Ok, I'm through with Windows - I want to Switch to Linux

[Civrules]

I've done some research and I want to try this thing out. I feel that Microsoft has been moving in the wrong direction for a long, long time.

But I'm concerned about some conversions. I've Microsoft Office, and other files that may not work with Linux.

Where should I start?

Cheers.

 

[civ_king]

I've done some research and I want to try this thing out. I feel that Microsoft has been moving in the wrong direction for a long, long time.

But I'm concerned about some conversions. I've Microsoft Office, and other files that may not work with Linux.

Where should I start?

Cheers.

Get some bottles of WINE

 

[Souron]

Most linux distributions will come with OpenOffice or LibraOffice, which can handle all MS formats, though some files will look slightly different in layout. These are also available for windows, so you can try them out. Of course if you're trying things out, jut get a live cd and try the whole experience, risk free.

So to start go here: http://www.ubuntu.com/download
Download, burn to disk, and reboot your machine with the disk in the drive. Then enjoy. If it works for you, you can install it to your hard drive.

 

[Zelig]

Really? I feel like MS has really been moving in the right directions for the past 5 years or so.

 

[Dreadnought]

I agree, Microsoft has been doing pretty well in my opinion.

 

[Civrules]

Lots of wine =)

@ Souron - I'm downloading now. Made it so I've a choice between Windows and Ubuntu. Thanks guys.

I'm not going to bash Microsoft. They do good work - give or take. But I think there's something better out there, plus, I like learning something new.

I feel that after so many years of using Windows, maybe it's time to re-evaluate and see what else is out there.

I started looking into Linux after I heard that Toyota will be using it in their cars, as well as that it's the operating system of some of the super computers.

Also: What's the difference between Ubuntu and Fedora 15 other than GNOME 3?

 

[Maniacal]

Download ISO or whatever for the distro you want, burn it to a disc, install it on any hard drive, you're done. It was incredibly easy to install Ubuntu (which I then replaced with Windows 7 but that is a different story).

Actually it was pretty easy to install Windows 7 too. Ubuntu was pretty neat but I didn't need it.

 

[Zelig]

PCLinuxOS is next on my list of distros to try, I've been unsatisfied with either Gnome or XFCE.

 

[Souron]

Also: What's the difference between Ubuntu and Fedora 15 other than GNOME 3?

Ubuntu and Fedora are different distro's. With different companies and people involved it's a slightly different product, but the objectives of both projects are the same.

GNOME is properly contrasted with KDE, it is the user interface of the operating system; the set of applications that control the desktop, file explorer and a few other tasks. It also controls the customization of the look and feel of the environment. Ubuntu and fedora use GNOME. For a similar experience featuring KDE, you can use kubuntu.

 

[Luckymoose]

My experience with Linux is that you only need it if you run servers. You will hate how Linux works after the ease of Windows. Windows 7 trumps any Linux distribution out there.

 

[Civrules]

I got set up with Ubuntu and am running it parallel with Vista.

I dig it. Learning it as I go. =)

 

[Souron]

My experience with Linux is that you only need it if you run servers. You will hate how Linux works after the ease of Windows. Windows 7 trumps any Linux distribution out there.

This used to be the case 10 years ago, but that's long ago in this industry.

 

[mdwh]

My experience with Linux is that you only need it if you run servers. You will hate how Linux works after the ease of Windows. Windows 7 trumps any Linux distribution out there.

My experience of Windows 7 and Ubuntu is they're as good as each other. Both are good enough for most people's needs, both are easy to use. Windows might have some niceties, but so does Ubuntu.

What specific problems do you think Linux has compared with Windows 7?

 

[Zelig]

My experience of Windows 7 and Ubuntu is they're as good as each other. Both are good enough for most people's needs, both are easy to use. Windows might have some niceties, but so does Ubuntu.

What specific problems do you think Linux has compared with Windows 7?

The UI in Gnome and Xfce is cruddy compared to Windows and iOS.

 

[mdwh]

The UI in Gnome and Xfce is cruddy compared to Windows and iOS.

That's not specific - all you've done is repeated the assertion that one is better than the other. Give me examples. As one example of something that's good about the Ubuntu (I think Gnome?) UI - being able to open tabs in the file window. Sure, there're some things I like about Windows 7 (being able to run something by typing the name - though I think Ubuntu now has that anyway), but it's not clear that one is much better than the other.

As for IOS, for years it couldn't even support basic UI functions like copy and paste - it's not even in the running here. And I'm not convinced a phone OS is going to be what I want on a computer.

 

[Zelig]

That's not specific - all you've done is repeated the assertion that one is better than the other. Give me examples. As one example of something that's good about the Ubuntu (I think Gnome?) UI - being able to open tabs in the file window. Sure, there're some things I like about Windows 7 (being able to run something by typing the name - though I think Ubuntu now has that anyway), but it's not clear that one is much better than the other.

As for IOS, for years it couldn't even support basic UI functions like copy and paste - it's not even in the running here. And I'm not convinced a phone OS is going to be what I want on a computer.

They just don't look good to me, the fonts are ugly, the window elements are ugly, the mouse cursors are ugly, and I don't feel like replacing all of those on all of my linux installs.

Er, and Mac OS is what I meant, not iOS.

 

[civ_king]

OS X is UNIX

 

[Souron]

OS X is UNIX

Yes, but the parts that Zelig is complaining about are not part of the unix kernel.

 

[mdwh]

They just don't look good to me, the fonts are ugly, the window elements are ugly, the mouse cursors are ugly, and I don't feel like replacing all of those on all of my linux installs.

Er, and Mac OS is what I meant, not iOS.

Okay, though I think looks there are a matter of personal preference. I think Ubuntu looks as nice as anything else. And I dislike the look of OS X windows.

 

[Mise]

When I used linux, admittedly a long time ago now, I found that a lot of the "security" features were merely getting in the way of me doing stuff. Like having to ask for permission every time I wanted to do something vaguely subversive. Before the fanbois (*cough* Bratmon *cough*) go off on one, yes, I understand and realise the reason for this - it makes perfect sense in an enterprise or networked environment. But there is a certain irony in an OS that is, in practice, for "advanced users" treating those users like kiddies and requiring them to get permission from daddy every time they wanted to leave /home/. It got annoying and I didn't like it.

I also found it unconscionably pedantic. There's no need for an OS to be that pedantic. Windows doesn't need to be that pedantic. Why does Linux need to be so pedantic? No wonder the linux community is such a bunch of pedants.