Ubuntu 9.04 has a cool new install. It installs in windows and never does anything but install like a normal windows program using files instead of directories. Then when you reboot windows boot loader lets you choose between Linux or Windows. It is called wubi.exe which stands for Windows UBuntu Installer and the base install is only 4 GB. Ubuntu may not be as hardcore as other distros but it is a starting point to start learning Linux. most releases of Ubuntu can even be ran right from a cd or installed on a 4GB thumbdrive

Check it out!

I love Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) but i do need XS sp3 for some apps...but Linux is making a lot of headway. Instead of RH I would use Fedora; unless you are running a server which is what RH is made for

i use windows.i have gotten used to it.
well sometimes it does annoys me.most of the games dont support linux or mac.
someday i would try out mac.it does have a beautiful ui

I use Windows XP SP3 as my primary OS. All the bad juju around Windows is ridiculous. Linux overcomplicates every little detail -- Unix is alright, and I am a big fan of NetBSD (which I run as my secondary).

I am a newbie to linux. please someone enlighten me...
If we don't consider price on windows OS then:
Why should we use linux?
What a linux can do that Windows cant?
I am very used to windows.installing anything is damn easy and bugs are very less. but i m even unable to play mp3 on linux.i downloaded all the plugins but even then i doesn't play..
Operating linux is rather very tough than windows..

Thanks in advance.

I used to be exceedingly fond of Ubuntu and I dual-booted that and XP (for Win-only gaming, of course ). Unfortunately, I fell for the idea that AMD is open-sourcing video drivers and got a new ATI-based notebook instead of the usual nVidia-based one. After multiple failed attempts to get some kind of X server working properly (aka. not at 800x600 with 256 colors) I gave up and settled for Win 7 on my main machine. As far as Windows goes, I'd say this one is shaping up nicely and it's free for the time being. I do miss my fancy key binds and devil's pie though. Maybe next November will make me happy again.

@TheHacker
There are lots of reasons to choose some flavor of Linux/Unix over Windows and they all depend on what you need.

As far as installing programs goes, I find it's a LOT easier to do in Linux using your distro's package manager. It's also safer and less buggy because all of the packages (apps) you find in the default repositories are tested specifically for your particular version of the OS and the package manager provides a single, automated interface for getting updates to everything.

Not being able to play mp3s out of the box does NOT mean that Linux doesn't have the ability to play music. The problem is that mp3 is a proprietary format and its 'owners' want people that use the codec to pay for the privilege. MS pays and passes the cost to you, Apple pays and passes the cost to you, any mp3 player's manufacturer pays and passes the cost to you. Since Linux distros are usually free, the developers can hardly afford to pay or face legal action from the 'owners' so they do not include the codecs by default. They do provide the option of installing them separately for people living in areas where the 'owner's' claims have no legal grounds.

Linux is a very flexible beast and there are a LOT of Linux variants out there, many of them covering unique niche markets. I have an 486 computer (yes, you read that right... it's a 17 year old machine still running in its original configuration) that is happily running the latest version of Debian in a VERY trimmed down config and which I occasionally play with. It's great for teaching kids how to code, especially how to code PROPERLY, because being lazy and not thinking about the complexity of your algorithms will really make you unhappy when you get to the running part and you won't need fancy math to see something is wrong. Now, I admit this is an extreme case and your average home user won't ever need to deal with it. But the fact remains that the 'good enough' configuration for home use is several generations behind today's desktops and for such machines you can either use a modern, current, fully patched Linux-based OS or an old, no longer supported version of Windows. And unfortunately for all the Windows XP users, the plug has already been pulled for it.

I use windows Vista 64 bit ultimate, (gaming)

triend ubuntu 9.04, didn;t like it.

im also dual booting mac os x leopard, i love it.

I dont know but I find linux very buggy. Like one i mentioned earlier, that even after downloading the codec mp3 wont play.

Now please solve my this problem:
When i login with pidgin mesenger, it hangs. i have to force quit it.. can you tell whats the problem? or any other mutli-network messenger for linux, not web based that is good and not buggy??

I don't think this is the best place to be asking for Linux help and you most certainly did not provide enough information for anyone to actually have a chance at helping you. If you're using Ubuntu you should bookmark this site and use the search function to come up with results such as these. If it's another distro you've installed find its own community forum and get friendly with the search and various categories. As usual, if search doesn't help actually posting your problem with exhaustive details will generally result in it being solved pretty fast.

I've settled with FreeBSD - it's fast, stable, secure and I have lots of scientific stuff readily available in the ports/packages for which Windows versions are scarce. The hardware support is quite good nowadays, and for the few Windows applications which I occasionally need, I use a virtual machine.

I love Linux because, like s400py, I don't look at what Linux [I]doesn't[I]have which is mostly gaming and instead look at all of the great software available FOR FREE. If you want to do anything at a more technical level than playing a game, Linux will do it and chances are you can get free software to do it. I am amazed at all of the scientific, education and multimedia (to the level of misc playing recording and editing) software that you can get right from the add and remove programs installer. And if you truly want to use a windows program Wine or a version of it will take care of it.
You also need to consider the safety of not needing anti virus and other network safety programs to go on the net.

I use Windows primarily and have always thought it was the superior operating system. Next to that I would have to go with Linux because I love the repositories for installing programs and such. And in last we have Mac.......-_-

My previous experience with Ubuntu (6.0 version or so) was bad. Since I'm a gamer, it didn't meet my expectations, and I simple didn't like it . I'm sooooo used to the Windows GUI and to the normal crashes, BSOD's, you name it

Windows is everywhere, and looks like we have to deal with it.

I use Windows 7 RC on my desktop since it pukes up anything else I put on it. But on my laptop I have Ubuntu Studio 9.04 (for JACK, Ardour, various Synth programs and Audacity). I have had Mac OS 10.5 on my desktop but the thing eventually becomes self-aware and things start to get buggy after a while. :P The last Linux distro I had on my desktop was Fedora 11 KDE.

I recently re-acquired a P2 350. Dual booting it with WinME and PuppyLinux.

Using Windows XP (a version of New Technolgy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT) and liking it!

I use Linux at home Windows XP at work. I even have a PC without an OS I just boot from a Live CD. Anyway what wrong with XP my settings are bulletproofed and it works solidly for more than 3 years.

Compiz Fusion / Beryl

Wine works superbly on my Puppy wNOP. Does not work on my GOS and Knoppix and can't even install on Mandriva One.

Just look around this site http://distrowatch.com/.

Well, for me Linux utilization in large scale its just a matter of time. Think again: As more people get intelligent, more they're will be looking for a system that provides eliable, secure, fast and stable environment for their needs. And we all know that all distro's actually fits it all, and also gets connected mobile devices and printers with no problem. But to get the system working properly, the user has a little trouble making all the patches and packets that the system need installed with no headache, I would be lying if I tell its easy. But the user needs to have at least a curiosity to try read all the documentation. And that's when the users gets more intelligent. Reading and get your system and Sheets organized, if you follow the exactly what they say, you'll get less in trouble, and plus you will be more organized at your systems. Also, trying to implement additional tools will not be a headache anymore, you'll get your system better and better. And that's why I said before, the use of linux in large scale it's just a matter of time. When people get more intelligent, they'll be looking for a good system. That explains everything.

For me, if you use a linux as your primary host, that's ok. If you're not using, I think that the Windows System still a good option, and accepting the fact of Windows still being a most used OS in world, if it works for you, so that's ok too.

Well, if anyone wants to know about a system for beginners, I would say that's its coming a new version of Ubuntu (9.10) in 29/10/2009 probably. For now, they're leaving a Beta Version for tests at the download area. Wait till it arrive and give it a shot. I think we'll see a good stuff this time, and the new users will be surprised.

windows, but only because it's convenient.