New laptop for prospective Computer Science student?

Yes thank you for repeating but why, what advantages apart from being able to see the source does Linux pose? I need some information other than "it is better if you want to do CompSci"

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yes thank you for repeating but why, what advantages apart from being able to see the source does Linux pose? I need some information other than "it is better if you want to do CompSci"

Posted from TSR Mobile

For me, I use Linux for the choice it offers. Granted, I use Windows as well, but Linux tends to run a little better. When you install Linux onto a computer, you don't just go onto a website and get 'Linux', you get a distribution of it, where the group offering it add their software packages in. So on one end of the spectrum, you have Ubuntu, which runs out of the box and is very easy to install. On the other end is things is Arch Linux, which, although is trickier to get set up is completely configured to your own liking.

Another important part of Linux is that it's not just free in terms of price, it's free in terms of freedom. All of the source code is freely available on the internet, and a lot of Linux and its programs has been created by volunteers. The community is fantastic (for the most part ).

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Birds with the same feather flock together. Or something along those lines.

I think the good thing about Linux is that you can tweak your way down to the little details in Linux. You get a good/practical understanding of how operative systems work. You can tweak your copy!

But I was joking about the self-respecting thingy. But I still think that if you wanna do comp science you should get a transparent machine.

Thank you, do you use Linux? And is there a possibility to dual boot windows and Linux on a laptop?

Or maybe Mac and Linux?!

Posted from TSR Mobile

Linux nut here. You can dual boot windows / linux or run linux of a disc or usb device. You can do the same on a Mac but it is order of magintudes more fiddly. All apps including Word Processors (a plethora of choice) in linux are top notch. Eg: Open Office Word Processor just export to pdf right there.

Okay thank you, I might try running Linux of a USB device first before I install it fully. Which distribution do you recommend?

I really recommend trying several distros. Linux Mint might be good for newbie but there is a huge choice. Debian is for purists but is top notch. Ubuntu OK ish but the older versions are better (all still available). It is possible you may get one you can not install with a corrupt media or something so just try another. Just as important as choosing a distro is choosing a desktop. Big diff in Linux is that desktop is separate from the OS and is just another app - hence u have a choice. Windows users often gravitate to KDE but that is not necessarily the way to go. gnome is sexier by far. Anyway trial and error and experimentation is key. Even as a user you can put all your documents in one drive and access them from several diff OS if you want to keep experimenting. Top Tip: Before you get started get really comfortable with the ins and outs of partitioning yr hard drive and do a few dry runs and think about what you might need. Ask here if you have more qs.

Are people really recommending Windows to a Computer Science student?

Either go for the Macbook Pro and use OS X or buy a laptop online with no OS and install a Linux distro such as Linux Mint Petra. Cinnamon flavour is arguably the best and its the one I use on my desktop.

I haven't used Windows in months now and I'll never go back. Not even for gaming. My productivity has increased tenfold since using my combination of OS X and Linux Mint. The best part of Linux is its free.

The only Computer Scientists I know using Windows are those who are avid gamers and can't let Windows go for that reason alone.

Is Linux quite compatible with most laptops? I suppose it's more forgiving than Mac but if I were too back up my laptop and then start from scratch, format, then partition and then install Linux. Do you want laptop model number? Samsung NP3530EA I think....

As for applications on Linux Mint.

FileZilla for FTP/SFTP.
Terminal for SSH etc.
VLC Media Player for videos - better than Windows MP.
The music player is better but can't remember the name of it off the top of my head.
LibreOffice is much better than MS Office and Open Office - LibreOffice Draw you will need as a Comp Sci

Any other applications you need you'll be able to find plus Linux Mint comes with a software and package installer plus you can run LAMP which is better than MAMP/WAMP as its what you will use when deploying a website to an actual web server online as most use a Linux distro + Apache. Why not practice on your own machine?

Yeah I'm by no means a gamer! I was just unsure because I don't want to make a wrong choice! And do you recommend any websites where I can buy a laptop without an OS other than PC specialist.

And what specs do you recommend for a CompSci student? Kind of in the dark here because as much as I would like i7 I feel I just won't need it.....

This is not easy to answer. Google it up. Ask in forums. Get list of components in your comp eg sound / graphics cards etc. Or just try it. For a mainstream brand like Samsung the Linux kernel is almost bound to have all the drivers. After yr back up (essential) you can shrink your C: drive and partition the remainder in one go. No need to reformat the whole drive and reinstall yr windows stuff (generally). Be prepared for some fiddling at first but don't give up too easily.

This is not easy to answer. Google it up. Ask in forums. Get list of components in your comp eg sound / graphics cards etc. Or just try it. For a mainstream brand like Samsung the Linux kernel is almost bound to have all the drivers. After yr back up (essential) you can shrink your C: drive and partition the remainder in one go. No need to reformat the whole drive and reinstall yr windows stuff (generally). Be prepared for some fiddling at first but don't give up too easily.

For hardware I swear by Lenovo for this reason : They are committed (and have been from the Get Go at IBM) to using industry standard components. Hence Linux always runs like a dream right out of the gate.

PS: Keep off 64 bit.