Bison Bud

I'm just about fed up with the constant and unreliable updates using Windows, not to mention all the spyware and infectious attacks. I took my photo processing computer off the internet about a year ago because of repeated issues, but now my other computer ran some sort of update and it appears that I'm going to have to wipe it clean and start over again. Therefore, I have no choice, but to use my photo processing computer on line again until I get the laptop up and running again and who knows how long that will last without more problems. I am now seriously considering buying a new, possibly used computer set up to run Linix. I know little about this operating system other than it exists and is open market software. Am I correct in assuming that Linix might be less attack prone than Windows? Are there good photo processing programs available to run in Linix? Any information one might provide about this system would be greatly appreciated!

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I have been running 3 systems on Windows 10 since it's inception and I've allowed every upgrade to come in automatically. I have never had a problem with any of my computers. Is your system up to date physically (do you have a relatively new processor); do you have enough memory; are you using a strong antivirus? I also run a auto driver updater because that's where I found that I ran into the most problems and I also use Iolo's System Mechanic to help keep my system clean. I'm a retired IT tech and I've had to run as many as 200 computers with 4 servers at a time and never had the problems on any of them that you are having. Take a good hard look at what you are doing with your own maintenance and upkeep on your system.

GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

I'm very interested in this also. My HP Envy running Windows 10 and the subscription MS Office is already infected, I think, because it has slowed down to a crawl. Plus, the Photos program is all white sometimes, and I don't know why. I am terrified of losing all my pictures. I don't know why the whole screen becomes white sometimes when I run the Photos program.

melismus Loc: Chesapeake Bay Country

Hi, Bud,

You can set up your computers with dual boot, Windows and Linux (not Linix), keeping your photo stuff in Windows but running Linux for internet. There is good, free photo stuff in Linux, principally Gimp. It is very capable, but quirky and hard to learn. OSDisc.com offers many flavors of Linux, mostly $5.95 plus postage for a DVD.

Cheers,

Paul

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

I have started an inquiry about the Linux system because a fellow who sat next to me at a dinner told me that he has been using it for 10 years and has not had a problem with it. I understand it is free, is less susceptible to being hacked and to viruses. I have a nephew who has used it for years and here is what he says about it:

"As for Linux, I have been using it for about 15 years now. I do a bit of programming work so it lends itself well for that. In years past I wouldn't have suggest Linux for anyone non-technical, however, Linux has matured enough to where it's very to easy to install and use. Nowadays most of us live through the web browser. Personally I use Chrome for my main browser. I very rarely use installed applications like Word, Excel and the like.

Before recommending Linux, I'd first ask you what's the drive to switch? Also, do you have installed applications that you depend on. Again, Word, Excel, perhaps Photoshop or something similar? For any application you'd use in Windows, there is a free/open-source alternative on Linux. They aren't exact replicas, but are similar in capabilities.

With any type of change like this there's always a bit of a learning curve. That is probably the biggest con. The other con would be 'support.' While there is tons to read on the Internet on how to do things, the advice is usually a bit on the technical side. This isn't as bad as it used to be fortunately.

In terms of pro's...probably security would be a big one. It isn't so much that Linux is exponentially more secure, it's just that hackers generally target Windows computers. The other is the ease of finding free applications. If you want a free chess game or calculator application, there literally are hundreds available within a few clicks."

Kevin, my nephew, knows computers inside and out, and I trust his judgment. However, I have decided to wait until after the holidays to pursue this action, but do plan to get to it this winter. So, I have heard two people speak positively about this operating system.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

I forgot to say, when and if I switch, I will make a backup of my current system and probably everything on the computer, just in case I find that I can't use it or that I don't like Linux system.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

OP and others, just a point of clarification which you may already know: There are many Linux "distributions" which means there are choices to be made after deciding to try Linux. There are two or three main kinds of them and then perhaps dozens of good versions within those main divisions. Some are much more user friendly than others and you can re-define user friendly to mean "a lot like Windows to use" for many or most people. There is a big difference between a person switching from Windows and a person who is new to computers. Some distributions favor one or the other of those groups.

Some good news that not everyone realizes: it's fairly easy to have Windows and Linux use the same external HDD as long as it's formatted for either EXFAT or NTFS (in other words, as long as Windows can do its part). That can make the transition a lot easier and allow for having a Windows system for those programs that require it. While there are ways to run Windows programs on Linux, none of them are easy for beginners and none of them are perfect. I know this from experience.

I have taught Linux to senior citizens and helped a few switch over. If your local experts are not providing all the help you need, feel free to PM me. While there are others who are more expert, I'm familiar with the learning curve issue for folks my age or thereabouts.

A caution in advance, though: while there are some good photo editing systems that can run on Linux, I think you will find that most run only on Windows or Mac or both but not on Linux. The good news is that RawTherapee, GIMP and Darktable do run on Linux. Perhaps there are others.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

You can download and make an Ubantu Live DVD, probably other flavors of Linux too, and try it on the sick laptop, runs slower of a DVD but you can see if you like it and if it will run, it is also a good way to clean the HD if you want to reinstall windows, in the past I've had a dead windows install , installed linux , reinstalled windows, stopped all the problems, Bob.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of people seem to love Linux, but I can't see the point. Will all of my Windows programs run on Linux? If, not, why use it?

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

You have described the hell I went through, about ten years ago, when I went through three PC computers. Hell, pure and simple. Then I switched to Apple, and bought my first iMac. Peace, finally. I never saw a Blue Screen of Death, I never saw a problem again.

I would still be using that iMac G5 from 2005 if it were not for Adobe switching from the IBM chip to the Intel chip. I wanted to update, so I purchased the 27" iMac I currently use. It's five years old now, I think, and working very well. Oh, that G5 from 2005? It still works, perfectly. I can't put the PSCS5 on it, but it has the CS2. It's more than 10 years old and still working. When ever I go out with my camera, I use that "old" computer to burn my images to a DVD, then use CS2 to make thumb shots for a jewel box cover.

Apple iMac is the only way I will ever go again. Yes, the initial price is higher than a PC. But take that price and consider its life. Very inexpensive. I paid about $1,000 for my current 27" iMac. But I plan to continue using it for at least 10 years.......with lots of peace of mind.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

The Naysayers will never understand until they buy their first iMac... I am on my second 27" iMac and would never look back. Each to their own, but I am happy.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

I completely agree with the Apple move. Four years ago I gave up on Windows based PCs and moved to the Apple world and have not regretted it one bit. The stuff just works seamlessly. Photos, text messages, etc. are shared across all devices (Mac, Ipad, Iphone) automatically. Its terrific.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I've been running Ubuntu Linux for about 5 years on my main desktop machine. Ubuntu is probably the easiest distribution to learn to use and it is very stable. I don't use any virus protection, the machine is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the only time I have to restart is occasionally after an update. There are lots of good photo editing software packages that run on Ubuntu, all free, the best of which is Gimp which is said to have everything that Photoshop has. Darktable is the free Linux photo workflow software (supposedly similar to Lightroom). Raw Therapee is a free RAW converter and editor to use by itself or with the more powerful Gimp as Gimp does not support RAW files directly. For very quick and easy photo edits I find Shotwell Photo Manager adequate which comes with most Linux distros automatically.

There is a learning curve with the OS and the editing programs but if you have learned to use programs like Lightroom and Photoshop you should not have a problem learning to use Linux and it's programs. You can try it for free. It will run from a USB drive for you to play with before installing it. Then you can install it as a standalone or a dual boot with Windows. I believe Gimp, the Photoshop alternative, also runs on Windows so you can also try it on your Windows system to see if you like it if your main reason for Linux is to edit photos.

I have a Windows laptop which I still occasionally find necessary to do something I haven't figured out how to do in Linux.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I'm with Elliott here. I have had both Windows and Mac. Switched to mac about 15 yeas ago and have not had any problems. I now have a 15" MacBook pro that I use for all my work. I also have a 21" iMac, but like the laptop because of the eye level of the monitor. I have bifocals and having my head tilted up for hours strains my neck.

I have never had a virus that effected my operation. I have run some antivirus software and it found some things and corrected them but they never affected the computers operation. Recently I have had a bit of problems with the new OS and Photoshop but after the recent updates all problems went away so I blamed the problems on software not the mac. I always found work arounds till the new updated software came out but in both case the update was out within a couple of weeks.

The main problem with switching is cost new software. I run Microsoft Office and have never had a problem with it. On a mac you can run windows OS but if you do you will open up to the same virus infections all the windows people talk about. Therefore all my software is made for the mac OS. My Office is Mac 2011 and can do most everything. If you are on a monthly billing with Adobe you will not have additional cost to switch over. Might take a call to them but without added cost.

My oldest son is a major IT person in charge of keeping several plant locations tied together and they are windows based. He keeps them virus free but at a high cost of firewalls. When he goes home his personal computer is a Mac. I think that is saying a lot about the stable Mac OS. Macs aren't going anywhere they are the foundation of the advertising, design and creative community and a huge amount of photographers. It might be a learning curve but I think wise and rewarding without the pitfalls everyone talks about with each new Windows OS that comes out.

If you do switch over to Mac make sure the computer has 16 mg of memory. Helps with multi tasking.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I was going to stay away from the details but I would be remiss if I did not mention that Ubuntu "Unity" is best for newbies to computing but Mint, based on Ubuntu's underlying technology, is equally or more popular and much more similar to Windows in the user experience. They both use the same programs from the same repository. There are even versions of Mint. It's a complicated world out there.

Both can run Firefox and Chrome very well. As most know, Internet Explorer is for Windows only and Safari is now Mac only. Opera runs in Linux, Mac and Windows. These are browsers, not photo programs, of course. Thunderbird, the email program, also runs on all those operating systems.

Lastly, and not for the faint of heart, Oracle offers a free "Virtual Machine" which allows you to run other operating systems "inside" of Linux. Windows 7, 8 and 10 can all be used that way if you have the install disk or can make one. This same parent-child relationship can exist, via the free Oracle program, with Mac or Windows as the parent. There is also an emulator called WINE but that's for another time. The Oracle VM allows you to run Windows in a window (note capitalization here) and even to copy and paste bi-directionally between Windows and Linux while both are running. I do this on my little 2012 MacMini so the computing power to accomplish this is not a problem for most recent machines.