Well Linux, it's been a good run! But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...

[ThinkBuntu]

After nine months using Linux as often as I possibly could, I'm now realizing that, realistically, I can only use a Linux operating system as a PoC (Proof of concept), a toy, a development tool, an educational device, and of course, as a server. Allow me to explain.

I love the free software movement. I love the general culture surrounding the Linux class of operating systems, and I find the quality of this software phenominal considering that it's been produced, in many cases, by volunteers. This is why I've been trying as much as possible to use Linux full-time. But at the end of the day, I need to step back and think about one thing: Productivity.

I decided that the time for playing with Linux is over, and that I need to decide which platform to work on. In doing so, I made a comparative list, pitting the best that every Linux OS, and the accompanying software, against Mac OS (which also has access to quite a bit of this software: More on that later). Here's what I came up with.

Task: Winner
Office: Tie
Web Design*: Mac
Web Development: Linux
Web Use**: Mac
Multimedia: Mac
Graphics (creation): Mac
Usability: Mac

* My profession
** Includes FTP, browsing, etc.

This in no way means that Linux can't do all of these things, and do them fairly well. But I've been through probably about 40 distros, and have given about five (Ubuntu, Zenwalk, OpenSuSE, Arch, Sabayon, PCLinuxOS) very extended time on my laptop. I used Mint as well, but let's face it, that's Ubuntu. What was I searching for? A product I could be just as productive on as I am with my Mac. I even donated to some of these projects because they did allow me to get some solid work done.

Keep in mind also that my needs are very different from many computer users. I need an enterprise, production, bad-*** web design machine. FTP needs to be quick, easy, and never fail on me. I need a very robust Web IDE, which for me is Dreamweaver. I do most of my work in a text editor (HTML, CSS), but there's a huge difference between Dreamweaver and Quanta in usability and capabilities.

Luckily, I can say with confidence that my time has enough value that I will gladly pay for the best software if it improves my work as well while increasing my productivity. For example, I'd much rather pay $30 for Transmit than worry if any number of solutions in Linux, all of which have failed me for large transfers, will result in missing files, etc. I plan on shelling out $500 for the Adobe Web Suite (Education version! Yes, I'm a youngin') simply because the features and design of Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop alone will easily make up for that total in a month.

I may add to my thoughts here tomorrow, because it's past midnight here in DC and I'm beat. I do plan to continue using Linux, but only as a curiosity and for a few isolated tasks for which it's better suited than my Mac. If I do get into Python development, my software will undoubtedly be for the Linux/Unix community first and other operating systems second.

I don't want to go on too far here, but I'll gladly answer any questions posed in replies.

[Depressed Man]

Nothing wrong with using whatever OS/tool for what you need. Though do you live in DC or work there? Cause it says you live in VA. I live in MD but in the area considered part of the metropolitian area.

[ThinkBuntu]

Originally Posted by Depressed Man Nothing wrong with using whatever OS/tool for what you need. Though do you live in DC or work there? Cause it says you live in VA. I live in MD but in the area considered part of the metropolitian area.

Two minutes from Georgetown, so I'm close enough :^)

More relevant to most folks than "It's late in this small city south of the Potomac inside the Beltway", right?

[amoore]

Sorry to see you go ThinkBuntu, I have seen you a lot on the forums. I totally understand the concept of the right tool for the job. For me it was Ubuntu.

[Depressed Man]

Haha, it's strange. I'm use to using the internet (heck my generation practically grew up with it with a few years offline for most people). Yet I'm still amazed to this date when I find someone on a forum that lives near me lol.

Anyway it's kinda funny. I actually got into Linux because of Vista on my VAIO. I wasn't really happy with Vista plus at the time Wubi was being tested for it so I decided why not. Tried it and loved it. So now it's running as my main OS for my desktop and laptop.

But here's the kicker, at the time I was considering getting a macbook (well I wanted the pro with the videocard). But it didn't have the 2 GBs of RAM and a card reader (that the VAIO had). Despite the VAIO not having a videocard (a hindsight I could overlook since I was using it for University work anyway and my desktop was around for gaming).

So if I had gotten a macbook I may have never got into Linux. Just a funny story.

[ThinkBuntu]

Originally Posted by amoore Sorry to see you go ThinkBuntu, I have seen you a lot on the forums. I totally understand the concept of the right tool for the job. For me it was Ubuntu.

I'll probably still buzz around this forum and Other OS a bit.

[ThinkBuntu]

Gotta love how this got quickly moved out of the Cafe, even though in no way is it a testimonial for Ubuntu. But then again, there are those who equate Ubuntu with Linux...

I figured the post would get shuffled into the prohibitively-long "Linux desktop readiness thread," but I was mistaken.

[FuturePilot]

Sorry to see you leave ThinkBuntu. You would always suggest different distros and then I'd have to give them a try. Lol
But I guess you have to do what's necessary. Good luck with your work.

[ThinkBuntu]

Originally Posted by FuturePilot Sorry to see you leave ThinkBuntu. You would always suggest different distros and then I'd have to give them a try. Lol But I guess you have to do what's necessary. Good luck with your work.

Thanks :^)

Feel free to drop by CSSForums.org if you ever are into web design! Big changes happening over at my little site.

[yogo]

Dreamweaver actually works better for me in Ubuntu, for some reason the FTP part in Windows ran slow as molasses for me. never really liked DW as it is bloated software and I hand code so I prefer WeBuilder or Rapid PHP as it is only around 5.5 mb and can do everything DW can as far as css,html, php etc.


However I have not been able to get them to run in Wine, DW does as well as Fireworks.

I took a quick look around at the html editors for Linux and I did not like any that i would consider using. I do however like the dvd authoring software over the windows apps I was using. We all have our programs we like to use, I have seen many people praise programs I thing are pure garbage.

There are a lot of things I love about Ubuntu and there are things I appreciate about Windows, that said there is no way I would order a Dell with Ubuntu installed, what to save 50 bucks? I would however install Ubuntu on a new Dell Windows box.