Well keep in mind the learning curve is much higher than XP for most people especially when it comes to managing or installing new content (most are in packages which does make life a bit easier). For ease I would say Ubuntu over red had linux. Also most of the benefits of *nix is shared by OSX (based on FreeBSD unix), but you have to own a mac to use it, or have a PC rigged in such a way to run it.
Also crossover won't run everything, as a webdeveloper, I wanted to run IE7 and IE8 beta on my mac for testing purposes. CrossOver 7 only supports IE6 and lower pretty much useless to me. Also there's only about 15 applications that are known to run solidly on cross over. So as a result I use vmware fusion instead on my mac to run windows when needed. Also Since I'm on a mac I already enjoy most of the benefits of a *nix system.
DieselPowered
2008-11-03 06:18:58 UTC
There is truly no reason to not run linux, with cross over emulators or WINe, you can run every application you would want to run on Windows.
Red Hat is not however a free distro of linux.
But if you are looking for a free, extremly popular, well maintained distrlook intonto UBUNTU, http://ubuntu.com
Linux is also much lighter on resource and more stable. You don't need to worry about defraging or anything. LMaintenancence.
I myself, run OpenSuSe11 and Ubuntu Server.
deonejuan
2008-11-03 06:07:17 UTC
1. XP virus magnet / Linux less than 100 possible
2. XP unavailable new, discontinued / Linux free, free updates
3. XP runs pirated software / Linux accepts OpenSource Software
4. XP needs Pro Edition for multi-user network / Linux works out of the box as a network workstation using multiple user accounts.
5. XP runs more games / Linux, who needs games?
6. XP requires authorization code / Linux, you own it
7. XP licensed for you to use until futher notice / Linux, you own it
ⓘ
This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.