Author Topic: How practical is a switch to Linux? (Read 622 times)

Sandman · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2007, 12:30:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by storch
I'd love to try linux but I'm not techy oriented.

Mr No Name · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2007, 04:15:38 AM »

if you have an older machine around, I suggest you install linux on it first to learn the OS plus the chance of finding device drivers for older hardware is much better.

Linux isn't for everyone, I only have it on one machine, thats mostly for testing programs.

wasq · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2007, 07:25:03 AM »

I used to run a Linux-only system 1998-2000. Then I got enough money to buy a gaming rig, and had to install windows. In my opinion, Linux was good for normal non-game usage at that point. I don't think it's gotten worse.

If you want to try another operating system, easiest way is to use vmware and download an image for the system you wish to test.

Ghosth · « **Reply #18 on:** June 20, 2007, 08:17:02 AM »

Want to experiment before you nail yourself down?

Try Mepis, can boot off the install CD and test drive it.
http://www.mepis.org/

Its an Umbutu core, comes with firefox and thunderbird ready to rock.
I actually had my bookmarks and email address's setup in about 15 min the first time I tried it.

While its pretty easy to get around in its not as "windows" friendly as say Xandros.

Ohh and did I mention its free?

Hopeing to get AH running on it myself in the near future.

bozon · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2007, 03:58:56 AM »

If you want to install linux and you are not a linux guy, do yourself a favour and install Ubuntu (or Kubuntu). I used various installations and ubuntu is by far the best. I just installed it on my laptop and it worked almost perfectly "out of the box". The couple of things that are "hard" to set up on laptops under linux, I found superb guides for and help from Ubuntu forums and wiki. Even Hebrew and right-to-left writing which is notoriously problematic worked fine.

I use my new Ubuntu like total linux dummy. No hacking scripts and no manual editing of anything. Updating software and installing new ones are so easy in Ubuntu/Debian system that it is rediculous. No more hunting for dependency packages. It just works.

I saved a large partition for installing windows dual boot on it. So far I haven't bothered to do it.