Operating System Information
In December, 2012, w3schools.com reported the following statistics regarding trends in operating system (OS) usage:
| 2012 | Win7 | Vista | NT* | WinXP | Linux | Mac | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 56.8% | 3.0% | 1.8% | 22.1% | 4.8% | 9.2% | 1.8% |
Their conclusion? “We see that Windows 7 and Windows XP are the most popular operating systems.”
There are strong opinions regarding which OS is best. People who prefer Mac OS often claim it is simpler and “it just works.” Windows supporters often say there is a wider variety of software available for Windows OS. Linux supporters claim better security and that there is an abundance of free and open source software for Linux OS. Individuals should choose which operating system works best for them.
Personally, I have found Ubuntu Linux OS very helpful. It meets most of my needs very well. This article will highlight some of the benefits of using Linux. Remember that this is what works for me. You may choose a different solution. But if you want to find a FREE solution without paying for any software, keep reading.
Hardware: I have installed Ubuntu on a variety of PC hardware configurations including older desktops, old and new notebooks, and old and new netbooks. I have only had problems with two installations. One old computer seemed to have a hardware problem which caused the monitor not to work. The other challenge was a new notebook computer with an nVidia video card. For some reason, nVidia does not play well with Linux. However, I found a work-around and am very pleased with that computer.
If you are considering using Ubuntu, the best way is to test Ubuntu on your current computer. You can test without changing any software settings. It is a totally safe way to experiment. Do not worry, you cannot damage anything, so feel free to play around.
How do you test Ubuntu?
Read installation instructions here. The article will walk you through this process.
- Download Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS)
- Create a Live CD — Directions here.
- Burn the CD
- Boot to the CD rather than to your computer’s hard drive.
- Choose “Try Ubuntu” (Not “Instal”) and play until you are done.
- Choose “Shut Down” — Remove the CD —
- Boot normally to Windows.
More to come….