Mac vs. PC

[Marinus]

So I have watched one video about Linux. So apparently it is an open-source operating system with hundreds of versions and designs? Is it possible to run Windows and Mac software on Linux? Is it the kind of thing where you have to type in paragraphs of code to get it to do simple things like boot up properly? Or is Linux like Windows 10 or Mac OSX but more customizable? Say I wanted to run RockSmith or GTA V on it, could I do that?

There are emulators that you can install, WINE for example, that emulate Windows. If you have a powerful enough machine you could run Windows programs and possibly games.

And you'll need to do a little bit of typing in the terminal, which is the Linux version of command prompt. But it's not like you'll need to learn coding just to use Linux. Linux Mint and Ubuntu for example are gret for beginners to learn the general feel of Linux.

All that said, I'm not good with Linux myself, for the reason of laziness, but I know how powerful the system is and with a little bit of effort anyone can learn how to operate it.

[Óttar]

There are emulators that you can install, WINE for example, that emulate Windows. If you have a powerful enough machine you could run Windows programs and possibly games.

And you'll need to do a little bit of typing in the terminal, which is the Linux version of command prompt. But it's not like you'll need to learn coding just to use Linux. Linux Mint and Ubuntu for example are gret for beginners to learn the general feel of Linux.

All that said, I'm not good with Linux myself, for the reason of laziness, but I know how powerful the system is and with a little bit of effort anyone can learn how to operate it.

So, is it just something people run so that they can feel cool and rebellious? You say, you could possibly run Windows programs and games... Why can't it do this? Is the software incompatible, or is it just that many people run linux on old machines?

[Kivan]

I like games then i prefer PC.

[Marinus]

So, is it just something people run so that they can feel cool and rebellious? You say, you could possibly run Windows programs and games... Why can't it do this? Is the software incompatible, or is it just that many people run linux on old machines?

People run a variety of Linux distributions for many reasons really, some are for security professionals that need an "impregnable machine" and very advanced tools that Windows or Mac are too unreliable to run, either because of security issues, or compatibility. See Kali Linux.

There are distributions that are made to make old PCs to run faster, such Puppy Linux. Others such as Ubuntu and Mint are easy to use alternatives to Windows and Mac, that are free to use, with free programs, do not require anti virus software etc...

Linux is a superior system to all others, 90% of supercomputers world wide, NASA, MIT, Oxford etc... use Linux, Android is based on Linux. The only thing though is that's more technical to use.

Mac = not much versatility but doesn't crash.
Windows = the Coca Cola of computers, everybody makes software for Windows, lots of costumizability, lots of different manufacturers etc... but can be unrealiable
Then Linux = best of both worlds, just harder to play games on and a little harder to learn to use.

[ovidiu]

I mostly use PCs. Windows 7 was the most decent out of the newer OS's, 8 and 10 are alright and usable. Vista was kind of a disaster. XP still my fav.

Not a Mac guy, other than Iphones. I just don't like them or their rabid followers much, and don't have the video editing needs that some get them for.

I do like messing around with Ubuntu now and then, and installed it on an older computer.