What can I do?

[CP]

I really hate to say this. But I no longer see the point in me using Linux. I have used it on and off for about 18 months now, I have learned the basics I need to get a system running, I had Wine for my games, Dosemu for the old games, staroffice and all the things I need but i really have to say for me, Windows makes more sense. I am only running a P133 and well Win95 is actually faster on my PC. I don't want to throw linux away because I can see its potential, I just want to know what it there I can do? Is there any thing really I can do in Linux that I can't do in Windows? The way I am going now is I have a free 1200MB partition, I can either:
A) Put it back to windows
B) Put Linux back on
C) Put on QNX which I recently
acquired?

I just want to know suggestions I am a 17 year old high school student. I admit I am a computer geek and would love to learn how to code, but can't that be done in windows as well? I am not trying to put windows above linux because believe me i hate windows. The only reason I use it is because the 2 things I usually do, games and the net, run faster in it for me. I would really appreciate your feedback on this.
Thanks
CP

[RageAHolic]

Use the best tool for the job...if that is Gaming and Windows or Programing and Linux.

If you prefer to use one OS to do a certain job...then so be it. There is no need to be OS-exclusive...there is lots of room on the hard drive. Use both, one, the other or neither...use which ever one you feel does the best job for the task at hand.

[Bradmont]

Yes, you can learn to code in Windows... but it 5ux0rz. Take pretty much any Linux Distro. It will generally come with at least ten or fifteen different language compilers/interpreters... Whereas windows comes with a grand total of... one (MS-DOS batch, for those of you who couldn't figure out what it was :p). Sure, in windows you can get big, fancy IDEs, like Borland Builder & Visual C++, but those are fscking expensive. And there are free linux equivelants (like kdevelop, for instance[tho I don't particularly like KDE]). If you're linux install runs slower than windows, I'd guess you're either using a large, over-featured desktop (eg. enlightenment/gnome/kde), or some variant of RedHat. Try cutting down the bloat :D.

[CP]

Sure both great suggestions. But heres my problem, RH is the mos widely supported, and I don't know how to use the other window managers. I do want to use linux so what distros are recommended. I don't want a newbies distro, i want something that I can use. Really start to attack my system and learn. Secondly what should I learn to code in first? And where can I learn?

PS Windows has to ways to code for free. MSDOS Batch and QBASIC.

[bdg1983]

If you feel the need to ask the question, then I would suggest you stick with Windows.

After all, all those high paying jobs out there for qbasic and msdos batch are quite tempting.

[Molecule Man]

Try Vector (http://www.ibiblio.org/vectorlinux). It is meant for lowend Pentiums. With IceWM as the default (though you can dowload KED or GNOME Packages), it should be plenty fast.

[hndpaul]

Try sticking with dual-booting for now and see if you can learn Linux when it runs in text mode or running a smaller footprint window manager like ICE etc. I would say don't give up: the fact that you *have* asked this question means you probably really want us all to tell you what you already know- you want to carry on using Linux!

Linux is excellent for programming, scripting, analysing source code and how others program their code; it is also good for using IDEs with and for MP3s and CD burning. Yes you can do all this in Windows to some extent, but you can;t see the source code; you can't analyse how a real OS is built and runs and you don't get *decent* tools to do all this with without paying a hefty price.

Linux will teach you operating systems. Windows will teach you how to use a GUI. Linux will work on the web, teach you applications like Apache and Sendmail (all web standards in their fields now), whereas Windows is losing its position to these in the relative areas.

Think about what you want to learn, why, and how you want to do it. If you want an MCSE then go for WIndows- but if you want to become a CS expert then Linux/Unix is the way to go.

Good luck!

Paul, UK

[eXtremist]

Originally posted by Bradmont:
Whereas windows comes with a grand total of... one (MS-DOS batch, for those of you who couldn't figure out what it was :p).

You forgot qbasic! :D My first language!

[CP]

Thanks for the help. I really did want to be told to stay with it, so I have. I have got RH 6.1 on, recompiled Kernel 2.2.18, and have decided to download Vector Linux and Kernel 2.4.* (as long as its not a test). I really want to hank the suggestions I got here, all I need to do now is find out what and where to learn to code in?

[Derango]

Originally posted by eXtremist:
You forgot qbasic! :D My first language!

Actualy...I believe Microsoft stoped including Qbasic on the windows CD, After windows 95 I think. I could be wrong though, I moved on from Qbasic to C/C++ years ago ;)

[Ripley]

Originally posted by Derango:
Actualy...I believe Microsoft stoped including Qbasic on the windows CD, After windows 95 I think. I could be wrong though.

Yep, your wrong. Its on every windows 98 cd (although I can't speak for oem crap).

Look in [your cdrom drive]:\tools\oldmsdos

[Derango]

Hmm...I must have been thinking of somthing else then. Ah well.