Wanna switch to Linux? … Few tips
March 10th, 2008 by Vineet ! 160 viewsThree years ago when I switched to Linux, I didn’t even know that there is even a wallpaper on Linux! , moreover all the books that I got in Library had only CUI stuff and hyper geeky stuff .(I did not have a usable net connection that time) Luckily I got a new book called “Fedora Core 3 Bible” by Cristopher Negus which explained things in a very easy to use manner and how to do all the stuff in GUI rather than CUI (For all those who don’t know yet, yes there is a GUI for Linux and even better than Windows vista!).
The major problem that I can figure out during the seminars that I take at college is that students don’t switch to Linux not because they don’t want to or not because Linux is hard to use but because they don’t know that Linux is so user friendly and easy to use and nice to look at. Then they think that they can’t listen to music or watch movies or play games on Linux… Again they don’t know that sound and video quality in Linux is much better than Windows on same machine (try comparing it if you haven’t done yet).
Now the main reason for the ignorance is that the books available in the college libraries are mostly quite old and the teachers are more of technical and it has been long time since they studied all this stuff (No offence but there is something called generation gap ).
So what to do?
First of all try getting a new book, (even Fedora Core 3 is very old now)…Just go to the bookstore, browse few Linux books and you will know what to get … The money you spend on a new book will be worth it.
Talk to your friends … learn in groups.
Get help from your college seniors.
Best is to put your queries on forums like Linuxquestions.org. Don’t hesitate in asking even a question as simple as “where’s the start button in Linux?”. Newbies are always helped on these forums.
Start off with Linux as soon as possible and I am sure within few months you will become a die hard Linux user.
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10 Responses to “Wanna switch to Linux? … Few tips”
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
linux with various desktops like gnome mebbe flashy but u know flashy != easy usage… its still difficult to install properly on the first place… so ppl are even afraid to install let alone use it…
PC Magazine’s March issue pitted Mac OS X 10.5.1 against Windows XP, Vista, and Ubuntu Linux 7.10 in every imaginable category, price, installation, interface, security and more. Leopard won four of the eight categories and was the overall winner.
Leopard won the installation, interface, bundled software and security categories. Ubuntu Linux won on price. Windows XP won the third party software, drivers, and networking categories. Vista didn’t win in any of the categories.
PC Magazine concluded: “Mac OS X 10.5.1 is the product to pick for our mythical average user who wants something secure, easy to install, and easy to master. That you can run Windows and Ubuntu on today’s Intel-based Macs — enabling you to use all these OSs on the same PC — is just gravy.”
In the final tally, Leopard received a 4 out of 5 rating, XP SP2 3.5, Ubuntu 3.5 and Vista 3 out of 5.
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2273486,00.asp
By Richard Chapman on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
It’s good to hear that Steve Jobs finally dropped the price of his Macs down to the $500 range for the mythical average user. I predict Apple will take off like a rocket in the desktop market.
By Sita on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
I think swe has a point that the major problem in switching to linux is the difficulties faced by a normal user in installing the OS. The problem becomes even more serious because many of the branded computers ship with windows installed on them.
I think it may be a good idea to start a linux installation company, at least in India. Any takers?
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
linux s not yet ready and cannot be called as consumer grade OS… Open Source community is having lots of politics as whose idea is to be implemented… there s no hierarchy … wen a single app is done as an open source project the team is very small so less politics but in case of OS… very big team s needed and OpenSource community are those ppl who think in their view point … not in the angle of consumer view point… if u ask me today if i have to introduce my grandfather to an OS (he has not worked with comp) it will be leopard mac os x 10.5…. its so easy to work with … steve ballmer may say windows still dominates blah blah blah but the bottom line mac s gaining lots of share and it has better mind share than vista… and regarding linux it needs time to mature…
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
but the best thing to happen for computer industry is Open Source.. 6 years ago it was impossible to start a business withut paying huge amount for web servers etc which s nowadays replaced by OpenSource such as php and apache.. life s good..
if u take the open source community let me be frank with this issue (…some may not like my viewpoint) i feel open source community is quite polluted with some unwanted ppl… and they create a bad image fo OpenSource…
these are the ppl who crete bad image..
1) ppl who make pathetic softwares and cannot sell successfully label their sw as OpenSource and upload it with internet because OpenSource creates buzz and sympathy… they would have made less money by selling when compared to the Donate button they have in their website or sw… ppl take advantage since opensource has sympathy
2) FREETARDS … just because OpenSource for the most part is free ppl embrace Opensource… not because they can contribute back … they like it just coz its free… just charge for OpenSource they will start saying OpenSource s crap…
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
3) Social Status: Since they Embrace OpenSource they think themselves as freedom fighters… these are the same ppl who run Windows XP(pirated) in the same system and watch movies browse net play using windows(keeping their room locked or using Linux theme on windows)… and wen somebody comes they boot their linux to show off… To become an successful OpenSource Evangelist they dont have to run shoutin OpenSource OpenSource around but the first thing they have to do Uninstall windows and take a nice bath in the river ganga…
By swe on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
Very IMP: and i feel the first thing u have to do to convince people switch to linux is
1) You have to provide a slippery slope.. like u shld not go to a fresh computer student saying WINDOWS s Crap uninstall windows blah blah blah… u have to say… hey dude why dont u do just ur java programming with linux or ur C++ with linux… and when they do that they learn the power of linux and start using it… in one open source meeting one open source guy working with one famous company was showing presentation with windows regarding OpenSource… it was really a big shame… if u want to convert ppl to Linux or solaris or mac(not opensource) u must have self belief that the OS u r using is the best… most of the opensource community members doesnt have that… if u have that show that by uninstalling windows in ur system and use linux full time…
By Vineet on Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
Hey Swe, commonly known as (Y$$$$$$$$$) first of all, please use your real name…we are just having healthy discussion here.
Anyways this post is nowhere about comparing Linux to any other OS. The post is targeted to the student community and not an average user.
The problem I pointed at is the one I sensed at various student level seminars. Yes installation is a problem but only because most of the systems come pre-installed with Windows and people are unaware how easy it is to install Linux now a days. I agree that a few years ago installing Linux was pretty hard but not any more.
Try installing Windows and Linux on a machine with AMD athlon processor, Asus K series motherboard and a SATA drive…You will know it’s easier to install Linux sometimes. Again it’s unawareness that’s the problem.
For your last ‘Very IMP’ point, Swe (Y*), You know there are people who don’t just call Windows crap, but prove how Linux is better…on the stage…and they follow what they say…they use only and only Linux…You know them personally, don’t you?
One more thing please don’t say anything good or bad about a thing you haven’t used personally .
By Ankur on Mar 11, 2008 | Reply
Dear swe(Y*),
My dear friend… Please dont comment on sumthing u dont know about… And ya I believe we know all those who use pirated windows…. U r getting me right!!!:-)