Switching to Linux.

[The Morrigan]

Hey there,

I'm hoping to switch to Linux within the next couple of days because my laptop keeps crashing because of Windows and it's driving me crazy because it's not letting me do anything and I've been meaning to switch to Linux for a while actually I just haven't taken the plunge yet.

I haven't decided what version I'm going to get yet so I was just looking for people's opinions on which version is best

Also here's a list of programmes that I definitely need to have on my laptop so I was wondering if you could tell me if they work on Linux or not and if not, what's a good Linux alternative?

Utorrent
Last FM
Itunes
Foxit Reader
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Mail

Thanks

[David]

I'm assuming that you are new to Linux so go with Ubuntu.

I'll list the Linux equivalent of the programs you need:
Ubuntu comes with a Bit Torrent client called Transmission but uTorrent is available on Linux: http://www.utorrent.com/downloads/linux
iTunes & Last.FM - Rhythmbox (This comes with Ubuntu) or Banshee (both are compatible with Last.FM) iTunes does run on Linux via Wine but it does not run perfectly. Visit http://www.winehq.org/ for more information.
Foxit Reader is available on Linux: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/desklinux/
Windows Live Messenger - Pidgin (This comes with Ubuntu)
Windows Live Mail - Mozilla Thunderbird (I haven't used Thunderbird but it should be similar)

You can also look through the Ubuntu Software Center for more software.

[JoshS]

I would go with Ubuntu, I ran it on my old laptop and it is pretty user friendly. I agree with the above post on programs.

[Digilodger]

I do not recommend the switch for you.

In your search for a Linux distro, you would probably end up with either Ubuntu or Fedora. Those two are the most popular Linus distros as of now (the moment I type this post). Either way, they have something in common:

1. You have to be either a complete beginner in computers (as in, the only thing you do know is browse the web; nothing else, no email, no download, no anything) or an advanced user to actually be able to use Linux without frustration.
   
   Otherwise, sure, everyone can use Linux, but it's going to pack a little frustration.

If you have serious trouble using Windows, to the point where it "keeps crashing [...] not letting me do anything," then I cannot see how you expect to use Linux without any problem. Here are a few potential problems:

1. Linux is even more complicated than Windows. Sure, it has evolved a lot and currently, you can get by with the GUI only. But dig deep enough and eventually you would run into cases where it's necessary to familiarize yourself with CLI. Not many of us like to learn command-lines, I'm assuming.

2. This is an entirely different OS. Not just in terms of looks and functions, but also in terms of you how you do things. Your knowledge of Windows won't help you much here. Heck, at first, you won't even be able to install a single program . . . because you don't know how (and no, it's not double-clicking). It utilizes different file format; it has different ways of accomplishing things. It's like re-learning almost everything.

3. Compatibility problems is huge! Not just programs, but also with drivers as well. Make sure that all of your peripherals are Linux-compatible.

Also, just a heads up, only half of your list of 6 programs actually work in Linux. I'll elaborate on this later.

---------------------

uTorrent - Yes!

uTorrnent is available for Linux here.

LastFM - Yes!

LastFM Scrobber is available for Linux here.

Itunes - No!

No, as of right now, not even with Wine. With Wine, we used to be able to run the 32-bit version, but since iTune 10, we can't even install iTune any more. Several users have reported that that manage to run iTune 10 with Wine, but apparent they still unable to use the iTune store anyway. So they can only play the music.

Here are some alternative options for the music player: Rhythmbox (default Ubuntu music player), Audacious, Amarok, Listen, Banshee.

Foxit Reader - Yes!

Available here.

Windows Live Messenger - No!

Pidgin is the most popular alternative for Linux. However, you cannot play games or other fancy stuffs like on Windows Live Messenger with Pidgin. It's essentially a cross-network, cross-platform IM client. Plugins are available to extend its functions, though not so much.

Windows Live Mail - No!

Mozilla Thunderbird is arguably the best free cross-platform email client as of now. I daresay that you won't be missing Windows Live Mail much after you've used Thunderbird.

---------------------
Anyhow, switching to Linux because you are unable to use Windows is a bad idea. Linux's problems are often harder to solve than Windows as well, mainly because we have less support for Linux.

I'll be honest and frank: Judging from your original post, you don't seem like a person who like to spend a lot of time learning about computer stuffs anyway. Are you sure you want to dedicate a few weeks or even months to learn your ways around an entirely new OS?


Here's a better idea: Try a Mac. I'm not a fan of Macs because of the price (I usually can get a Windows PC with the same or even better specs for about half the price, plus free shipping). But if Windows doesn't work for you, then go for a Macintosh. It would still take a while to get used to, but at least the nice GUI would keep you motivated.

[Loving Linux Penguin]

^I think what she means is that she is experiencing problems with Windows that should not be occurring that are frustrating her, NOT that Windows is working properly and she finds it unusable.

Ubuntu is a great distro in terms of applications and making things be packaged nicely and etc., but in trying the new interface in the newest version recently, I would call it a disaster at best. They have replaced the more traditional interface with a large-button tablet-like interface which lacks customization abilities in many respects, and also has some bugs that frequently occur. For this reason, I recommend either Linux Mint or Pinguy OS, as i told you earlier today. Both of these distributions are based on Ubuntu and offer many of the same advantages as Ubuntu, including the "Software Center" which provides an EXTREMELY easy interface for installing applications and other things such as drivers. At the same time, they come with support for flash, java, and media out of the box, instead of letting you install all sorts of things later to get it installed. Also, they both use the more traditional interface, with some minor tweaking that can be undone if you wish, as opposed to the newfangled Unity interface now found in Ubuntu, which I think a Windows user may have some trouble with and would likely not find particularly useful. Pretty soon Ubuntu is going to belong only on a tablet, that's my two cents.

I know you said earlier that you'd be trying to install Linux Mint, and it sounded like you ran into some problems. Please do let me know how things go and keep me informed. I'm happy to help.

VoidZN: I do not agree with your last point. I switched from OS/2 WARP (originally developed in the 90s) to Mac OS X a few years back and was very comfortable in a matter of days. I also learned the Linux Gnome 2 interface and a lot about Linux in general on Ubuntu 9.10 within a few days, after using Mac OS X for a couple of years, knowing almost nothing about Linux. You can adapt quickly, at least in terms of how you interact with your computer. With specific programs and more technical things, your comment may have certain merit.

[Digilodger]

Originally Posted by Jazz Guy

^I think what she means is that she is experiencing problems with Windows that should not be occurring that are frustrating her, NOT that Windows is working properly and she finds it unusable.

Then I'm pretty sure that I've understood that part correctly.

Here's the deal: She's familiar with Windows, probably been using since forever and learned a few tricks here and there. Yet she still unable to solve its problems.

How on the planet Earth is she planning to use something that she has absolutely no previous knowledge or experience? Linux isn't without problems either, and depending on her current system and peripherals, the first problems she runs into might be some incompatible drivers. That's not exactly something someone can solve by himself/herself when using an OS the first time ever.

Originally Posted by Jazz Guy

VoidZN: I do not agree with your last point. I switched from OS/2 WARP (originally developed in the 90s) to Mac OS X a few years back and was very comfortable in a matter of days. I also learned the Linux Gnome 2 interface and a lot about Linux in general on Ubuntu 9.10 within a few days, after using Mac OS X for a couple of years, knowing almost nothing about Linux. You can adapt quickly, at least in terms of how you interact with your computer. With specific programs and more technical things, your comment may have certain merit.

That's you, not her. I know that you're a tech-savvy person yourself. I've seen you around here; pretty sure that you know more than me. But that point--and that entire post, for this matter--was meant for the OP.


Please take a look at her original post, especially the part where she asks about whether her six frequent-used programs are compatible with Linux or not. It's pretty much yelling out loud, "Hey, I'm not a tech person. I'm frustrated with my current system and I'm seeking a change. Keep it simple or I'll chop your head off" (minus the chop head off part).

Now, that's totally understandable. I mean, we each have different focus. She's probably far above everyone who have posted in this thread in other areas, whatever her expertise(s) is/are.


The main point is this: It's a huge switch. It's going to be a lot of change and a lot of new info to take in, especially if she wants to be able to use it as quickly as possible. But she doesn't seem to be someone who would be interested in spending a lot of time learning the quirks and turns of computers.

It doesn't seem to be one of her interests, you know, like maybe you and I have zero interest in cooking, for example. I can cook a few Vietnamese food, not delicious, but at least nobody would die from eating them, e-hem. But if I suddenly have to cook Italian food . . . eh, probably not a good idea.


And if that's the case, I can't see how suddenly switching to Linux is a viable choice.

[Loving Linux Penguin]

All operating systems have their problems, but when you consider that one can be free from hassles of security and defrag and so on by using Linux over Windows, I think that minor issues, often solvable through troubleshooting on a Linux forum, are worth the trouble. It's also a world where bugs can be fixed by third parties, which means if someone has an application that will fix a driver problem or any other issue with a system, they can write it and distribute it and there you go, your issue can be fixed without the original developers EVER even knowing it existed. It's a world where people believe that sharing can do great things, and they are right. Linux is getting better every month in many regards, as projects continue to evolve and sprout up. It's a quickly changing world that is quickly changing for the better. Unless you use Unity or Gnome 3, the world of Linux in terms of interface, is NOT that hard to adjust to, and there are equally good tricks for doing things in the Linux side of things.

[The Morrigan]

For the record I have used Ubuntu on a friend's laptop before so I know my way around.

I've been planning on switching to Linux for a while but never really got round to it.