Specs of Laptop 1.40Ghz 1.256 GB DDR 60HD internal 60GB external DVD-CD-RW need I say more? I'm tired of windows too many viruses, maleware, spyware, adware attacks and it keeps me from completing homework, and game engine. I'd like something like MacOS, but you know I've been told can't run Mac on a laptop, and I've tried Ubuntu 7.04 (it's been awhile) Fedora 5 (yea that too) and some other distro of linux, however, there were important drivers missing that I needed to use to have a full functioning laptop. Where to go? edit: Also I'm extremely use to Visual C++ and transfering to linux I know I'll lose the software. Any recommendations if I do turn to any unix system that has the look and feel (without garbage) of Visual C++ would be much appreciated as well...

I'd recommend trying Ubuntu again. Hardy (the upcoming release) is very impressive; I'm running the beta right now. It's the most up to date version I've used so far in regards to the software channels.

Not only that, but they finally included a new version of Mono and MonoDevelop 1.0 in the repositories. MonoDevelop is very similar to Visual Studio in design and can even create .NET applications! (It also supports other languages like C, C++, Java, etc.) It's a very promising piece of software.

Remember, distros are always improving, so the drivers you were missing could very well be one click away. Ubuntu Gutsy was the end of my driver issues; now everything works out of the box. The same goes for Hardy. Also, Hardy has a new installation option you may want to check out; it's like dual booting, but not. :-P

Summary: Try the latest Ubuntu release (Hardy Beta) and MonoDevelop 1.0.

Run windows get a real fire wall, firefox with extensions(no script,ad block,etc), quit being stupid. Seriously most windows computers with a real fire wall aren't that insecure as long as you don't do something stupid. On the other hand I would try ubuntu and pcbsd if you are just looking for a new OS. As far as tools go there is nothing quite like vs out there. I like netbeans or eclipse for non windows development.

I'll second the vote for trying Ubuntu again. It's really a good system, so hopefully they have the drivers you need by now :) There's even some binary Nvidia drivers. Their install CD is a LiveCD, so you can preview if they have what you need before you commit to installing it. Other than Ubuntu, I've had good experience with Redhat but that was already five years ago.

For IDE, Eclipse does handle C++, and it's a great IDE overall, but I am not so sure about how well its context-sensitive functionality like completion, refactoring, and documentation lookup works with C++.

Quote: Original post by aleisterbukowski
I'm tired of windows too many viruses, maleware, spyware, adware attacks and it keeps me from completing homework, and game engine.

The easiest fix for this is quit torrenting and going to questionable websites. I've never had a single problem, and everyone I know who does usually gets it from illegal software downloading. Pick up AVG if you really have problems, and use Firefox over IE (as someone said above). Just playing things smart will be easier than installing a new OS, and on top of it you still get to use MSVC. =)

Vectorlinux and Codeblocks

If you have a firewall and don't install random crap on Windows, you will never, ever have a problem. The reason you aren't getting your "game engine" finished is because you are too busy downloading and installing crap from untrustworthy sources... period.

I'll agree with Stonemetal and Dranith. I've not once ever had a serious spyware/malware problem on any Windows PC I've owned, experienced no instability and have generally had a positive Windows Experience. Any lite adware I may have contracted was easily dispatched with a quick run of AdAware.

Now, I've been asked to clean up many PCs for other people and the two consistent trends are 1)Teenager constantly using torrent or P2P programs and 2) parents who think they know enough to fix shit but don't.

Linux has notoriously bad support for arbitrary laptops in terms of drivers. Laptop hardware is often specialized in some way, unlike the standards present on the desktop. Driver support is usually filtered through the laptop manufacurer, rather than the hardware vendor -- which means a delay at best and a total lack of updates or support at worst.


My advice is stick with Windows, running Firefox with sensible security levels and pop-up blocker at all times unless strictly necessary. Make your Firefox icon easily accessible, set it as the default browser, and use a third-party Instant Messenger like Trillian since Microsoft's Messenger will specifically launch IE when someone sends you a link, even when its not the default browser. Delete the IE icon from your desktop, taskbar, start menu and any place easily accessible -- bury it in Start->Programs where its inconvenient enough to not be your go-to browser, but convenient enough to find when you absolutely must view a site that requires IE (for some reason government sites are really bad about this.)

Now, don't do stupid things with P2P or torrents; nakedhotchickpictures.exe is not what you're expecting! Quit visiting pop-up supported warez, roms and pr0n sites! That sort of thing.

Don't try to fix things that you don't know how to fix, especially if you're just clicking around trying one thing after another until it seems to work again; you're just making things worse. At the very least, research problems you encounter before attempting to fix them -- The internet has a procedure for just about any common (and not-so-common) windows problem and if you're competent at searching google and describing the problem well you should find no shortage of help.

I've run 4-5 different desktops and 3 different laptops over the past 10 years or so, all windows, and I've never once had a need or even desire to re-install or ditch windows due to viruses, Adware, Malware or other cruft. I don't even run a firewall or anti-virus on my computer (though I scan from time to time, just to be safe.) My younger sister, on the other hand, can practically destroy a PC in one month's time. Clearly it has far more to do with the User than the OS (virtues of the security of Open Source notwithstanding.) Linux won't make you develop safer browsing and computer habits, there are just fewer chinks in its armor.

+1 for Ubuntu. Download and burn their DVD (7.10) and try out the live environment. There is no install and nil risk. If that doesn't work for you, try Hardy when it comes out soon.

Since it's been brought up, I can attest to a negative Windows experience. I've had friends who claim they have no spyware or viruses, just like every person who likes to pride themselves on being knowledgeable about computers, but indeed suggesting certain utilities almost always revealed at least one or two infections they didn't even realize they had, and always]/i] exposed malicious BHOs despite the fact they never explicitly launched IE.

I don't agree that the only people who get viruses and spyware on a Windows system are porn miners. I've gotten viruses and spyware from very unexpected sources in the past, and, of course, from other computers on my school network despite the fact that I at least had some idea of what I was doing. I don't like the idea of having to learn the ins and outs of how to use the Internet; it shouldn't be that complicated. (I do agree that many people get viruses from crack, patch, and key generator websites, but if the software is free then there's no need to go to those sites anymore. ;-) )

My suggestion stands. :-) Oh, and I'm a bit confused as to how malware was affecting your game engine? Do you mean it was affecting your game engine's development (b/c it was slowing you down)?