Software Alternatives

[Master Razor]

I said it many times but now I'm serios: I'm jumping to linux.
I feel that windows is too restrictive for me (whatever you want to do must be done with either 3rd party software or tweaks) and I'm sick of it.

With this in mind I need your help on finding replacements for windows software. So far I know:
MPC-HC / madVR ---> mpv.
Adobe Creative Suite - no replacement
Keepass ---> keepassX but not compatible with 2.x version databases.

Let's contribute to this list and help others as well.

[Sazzy]

I don't see the problem. Most linux things are third party as well.. They just seem more coupled into the OS, but isn't it actually just really modular?

That being said, got any examples of those things?



As for MPC-HC, for linux I like VLC best.
Adobe -> Gimp


If those three things are your thing, you might just want to go for a mac instead.

[Master Razor]

If those three things are your thing, you might just want to go for a mac instead.

I don't have a MAC and don't like the ideea of installing hackintosh on a PC.

Some things buillt-in that I needed for a long time:

• I can partition my drive into 100 little partitions without a sweat.
• No more drive letters.
• Ability to make partitions read-only.
• Better security administration and ease of use
• Better sharing posibilities
• OS is modular (each user can have it's own partition)
• Dedicated swap on separate partiton

Can't you share my joy for a second? I'm kidding, still would be nice to see what I see.

I'll try VLC. Didn't like on windows though. Have you tried mplayer on linux?

[Sazzy]

I don't have a MAC and don't like the ideea of installing hackintosh on a PC.

Some things buillt-in that I needed for a long time:

• I can partition my drive into 100 little partitions without a sweat.
• No more drive letters.
• Ability to make partitions read-only.
• Better security administration and ease of use
• Better sharing posibilities
• OS is modular (each user can have it's own partition)
• Dedicated swap on separate partiton

Can't you share my joy for a second? I'm kidding, still would be nice to see what I see.

I'll try VLC. Didn't like on windows though. Have you tried mplayer on linux?

While this is rather off topic, I feel compelled to go into it anyway.

- Can't "Disk management" do this? I've always partitioned this way myself.
- You can mount drives as folders on ntfs drives, so you only have a C-drive. Still, one letter I guess. Not sure why /home/Saz is better than C:\Saz though.
- How to mount an NTFS partition read-only in Windows? - Super User
- Advanced sharing is actually pretty decent, especially when combined with directory junction links. How to Use Advanced Sharing in Windows 7 - LockerGnome
- Bit trickier in windows, but directory junction links can solve this as well
- Starting vista, there is a swap partition built into windows.


- I don't like mplayer at all Hate VLC on windows, it's good on linux though. Mainly because I feel like most players on linux are crap.

Anyway, that being said, hope you enjoy your time in linux :)
I just go into it because I have both machines running at home (linux on laptop, windows on desktop) and I just enjoy my desktop so much more... *shrugs*
If I _was_ more linux minded, I'd still opt for the mac in the long run, though. Too bad they're overpriced :(

[Master Razor]

there is a swap partition built into windows.

That's not a swap partition, I'm affraid.

Can't "Disk management" do this? I've always partitioned this way myself.

Yes but windows uses primary partition which are limited to 4 entries. You could create logical partitions but windows will never boot natively from them.

Not sure why /home/Saz is better than C:\Saz though

Drive letters are limited while UNC paths are not.

Mainly because I feel like most players on linux are crap.

My point exactly.

Any chance hardware decoding works on linux? Like CUDA or DXVA on windows?

[shadowww]

CUDA works if you install binary driver from nvidia.

mplayer works very well, but you will probably want some GUI fronted for it. Like Gnome Mplayer or SMPlayer.

I can partition my drive into 100 little partitions without a sweat.

why would you do that o_0

[anon]

After you create your 100 partitions, make sure you try the fbdev output driver in mplayer

[Sazzy]

Drive letters are limited while UNC paths are not.

If you mount all drives as ntfs folders like I suggested, you'll only need one letter. You'll have 25 more just waiting to be assigned, yet never will since you don't need them.

Any chance hardware decoding works on linux? Like CUDA or DXVA on windows?

VDPAU :)

[SealLion]

Good job Master Razor.
I'm really happy to see a Windows stalwart make the switch as I did myself. I don't blame you for getting sick of Windoze. Though your reasons are understandably different than mine were at the time I did.

I do understand that your looking for an alternative to Keepass. Have you considered Lastpass at any point in your decision-making?

If not, you might want to try Wine and run Keepass under that. It shouldn't be too difficult.

Just out of curiosity, what type of distro will you be looking into? Unless you've already made the jump-over to one of your choosing.

[Master Razor]

Just out of curiosity, what type of distro will you be looking into? Unless you've already made the jump-over to one of your choosing.

I like fedora as it is closely tied to RedHat.

If not, you might want to try Wine and run Keepass under that. It shouldn't be too difficult.

I find keepass to be the best. The problem is that keepassX does not support 2x databases.
I know I can also use mono but performance-wise do not know how efficient it will be.

Have you considered Lastpass at any point in your decision-making?

I have but I want this to be a last resort if anything else fails.

My main reason for switching is that windows will get worse and worse. I don't want to use windows 8, ever. Hard to believe windows 9 will be better.

[Sazzy]

Mono works just fine. It's pretty decent.

My main reason for switching is that windows will get worse and worse. I don't want to use windows 8, ever. Hard to believe windows 9 will be better.

While W8 UI is a fail, the kernel is absolutely fabulous, darling. W7's kernel is shite in comparison..

Luckily I have little issues adapting to a UI if things under the covers are wonderful~

[anon]

While W8 UI is a fail, the kernel is absolutely fabulous

So true

[Master Razor]

I think I'm missing something here... How do you this? Is there an article/white paper or something that prooves it?

[Lucius]

While W8 UI is a fail, the kernel is absolutely fabulous, darling. W7's kernel is shite in comparison..

UI's part will going to be changed in W9 .. at W8 they was just thinking about surface and touch screens and totally forgot how hard this will gonna be to the normal user.
I have tried Microsoft surface running with w8 and I was totally surprised how soft and steady I was going with the UI while I was totally struggling on my desktop !

@MR : Linux is nice and really tweak-able but windows is not that bad dude .

[Sazzy]

UI's part will going to be changed in W9 .. at W8 they was just thinking about surface and touch screens and totally forgot how hard this will gonna be to the normal user.
I have tried Microsoft surface running with w8 and I was totally surprised how soft and steady I was going with the UI while I was totally struggling on my desktop !

I rather have them being bold like this than stop trying out new stuff altogether. It might just have worked out and everyone might have loved it.
It's better to fail and learn from the mistakes made. Windows8 is not all bad, even if there is no start menu anymore. The ribbon in explorer had improved a lot, imho, for one.

I think the suckiest part is that the windows store is just full of horrible apps (all of them)