Linux Decision

[animaguy]

I actually never dual booted.

It wouldn't be fair for me to recommend wiping out the Windows machine.

If you have a desktop and a laptop, then I would recommend that you choose and wipe out one of the computers for a dedicated Linux OS.

I personally felt that it was faster to learn because I didn't have to worry about partitioning.

You can learn about partitioning by dual booting so I suggest you try, but if anything goes wrong, don't be afraid to go for all Linux.

Either way it will be a fun hobby and activity if you are the type of person who likes hobbies and activities.

[linbgs]

I don't know to be honest.
I am interested in finding out which Linux OS I should use on my new Gateway though.

[Bill]

I don't know to be honest.
I am interested in finding out which Linux OS I should use on my new Gateway though.

Try out several of them before you decide which is best for you and your machine. Most of the major distros become a Live Disk when burnt. You can boot your computer off the disk to see if you like it. If not, shutdown the computer and download/burn a different one.

[nubbix]

Why dualboot when you can vmware or virtualbox...
I have 4 computers running both Windows and linux pure install.

Why use virtual machines, well you can try Linux distros without harming your machine

[Victor Leigh]

Why dualboot when you can vmware or virtualbox...
I have 4 computers running both Windows and linux pure install.

Why use virtual machines, well you can try Linux distros without harming your machine

One main reason why I don't use virtual box is that it cannot run as fast as running Windows directly. That's why I dual boot.

And there's no need to use virtual machines to try Linux distros because most distros can be run from a pendrive without doing anything at all to whatever is on the hard drive. There is absolutely no danger of harming your computer when you run a Linux distro from a pendrive. Unless you do it intentionally.

[Bill]

Virtual machines have their place. Personally, I multiboot Windows and two different Linuxs on my main computer. If I want to watch Netflix while I'm on Linux, I can fire up a virtual Windows and either switch between Windows and Linux or make Widows a small box in the corner.

Having two OSs running at the same time does eat up resources very quick. If you have a decent processor and a decent amount of RAM, it is not too bad, though.

And, it does make it quick and easy to try out a new OS. You do not need to shutdown your current OS to try out a new one. And, you can easily swap back and forth.

[Victor Leigh]

Virtual machines have their place. Personally, I multiboot Windows and two different Linuxs on my main computer. If I want to watch Netflix while I'm on Linux, I can fire up a virtual Windows and either switch between Windows and Linux or make Widows a small box in the corner.

Having two OSs running at the same time does eat up resources very quick. If you have a decent processor and a decent amount of RAM, it is not too bad, though.

And, it does make it quick and easy to try out a new OS. You do not need to shutdown your current OS to try out a new one. And, you can easily swap back and forth.

Yes, I am sure that's an interesting way of doing it. When you have enough resources. So I, being strapped with limited resources, will just have to do it the hard way. Booting from pendrive for testing. Dual booting for games.

[warrenc]

My feeling was if I used dual boot, I would end up ignoring Linux too much. So I dug out an old computer and put Linux on it so I could have both OS running at the same time. Now I run Linux until I am FORCED to turn to the Windows machine for something, then I am back. After a few months, I bought a cheap dual core computer just for my Linux and it runs faster than my Windows on a higher powered machine. I am also getting used to free programs that are replacing the constant upgrades I used to pay for Windows upgrades.

[Victor Leigh]

My feeling was if I used dual boot, I would end up ignoring Linux too much. So I dug out an old computer and put Linux on it so I could have both OS running at the same time. Now I run Linux until I am FORCED to turn to the Windows machine for something, then I am back. After a few months, I bought a cheap dual core computer just for my Linux and it runs faster than my Windows on a higher powered machine. I am also getting used to free programs that are replacing the constant upgrades I used to pay for Windows upgrades.

It doesn't always have to happen that way. I dual boot but I do all my work in Linux which is just about everything. The only time I need to fire up Windows is when I want to play World of Warcraft. Are you still using any programs which only run in Windows?

[warrenc]

My feeling was if I used dual boot, I would end up ignoring Linux too much. So I dug out an old computer and put Linux on it so I could have both OS running at the same time. Now I run Linux until I am FORCED to turn to the Windows machine for something, then I am back. After a few months, I bought a cheap dual core computer just for my Linux and it runs faster than my Windows on a higher powered machine. I am also getting used to free programs that are replacing the constant upgrades I used to pay for Windows upgrades.

Actually quite a few. I use the Internet to supply the extra money I need to thoroughly enjoy my retirement, so I need Camtasia for making videos and I use Photoshop (no Gimp won't replace it). I also do screen sharing with Join.Me and Skype that don't share my screen under Linux, I can only watch someone else's screen. That keeps me in Windows.