i Use both systems, i have several computers, my best servers are my Linux pcs, but for my clients I use windows, the thing is you have to try for your self, the first step search for a live cd of linux, with this application you don't have to uninstall your xp and you can run linux with a USb stick or boot from a CD

try a linux distribution from here http://www.livecdlist.com/

i like mandriva

suselive

knoppix

puppy

Adrian Lizman
alizman@omnicircuits.com
http://www.omnidisplays.com

I run Ubuntu on my netbook (Asus EEE) by preference. This is because I've pretty much stopped using Windows altogether - the security vulnerabilities plus the fact that there are no games out there right now that I need Windows to play meant that I was constantly behind on updates.

However, I'm a sysadmin and I run Linux at work, so when it does something strange, I don't worry about going digging into the guts of the computer, while folks who *aren't* so comfortable digging in there may not be so happy.

I find the desktop layout better - the version of Ubuntu I run is customized for my computer. I find the software is more stable and less buggy. I find it's more secure. Power consumption appears to be about the same, boot time is perhaps a little shorter - it's been long enough since I ran Windows that I'm not sure. Installation was mildly annoying, and the updater doesn't work because it *is* a customized install, but at the same time, I don't have to worry about picking up Conficker or any of the other nasties out there.

Yes and no.

For things like Firefox and man-in-the-middle attacks, you're equally vulnerable, because you're on an untrustworthy network, so somebody could have hacked the access point to do whatever. At that point, it doesn't matter what your operating system is, the network traffic is the same.

For someone sitting on that same hotspot looking for computers that have open network ports that they can exploit - yes, you would potentially be more secure, because most of the standard-break-in-and-break-stuff attacks are geared toward unprotected Windows machines. These days, that's because most laptops are running Windows, so it's the biggest target. Servers generally run linux, so they get attacked there, not on a wifi network.

However, if you keep your antivirus software up to date on the machine, and apply the Microsoft patches vs. exploits when they come you, you're also in good shape. It's really a question of what you are most comfortable with, and therefore most likely to keep in good condition. (It's like getting your car tuned up - it'll run better if you do the proactive maintenance on it before it breaks.)

The basic bit to me is this: when a Microsoft machine breaks, it often cannot be effectively diagnosed and repaired. People often have to re-install, which is the equivalent of shooting the horse in the head.

Linux boxes also break. But when they do, they log it. A sufficiently knowledgeable person can fix it. A less knowledgeable person can usually fix it by re-installing just the portion that broke, rather than the whole operating system and every application.

So maintainability is the major advantage.

I've been using Ubuntu reliably as my primary OS for over a year at work now. I'm late to the Linux game because although I enjoy tinkering with my system, I have little time for a system that doesn't work. Ubuntu works. Works enough that I'm willing to use it at work where having a working system -really- matters.

As for the relevance to netbooks, I suspect Linux will be friendlier with the limited resources (memory, processor, et al) that netbooks provide. And if you're going with OpenOffice and Firefox, there's definitely no reason to feel stuck with Windows. I know as well that there is a Ubuntu distribution targeted directly at netbooks. http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-netbook

You don't need to wipe XP as the NC10 comes with a large spare partition intended for creating recovery backups of XP. You can put the Linux (or BSD) distro of your choice on your NC10 leaving the XP partition alone and run it as a dual boot machine. I use Debian Linux on my NC10 and it is really excellent. Make sure you use the 2.6.29 kernel as this supports the NC10's wifi chipset without any fiddling required.

Once you give Linux a try you'll never go back. But don't use the crappy distro that comes with the netbook, get a copy of Eeebuntu.