Linux users: I might be a new convert!!

steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
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I friend of mine was telling me all about the benefits of switching OS's to Linux. With the new Vista coming about, I hestitate to buy a new computer since I've heard so much negative about it. I am seriously considering converting my laptop over to Linux, just to see how it works.

Please list any pro's or con's you see with doing this. My primary uses are Word and Excel programs, web surfing as well as 2-way radio programming. I also have a digital camera. I understand that there are Linux "utilities" available to use Windows based software.

Any info on the pro's and con's on switching from W-XP to Linux would be helpful. I know there are a few Linux die-hards here.

steve
 
I just installed Ubuntu this week and am typing this from Ubuntu. It's a good OS for basic tasks; web surfing, word processing/spreadsheets work well in OpenOffice unless you're using some odd feature that isn't commonly used.

I don't know how you'll do with the programming the radios in the Linux environment.

WINE may be able to support it.

It's certainly worth some Dual booting/LiveCD trial to find out how it works for you.
 
With the new Vista coming about, I hestitate to buy a new computer since I've heard so much negative about it.
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I would wait a bit on the Vista upgrade also. In fact, if I were planning to build a new computer within the next year, I'd buy a copy of XP now and set it aside for later.

-Bob
 
As a handy alternative, you can download a "live CD" version of many of the distributions now a days(Ubuntu has one, can't think of the exact distro name right now). If your not familiar with that, it basically means you set you computer to boot from CD first, then when you put in the Live CD and boot up, it will come up in Linux. Take the CD out and reboot and your right back to Winblows. Handy way to try out some different versions without having to jump in feet first. Knoppix is the classic Live CD, but like I said I know there is a version of Ubuntu if not several, and several other flavors to choose from. Just Google Linux Live CDs for a selection.

Syn
 
steve-in-kville said:
I friend of mine was telling me all about the benefits of switching OS's to Linux..... My primary uses are Word and Excel programs, web surfing as well as 2-way radio programming. ....
steve
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I run Linux. Except for once a year tax processing, I stopped using Windows in 2001.

Recommend you consider the OpenOffice.org office suite to replace Word and Excel. There are both Windows and Linux versions.

I wrote my own radio programming software, all of which works on Linux, Windows, and MacOS X.

Depending on what model radios you program, you might be interested in Linux amateur radio software listed here:

http://radio.linux.org.au
 
A dual boot system might be the hot set-up for me.
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Dual-booting is a piece of cake. Even if you don't want to mess with partitions, adding a second hard drive is super-easy and inexpensive.

I suggest that for your first Linux distro you try something like Mandriva Linux (used to be Mandrake) Powerpack. In addition to 'gobs' of included software, it has an easy-to use installer, an incredible level of customization, and user-friendly tools. You can download Mandriva One, a LiveCD version, and try it out before buying anything. Or if you're satisfied with Mandriva One and don't want to spend $$, One contains an installer program. Or you can download Mandriva Free, which is like Mandriva One but contains an DVDs worth of free software.

The old Mandrake Power Pack boxes used to include real books, plus more books on CD. I haven't been able to find out if the new Mandriva distro does or not.

My favorite Linux distro (as far as usability) was actually Lycoris. It's been combined with Mandriva now...

RedHat was just OK, but I haven't kept up with their newer versions.

Good Luck with your search,
-Bob
 
I've been using Linux almost exclusively since 1997. It's great, but does come with a learning curve. Get really familiar with certain sites, the howtos, http://www.linuxforums.org/, etc. I think it's well worth the switch, but it's not for everyone. You have to like to tinker, and I don't think the office software is nearly as good as M$ stuff. But the OS is fantastic, and *much* easier to load and configure (IMO) than XP.
 
I also plan on switching to linux, probably when support for xp expires. my only experience is a linspire live cd. seemed easy to use, and looked like windows.
 
I used Windows Vista today for the first time ever, a new computer at work. It has a completely different feel than anything Microsoft has ever done before - more like moving from Windows to Macintosh than simply upgrading Windows versions.

My first impression was Freakin' Sweet!! But there's obviously going to be a learning curve to this new OS, and some of our existing hardware and software was difficult to set up. I'm seriously considering ordering Vista for my home computer, maybe dual-boot XP/Vista.

-Bob
 
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