minutes

i use ubuntu for basic document-authoring and web-browsing activities (which is most of my usage) and to discourage myself from playing games, since most of the games i used to play don't run in ubuntu. so, in a way, it's my savior and my curse :)

[flaugher]

I do sound and video for our church, and we would LIKE to switch to Ubuntu but for our presentation software. Several forums have asked the makers of Easyworship and Songshow Plus to do Linux versions but it's a slow go. OpenSong is out there, and if it gets better you'll see more switch because small churches like FREE. OpenOffice is already becoming a big hit, but we need the presentation software to integrate Power Point and Open Office Presentation with songs, motion video, and other features. Basically people like me like to BUILD a presentation in one window, PREVIEW it in another, and have a third for what's up on the screens.

[ikey_d]

My desktop is 100% Ubuntu; no ifs, buts, ands or maybes...on there I do 3D(Blender), Web Development (DW with Wine & BlueFish), Images (GIMP, Inkscape), Music, Movies, DVDs, Docs, Presentations, everything!!!

On my laptop I dual boot XP and Ubuntu...ONLY because I'm an Engineering student and I use Visual Studio 6 to program... therefore XP is on a 6GB partition:) since that's all I use it for...

VIVA Ubuntu!!:guitar:

[Rob500]

On my laptop Kubuntu is the main OS and it does pretty much what I want it to. I have XP Home in VirtualBox which I only use for Microsoft Access and digital camera software, although GIMP is even better than the camera software and OpenOffice 2.3 will hopefully fully support Access Databases. I do a bit of VB6 programming as well, so Visual Studio is also on there.

So until there are solutions: my virtual machine (http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/2007dmc122007/snapshot4-1.jpg) (note the start button) :)

[DDuong]

I voted dual boot with Windows. The only reason that is keeping me from completely wiping out Windows is games.

If I can play all the games (including future games) on linux without any issues, I will convert.

BUT, my laptop is 100% ubuntu.

[voided3]

I both dual boot Ubuntu/XP and have an XP and Vista VM. I dual boot just for games and the XP VM is so I can use iTunes to stream radio (I know I can do this from websites like live365, but hey I have an XP disk and 2.5GB of RAM so why not?) on Ubuntu and Vista is just for kicks; I want to test out service pack 1 when it comes out to see if it is an improvement and decide whether to dual boot that instead of XP (not looking like that'll happen as of now, but who knows). Once I get a 64 bit system though I think I might convert to just 64-bit Ubuntu and get Cedega.

[Phearicle]

Linux all the way FTW! Windo$E will fall under the hammer of the penguins swing.....but it will take a while to forge a hammer in the artic :-\:lolflag:

[Toffeeapple]

I dule boot so I can play eveonline and guild wars from time to time.. I could use wine but its not as good as actually running in XP.

[cyberfin]

My desktop has swithced to Ubuntu because it does what it says: it just works. Apart from the few games and twitchy (sometimes old) windoze apps that won't run on wine or cedega (and never will), everything is turning me to format my xp partition. The day is closer and closer.

Eventually when hardware producers take serious notice of the open source community (which some slowly are already doing) and focus on not getting sued like M$ for monopolitarian practices... it's bye bye windows-whateverversionisout.

[gaupe]

just installed ubuntu feisty and FINALLY can say YES.!!!! i want to keep linux as my main
OS and get rid of windows.

Still.... What wil as i allready see now keep me from quitting windows.

There are aplications i want to run for which are NO alternatives in linux.

i want to use my softphone from my voip provider (telio.no) the only software i was able to get working til now is their own softphone program. guess what? only under windows.

I want to have a car navigation system on my laptop which i can get easily maps for as well as street maps as topographic maps for all over europe. and wich i can use allso on a handheld gos device so i dont have to buy maps two times.

i am gonna use nroute from garmin not available for linux.

The software that comes with my handheld gps device is for windows only.

The software that comes with my phone is for windows only. (not so very important actually....)

I like google earth. the google earth thats now for linux is not working speedy on my graphics card in my laptop (ati mobility 9600) its dead dead slow unworkable who knows that will solv soon i hope.


I WOuld love!!! to use linux only

ow yeah i play occasionally NeedForSPeed the only car sim prog i really like i have played all the versions from the 1st to the last. not available for linux.

[Druke]

100% linux here, and with EVE-online, ET:WQ, and UT 3 all coming to linux within the next month or two, I don't think I'll ever look back.

[fbmx24]

Once a Linux version of WOW comes out I can switch completly. Or atleast a version of Vent for Linux.

[fualad]

its been great being back on nix, havent since mandrake was cool.

the only things holding me back from going full on nix on my shop floor (aerospace manufac) is the lack of support in CAD/CAM/CMM. I found some decent CAD/CAM software, but its still lacking. CMM software theres nothing that i found, and even on the windows side the best ive found is PC-DMIS which is... agrevating to say the least. and the lack of gaming support keeps windows alive at home.

[dtwwtd]

I run Xubuntu full time on my laptop, but am currently using only windows on my desktop.
I wish that it was possible to move fully to Linux, but I am hoping to have a career in game programming/development. The problem here is obviously that in order to be able to do this, I need to know current windows and directX technologies.

[mikeize]

Dual on my laptop, for two reasons:

1- I have a gps unit that plugs in via usb, that I haven't figured out yet how to get to work with ubuntu (plus don't know if there's a good gps prog- i use iguidance)

2- Can't connect to wireless at school. Supposed to be possible, but haven't figured it out yet (can someone tell me how to clone my mac address from xp to ubuntu?)

Dual on home computer because:

1- games! though nexuiz is really addictive, there is nothing for linux like call of duty, medal of honor, or bioshock! if i hadn't just built a sweet new computer, it might not be a big deal, but otherwise it seems like a waste.

2- still weaning the wife off of itunes... it's hard because i've never really used itunes, so i don't know what exactly she's missing. otherwise we're using amarok, which has good potential as a replacement, i think.

Having said all this, I really like using ubuntu much better, and will be just as happy to absorb those xp partitions when my last few problems are solved.

-mike

[fear_nothing]

Checkpoint Firewall management tools..... I've begged and pleaded but my concerns fall on deaf ears. I have several laptops and desktops all but one run some flavor linux:guitar:

[drunken_sapo]

Dual on my laptop, for two reasons:

Dual on home computer because:

1- games! though nexuiz is really addictive, there is nothing for linux like call of duty, medal of honor, or bioshock! if i hadn't just built a sweet new computer, it might not be a big deal, but otherwise it seems like a waste.

Having said all this, I really like using ubuntu much better, and will be just as happy to absorb those xp partitions when my last few problems are solved.

-mike

I can happily say that I don't miss windows at all, except from games, just like you. However as I am getting old, I don't have the time to play too many games.
I've found two that you might check out. As you seem to like FPS, I'd suggest you to try Enemy Territory, it has good graphics (not the latest of the latest) and has a very interesting gameplay, I like it better than Call of Duty (2). If you like MMORPG, check out PlaneShift, it will test your new hardware.
Anyway, I'm proud to say that I've touched a windows box once every six months for the last 2 years.

[keforex]

Several reasons I can't give Vista Ultimate the boot yet:

1) Ubuntu doesn't support extended desktop (two monitors on different resolutions)

2) What in the hell is a terminal? Who needs a terminal? Just give me a self installing software and/or something like add/remove programs.

3) Getting to learn a whole new philosophy regarding how files are stored, how programs are installed and uninstalled, etc... Smple things like downloading and installing software are fairly more complicated in Ubuntu/Gnome than in Windows.

4) You need to be a geek to be able to install and change desktop themes. 300 million steps to acomplish this, forget it....

[drunken_sapo]

Several reasons I can't give Vista Ultimate the boot yet:

1) Ubuntu doesn't support extended desktop (two monitors on different resolutions)

2) What in the hell is a terminal? Who needs a terminal? Just give me a self installing software and/or something like add/remove programs.

3) Getting to learn a whole new philosophy regarding how files are stored, how programs are installed and uninstalled, etc... Smple things like downloading and installing software are fairly more complicated in Ubuntu/Gnome than in Windows.

4) You need to be a geek to be able to install and change desktop themes. 300 million steps to acomplish this, forget it....

Well, In the first place, why are you trying a new thing if you dont actually want to learn? For instance, I've never heard a mac user to complain about usability, yet if I you come from windows to mac you have to learn many things again. With Ubuntu is the same. There is not worst blind that a person that doesn't want to see.
Let me clarify some points for you, based on my experience with 'real persons' and not geeks.

1) I can agree with that, for me it was a problem some time.

2) You don't need a terminal, there are graphical interfaces. All programs in ubuntu are self installing. There is a program which actually reads "Add programs". In addition there is a more complete tool called synaptic or adept, depending on the flavor of Ubuntu you use. All these things have nice graphical interfaces.

3) You missed one point here, every program you want to install in windows, you have to go the the web, surf, download, and install. Ubuntu automates this for you. And in addition is clean, when you download something from the web, you actually dont know what it is doing with you PC. Actually, it fairly more simple than in windows. You search the name of the program in a box, look at the list of results and press install. They take care of downloading and installing all at once.

4) I can show you how to change it in 5 clicks.

Oh yes, one thing I can't show you is how to get a virus. I was never able to do it in Ubuntu. Can anyone teach me?

Best Regards.

[shijirou]

Games...

Well if I become a fully fledged console gamer, I might give up Windows altogether...

[#Reistlehr-]

The thing i miss most is..

1. Photoshop (GIMP dont cut it)
2. Sleep/Suspend
3. Games

[Stoneface]

I have a Pentium IV, 500 GB hard disk, 2GB memory, Packard Bell (NEC) Desktop with Windows XP Pro and Ubuntu Gutsy. I have been playing with it for some time now. The reason why I don't switch (yet) is because I can't get Wine to run Photoshop CS2 and Macromedia Dreamweaver, etc to run. Furthermore, my wife is allergic to change when computers are concerned... ;-)

[geeree]

I currently use Gutsy dual boot with WinXP. But with everything in my Dell Inspiron 640m perfectly supported in Ubuntu, I think I'll soon let go of Windows.

Girish.

[mahousaru]

Personally I took the recycle option....

As most PC gamers will experience, updating HW components to meet up with Windows games is kinda like a common thing. So I cycle all my older stuff back and use that as my Ubuntu sensible stuff. I still do have 2 XP boxes, one to play games on and one to run a proprietary CCTV solution (still looking for a Linux replacement there :p). For my day to day stuff such as communications and office apps I use my home lappy with Ubuntu. My work environment is catered for with Ubuntu and VMware Server and my roaming is a even cheaper laptop with Ubuntu fully encrypted (I rsync that as soon as I hit my home or work network).

The funny thing is even though I am kinda forced to spend money on stuff to feed Windows, all the handmedowns go towards Linux and most of the time they end up running a lot smoother :) I have resolutely decided that I will not go for Vista for my personal use. If for some reason XP becomes no longer viable, I'll just have to take one for the team when it comes to gaming. The CCTV I'm not so bothered about as I can easily isolate that off, but still allow it to send the images off to a remote source.

[suchawato]

Ranked in order of Use/importance:

iTunes with the iTunes website (for ipod use)

Photoshop (gimp doesn't cut it)

Illustrator

Google Sketchup

Publisher (an equivillant OpenOffice version would be fine)

Video to iPod conversion software

irfanview

Professional (as in proprietary, industry standard) 3D modeling software

Poser

easy, reliable video editing software

general video conversion software

Safari (it is the fastest, safest, most reliable browser out there, and I use it on Windows)

Google desktop Sidebar (coming soon to linux?)


Soundforge

[nowshining]

i chose "Ubuntu with VMWare Windows"

however using windows is just for the fun of it, nothing special at all like for example I'm trying to get my modem to work in it = i lost the cd and such the cd had other drive files on it to see it as usb, it's usb/serial and only have one serial and my IIIxe cradle uses that. However it's not that HUGE of a deal but i want to have fun with it - i plan on doing windows 98 first or 95osr2 maybe that one and leaving it unfirewalled to watch it get hacked LIVE..:P

[Zackariah]

I keep XP dualbooting with Ubuntu because of College work that is only compatable with Windows.
Other than that, Ubuntu all the way!

[UK-Wobbie]

Got to be more Ubuntu then Windows!

[Steve Fisher]

The only thing keeping me from dumping Windows altogether is TV-out. I need TV-out because I use this laptop to play films I've got stored on my file server. XP gives me a dual screen display via TV-out without any trouble at all. Ubuntu just... doesn't. It's not like I've got some esoteric hardware configuration either. It's a Dell Latitude D505. Intel chipset. Just about as "vanilla" as you can get. For some reason, TV-out seems to have overlooked in favour of fancy visual effects (which completely screw things up for me).

I'd love to be able to just fire-up Mplayer to watch a film. Instead I have to re-boot into XP. :(

[127.0.0.1]

i have ubuntu with dural boot windows, because my parents have all of thier stuff like pictures, music, videos, and stuff that they want and they don't want to use ubuntu. so i always use ubuntu.:)

[keforex]

Well, In the first place, why are you trying a new thing if you dont actually want to learn? For instance, I've never heard a mac user to complain about usability, yet if I you come from windows to mac you have to learn many things again. With Ubuntu is the same. There is not worst blind that a person that doesn't want to see.
Let me clarify some points for you, based on my experience with 'real persons' and not geeks.

1) I can agree with that, for me it was a problem some time.

2) You don't need a terminal, there are graphical interfaces. All programs in ubuntu are self installing. There is a program which actually reads "Add programs". In addition there is a more complete tool called synaptic or adept, depending on the flavor of Ubuntu you use. All these things have nice graphical interfaces.

3) You missed one point here, every program you want to install in windows, you have to go the the web, surf, download, and install. Ubuntu automates this for you. And in addition is clean, when you download something from the web, you actually dont know what it is doing with you PC. Actually, it fairly more simple than in windows. You search the name of the program in a box, look at the list of results and press install. They take care of downloading and installing all at once.

4) I can show you how to change it in 5 clicks.

Oh yes, one thing I can't show you is how to get a virus. I was never able to do it in Ubuntu. Can anyone teach me?

Best Regards.

Good answers my man!! Well, between the time I posted the above and the time I read your reply I have figured out how to use the "add/remove" version of ubuntu (gnome 2.20). In regards to your answer number 4) yes, please do!!... I am waiting on the Mac4Lin for gnome 2.20 but when it's available I for sure could use your 5-click step by step procedure to change my desktop.

Didn't mean to bash linux or ubuntu or gnome, I think they're all great solutions - but for a guy like me (not geek) and other millions of "end users" addicted to Windows it's not as easy at it could be.

[stephenk]

things keeping me from switching from XP:

- desktop search (Copernic DS is far superior to Tracker or Beagle IMO)
- the fonts still look terrible in Ubuntu, especially in Firefox
- I still don't know of a way to change the scroll wheel settings for the entire OS (I know you can alter this in Firefox, but it's a real pain for other apps)
- hibernate doesn't work for me
- my notebook runs extremely hot in Ubuntu

from where Linux distros were even 2 years ago, Ubuntu is magnificent but not quite enough for me to switch completely....

[dandellion]

Used to be 100% Ubuntu and, sometimes, to VMWare with XP. Now have to dualboot. Waiting for a good video editor (not Kino) to get rid of XP.

[Baby Boy]

Ubuntu fits all the needs of an average college student - office, internet, stability, looks (Compiz Fusion), occasional gaming, watching videos and listening to music etc.

What's keeping me from quitting Windows?

Nothing, I am 100% Ubuntu :).

[Katin Crawford]

i have two machines running windows xp. the desktop i use mostly for gaming and i have a tablet that i use for school. while i love ubuntu and have been using it for a few years, it doesn't provide everything i need for gaming + tablet functions. i tried switching over completely for a year but it really just resulted in frustration.

i now run ubuntu most of the time off a usb drive when not in class or playing games. :)

[ShadowVlican]

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=345176&highlight=sync+pocketpc
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=566911&highlight=sync+pocketpc

the above illustrates why WinXP is still my main OS

(it's about syncing pocket pcs)

[Sunjammer]

you can install Dreamweaver 8 with no problem trough wine ;=)

[openaddict]

You can run Dreamweaver CS3 under Linux. I've posted a how-to guide over on my site detailing how it's done using Wine. http://www.openaddict.com/node/25

Some users have reported better success than others, but the latest version of Wine has fixed a lot of bugs preventing CS3 from running on some systems. The article was written using Ubuntu 7.04 as the test operating system, btw. ;-)

[cwj88]

things keeping me from switching from XP:

- desktop search (Copernic DS is far superior to Tracker or Beagle IMO)
- the fonts still look terrible in Ubuntu, especially in Firefox
- I still don't know of a way to change the scroll wheel settings for the entire OS (I know you can alter this in Firefox, but it's a real pain for other apps)
- hibernate doesn't work for me
- my notebook runs extremely hot in Ubuntu

from where Linux distros were even 2 years ago, Ubuntu is magnificent but not quite enough for me to switch completely....

as far as the fonts go, have you tried installing the package "msttcorefonts"?

[Zyphrexi]

Since I got a new computer I rarely ever use windows since all I have is vista, and the only good thing about vista is voice recognition, ubuntu pretty much kicks vista's behind when it comes to games performance.

I've got a beast of a machine now, and I could barely run halo? wtf? Oh right, and let's not forget the inability to connect to my router ftw.

[riokushen]

I would hang around ubuntu all day long if pidgin supports the mic, webcam and more importantly receiving offline messages.

secondly if the video playback doesn't have flickers/jitters.

other than that i'm unfamiliar with the commands.

its hard to game on linux so windows is still needed.

maybe auto detect wireless keyboards + mouse?

[dagvei]

Part from two programmes I have to use at work, that will only run in Windows, it has been Goodbye Bill 100% for my private use. Ubuntu is faster, simpler and easier for all normal needs!

[pi6502]

The reasons that keep me from switching 100% to ubuntu are these:


Games: I've many games that require win xp.
Scanner: Although the HP 2300c is listed as fully supported, it isn't. It simply won't scan (wrong colors, hangs, and the like)
iTunes: I've purchased many single songs @ iTunes at the store. I curse Apple for not providing a client for Linux (after all, their's run on Mac Os X!)

[stomponthis]

Yay, no XP partition for me now!
Got a sick desktop with Compiz
Got web design with bluefish
Got amarok... nuff said
deluge for me torrents
wine for my gamming!

and no malware!!! lol

Goodtimes, 100% Ubuntu

[taysider]

I have 2 PCs 1 running vista 2nd Ubuntu (Gusty).
Use Vista for work but like Ubuntu much better.
Getting use to linux now and wish i could take off MS all together.
I'm into web design and using bluefish but wish there was something more in line with Frontpage as it is easy to use but, I'll keep going with bluefish till then.
Found running DVD's better on Ubuntu than MS
I contacted TP-Link to see about support for there networking products and they in turn are going to contact the linuxdriverproject.org
The last to say is I've got more money in my pocket as I don't have to buy software anymore GREAT... LONG LIVE UBUNTU..............

[taysider]

I have 2 PCs 1 running vista 2nd Ubuntu (Gusty).
Use Vista for work but like Ubuntu much better.
Getting use to linux now and wish i could take off MS all together.
I'm into web design and using bluefish but wish there was something more in line with Frontpage as it is easy to use but, I'll keep going with bluefish till then.
Found running DVD's better on Ubuntu than MShttp://ubuntuforums.org/images/smilies/guitar.gif
I contacted TP-Link to see about support for there networking products and they in turn are going to contact the linuxdriverproject.org
The last to say is I've got more money in my pocket as I don't have to buy software anymore GREAT... LONG LIVE UBUNTU..............http://ubuntuforums.org/images/smilies/smiley-faces-75.gif

[dargles]

OK...
I have just upgraded to Gutsy Gibbon (last week, actually). I just love ubuntu and want to remove my dual-booted MS partition, but:

1) Sync-ing my :-p MS pda is a problem
2) Web design is not a problem - I hand-code everything (can I have my geek badge now please...) and wouldn't touch Fpage with a bargepole
3) VPN-ing is driving me nuts - it seems very flaky
4) I can't find a driver for my Lexmark printer - in fact, I'm struggling to get anything other than my Epson to work
5) Scanning is problematic, as in previous posts; I can find the "correct" driver, but get garbage
6) I can't find drivers for all-in-ones, so I can't even buy one of those with ubuntu in mind
7) Evolution seems to have gone buggy in the recent updates - it now crashes when I try and log in, and only works if I skip the initial login screen. Also, it drives me nuts that the login screen shows first, then the main window appears and grabs the focus whilst I'm in the middle of typing in my password (safe or what...???)

Any thoughts on dealing with any of these greatly appreciated!
Regards, David

[coolglobal]

The ability to write to my XP partition is a real strength of Gutsy, and actually means I rarely need to boot windows to continue with my work. Well done on this improvement.

I use the GIMP, Komposer, Screem, gFTP, Gedditt, Gcolor2, Thunderbird & Firefox everyday. These applications see 98% of my website goals achieved. Primarily working with HTML, CSS & PHP.

I need to run IE occasionally to test webpage appearances and functions and may well solve this with IEs4Linux. I also need Skype Video, this is currently windows only. So it is currently Internet Explorer & Skype Video keeping me from quitting Windows completely.

[usien]

i pretty much like ubuntu better than windows but i still use windows for downloading.i couldn't find a good enough downloader for gnome.d4x is good but unstable and looks dated.Also, although vlc is quite good but it needs improvement and as far as i know the project is not in progress.the multimedia capability of linux needs to be taken care of.

[JBAlaska]

I'm into web design and using bluefish but wish there was something more in line with Frontpage as it is easy to use but, I'll keep going with bluefish till then.

I just started using KompoZer for web design and it looks very promising.

Tonight I booted windoze for the first time in about a month as I had to scan with my lexmark x5150, I did the scan and shut down winblows only to have it hang, I had to hard boot which dirtied my ntfs partitions and they would not mount in Gutsy.
I swear that damn windoze did that on purpose. I'm done with it on my main machine, if I have to scan I'll use my torrent server lol.

[remick182]

Okay. I see that I am, like the several hundredth reply, but I want to give my input if it will help any of the Linux community programmers and designers. I am currently a dual booter with WinXP Pro and Feisty right now. This is what I do and what my expectations are:

I am a PC gamer, although not as hardcore as some. So far, about half of my games will work with some sort of tweaking under Linux, but this is a regurgitated topic that doesn't need much deliberation, at least not here. So, I use WinXP for my gaming needs, not just because the games are primarily produced for the Windows OS, but because graphic card drivers tend to be a little better under Windows (I am aware that this is not always the case).

I surf the web fairly often. Under both Linux and Windows, I use Firefox. The only web based issue that I have seen so far is that there are certain web sites that I cannot acces or are not properly displayed under Firefox since they are specifically designed to be used under IE. These are mainly US gov't sites, so obviously we all know who gets those contracts. There were a couple of online schools that have sites that do not work under any web browser other than IE. This is another unfortunate circumstance that I have run across.

There are hardware issues that exist on the Linux end, albeit not any fault of their own, when it comes to printers (I have a Cannon all-in-one printer - I have sent several e-mails to their company suggesting Linux support with little success). I also use a Palm Tungsten E2 and the syncing and installation is very simple and easy under WinXP.

Other than the aforementioned issues, I love Linux. I really do. I don't get as much time to play around with it, but I really enjoy the layout, the ease of use (once you get past the learning curve), the availability of open source apps, the GUI and CLI interfaces, and I really enjoy Beryl and CompFusion. I listen to music and watch all of my movies under Linux, and do just about whatever else I can in Ubuntu. Considering that the Linux community is built upon donations and contributions by people like you and me, I think that it has come a long way and it will have no way to go but up. I really hope that the Linux community continues to progress - keeping its open source mentality. I look forward to the years to come...and to the day when I can be rid of Windows indefinitely.

[gregbzh]

The only reason I still dual boot Gutsy Gibbon with Windows (Vista...hey, it was a present) is to use my webcam with Skype. Living on the other side of the world from friends and family, this becomes very important.

[Baby Boy]

The only reason I still dual boot Gutsy Gibbon with Windows (Vista...hey, it was a present) is to use my webcam with Skype. Living on the other side of the world from friends and family, this becomes very important.
Yes, I know, I just found out video calls in Skype aren't possible in Linux, and the person I want to talk to is a complete ignoramus for all things computer so I guess I couldn't ask her to use MSN which was supposed to work. I'll have to use my desktop for that purpose...:(

[vek]

Its soooo close, but its not quite there yet. The only things preventing me from using ubuntu as my primary desktop are generally small app bugs, some of which I intend to fix and submit myself, and most of them to do with interoperability between ubuntu and windows.

* Thunderbird profiles don't work across NTFS-3g in my case
* some python issues with NTFS means that a lot of apps can't cross this boundary, but I can fix those...
* media playing is still a problem, for some formats for me. Most play, but some are slow
* Games (As petty as this seems, its still part of what I use a computer for).

Now you might say "but can't you just switch to ubuntu pure then not worry about NTFS?"

I wish I could. But I develop games for a living, and a hobby, and thus windows must be a supported platform and must coexist for me to test / develop on.

[coolglobal]

I surf the web fairly often. Under both Linux and Windows, I use Firefox. The only web based issue that I have seen so far is that there are certain web sites that I cannot acces or are not properly displayed under Firefox since they are specifically designed to be used under IE. These are mainly US gov't sites, so obviously we all know who gets those contracts. There were a couple of online schools that have sites that do not work under any web browser other than IE. This is another unfortunate circumstance that I have run across.

I have just started using IEs4Linux and so far is working well. It enables you to run Internet Explorer in WINE, easily. Try these links.

http://www.tatanka.com.br/ies4linux/page/Main_Page

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/ies4linux

[remick182]

Thanks coolglobal. I'll give that a try and see how it works. If it does, then that's just one more thing that I can check off of my list...hehehe.

[victorbrca]

The only thing keeping me from switching to Ubuntu completelly are the security issues that Linux has compared to Windows................................. (long pause)............................................

YEAH RIGHT!!! :-D

Switched this weekend and am very happy. Linux does not cease to amaze me!!! :)


Vic.

[buntunub]

Ive been using Linux for about a year now, pretty much exclusively. My wife insisted on keeping one of our home systems on XP, and so for her, I endured. Funny thing was that about 4 months ago, she somehow got a virus and a few worms to boot on it, and then she came and begged me to put Ubuntu on it because she had grown more attuned to Linux over time on our 2 other systems which I use all the time. She also noted how much easier it was for me to do things on Linux than in windows, how tailorable it was, and how for every proprietary app which she had grown used to using, there was an open source app that was as good or, in most cases, MUCH better!

Ive noticed that for most people who choose to stay dual booted that the common thread seems to be gaming. I am a hardcore gamer, and I see no reason to dual boot. I have only come across one game which I could not get to work, and the fix for that one (.NET framework) should be very soon. For some games, you will need to have Cedega, but for most it seems, wine should work just fine. Run the games via cli and the output usually spells out quite clearly what you need to get things to run. For example, I first tried Eve online in wine and got a bunch of error messages about ariel.ttf. I then got that fontset and plopped it into the appropriate font folder in the wine drive and BAM! Now eve online plays better than it does on Windows! How about that?! List goes on. Ive played (quite litterally) every new game that fits my fancy as it hits the shelves on linux doing it this way, or using Cedega. My hardware of course, is the best of the best on my gaming rig, as any hardcore gamer's is, and that has ALOT to do with whether a game will run on linux or not too. Having the most recent NVidia drivers has a large bearing on things as well. Notice I said NVidia?.. Well, if your truly a gamer, then ATi + Linux = BAD!

[tcsoft]

why i havent switched 100%:

first, there are some windows-apps i bought a license for (the bat!, totalcommander)
second, i cannot live without "the bat!", "miranda im" and total commander.
pidgin rather sucks when you compare it with miranda. totalcommander >>>>>> krusader.
the bat! >>>>>>>> thunderbird.

thats it for me.

[despidey]

1. I have 15 years of data on Quicken and consensus seems to be that GnuCash doesn't have the same feature set.
2. I still use Rhapsody for my music but having hung out with all you open source folks I'm considering giving the whole DRM hassle the boot.

[lvleph]

I just need to figure out how to get microsoft money working in Ubuntu. My bank only supports quicken or microsoft money (or maybe I am too stupid to be able to figure out the auto dl thing for gnucash), so... If I weren't so dependent on money. lol

[50words]

1. I have 15 years of data on Quicken and consensus seems to be that GnuCash doesn't have the same feature set.


I think that depends. Quicken is just a fancy checkbook register. Moneydance is just as good, but without all the credit card advertisements--er, advice--mixed in. If you need 15 years of data, maybe you need to stay with Quicken. Otherwise, start fresh with something like Moneydance (although you can also import all that old data, if you like). My officemate switched from Quicken to Moneydance when he bought his Mac, and has been happy with it for months now.

GnuCash is accounting software. It is "stripped-down" accounting software, though. More like a GUI front end for a set of accounting spreadsheets (my accountant at CBIZ uses spreadsheets, anyway) than a fancy accounting program for dummies like QuickBooks.

If you are using QuickBooks, then AppGen is a Linux equivalent. Otherwise, if you actually know how to keep the books (rather than just enter data in QuickBooks), GnuCash is awesome. I use it to track my law firm accounts, although I do not use it for billing (I do very little regular billing in my practice, as I operate mostly on a contingent fee).

[timzak]

I just need to figure out how to get microsoft money working in Ubuntu. My bank only supports quicken or microsoft money (or maybe I am too stupid to be able to figure out the auto dl thing for gnucash), so... If I weren't so dependent on money. lol

I'm in the same boat. I finally learned how to set up VirtualBox and run a barebones install of Win2000Pro in VirtualBox that basically only runs MS Money.

I've looked at native Linux money management software and some of it looks pretty good, but for me the problem is I have years of data accumulated in Money and I could not get the import features working well enough (I'd have to go through each entry anyhow to edit/fix). I just don't have the time to manually input years of transactions in a new financial software package, otherwise I'd do that and be rid of Windows.

[Footer]

I've got some good advice for you MS Money folks. :)

If you use Kubuntu, you owe it to yourself to check out KMyMoney:

http://kmymoney2.sourceforge.net/index-home.html

It may even work under Ubuntu but it's a KDE app.

Anyway, I used MS Money for many years. When I decided to take the Linux plunge and purge myself from Windows completely (some 2.5 years ago), I switched to KMyMoney. But instead of importing all of my old data, I just started fresh at the beginning of a new year (like right now!). Sometimes it's nice to start with a clean slate. It's a very well written app, well supported and being actively worked and is in the Ubuntu repositories! (NOTE: I'm not a developer or in any other way associated with KMyMoney, just a happy user!).

Just my humble opinion! Give it a look!

[-Zeus-]

I dual-boot 7.10/Windows XP, but I also VMWare XP.

The only thing holding me back from removing windows is gaming...

[chris4585]

for the poll you should include virtualbox along side vmware

and i use ubuntu for just about everything except chatting, i run xp in virtualbox with mirc

[Porpoise]

Well..... I much like Gutsy and use it most of the time these days. The only reasons I can't get rid of windoze:

1) No linux drivers for my Microtek 4700 scanner

2) No Linux drivers for my Canon CanoScan FS4000US scanner

3) No Linux drivers for my ATI All-In-Wonder 7500 capture/TV tuner card

4) No Linux version of HTML Kit (yet).

5) Inkscape still can't open/edit Adobe Illustrator 10.0 files or CorelDraw files

6) Still no Linux version of TurboCash (yet)

As I would need to replace all of those with Linux compatible equivalents, I would need to spend upwards of GBP500.00

Can't really justify that sort of expense just to change OS (cheaper to keep windows than to use open-source!?!)

[MountainX]

1. I have 15 years of data on Quicken and consensus seems to be that GnuCash doesn't have the same feature set.


I'm in a similar situation -- just started looking into MoneyDance.
http://moneydance.com/linux

[MountainX]

Well..... I much like Gutsy and use it most of the time these days. The only reasons I can't get rid of windoze:

1) No linux drivers for my Microtek 4700 scanner

2) No Linux drivers for my Canon CanoScan FS4000US scanner

3) No Linux drivers for my ATI All-In-Wonder 7500 capture/TV tuner card

4) No Linux version of HTML Kit (yet).

5) Inkscape still can't open/edit Adobe Illustrator 10.0 files or CorelDraw files

6) Still no Linux version of TurboCash (yet)

As I would need to replace all of those with Linux compatible equivalents, I would need to spend upwards of GBP500.00

Can't really justify that sort of expense just to change OS (cheaper to keep windows than to use open-source!?!)

I agree that the lack of hardware drivers seems to be the #1 issue. The #2 issue is lack of software applications but the more I look around, the more alternative software apps I find. So the lack of hardware drivers seems to be the main issue.

[MountainX]

I've got some good advice for you MS Money folks. :)

If you use Kubuntu, you owe it to yourself to check out KMyMoney:

http://kmymoney2.sourceforge.net/index-home.html

It may even work under Ubuntu but it's a KDE app.


Does anyone have an opinion on how KMyMoney compares to MoneyDance?

Has anyone tried KMyMoney on (gnome) Ubuntu?

Thanks.

[locolobo]

First::OLD Laptop> Sony VAIO Mod: PCG-FX215 >AMD Duron 800 Mhz > Max Mem 256Mb,
150Gb HDD >USB 1.1 > No built in wireless > CD read only drive > Floppy Drive + 2
PCMIIA slots >> After install NetGear wireless card in PCMIIA slot I GAVE the whole thing
over to Ubuntu Fiesty Fawn and after a few hundred updates and upgrade it runs TOTALLY
on Ubuntu 7.1 . Second:: Old desktop Compaq AMD Athlon 1.2 Ghz >640 Mb Ram > Dual Boot > 1st HDD 120 Gb with Win XP, 2nd HDD 40 Gb with Ubuntu 7.1 . Third:: 6 month old
HP Laptop with 17 in screen >AMD 64 > and piece of JUNK VISTA on it (temporary).
My Favorite is OLD Sony Laptop that blows the doors off everything else..
I removed internal modem from desktop and added external modem > config and was able
to dial into my ISP and access my email account,read,write,delete,etc inside my email BUT
was blocked from access to rest of the Net..Trbl report to ISP drew response that they did
NOT support Linux.. WHEN I can get new ISP with access to internet thru Dial up with Linux
I will update/upgrade the Linux Sys and work toward getting rid of Windows&Gates.!!
The New HP Laptop will have to wait for further developments I am sad to say.!
The main problem I have had is getting access to the internet thru Ubuntu, once that is
whipped it goes pretty smooth. I am about half done with my conversion and have started
to move my kids and Grandkids in this direction. I was into programing back before Bill
Gates even knew what a Micro computer was - when we worked in binary,octal,hex.
I can tell you the future is in Linux!! It won't be easy battle because he is already in Bed
with all the Large Chip Mfg's.

[LostHere]

My Garmin Forerunner 50 won't run under Linux. I tried Linux back in November and Google Earth crashed all the time. Every time I clicked on a Panorama pic, GE crashed. Also not sure how to import my offline CD/DVD catalog into linux. I don't want to rescan over 100 discs. That's what will probably keep me from linux for now.

[Ghuloomo]

Now I'm 100% using Ubuntu..!

Before when I installed it my Graphic card wasn't supported, so I couldn't play videos. Also I hadn't any Internet connection, so I couldn't get the codec to my mp3/wma, etc.. files. And my NTFS partition was not writable, so it was a headache. Even though I sticked with it for 2 weeks.

Now with the new release 7.10 my vga is just working fine (ATI 9600) and I can play music and i have used NTFS Configuration Tool to make my partition writable. Everything is working fine, and Amarok rocks! ;-)

[MarkX]

Live voice and webcam with MSN is now all that's stopping me from putting Linux on all my and my friends computers. Nearly there!!!
I think it's the above shortcoming that stops not just adults but a lot of teens using it (the ones who usually fill up their windows puters with viruses in minutes)

[kryth]

I only boot to windows XP to play games. Otherwise Ubuntu does it all for me :)

[tashmooclam]

I am 100% Ubuntu, but I have a 12" Apple powerbook that I use sometimes. I put Ubuntu on several laptops and 7.1 works fine for me.
I swapped out the Broadcom wireless card to Intel on one laptop. Wireless was great.
My scanner, printer, camera and memory card are all recognized.
Someday I hope to get a webcam to function on it. I hear Ezonics is making Linux compatible webcams to work with the Walmart Everex gPCs running gOS (ubuntu with a different desktop).

[MountainX]

Whats Keeping me from quitting Windows:

1. Web browsing isn't working well for me under Ubuntu -- particularly problematic are Firefox + Del.icio.us. Every single time I tag/save a web page to delicious, it hangs firefox for about 2 minutes! My system load goes way up and Firefox stops responding. (This has nothing to do with initial syncing of delicious either - this is everyday continuing usage.)
2. Can't find a good form-filler password manager that equals the tools on Windows. I was about to cook up something on my own using TrueCrypt or GPG, but the security/encryption issue turned out to be the most disappointing experience on Linux yet... believe it or not, security software and tools are better under Windows. (I know I would not have believed that a few weeks ago!)
3. TrueCrypt 5.0 under Linux has been a disaster for me. It seems to work fine under Windows.
4. Financial Software. I have been looking into MoneyDance, KMyMoney, GnuCash and several others. But in order to start down the path of managing my finances on Linux, I need to have good data security in place. TrueCrypt was my prerequisite for starting with Linux financial software. Since TrueCrypt 5.0 on Linux has been such a disaster (if you don't believe me, just search on this forum or on the TrueCrypt forum), I have not even been able to take the first step to moving my financial management off Windows.
4.b. Under Windows I use PGP + Aladdin eToken. The Aladdin eToken doesn't work in GPG.
5. Most biometric USB memory sticks only support Windows.
6. It has been really painful to get web video working on Ubuntu. After a few weeks I have it partially working, but there are still many videos I can't watch. The worst is CNN. I only see the commercials! When the actual video is supposed to start, I get nothing!
7. Laptop power management. My battery life isn't as good as under Windows.
8. Laptop fingerprint reader: I want this to work as well as it does under Windows -- without me spending a month of time to get it working.
9. Performance -- My Ubuntu system isn't running as fast as my Windows system on the same hardware.
10. I could keep adding to this list!

I am not giving up on Linux, but I must say that I am feeling some pain as I continue trying to move away from Windows.

I am determined to leave Windows because I've had enough of the way Microsoft operates, but at this point, if I am honest, I can't say that I know I will succeed in quitting Windows.

Actually, I'd be willing to pay for solutions to my problems. I would be willing to pay for open source Linux software that works as well as software for Windows. I'd be willing to pay for hardware that supports Linux very well. I'd be willing to pay for support for Linux. In fact, I have paid for support and I have donated to several open source projects.

The real frustration is that I can't get solutions even if I am willing to pay.

[karellen]

Whats Keeping me from quitting Windows:

1. Web browsing isn't working well for me under Ubuntu -- particularly problematic are Firefox + Del.icio.us. Every single time I tag/save a web page to delicious, it hangs firefox for about 2 minutes! My system load goes way up and Firefox stops responding. (This has nothing to do with initial syncing of delicious either - this is everyday continuing usage.)
2. Can't find a good form-filler password manager that equals the tools on Windows. I was about to cook up something on my own using TrueCrypt or GPG, but the security/encryption issue turned out to be the most disappointing experience on Linux yet... believe it or not, security software and tools are better under Windows. (I know I would not have believed that a few weeks ago!)
3. TrueCrypt 5.0 under Linux has been a disaster for me. It seems to work fine under Windows.
4. Financial Software. I have been looking into MoneyDance, KMyMoney, GnuCash and several others. But in order to start down the path of managing my finances on Linux, I need to have good data security in place. TrueCrypt was my prerequisite for starting with Linux financial software. Since TrueCrypt 5.0 on Linux has been such a disaster (if you don't believe me, just search on this forum or on the TrueCrypt forum), I have not even been able to take the first step to moving my financial management off Windows.
4.b. Under Windows I use PGP + Aladdin eToken. The Aladdin eToken doesn't work in GPG.
5. Most biometric USB memory sticks only support Windows.
6. It has been really painful to get web video working on Ubuntu. After a few weeks I have it partially working, but there are still many videos I can't watch. The worst is CNN. I only see the commercials! When the actual video is supposed to start, I get nothing!
7. Laptop power management. My battery life isn't as good as under Windows.
8. Laptop fingerprint reader: I want this to work as well as it does under Windows -- without me spending a month of time to get it working.
9. Performance -- My Ubuntu system isn't running as fast as my Windows system on the same hardware.
10. I could keep adding to this list!

I am not giving up on Linux, but I must say that I am feeling some pain as I continue trying to move away from Windows.

I am determined to leave Windows because I've had enough of the way Microsoft operates, but at this point, if I am honest, I can't say that I know I will succeed in quitting Windows.

Actually, I'd be willing to pay for solutions to my problems. I would be willing to pay for open source Linux software that works as well as software for Windows. I'd be willing to pay for hardware that supports Linux very well. I'd be willing to pay for support for Linux. In fact, I have paid for support and I have donated to several open source projects.

The real frustration is that I can't get solutions even if I am willing to pay.

maybe if enough folks will be willing to pay...things will change with hardware support and Linux designed software

[alek01]

For me it is "ONLY" Good software that is missing:(
Evolution is not up to Outlook in terms of task follow-up, team management and integration. WHEN it works, Outlook is great. OpenOffice is OK as long as you don't need to work professionally. No monitoring of changes (red color text), no version management. Same for the the spreadsheet which lacks updating from outside app. Impress is fine. Dreamweaver is much better than Quanta or Scream.I cannot print on the IP network printer we use. Finally, syncing with my Blackberry remains an uncertain and painful event.
Although I very much appreciate the reliability, the availability of many hobby software and the absence (or quasi) of virus and spyware of Linux I am forced to go back to Windows every day!

If it weren't an even stronger proprietary universe, I'd switch to Mac. But instead I limp on Linux to check the status of my hopes.:)
My server is of course Linux but for the desktop the professional applications aren't there yet. (Will they ever come?) :confused:

[wrgarrett]

Anyone know if there is a Windows Anonymous chapter in South Texas? I'm trying to quit, really I am! Oh, snap, there goes that BSOD again...I need a drink...This ain't easy...

[50words]

OpenOffice is OK as long as you don't need to work professionally. No monitoring of changes (red color text), no version management. Same for the the spreadsheet which lacks updating from outside app. Impress is fine. Dreamweaver is much better than Quanta or Scream.I cannot print on the IP network printer we use. Finally, syncing with my Blackberry remains an uncertain and painful event.

I think you are using a different version of OOo. My version of OOo Writer tracks changes (Edit > Changes) and has versions (File > Versions).

[themattjon]

I tried doing the dual-boot thing, but the first installation attempt screwed up and prevented me from saving my Windows partition. Blessing in disguise I say!

[themusicwave]

At home I am 100% Ubuntu. Technically I have a dual boot, but it has been about a month since this laptop ran Windows.

I am beginning the transition to Windows running in a VM, I think when Hardy comes out I will do a fresh install and only use Ubuntu.

At work, however, it is 100% Windows. I am working on changing that as I keep saving the company thousands of dollars using open source software. They are taking notice, when I switched our DB to Postgres, and saved them from buying Micorsoft SQL server and paying all those dollars I got their attentions.

[Jay Jay]

maybe if enough folks will be willing to pay...things will change with hardware support and Linux designed software

If It meant an end to my technical problems, I would certainly be more than willing to dig into my pocket as the only things preventing an end to reliance on my Win2K is partition are wireless issues and poor graphic performance.

[housam]

It is only the company business that I've to do it at my home.

[HammerheadNC]

I still dual boot to use AnyDVD and CloneDVD on windows - couldn't figure out how to get them to work with Wine and don't want a VM for just 2 apps. All of the DVD rippers and burners I have looked at for Ubuntu were MUCH slower than CloneDVD (about 40 minutes total for DVD)

Other than that I am very happy with Ubuntu for everything else including sync with a Palm Tungsten!

Hammerhead

[N0_Named_Guy]

I am a anti windows guy too... I use it in my laptop mainly... When I use it at school, my friends think I am using Vista, because my laptop is a Sony VAIO and because I use compiz in it...

At home, different story... I dual boot WinXP with ubuntu, mainly because of my Internet connection... I use a 3G/UMTS/HSDPA/GPRS USB modem to connect to the Internet... It hasn't drivers for linux... Only for Windows and MacOS... I'm still finding a way to put the modem to work fully Ubuntu...

But I'll keep it dual boot (even if I use mainly Ubuntu) beacuse of my family... They ONLY know how to work in Windows...

by the way, I voted dual boot Ubuntu WinXP...

[earlra]

I am in the process of migrating. My laptop is my testbed, and has been 100% Kubuntu for about 4 months now. My PC is dual boot on two hard discs, the default boot is Kubuntu as of one month, and loving every minute of it.

I have solved all my major application needs, and even the 'minor' ones like genealogy (Gramps), etc., I basically boot Windows now only to print - yes, my last major task is to get rid of this Lexmark and get a Linux-compatible printer.

After that, I'll basically boot Windoze only for tech support to family members. (hey, I can't convert everyone at once ;-)

[NightwishFan]

I always have to catch myself when someone has a windows problem first thing I say is "Open a terminal window".

[guitarMan666]

I still haven't got the hang of the notation software available for Linux, whose sound often doesn't work but that's another post. I'm used to Finale NotePad which currently does not install under WINE (I've tried it a few times). When WINE is more fully compatible I might make the switch, at least until ReactOS goes beta.

Not to steer this theread off topic, but IMHO an open source implementation of Windows (like ReactOS) could be a serious blow to Microsoft with proper advertising.

If you could PM me with the proper place for that kind of discussion on these forums I would appreciate it greatly.

[billezen]

100% Ubuntu as well as a machine with Pure Debian= 95% actually.

The only things I need to borrow my wife's XP for are:

Audio mulitracking
Games that I play with my son online
CAD Applications


Everything else is Linux
:guitar:

[mikeymo1741]

Couple of notes what Windows still does better:

Stuff just works. i plug it in, it works. Quite often I don't even need to intstall a driver. Now I know a lot of that is the hardware maker's fault, but still...

I have not found a decent video editor. I've used a couple, but they do not even rise to the level of MM2, which is a terrible program. There is terrible support for WMV format. M$ stuff, while klunky, works well together. (i.e, I make a slideshow in Photostory, import it into MM, viola!)

Open Office is not Microsoft Office. Not even close, especially if you use Office 2007.

Ardour is decent, better than anything you can get for free for Windows. But it's not up to some of the stuff out there for Windows.

Many websites do not work well with Firefox, especially the kind you find on business intranets.

Command line? Why are we making like it's the 1980s? Even now (Gutsy) I find solutions that are two pages of command line stuff that I find later I can do with a couple of clicks in the GUI. Does anyone really think command line interfaces are the future of computing? Even mainframe systems are getting away from it. This is a great OS that people are scared of because when the look for help, all they get is "sudo this and sudo that..." Linux, good as it is, will not become mainstreams as long as it is tied to that silly terminal window.

Flame on! :guitar:

[isecore]

Couple of notes what Windows still does better:

Stuff just works. i plug it in, it works. Quite often I don't even need to intstall a driver. Now I know a lot of that is the hardware maker's fault, but still...

I have not found a decent video editor. I've used a couple, but they do not even rise to the level of MM2, which is a terrible program. There is terrible support for WMV format. M$ stuff, while klunky, works well together. (i.e, I make a slideshow in Photostory, import it into MM, viola!)

Open Office is not Microsoft Office. Not even close, especially if you use Office 2007.

Ardour is decent, better than anything you can get for free for Windows. But it's not up to some of the stuff out there for Windows.

Many websites do not work well with Firefox, especially the kind you find on business intranets.

Command line? Why are we making like it's the 1980s? Even now (Gutsy) I find solutions that are two pages of command line stuff that I find later I can do with a couple of clicks in the GUI. Does anyone really think command line interfaces are the future of computing? Even mainframe systems are getting away from it. This is a great OS that people are scared of because when the look for help, all they get is "sudo this and sudo that..." Linux, good as it is, will not become mainstreams as long as it is tied to that silly terminal window.

Flame on! :guitar:

A lot of the stuff you say is really ******** in my opinion. It's very few hardware devices that I plug into a windows-box that works right off the bat. Even if they do work, to get full functionality you have to install drivers, restart the computer, etc. Everything I've plugged into my Ubuntu-box has worked immediately, doesn't matter if it was my laserprinter, webcam, Flash-memory stick, joystick.

And of course Microsoft stuff works "well" together - it's designed that way. As long as you stay in the Microsoft ecosphere everything will work somewhat decently. Comparing OO.o with Office 07 is probably the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time as well, since Microsoft spends a lot of time and money breaking the formats for competitors. It's a known fact. Saying "microsoft stuff works well with other Microsoft stuff" is like saying that Volkswagen spare parts really work best in Volkswagen-cars.

Intranets work welll with Internet Exploder because Pointy-Haired Bosses who don't know the first thing about computing got talked into buying a proprietary platform for Intranet-computing by Microsoft. Who, as we all know, make a big point of Uninteroperability. Wow, I just invented a new word.

Have you ever stopped to consider why there's so many tutorials with command-line instructions? Because they're really, really fast. And also, because the way you do it in Gnome will be different from how you do it in KDE or XFCE, while the commandline instructions will be identical. If you're gonna give GUI-instructions then it has to be explicitly for one environment or one distribution. Or you can give quick commandline instructions. People don't necessarily have to know what the commands mean in order to execute them.

It's always funny how hotly debated the commandline is. When people criticize linux the commandline is always pointed out as the bad guy, yet when Microsoft introduces an addon to Vista/XP that almost brings the Windows-commandline up to par with the one in Linux, they get applauded and praised for their innovation.

As for ardour... well, I've never used it so I can't comment on that. But I do know that I'm tired of people saying things like "I'm not gonna switch to Linux until [my favourite application] exists for it". That's a stupid attitude, do you people really think that companies are going to start porting apps unless there is a big userbase? Just take the plunge already and be a man. Stick it out, show Adobe and whoever that you exist.

Now, your turn to reply :)

EDIT: Oops, typo. I meant Office '07, not 97.

[mikeymo1741]

I didn't say Office 97, I said Office 2007 - so who's dumb? And why is the comparison dumb anyway? The thread topic is "What's keeping me from quitting Windows.?" One thing is- the apps are better, period. It's irregardless of the politics or economics of the whole thing. The fact is that if I have to bust out a professional looking printed program or presentation, on a time constraint, it is a lot easier to do it in Office 2007 than in OpenOffice. I don't give a rat's rump about who I'm supporting when the boss is breathing down my neck.

And my statement about M$ apps working well together, Captain Missed-the-point, is that there is an infastructure with Windows that does not exist with Linux. Linux apps are a hodgepodge of things from various sources. There are few top-to-bottom, integrated solutions.

I don't know what version of Windows you're running, but I never have hardware issues. With Ubuntu, it was jump through hoops to get my wireless working, apparently no proper driver for my video card (according to these forums) so I cannot have effects or run Beryl. (while both Mandotate and Yodm work fine when booted to Windows) I have two Compaq desktops that won't even boot the live CD (something about the BIOS not playing well with others). I still cant' get my USB Bluetooth dongle to do anything useful, where I never installed anything on Windows and it connects fine to my phone and my PDA.

Don't get me wrong - I really like open source software, and use it a lot. OpenSong is the most used program I have, and it works great on both Linux and Windows. It's just that for the average user, Windows simply works better. I've been looking for a reason to go completely Windows free, and can't justify it to myself. And you make good points about the command line - ones that I did not think of. But I'm still looking for the big tape drives, and it's still a deal breaker for the average user.

[sleepingdragon]

There aren't many things keeping Windows on my PC, but they are significant. The biggest one is NetObjects Fusion. It's a website creation tool that I have yet to find any parallel. The other problem is some TV streaming sites here in the UK, namely BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's "4OD" service. They still require Win to download their software, but at least iPlayer's stream works well in Ubuntu. Digital TV services are terrible where I live, so internet-based TV is still the only means I have to watch extra channels.

Games aren't a big deal for me, so I'm not too fussed, but I have tried a few 3D offerings and they all seem really well developed and certainly a match for anything I've played in Windows.

[Tews]

I didn't say Office 97, I said Office 2007 - so who's dumb? And why is the comparison dumb anyway? The thread topic is "What's keeping me from quitting Windows.?" One thing is- the apps are better, period. It's irregardless of the politics or economics of the whole thing. The fact is that if I have to bust out a professional looking printed program or presentation, on a time constraint, it is a lot easier to do it in Office 2007 than in OpenOffice. I don't give a rat's rump about who I'm supporting when the boss is breathing down my neck.

And my statement about M$ apps working well together, Captain Missed-the-point, is that there is an infastructure with Windows that does not exist with Linux. Linux apps are a hodgepodge of things from various sources. There are few top-to-bottom, integrated solutions.

I don't know what version of Windows you're running, but I never have hardware issues. With Ubuntu, it was jump through hoops to get my wireless working, apparently no proper driver for my video card (according to these forums) so I cannot have effects or run Beryl. (while both Mandotate and Yodm work fine when booted to Windows) I have two Compaq desktops that won't even boot the live CD (something about the BIOS not playing well with others). I still cant' get my USB Bluetooth dongle to do anything useful, where I never installed anything on Windows and it connects fine to my phone and my PDA.

Don't get me wrong - I really like open source software, and use it a lot. OpenSong is the most used program I have, and it works great on both Linux and Windows. It's just that for the average user, Windows simply works better. I've been looking for a reason to go completely Windows free, and can't justify it to myself. And you make good points about the command line - ones that I did not think of. But I'm still looking for the big tape drives, and it's still a deal breaker for the average user.

Fer the love of Pete man, stick with Windows then, stop the flame baiting and be at peace. The purpose of these forums is for getting help with a specific topic, not asking for ppl to change your mind....sheesh.....

To the rest of the world ... move along please .. nothing to see here!

[mikeymo1741]

Obviously the point of this forum is not to answer the given question openly and honestly. I answer the topical question, with specific points, all the while pointing out how much I like Ubuntu, get flamed, respond (acknowleding a good point that isecore made, get slammed again....

I'm perfectly at peace, BTW. I use Windows for what I use Windows for, Ubuntu for what I use Ubuntu for, and enjoy them both. Apparently with you guys, it's either "you're with us or you're against us."

BTW, according to the above poll, 100% Ubuntu guys are not in the majority, even in the Ubuntu Forum.

[Lolicon]

Its nice to have eyecandy for my desktop, which is the reason I switched to ubuntu. I have a lot of settings that cannot be emulated in linux, linux isn't very usable to me because you have to edit everything and have things break on you (packages, uninstallable dependencies, dependencies on other dependencies) and random problems (such as sound not working suddenly). I haven't found one good filemanager, global hotkeys aren't easy to set up, programs don't just 'work' unless you install them from synaptic (usually). Concerning the commandline, I love it, and its very easy to get used to. I won't use ubuntu for anything other than fun, because its not practical for my uses, but its not to say its a bad distro.

[isecore]

Obviously the point of this forum is not to answer the given question openly and honestly. I answer the topical question, with specific points, all the while pointing out how much I like Ubuntu, get flamed, respond (acknowleding a good point that isecore made, get slammed again....

I'm perfectly at peace, BTW. I use Windows for what I use Windows for, Ubuntu for what I use Ubuntu for, and enjoy them both. Apparently with you guys, it's either "you're with us or you're against us."

BTW, according to the above poll, 100% Ubuntu guys are not in the majority, even in the Ubuntu Forum.
I'm sorry if I came off as a hardheaded moron. It was not my intention. I'm all for running whatever works for oneself. If Windows and Microsoft-environments work for your needs, then great.

My experience is simply that Windows is an intentionally broken environment, produced by an inferior vendors with hidden motives for breaking their primary source of income, and whatever interoperability exists does so by preying on open standards. I don't find open-source to be the hodge-podge you describe, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Sure, there's a lot of fanboys in both camps, but I try to take the high ground when arguing about platforms. I do however agree with you that there's a bit too many people (again in both camps) that see things as black and white, either-or affairs. I try to not do it. Windows doesn't work for me, it doesn't work for anyone of my friends or family either. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't fulfill needs for _every_ soul on the planet.

[Talan6400]

This is the kind of stuff that is going to scare noob's away! I only just switch to Ubuntu in January. I still use Windows, since I have to at work, and there are still a couple (although fewer and fewer) things that I use Windows for @ home. I have booted to my Windows drive on this computer 2 times since the first of the year. But to see people arguing back and forth about "opinions" is not what I am here for. I chose to learn Ubuntu and Linux because it is a GREAT (yes an opinion) "second chance" for a lot of the older hardware. It is also a great free (unless you count time) alternative to Windows. We need to all remember that the more operating system choices we have out there, the better it will be for the consumer, and the only way to win people over to (any form) of Linux is to educate them and teach them.

I'm working on it on being 100% Ubuntu (and/or some flavor of Linux), but am afraid that I will always "need" windows is some form. My wife on the other hand, is completely addicted to Sims 2, and since it doesn't play on Wine yet, there is no way for me to switch her over.

There will always be fans of Windows, Linux and Mac, and I don't hate any of them. Isn't that the great thing about living in a free country?? We have choices! :)

[lswest]

my PC is 100% linux, but my laptop is a dual boot cuz i need windows for Adobe CS3 for my school, and it just doesn't cut it in a VM (Adobe CS3 is a memory hog :P). However, for everything else, i use Ubuntu. (should have an option in the poll for "Ubuntu and dual boot Windows (since it's required for job/school)" :P

[sekinto]

100% Linux. I just scraped Hardy and went back to Debian today though.

[AZzKikR]

I used to be Ubuntu-only. Had been like that for about 1.5 years. I missed some of my games, so I dual booted once the beta of Hardy came out.

[zazuge]

I have a dual boot ,but don't get the wrong idea ,it's not for me that i'm letting that useless peace of trash on my HD.
so I don't care the next time it crash ,the old solution format it, not only that delete that damned unclean partition.

[faskunji]

Dual boot, Ubuntu and XP, but 99% of time spend in Ubuntu.
There are two reasons for me:

1)Good flight sims, and some other games when I have time for this. Cannot run them in VM. On Linux there are just two flight sims: Flight Gear which cannot compare to other Windows flight sims, and X-Plane which I could not run on Ubuntu, probably because I had v7. Though both are good for some kind of development tasks. But there are other very good simulators for Windows: Falcon, Lockon, IL2. Not for Linux :(


2)I am software developer and some times need to test app on Windows or web pages on IE. Thinking about using VM for this, but had not tried yet cos I always try to pass IE tasks to Windows users in the team.

So I use Windows very seldom since I switched to Ubuntu 1.5 years ago.

[kevinstonge]

I haven't experimented much with emulation. But I am very experienced with MS Word & Excel and I use these applications very frequently. OpenOffice just doesn't compare to MS Office unfortunately - not even close (yet).

Also, very poor printer support - where's my REAL photoshop (again, maybe I need to look into WINE), and some REAL printer drivers that support all of my fancy printer's features (esp. borderless printing). My current printer Canon MX700 (network) doesn't appear to be supported at all!

I'm hopeful that Linux will continue to move forward, but it still has a lot of catching up to do in many areas.

This is not to mention the fact that every minor annoyance requires lots of research and usually some command prompt work (not the most fun thing to do)

[drs305]

Dual boot for me until I can run:
1. Audio media player which will let me navigate to any point in an archived internet radio broadcast (like media player can do).
2. Turbotax
3. MS Streets & Trips (google maps and linux apps just can't do the same things when planning a driving trip).

Other than that, it's ubuntu for me :)

[SantaSailor]

I need some program that reads/writes Visio documents and also need a program that will process the streaming video from my security cameras. Until then I will still have to maintain a system with Windows... :-(http://ubuntuforums.org/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

[Seventh Reign]

Three things keep me from kicking Window$ to the curb.

#1. Paint Shop Pro. Dont get me wrong, I like The Gimp, Gimpshop, and even Adobe Photoshop. They all work and they all work quite well. After using PSP for all of my graphic design for so many years. Its going to take some time and patience to get used to a different format.

#2. My Alarm. I currently use Alarm Master Plus as my daily alarm clock. I've read alot of tutorials on setting up Amarok, XMMS etc into an alarm, but I've never been able to get it to work right.
(If anyone knows of a substitution for Alarm Master I'd appreciate it.)

#3. mIRC. I have a custom built mIRC Chat Bot that I use to control several rooms that I own and manage. Xchat is great and its the only IRC I'll use when I'm running my Linux systems, but most of my scripts wont run 'well' in it. mIRC does run in Linux under Wine, but its a little buggy sometimes.

On a side note, I cannot count the number of negative posts I've been reading about v8.04. I've been running Hardy since the day of the Final Release (never tried any of the Beta versions), and have only had 1 crash (which was Amarok and it happens on every linux system I've ever run). Firefox 3 Beta has been flawless.
I am very impressed so far. Tho I do miss the Slickness Theme from my PCLOS Gnome system.

[TWO]

Definitely the games. Whilst projects like Wine are a great idea (in theory), I just want to be able to stick a disc in and play the game. That's not the fault of Linux, it's just the way things are and I don't think that there's any shame in that really.

It'll be a great day when mainstream games are made for Linux but that probably won't be happening any time soon. I don't play many games made natively for Linux. Whilst some are OK, others just seem incomplete whilst games with lower system requirements than games on Windows just seem to be slow, which makes no sense since it's the same laptop.

For everything else though, I've managed with just Kubuntu and plan to keep it that way.

[unMourned]

Couple of notes what Windows still does better:

Stuff just works. i plug it in, it works. Quite often I don't even need to intstall a driver. Now I know a lot of that is the hardware maker's fault, but still...

I have not found a decent video editor. I've used a couple, but they do not even rise to the level of MM2, which is a terrible program. There is terrible support for WMV format. M$ stuff, while klunky, works well together. (i.e, I make a slideshow in Photostory, import it into MM, viola!)

Open Office is not Microsoft Office. Not even close, especially if you use Office 2007.

Ardour is decent, better than anything you can get for free for Windows. But it's not up to some of the stuff out there for Windows.

Many websites do not work well with Firefox, especially the kind you find on business intranets.

Command line? Why are we making like it's the 1980s? Even now (Gutsy) I find solutions that are two pages of command line stuff that I find later I can do with a couple of clicks in the GUI. Does anyone really think command line interfaces are the future of computing? Even mainframe systems are getting away from it. This is a great OS that people are scared of because when the look for help, all they get is "sudo this and sudo that..." Linux, good as it is, will not become mainstreams as long as it is tied to that silly terminal window.

Flame on! :guitar:


No flame here. I began working with Unix and Windows back in 1993. In the late 90s, I was employed by a tri-state healthcare system--to be a system admin for Unix/AIX and Windows. I've been dabbling in Unix-based o/ses a *little* bit over the past 15 years, but I've been dealing with Windows every stinkin' day of that period. So, yes: I'm biased toward Windows.

However, that being said, I would like to objectivly say/claim that your points are valid.

I cannot get wireless working on my HP laptop in 8.04. Frustrating? Check this out:

Ubuntu: Command line, command line, sudo, sudo, gedit. Possible results.
Windows: Google, download, install. Probable results.

I've got the experience and, as a 35-year old dude, I'm on the way to getting the patience to deal with frustrating situations--especially if I put myself in the situation to start (installing Ubuntu). But the scenario I just posed above will kill any (99.9%) potential users of Ubuntu.

I believe in Unix-based operating systems. I've used them in a business setting with good results. I think it's neat to have it on a home machine. I believe there's potential in it.

However, people will stand only so much head banging. Few people have the time for it, fewer still have the patience. Sometimes, FREE just is not enough--especially when it comes down to possible versus probable solutions.

-Paul

[rnrover]

Ubuntu is the closest I have come to getting that done. I manage all the computers in my company. We have a simple peer to peer setup with file servers. (We are a Telephone sales and service company) Our email is hosted outside with a web service that we own.

If I could get simple things like VNC or RDP working we could switch at the desktop level. The documentation inside those programs is not there. Viewing the man pages or how to instruction just don't get it done. If you can't find out how to do something with google, then it is very frustrating. Also simple things like ejecting a cd from the gui doesn't work. It seems that it is an operating system with a lot of patched software that has too many variables.(I found out how to type eject from a terminal after searching the forum for a couple of hours)

The Compiz is glitzy It lets you have multiple screens without the hardware.

I keep trying Linux from time to time, but have not found a distro that solves those issues. Hardy broke my system with the TNT video not working.

If your time is a valuable commodity then it takes too much of it to get things working.

I love to fiddle with software, so I will continue from time to time to keep trying. My hope is that some company like Novell or Sun will step up to the plate and make things work. The opportunity is there.

[blegs38552]

Let's see, all of my financial records are in Microsoft Money, which has online links to most of my financial instutions. I do my taxes every year by downloading the data from Money into Tax Cut (validating it against the hardcopy, of course). Never been audited. My Creative MP3 player synchs up to Windows Media Player easily, and I can view, manipulate, copy delete etc... files from my player directly in Windows Explorer - haven't tried this in Ubuntu yet, so we'll see......

Finally did get my laptop wireless working. so there goes one of my major stumbling blocks.

[JoeOC]

I upgraded from 7.10 to 8.04 on a dual boot machine and it killed GIMP and XSane does not see my scanner any more. Uninstalled/Installed to no avail. I tried to install fresh and 8.04 will not install on my Dell Vostro 200 (no problem with 7.10).

I successfully installed 8.04 on another desktop with an ABIT motherboard. I successfully installed 8.04 on an ASUS C90S laptop inside Windows XP.

I tried an 8.04 install inside Windows on the ABIT machine and on the dual boot menu, the USB ports do not work so that I can't use the keyboard to choose between Ubuntu or XP.

Aside from the fact that it's a Windows world, inconsistencies such as I and others experience in installing Ubuntu versions do not instill confidence. Further, fixes usually involve such arcane command line programming that the user who just wants things to work gets turned off immediately.

I would love to use Ubuntu 100%, but until it's REALLY bulletproof and includes a Windows emulator so the average user can load Windows programs, Ubuntu will remain a minor player.

[sublimation]

I've got an HP Pavilion dv8000 and I'm dual-booting. I tend to use Ubuntu for most of my personal usage of the computer, but I keep Windows around for 2 real reasons.

1) I enjoy playing with my OSes. I'll fool around with settings, install interesting things, and just generally play around. This can lead to issues, and so I'm happy to have a backup that I've left alone for awhile to get basic work done if I need to.

2) I have specific needs that Wine/VirtualBox can't really help me with. I use some proprietary software that can't really be replaced right now. Mathematic solvers, 3D design software, Finite Element Analysis, and other Engineering programs. Unfortunately there's not much motivation for anyone to develop open-source replacements for these, and so I remain tied to Windows.

[noland]

first i got rid of vista after 10 months of complaining since i got a new laptop uuuu what a relief, but it seems that linux cannot read cd's or dvd's burned in the "live file system". so i run a winXP guest OS in QEMU with which i can read the "live file system" and tranfer it through file sharing to my host Ubuntu sytem. Also i want a backup way for reinstalling ITunes on my ipod if it ever fails... But, i dont want to dual boot, and not use half of my HD for a windows installation i would not use so emulating has done it for me up to now.

The tutorials on ubuntu are great, and i have pretty much been able to do all that i want just by searching the net or the forums, especially since i dont know ANYONE with linux... ive been trying for awhile now to sell the idea of open-source but usually people dont believe that something free is any good or real...

Im no gamer and dont need special software so its gonna be Linux (now ubuntu) for i guess 98% of the time! the 2% is for when MS ivents some new protocol we have to manage with because everyone just loves to pay for there software...

[BradwJensen]

Things keeping me from being 100% Ubuntu Linux:

Adobe:


Photoshop
Dreamweaver
Premiere Pro
After Effects
Audition

Plug and Play Camcorder as Webcam would also be nice..

[unMourned]

Intracacies in Ubuntu that are intuitively possible in Windows:

Networked Printers
Shared Network Storage
Wireless Configuration
Games
System Restore

Each of the above result in two different scenarios:
Ubuntu: Command line, command line, sudo, sudo, gedit. Possible results.
Windows: Google, download, install. Probable results.

-Paul

[isecore]

Intracacies in Ubuntu that are intuitively possible in Windows:

Networked Printers
Shared Network Storage
Wireless Configuration
Games
System Restore

Each of the above result in two different scenarios:
Ubuntu: Command line, command line, sudo, sudo, gedit. Possible results.
Windows: Google, download, install. Probable results.

-Paul

Networked printer was childplay. The printer attached to my machine was automagically detected by my girlfriends machine across our LAN. Sure, both machines run Ubuntu, but still - worked off the bat. Sharing the printer using SAMBA to a Windows-machine is trivial too. Anyone could do it as long as they get out of this "OMG Linux is difficult!"-mentality that so many people have. It's not more difficult than Windows, it's just different. Shared network storage is also easy with SAMBA, as long as you have some basic understanding of networks. I've seen too many people say "samba sucks!" when the problem was their networks instead. They didn't have netbios installed, etc etc.

Let's see what else... Wireless worked right out of the box with my laptop. Connected to our WPA-enabled NAT without even asking me anything except the code.

Games, sure fine. But that's not Ubuntus fault or Windows gain. That's evolution. The games will come for whatever system is considered "dominant".

System restore? Who cares. Under Windows it's a mildly useless way of throwing resources away. I've run Windows for a good many years, and System Restore has always been utterly useless. Ubuntu (and linux in general) doesn't need that "functionality" since all it does is waste your time with pointless bells and whistles.

[unMourned]

Networked printer was childplay. The printer attached to my machine was automagically detected by my girlfriends machine across our LAN. Sure, both machines run Ubuntu, but still - worked off the bat. Sharing the printer using SAMBA to a Windows-machine is trivial too. Anyone could do it as long as they get out of this "OMG Linux is difficult!"-mentality that so many people have. It's not more difficult than Windows, it's just different. Shared network storage is also easy with SAMBA, as long as you have some basic understanding of networks. I've seen too many people say "samba sucks!" when the problem was their networks instead. They didn't have netbios installed, etc etc.

Let's see what else... Wireless worked right out of the box with my laptop. Connected to our WPA-enabled NAT without even asking me anything except the code.

Games, sure fine. But that's not Ubuntus fault or Windows gain. That's evolution. The games will come for whatever system is considered "dominant".

System restore? Who cares. Under Windows it's a mildly useless way of throwing resources away. I've run Windows for a good many years, and System Restore has always been utterly useless. Ubuntu (and linux in general) doesn't need that "functionality" since all it does is waste your time with pointless bells and whistles.

That's certainly one perspective!

Here's my situation:
- Networking, check--works now. It did not, however, work "out of the box."
- Cannot connect to a parallel pringer (HP 6L) shared by a Windows-based machine. I've Googled, etc. If I need to spend THIS much time connecting to a networked printer, something is amiss.
- Your point about System Restore isn't far off the mark, but it has "saved" me once or twice--for that, I'm thankful. However, while in Ubuntu, sudo-ing anything, I always cross my fingers that I don't screw up the filesystem.

Proficiency might / could solve each of these issues. I've been to the IBM AIX "System Administration" and "Advanced System Administration" courses and have about 3-5 years of sysadmin experience in Unix/AIX. I'm also an officer in the US military 95% complete with my master's degree. I'm not the smartest person by any stretch, but if proficiency is my problem, I can explain how and why Ubuntu / Unix / Linux hasn't saturated (overtaken) Microsoft.

-Paul

[hodenkat]

At the moment, mapping software is totally missing from the Linux lineup of software. Sure you can get maps online, but what about offline?
I have a copy of MS Streets and Trips that I've grown fond of (2006) that absolutely will not install using wine, so I've posted on this board to see what others are doing for navigation software. Another thing is my tax software (Turbotax). Just the thought of trying to install it on Ubuntu has me a little nervous.

[shani248]

Games, Nokia phone stuff, My ipod touch, and some good video recording (From my tv tuner) and video editing stuff. Plus once in a while some psp **** needs windows. Otherwise i'd been mainly in opensuse for the past two years. Ever since hardy came out I'm switching to it on all my computers ! Loving it ! I even made a presentation in Impress a few days ago (i've had ms office installed in my computer for the past 7 years but never made one on it !):guitar:

[prd]

Only games... I keep linux at office, and windows at home.
Well, Foobar200 is what's missing horribly from linux. It is the holy grail of music player. I would gladly pay for it to run under linux, not wine. Some people already agreed to pay $30 each for this software to run under linux, even though it's free in windows.

[rekado]

I can't use my beloved USB soundcard/preampbox Mindprint TRIO. Sound output works but recording just doesn't; thus can't start Jack which I need for live music stuff.
Actually it is only an external soundcard and I wonder why I can't make it work... :(

Besides from that I'm totally happy with Ubuntu 8.04 and astonished how many things improved in such a short time (I started getting into Ubuntu in 06 I think). Even my noname webcam and a FUJI digital camera (which needs special drivers in Windows to access the pictures) work out of the box, and Wine is a gift because it makes the Chinese stock market online banking tool work!

I'm constantly rebooting to Windows to uninstall more and more software (it's like a checklist) after I made it or an alternative run in Linux.

[Barking_Mad]

Games mostly, the games i play either don't run on Linux or Wine well, that and some programs that im yet to find a good replacement for.

I am now running Ubuntu primarily, but dual boot a few windows versions also, i have Vista ultimate and XP pro.

I mainly switch for the games.

So far my main gripes with linux are the Sound and 3D graphics. Had problems with 7.1 surround, getting it to the standard i get in windows, and 3D graphics FPS, again doesn't compare with windows reliability and speed yet, not without an ungodly amount of troubleshooting and tweeking i expect.

[Bruce M.]

My wife ... err ... I mean our ISP doesn't support Linux. So, my wife told me, it stays.

And there W2K sits, fresh install, not a single upgrade, with "freeware" firewall, anti-virus and anti-malware programs that have not been updated since installed on the "clean" Windows partition.

I don't want to boot into it, I don't boot into it, and someday when my wife isn't looking Ubuntu will have another 10 GIG of real estate.

But if you tell her, I'll deny it! :lolflag:

[elgilicious]

No flame here. I began working with Unix and Windows back in 1993. In the late 90s, I was employed by a tri-state healthcare system--to be a system admin for Unix/AIX and Windows. I've been dabbling in Unix-based o/ses a *little* bit over the past 15 years, but I've been dealing with Windows every stinkin' day of that period. So, yes: I'm biased toward Windows.

However, that being said, I would like to objectivly say/claim that your points are valid.

I cannot get wireless working on my HP laptop in 8.04. Frustrating? Check this out:

Ubuntu: Command line, command line, sudo, sudo, gedit. Possible results.
Windows: Google, download, install. Probable results.

I've got the experience and, as a 35-year old dude, I'm on the way to getting the patience to deal with frustrating situations--especially if I put myself in the situation to start (installing Ubuntu). But the scenario I just posed above will kill any (99.9%) potential users of Ubuntu.

I believe in Unix-based operating systems. I've used them in a business setting with good results. I think it's neat to have it on a home machine. I believe there's potential in it.

However, people will stand only so much head banging. Few people have the time for it, fewer still have the patience. Sometimes, FREE just is not enough--especially when it comes down to possible versus probable solutions.

-Paul

Your farcical "bum wireless card" example leaves out the fact that you had to install a dozen other things before you even got to the wireless card; namely drivers for ethernet, sound, video, USB 2.0, etc. That having been said, here's a more accurate version of your so-called Ubuntu-killing example:

Will my wireless card work?
Ubuntu: if you use Hardy Heron, your wireless card will likely work out of the box; otherwise, Google your problem, find someone who has fixed the problem, and follow the instructions
Windows: your wireless card will never work out of the box, so you have to install the wireless card driver. If you don't have the wireless card driver CD, then you won't be able to download it, because your wireless card didn't work out of the box. By the time you install everything, the Ubuntu user is surfing.

People use Windows the same reason unhappy spouses stay married; it's a sad state of affairs, but it's what they know. Anyway, to stay on topic, I only use Windows for games and updating my iPod Touch (which I could do in Ubuntu, but I like to give Windows something else to do).

[charlesbw]

for me it is games, a lot of design software that i still have not found ports off and the inability to fully utilize my hardware (ie sound card and vid card) is whats keeping me on windows. But Ubuntu handles much nicer for me, and like someone above said...i like knowing what exactly my computer is doing. And that is my biggest draw to ubuntu. Plus i love everything technology related, so learning more about commands on different systems is not a bad idea.

[the8thstar]

I keep Windows to do what Ubuntu can't:

1. Run Office 2007. I gave it several tries in Ubuntu with Wine, without success unfortunately. I use OO in Ubuntu.

2. Run Google Earth 4.3, as the same version doesn't work in Ubuntu. I use v4.2 in Ubuntu.

3. Run other software, to do my taxes or to play games that don't run in Wine, etc.

4. Stream media on the Internet. All the how-tos I've tried for Ubuntu fail at some point. Windows has better codecs.

5. Play DVDs. In some cases, the encryption cannot be forced and some DVDs won't play in Ubuntu. They all play in Windows.

6. Stay current. Technology evolves quickly and Windows is still #1. I can't afford to forget what I've learned.

[Donalb]

Mostly on Hardy but keeping a dual boot XP for:

1: Rio Karma Music Manager (Can't get Karma support to work in Amarok, I don't have enough Linux knowedge,and the howto's I found are too difficult to follow when something goes wrong.

2: Word. OOWriter goes no-where near it, even my 3 yo version of Word. My main bugbears though with it (Writer) are: It's inability to import my extensive Word AutoCorrect settings : Ugliness (it's like going back 15 years to Win 3.0 days)

3: eWallet. Simple. Intuitive. Revelation sucks compared to it, and anyway it's XML import feature doesn't work


Regards
Donal

[zipperback]

Nothing keeps me from switching.

I got rid of Window$ long ago. I only run Ubuntu now...

- zipperback
:popcorn: