LINUX - VS - Windows ????

[Tangoindia]

First i have to say that, i'm already upset with all the Virus Attacks that WE users of Microsoft have to go thru, and i'm planning to take a dramatic change and TEST Linux - But really i don't know much about Linux, and i would like to know if someone has an experience using LINUX with Photoshop, does it works good for graphics ??

I Do know that there is a lot of code to do but besides that - there is others Things ???

Please any advice is welcome -

Thanks in advance for your comments

Cheers :beer:

[roman.johnston]

I am a heldesk technician for a pretty sizable company.

I feel that there are as many holes in Linux as there are in Windows.....so why don't Linux users get hit as often?

It's not about the code....it's about popularity. If Linux was on the majority of machines....and Windows was up and coming....youd be complaining in complete reverse. Hackers dont bother cracking code and creating viruses...etc....for the least used OS'es.....their goal is to cause the most mayhem....so they only work on the most popular OS'es.

I use Microsoft products with a firewall installed and Antivirus I keep up to date. I have only had two viruses in the last 5 years....and both of them got caught by my Properly configured AV software....so I just got a notice of the quarantined offenders.

1. Install a GOOD AV software and keep it updated (I use the auto update settings on mine)....and make sure you configure it to filter incoming and outgoing mail. (AV software will not protect you against web mail....thats up to you to practice safe mail practices....like not opening mail...especially attachments from people you dont know) I reccomend Symantic products that DONT have a firewall product built into it. (I do not like symantecs firewall product.....they should stick to what they do best....AV)

2. If an attachment is suspect, I download it into a "scan" folder on my desktop....and scan it with AV software before opening it.

3. Go to ZoneAlarm.com and get a free copy of their firewall. It's truly the best product out there, and install it.

4. When a REALLY big virus hits the news...do a manual update of your AV definitions.....first thing when you get on your computer.

I guarantee you that while most viruses are written for MS products....Linux is becoming more popular...and more viruses are being created as the oppertunity to create mayhem increases.

My advice is.....you'll have more problems trying to get all the products you have...or need in Lynux.....than you will have with just keeping a decent defense in windows....

If your still game....by all means give it a try......Lynux needs people trying it to keep its development alive....as I am by no means a Microsoft lover either.....I truly think Microsoft needs the competition to keep them on their toes.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Roman

[Tangoindia]

Hi Roman ,

Thanks for all the information :thumb: -
Really I appreciate all your help, and now really makes me think about all the change :twak: , but i think i'm willing to give a try to LINUX - to see what is the behabiour <-- (i'm not sure about that word)

But tell more about the compatibility for Photoshop in Linux - Does the Graphic Mode is 100 % ??
I never heard people working in graphics using LINUX - normally they use a MAC -

Maybe i should calm down and stay with Microsoft :bang:

Cheers :beer:

[amBush]

I must say i don't agree with a few things you say Roman.

I'm a very experienced Windows and Linux user. I have a lot of experience with system administration and software development in both those platforms. I'm also a power user of both platforms for many years.

It is true that the most popular Operating Systems are the most attacked... but only by virus or spyware.
Linux *is* widely used! It is the most popular system for web hosting: it's free and it provides the best security. A Windows web server breaks much faster and much easier than one running Linux.

There are very good (free) Antivirus products that allow any system to be automatically protected. It is very easy to avoid viruses. If the Antivirus is any good, it will scan every file you run, keeping you fully protected (the file won't be loaded if it is infected) and avoiding you to take action (like doing a manual scan).
Firewals like Zone Alarm provide an acceptable protection, but don't rely much on them... there are many ways to get past them. They will do for a home use computer.

Commercial reasons and the fact of being Opensource make Linux a far more stable and better OS than Windows.
Let me explain a few issues that justify the above statement: Microsoft has important deadlines for their Windows releases, and when we talk about deadlines, we are also talking about money. That's why some versions of Windows are full of bugs... they are released without the code reaching full stability. Linux is only "officialy" released when it's code reaches full stability. The fact of Linux being Opensource make it possible to anyone to modify the code for a certain application. This means that the code is improved everyday by millions of developers around the world. If a security problem is detected, it is corrected immediately! Most Linux distros allow automatic updating, so you just have to be connected to the Internet to have your system fully protected.

If you are a software developper, you can even see the code for every Opensource program you are running on Linux - you can see the code for every funcionality of the program and be totally aware of how it works. Free Windows software often brings spyware that monitors everything you do without letting you know about it (take Kazaa as an example). Just install Ad-Aware and see how many spyware entries it detects... :!:

Unless you are already experienced with Unix-like systems, you may find Linux extremelly hard learn and use. It's not garanteed that a certain Linux distribution will detect every piece of hardware you have on you computer...

By the way, Windows' software won't run on Linux (unless there is a specific Linux version; you can also use emulation, but i don't recommed that at all). I don't think thare even is a Linux version of Photoshop... :shock: GIMP is great for graphics when using Linux! :-)

I hope this is of any help! :-)

Take care!

ps: Linux is great, but Unix is even better... i have an unix server and love administrating it! It rules! :cool:

[markscholey]

I am pretty much in agreement with Roman.

Given the choice I would stick with Microsoft. If you are dead set on changing OS go with Macs, they too are relatively virus free and have so much more support for Graphics use.

Changing your OS is expensive and quite frankly a pain. Installing decent Anti-virus software is much easier and definitely cheaper!

[ap.]

Linux is about to surpass Mac's in market share. :-(

I've never used Linux, but I believe there's a free program that rivals Photoshop, called Gimp. It takes some time getting used to, as the interface is a big switch. But, it has (so I hear) a lot of the same features, once you find them.


Unless you are already experienced with Unix-like systems, you may find Linux extremelly hard learn and use. It's not garanteed that a certain Linux distribution will detect every piece of hardware you have on you computer...
This will be your BIGGEST issue switching. So, expect to spend some time. Better yet, get to know someone who can help you. I think this problem is improving, but its not quite ready for the public, in my opinion.

I prefer Macs, too. I have an iBook that I restart, at most, once or twice a week.

If viruses are your main issue, stick with the OS of your choice, get a router/firewall (under $50), install ZoneAlarm (free), get decent anti-virus software ($30 a year), and stop opening suspicious email (If it's really important whoever sent it will send it again).

Just to complain ... My WINDOWS desktop (winXP) contstantly crashes causing all windows to close and an annoying wait for the system to redraw the screen. This is a terrible interface! :mad:

[elCesar]

Greetings to all.

I wait that the translator "inhuman" that use it doesn't ruin the message!.

In the first place, I believe that the virus is not an enough reason to change operating system. I think that with a good up-to-date antivirus, a simple firewall and something of caution is avoided 99% of the problems with virus.

I believe that it should be considered the system Linux like alternative to Microsoft, since all the operating systems of Microsoft contain many problems of security and stability. Linux is a much more stable system and, apparently, with less problems of security.

However it is necessary to keep in mind that 95% of hackers attacks and virus are against systems Windows. If the Linux begins to extend a lot, it is very probable that many appear more attacks against this system, and then we will see if it is safer.

My advice is that you prove it without eliminating the other system. Make a new partition in the HD (you can use the Partition Magic, a stupendous program) and the Linux installs in her. Linux recognizes partitions Windows, although Windows doesn't recognize partitions Linux. You can download some boot program that allows you to select the system in which you want to begin the session and to prove this way the Linux without eliminating your current system. If the result doesn't convince you, you can eliminate the created partition and to continue like you were at the beginning.

I hope I have been understood and that it is you of help.

Luck!! :thumb:

[roman.johnston]

AmBush...you might be justified in your zeal with Linux and Unix servers....but were not talking servers here....were talking desktops.

I still stand by my origonal assesment in when viewed in that context.

I am running XP Pro.....and I might reboot once every 2-3 weeks.....im sure there are better Linux figurs out there....but thats not bad.

AP.....its not the OS that is the crashing problem....are all your drivers and OS updated....I never have these problems like you describe.

Roman

[Litho]

I have experience on all three platforms and must say that for sheer productivity Windows works best for me. I have a Linux desktop/server that I use for development, batch processing, and browsing when my PC is doing some mega image crunching. Mac is great if all you are going to do is photo work. But in all three cases there are vulnerabilities... maybe less so on a Mac, however.

Before I installed a firewall (I am very happy with my D-Link but you might want to look at some reviews (http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4500-5_16-0.html?qt=firewall&tag=srch)) I had very few virus issues, but lots of intrusiveware problems... however my Linux box got rooted frequently, and I didn't want to put a ton of effort into maintaining my own IPchains rules.

After I installed the firewall I have had no problems. Intrusiveware is still an infrequent CPU issue, but adaware and a few other utilities help keep that down to a minimum, and the firewall frustrates their communication. I also make sure I have the latest M$ Security patches.

My best suggestion is to invest in a firewall and intrusion detection software before retooling yourself on a new OS.

[XR62002]

I'd just like to add a few comments here. I have been an MCSE for nearly 7 years now and I like to think that I am fairly cluey with computers. With that in mind I decided I would have a look at Linux on a spare PC I had lying around and, with very little Unix experiance, I had no end of trouble getting used the different way of doing things. By no means am I a Microsoft freak who thinks that nothing else is any good (I'm sure Linux works great for an expert user) but I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you don't have much experiance with Linux there is no way I would recommend doing a cold turkey cutover, you will go crazy!. I would suggest using a second PC to learn Linux on if you have one, or otherwise set your system up to dual boot as elCesar suggested :-)

[Stuart Elflett]

While unwilling to move to XP just to be able to use Photoshop CS, I would be unwilling to throw out the vast majority of packages I have that I use daily in my workflow simply to avoid using windows... Photoshop7 & Photoshop Elements 2, Breezedownloader, Opus, Capture One LE, Incredimail, Opera, etc are packages that I need to use...

I have a distribution of Linux that came with a lap top... I toyed with installing it, on a dual boot basis, but then realised that even if the laptop was a hundred times faster running under Linux, it would be pointless if I still had to use windows to use the software I needed...

Protecting yourself from virii in windows is actually quite easy - if you're having problems it's more a case of not being aware of how to stop them, more than being victimised because you're using windows...

Cheers,
Stuart

[Tangoindia]

Hello Again to everyone,

First i want to say one very
BIG THANK YOU
To all of you, for the comments, and to point some things that i never think about it. :angel:

So now i'm going to keep Windows and get all these software you mention :deal: to avoid or minimize the danger of these Virus Attacks and be more alert Anti Virus, Fire Wall Spybot etc... , But at the same time i will start using Linux :love: with the dual Boot, so i will learn how to use Linux, and see if also GIMP will be as powerfull as photoshop and get to know all the advantages :bounce: and disavantages :brick: of LINUX.

if you do have more ideas please keep me posted, and again thank you for all this help, please have a beer :beer: i'm buying today,

Cheers to all :music:

[JimL]

I'm late to this thread but I believe that Windows is issued with these "bugs" to help MS keep control of the unauthorized copies of their system. I have been running MS Windows XP home edition for 6 months now and have had only one crash which a reboot corrected. On Windows ME I lived by use of the Restore program and I had to check the other day to see if I had it running in XP. I use V-Com antivirus and 2 way firewall, Spybot S&D, and the Google toolbar for anti popups and they all work as advertised. I think that Linux will be the next big home operating system and you will know when it has arrived when Microsoft issues their branded version of it. The threat of Linux was what kept MS from abandoning their '98 systems as they first announced they would and I look for them to enter as soon as their lawyers can figure how to keep Red Hat and company from being able to use the Windows applications.
JimL

[musthavemuzk]

WOW
was not expecting a tech thread at a photo forum.
i have dabbled in Linux, but as Stuart stated so much of what i use and like is windows and easier to do and setup and use in windows. so i stick with XP pro.
many of the people i work with and other friends i have that have computers and are online are always getting attacked or whatnot. i seem to go untouched. guess the time i spend securing things is worth it.

Monty

[zion]

Well Linux is not as difficult to use as it is projected to be. All depends which distro you use. If you just wish to give it a try, I would suggest Knoppix Linux as you do not even have to install it. It simply runs from a CD with nearly all features. Linux arcitecture is much robust and so relatively less prone to virus or simmilar attacks. But the greatest problem with it is the softwares. Most of the softwares that we use for graphics work are not available on Linux. Though GIMP is considered to be good but I doubt how close it comes to the convinience of Photoshop.