windos xp pc alternative

Brenna · 10-12-2008, 10:14 PM

I might be buying a computer overseas (north africa) and i was thinking of using something other than the horrors of microsoft. I've heard of linux and apple. what would you guys recommend?

qbawl · 10-13-2008, 12:28 AM

Well, if you buy a Mac, you'll probably like OSX, IMHO (I'm using an old PowerBook as I type, so I'm probably a little biased lol), but if you prefer a PC, you might want to download a LiveCD version of Ubuntu, or just about any other distro which may interest you. With LiveCDs you can give Linux a test run without actually installing the OS into your machine.

If you're not familiar with Macs and have an opportunity to visit an Apple Store before buying, you'd probably be wise to go and have a look before buying, just to make sure you'd be interested in OSX. Good luck and happy hunting.

shuuhen · 10-13-2008, 01:15 AM

Macs are the easiest overall IMO. Mac OS X is a very stable operating system. Since it is a Unix-like OS, it can do almost anything Linux or any of the many other Unix-like operating systems can do.

Linux generally requires more knowledge than Mac OS X or Windows, but a few of the "easy" distributions try to narrow that gap. Definitely not as easy to fix as Mac OS X is most of the time. One upside of Linux is the main limits to what you can do are knowledge and hardware.

There are tons of others, but they'd be a little harder to handle than Linux. FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, etc. They all have highlights, but more for people that already know their way around Unix-like operating systems and have specific reasons for not going with Linux or Mac.

Brenna · 10-13-2008, 09:30 AM

I had a MAC, it was a bit awkward but it was easy and I didn't get "security" problems like I did with a windows pc. I'm really considering getting a linux. I've tried opera and it beats internet explorer all the way. I'm really hating microsoft right now. from all the research i'm doing on linux, it seems like I might just have more "freedom" with a linux, if you get my meaning.

Brenna · 10-13-2008, 09:32 AM

also, is there any way to uninstall windows xp home edition and then install linux on it?

qbawl · 10-13-2008, 10:37 AM

You can use a Linux CD and, as you would with Windows, just format over XP and then install your distro. You could wipe the drive first with DBan or KillDisk, or even use GParted to eliminate an XP partition, but none of those steps are really necessary.

You could also keep XP and dual-boot; it's pretty easy with most distros, especially those like Ubuntu, Mint and the like.

10-12-2008, 10:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brenna Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windoes xp home	windos xp pc alternative I might be buying a computer overseas (north africa) and i was thinking of using something other than the horrors of microsoft. I've heard of linux and apple. what would you guys recommend?

10-13-2008, 12:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
qbawl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 435 OS: OSX/Linux/XP	Re: windos xp pc alternative Well, if you buy a Mac, you'll probably like OSX, IMHO (I'm using an old PowerBook as I type, so I'm probably a little biased lol), but if you prefer a PC, you might want to download a LiveCD version of Ubuntu, or just about any other distro which may interest you. With LiveCDs you can give Linux a test run without actually installing the OS into your machine. If you're not familiar with Macs and have an opportunity to visit an Apple Store before buying, you'd probably be wise to go and have a look before buying, just to make sure you'd be interested in OSX. Good luck and happy hunting.

10-13-2008, 01:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 980 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: windos xp pc alternative Macs are the easiest overall IMO. Mac OS X is a very stable operating system. Since it is a Unix-like OS, it can do almost anything Linux or any of the many other Unix-like operating systems can do. Linux generally requires more knowledge than Mac OS X or Windows, but a few of the "easy" distributions try to narrow that gap. Definitely not as easy to fix as Mac OS X is most of the time. One upside of Linux is the main limits to what you can do are knowledge and hardware. There are tons of others, but they'd be a little harder to handle than Linux. FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, etc. They all have highlights, but more for people that already know their way around Unix-like operating systems and have specific reasons for not going with Linux or Mac. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

10-13-2008, 09:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Brenna Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windoes xp home	Re: windos xp pc alternative I had a MAC, it was a bit awkward but it was easy and I didn't get "security" problems like I did with a windows pc. I'm really considering getting a linux. I've tried opera and it beats internet explorer all the way. I'm really hating microsoft right now. from all the research i'm doing on linux, it seems like I might just have more "freedom" with a linux, if you get my meaning.

10-13-2008, 09:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brenna Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windoes xp home	Re: windos xp pc alternative also, is there any way to uninstall windows xp home edition and then install linux on it?

10-13-2008, 10:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
qbawl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 435 OS: OSX/Linux/XP	Re: windos xp pc alternative You can use a Linux CD and, as you would with Windows, just format over XP and then install your distro. You could wipe the drive first with DBan or KillDisk, or even use GParted to eliminate an XP partition, but none of those steps are really necessary. You could also keep XP and dual-boot; it's pretty easy with most distros, especially those like Ubuntu, Mint and the like.