How many run Linux and what problems are you experiencing?

[IronWilliamCash]

Hey y'all

I have a few computers at my place, some run windows, some linux and some freebsd. I was wondering how many people actually run something other than windows. So many people here actually run linux and what issues you have with it (ex: videos, websites, wireless) if any at all. Do you run linux as a desktop or server. Feel free to give any input.

[classicsat]

I run Linux (Ubuntu 7.04) with little issues related to Linux. Some pages render oddly on Firefox, and some video formats will not play, that is about it.

[jpaik]

I run PCLinuxOS as desktop OS on a PC, and Debian on a server. All is swell. No issues that could not be resolved with some patience.

[IronWilliamCash]

All is swell. No issues that could not be resolved with some patience.

Ah indeed one of the best virtues to have.
Thx for the input.

[rpr]

I have 3 Ubuntu 7.10 machines, one Ubuntu 8.04 machine, and one XP machine. The XP one usually gives me the most trouble... I should say that my job is all Linux sysadmin work, so I have a bit of an advantage in that respect.

[stampeder]

We've used Linux boxes exclusively in our home for almost 4 years and everything has been great. We do everything a modern home computing environment should support (scanning, video editing, burning, office, graphics, budgeting, etc. etc.).

The only problem we've ever had was with Canon's almost non-existent support of Linux, which caused me to unplug my Pixma colour printer forever. Bye bye Canon, no more $$$ from me until you get serious about Linux.

I run 5 different machines on my home LAN - 1 desktop PC, 1 notebook, 1 firewall/router, 1 MythTV backend and 1 combo MythTV frontend/Multimedia/HTPC.

I've been using UNIX since the 1980s so Linux was easy when I first used it in 1995.

My notebooks from work have always been supplied with Windows OSes, but I rigged them to dual boot into Linux.

[rsambuca]

Only problems I have had was with printing, just like Stampeder. I already had a cheap Canon printer and still boot XP once in a while to print the odd photograph. For regular day-to-day printing, I just use the free version of the Canon printer drivers from TurboPrint which works with linux quite well.

Other than that, I stick to one of my linux distros for the most part. Every once in a while I will boot into XP or Vista and use it for a few days, just so I don't forget everything. Unfortunately I am my family and friends' resident computer geek, so I need to retain my MS knowledge.

[stampeder]

Oh I forgot - I boot into XP on my notebook about once a year when I need to repropram my Harmony Remote Controls. There is a project announced half a year ago to make them work with Linux but I haven't tried it yet:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=74782

[135iAndy]

I run Ubuntu on my Laptop, my Desktop and my Media server, only have a file server with windows for my wife.

The laptop came with Vista and I can guarantee you that the 2 months it had Vista it crashed and had more hardware problems then you can believe from a "proven and tested" OS , got tired of it and put Ubuntu on it.
Never crashed since, all hardware works.
Wireless took a little effort.

[recneps77]

I put linux on my laptop just to see if it would work to get mythtv going.
Kubuntu 7.04 - worked perfect out of the box except for wireless - BCM43xx chipset. That was obstacle #1 - but a quick google search got me up and running with wireless using ndiswrapper.
Then came obstacle 2. Followed all the instructions to install dvb-something for my HVR-950 atsc/ntsc tuner. Couldnt get anything to tune in mythtv. After a while, I just gave up.

Recently on my brand new build (phenom, 780g) i tried a kubuntu 8.04 live cd - worked 'out of hte box' for everything except advanced video - fixed by installing the ATI/AMD drivers.
I never got far enough to install the HVR-950 to see what happened.
Perhaps once i have it stable in windows I will try again.

[jwt873]

I've been running Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) as my full time desktop for 7 years now. I've come to prefer Linux over Windows.

[Walter Dnes]

I run Gentoo linux. This might not be the perfect "beginners linux". But after a couple of years of linux use, it's the next step up. Setting it up the first time is the big learning curve.

[asd]

We have 4 computers on our home network. One notebook runs Windows XP Pro, two run Windows MCE, and one runs Mythbuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron). We're more used to Windows and we just started using Linux last summer. The improvement of Ubuntu from 7.04 to 8.04 releases is amazing. The 8.04 version had TV tuner and wireless network card working out of the box. It worked on oour network without any tweaks. Once the Windows habit subsides, I think Linux will take over our home computing. I moved our Shaw Motorola 6200 beside the Mythbox this week; Myth controls Motorola 6200 via firewire very well.

[ScottJ]

Just add that I am a happy Linux user. I use the machine as a normal desktop and everything works fine for editing photos, playing movies, surfing etc. I have even found some things work better and easier.

The biggest barrier I have hit comes from the more advanced area of networking. I haven't been able to share files across my network with my windows PC's. As soon as you get into it you start running across the terminal and command line commands and you see the cracks in the Ubuntu surface. Those cracks are deep too.

That said, for most uses Linux is great and I have installed it on other computers.

[dosborne]

Originally Posted by IronWilliamCash

I was wondering how many people actually run something other than windows. So many people here actually run linux and what issues you have with it (ex: videos, websites, wireless) if any at all. Do you run linux as a desktop or server.

I've been running a linux server for internet, firewall, web server, mail server and a few other functions since 1999. My old PII-400 with 512MB of RAM has been chugging along nicely and I only shutdown once every 3-4 months to manually mirror the drives (I could have setup hot swap raid, but ...long story).

I still run numerous Windows-based workstations but anything I rely on is non-windows.

I have a couple other linux servers (file sharing and stuff) along with a Solaris server (Tecra) and an AIX system.

One of these days I'll migrate my desktop/workstation, but I'm not quite prepared to as I have a few Windows-only programs I require on a regular basis.