[tht00]

Originally Posted by Bryan

so, i've got linux on my laptop, but i really don't see why i'd want to continue using it. i really only do surfing, email, writing papers for school, and normal stuff. None of my iTunes songs will work with it. so, why should i keep using linux?

That's not an easy question.

First off, what's with your iTunes songs? Are they songs you purchased online that are DRMed? If not, you should be able to play m4a with the correct codecs installed.

As for why you should use Linux, I don't have an answer.

I use it because I love it -- it's module, functional, fast, and does everything I can possibly need. Plus, I believe in the free-software movement. I'm sick of putting up with Microsoft's crap, and Apple isn't that much more appealing right now either. All that combined makes it the perfect OS for me.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by tht00

That's not an easy question.

First off, what's with your iTunes songs? Are they songs you purchased online that are DRMed? If not, you should be able to play m4a with the correct codecs installed.

they were purchased w/ iTunes so they have DRM on them.

As for why you should use Linux, I don't have an answer.

I use it because I love it -- it's module, functional, fast, and does everything I can possibly need. Plus, I believe in the free-software movement. I'm sick of putting up with Microsoft's crap, and Apple isn't that much more appealing right now either. All that combined makes it the perfect OS for me.

Vista does all these things. I'm not a big supporter of the free software movement. I haven't tried to set it up, but is my windows mobile device going to work w/ linux? I just don't see any compelling reason to make a permanent switch.

[tht00]

Originally Posted by Bryan

they were purchased w/ iTunes so they have DRM on them.

Thus why I despise any form of DRM or proprietary format. They lock you into one product or platform with little regard for your freedom.

Originally Posted by Bryan

Vista does all these things. I'm not a big supporter of the free software movement. I haven't tried to set it up, but is my windows mobile device going to work w/ linux? I just don't see any compelling reason to make a permanent switch.

If you like Windows, if it does everything you need, and if you don't see a moral obligation for using a different OS, then stay with Windows.

[Reedolo]

I never have liked iTunes. I use Yahoo Music Unlimited which allows you to download an unlimited amount of music for a yearly fee of about $80. Which for me comes out a lot cheaper than if i paid 99cents for every song.

Anyway, this leads me to a question.. I currently use windows, but I'm thinking about buying my next computer pre-installed with Linspire. That's the same thing as Linux, right?

But the problem is Yahoo Music Unlimited won't work with anything non-windows, and neither will Rhapsody-To-Go I don't think. So what kind of program could I use to listen to music and put it on an mp3 player? Will Napster work with Linux?

Also, there are different kinds of Linux, right? What is Linspire? What kind of things would I not be able to do with Linspire that I can do with Windows now? Is most software compatible with Linspire/linux?

I'm really not sure what to do. I don't want to pay to have my next computer pre-installed with Vista because I've heard nothing but bad things about Vista. But I'm not sure if Linspire/Linux would be better for me.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Reedolo

I never have liked iTunes. I use Yahoo Music Unlimited which allows you to download an unlimited amount of music for a yearly fee of about $80. Which for me comes out a lot cheaper than if i paid 99cents for every song.

What happens when you can't afford $80 one year, or Yahoo goes under (not likely, but still), or you change your mind and don't really like Yahoo Music anymore? All your music is gone. That's why subscription services suck. I don't want to rent my music. I want to own it.

Anyway, this leads me to a question.. I currently use windows, but I'm thinking about buying my next computer pre-installed with Linspire. That's the same thing as Linux, right?

But the problem is Yahoo Music Unlimited won't work with anything non-windows, and neither will Rhapsody-To-Go I don't think. So what kind of program could I use to listen to music and put it on an mp3 player? Will Napster work with Linux?

Also, there are different kinds of Linux, right? What is Linspire? What kind of things would I not be able to do with Linspire that I can do with Windows now? Is most software compatible with Linspire/linux?

I'm really not sure what to do. I don't want to pay to have my next computer pre-installed with Vista because I've heard nothing but bad things about Vista. But I'm not sure if Linspire/Linux would be better for me.

The beauty of most Linux distros is that they have free downloadable live install CD's. You can always go to Linspire's site and find out if they offer a live CD, download it, burn it, then boot from it and check out if you'd actually like it or not before you even install it.

Personally, although Linspire was more compatible with my laptop than Ubuntu was, I just didn't like it very much. A lot of the software you can get for it you have to actually buy, which is basically completely against the whole point of using Linux. Once I got Ubuntu up and running with my hardware, it's by far my preferred distro.

[Reedolo]

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

What happens when you can't afford $80 one year, or Yahoo goes under (not likely, but still), or you change your mind and don't really like Yahoo Music anymore? All your music is gone. That's why subscription services suck. I don't want to rent my music. I want to own it.

But if you can't afford to pay 99cents a piece for every song when you listen to hundreds of songs, it doesn't suck at all. But my question isn't about whether or not you like music subscription services. I really don't care if you don't like them. I'm just wondering if there are any compatible with Linux.

The beauty of most Linux distros is that they have free downloadable live install CD's. You can always go to Linspire's site and find out if they offer a live CD, download it, burn it, then boot from it and check out if you'd actually like it or not before you even install it.

Personally, although Linspire was more compatible with my laptop than Ubuntu was, I just didn't like it very much. A lot of the software you can get for it you have to actually buy, which is basically completely against the whole point of using Linux. Once I got Ubuntu up and running with my hardware, it's by far my preferred distro.

Ok, thanks. I'll try to find out more about Ubuntu.

[Cmpdr6]

Ok, I get the reasons for switching, but for those of us that are not familar with programming and what not (who've been raised on the mouse and not the keyboard, as one would say) How would we go about making the switch from XP to Ubuntu? I'm a hardware person, not programmer, and some of this thread was like trying to read Greek for me (I only know English LOL) I've thought about switching for a long time now (even use firefox) I even have a Ubuntu distro from about a year ago that a friend gave me. I've just never taken that leap.
Lyn

[corporate]

Originally Posted by Cmpdr6

Ok, I get the reasons for switching, but for those of us that are not familar with programming and what not (who've been raised on the mouse and not the keyboard, as one would say) How would we go about making the switch from XP to Ubuntu?

I made the switch without having any prior knowledge of Linux. All I knew is that it was free. I haven't logged in to Windows in a year. There's plenty of help online, the wiki, the community, and also some people here. That's how I learned my way around it. I don't think you have to know about programming really.

You could try the live CD and see how you like it. I think Ubuntu is very beginner-friendly.

[Cmpdr6]

ok, downloading file right now. going to check out the live CD you were talking about. guess I'll see huh

[Cmpdr6]

Well I did it. Made the switch....it was alot easier than I expected to do it. Now lets see just how easy it is to operate

[surferdude9375]

Most of the hardships in Linux OS's are hardware compatibility and this is becoming less of a problem as computers are progressing. If you have all your hardware working great with Linux then you have the great experience (until you mess something up or an update messes you up).

[Cmpdr6]

ok, so far, it's running pretty good. a few things I'm having issues with,
One, the dvd drive isn't recognized
Two, my cd drive is recognized in hardware, but every time I stick a disk in the entire comp. freezes up, including mouse and keyboard.
Three, are there special drivers I need to get to be able to install a printer, and other outside items?
Oh, I've been trying to log into freenode.net, with no success, and I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I've tried following all instructions using xchat but I'm getting nowhere

[PatrickStar4491]

Originally Posted by Cmpdr6

ok, so far, it's running pretty good. a few things I'm having issues with,
One, the dvd drive isn't recognized
Two, my cd drive is recognized in hardware, but every time I stick a disk in the entire comp. freezes up, including mouse and keyboard.
Three, are there special drivers I need to get to be able to install a printer, and other outside items?
Oh, I've been trying to log into freenode.net, with no success, and I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I've tried following all instructions using xchat but I'm getting nowhere

What model CD and DVD drives are you using? What model printer are you using?

[Cmpdr6]

printer is lexmark 1300
dvd is sony
cd is an unknown. It has a label on it that says Teac but I've never heard of that brand.

[Cmpdr6]

oh and on the freenode it just says "connection failed. Error: no route to host."