I've been having some joy with Linux recently.

I seriously dislike Windows. I don't like it's grubby interface, I feel paranoid if I dare to log on to Internet banking, I don't like the way it chews through memory like there's no tomorrow, and again I don't think that the level of security as standard is enough for a normal Internet user, completely unlike me or you, but the great unwashed.

I gained interest in Linux distro's about 3 or 4 years ago and 'dabbled' with it. I tested out Knoppix and Slax and thought that they were both pants, and that I didn't really want to try using it again. Though as my hate for Windows grew, I seeked for alternatives. Alternatives for the average PC user could mean to go out an buy a new Windows PC because they are having trouble with their current PC, but I knew better than that.

I looked for a long time at the Mac OS and envied it. It did everything that Windows did, and did it better. I knew that this was because it was based on Unix, and Unix is super secure, very stable (as standard) and very lightweight. Though the Mac OS is only available with a new Mac computer, and I have never really felt like parting with ?1000 of my hard earned money on a PC that may or may not actually do what I want it to do... maybe I would miss gaming too much?

Gaming is definitely something that I am now willing to sacrifice. The times that I enjoy working in a Windows environment are superceded by the times that I am simply infuriated with it and its stupid ways. Not being willing to spend a grand on a Mac with the Mac OS, I looked at Linux again.

I had a go at using Mandrake (now called Mandriva), SuSE 9.2, and Debian (some version I can't remember). I had the best luck using Mandrake. It didn't work though... I couldn't understand why everything ran so slowly. It was because of graphics drivers but I didn't know this at the time. I gave up and went back to Windows. Then I got angry again and looked in to the most popular Linux distro's. Fedora Core was at that time, the most downloaded Linux distro of all time. I read a few articles on it and decided to give it a go.

My time with it was pleasurable! I tried to stick at it and fix all my problems, and ask all sorts of newbie Linux user questions on forums like linuxquestions.org. Those guys were really helpful and I sorted out most of my problems. Though I stumbled across Livna myself... ever since then, using Linux has been a dream.

It does absolutely everything that I need it to do. It lets me browse the net, it lets me talk to my mates online, and I don't feel paranoid when I open up an application. It runs lightning fast and uses much less memory. It is easy to make your Linux box look much, much nicer than Windows Vista. A lot nicer indeed.

The features list of the up-and-coming Fedora 7 are really exciting. Faster boot times are promised, and proprietary Nvidia and ATI 3D-acceleration drivers may be installed as standard. There will probably be a Desktop and a Server variant of the operating system.

So, I'd ask you all to consider using Linux if you've had the same trouble as me.

If you think that Linux isn't for you, then I'd like to see you reply to this thread with your reasons.

Or if you want to, just share some ideas

P.S. Vista was a catalyst to my Windows hatred.

Yeah, I want to use Linux, just I'm too lazy.

You could leave your PC on overnight to download a CD (set, maybe) or DVD (set, maybe), then just burn it all in the morning.

If you want to use Fedora Core, you only need the first 2 CD's for a standard installation. Then you can install whatever you want over the top of it once you get it connected to the net. As standard, it comes with OpenOffice.org, Firefox, The GIMP, Rhythmbox, Gaim, Evolution, Gedit, loads of games, and loads of other stuff!

Things that would be important for a desktop user to have or use are: [url=http://www.gnome.org/projects/rhythmbox/]Rhythmbox[/url] (very similar to iTunes, it has Audioscrobbler and iPod support), [url=http://gaim.sourceforge.net/]Gaim[/url] (Instand Messaging client), [url=http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/]Firefox[/url], [url=http://www.videolan.org/vlc/]VLC[/url] (Media Player), [url=http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/alternates/]Adobe Flash Player[/url], and perhaps some digital camera software (like [url=http://www.digikam.org/?q=about]Digikam[/url] maybe).

Hmm, its not the downloading that I can't be bothered with, it's more replacing my current OS.

However... I do have a laptop that barely works somewhere in the house, could try linux on that. It's not mine, though.

You could buy one of my [url=http://aaronweb.no-ip.com/p/t/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=838&hilit=]Linux computers that I am selling on Ebay[/url]

I could... if I had the money...

I'll be selling a perfect condition laptop very shortly, I might list it on Ebay tonight or you may want to use it as a Linux starter PC. I can guarantee that everything will work perfectly on it - network, graphics, sound will be fine.

It's a Dell Latitude C series laptop. It has a Pentium 3 700MHz processor, with 256MB of RAM. Possibly a 10GB hard drive but maybe a 20GB, I'll need to check. It will come loaded with Fedora Core 6 with the i686 kernel. All the standard packages will be installed as well as a few extras, including VLC media player, sound converter, etc. Apache comes as standard. It will be security enhanced with SELinux. Good price available for you as a mate!

Hmm, sounds interesting, might have to consider it. Fiver?