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To Linux lovers. . . how was the transition and why does it suit you?
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24-12-2008 3:37am#1I have been experimenting with a few distro's lately and really think its a great alternative. I'm still getting used to it and won't be leaving windows just yet but I could possibly see myself doing so at some stage in the future.
My question is to any Linux lovers. Here's a few things i have been wondering. . .
Did it take long to get used to??
Did the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
What were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
How is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself?
Any distro's you would advise against?
Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
Anything else that you would like to add. I would love to hear constructive feedback on getting up and running with Linux. Thanks
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Nope. Favoured the GUI side of things at first but soon ended up finding need to use the terminal more often.Did it take long to get used to??
Big time. Firefox, OpenOffice, GIMP and more on Windows (or a Mac!) is a great way of easing the transition or making working on multiple platforms much easier.Did the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
Programming, DTP, word processing, music. Wasn't hard finding replacements: check out osalt.org for good suggestions. There are more cross-platform applications in these areas too: Eclipse, Netbeans, Scribus, OO.org, Songbird, Jajuk, VLC and many more.What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
Getting my head around root (this way long before sudo came into the picture). Trying to remember when I needed root access having been used to Windows. Had some hardware incompatibility at first as my motherboard was newer than the kernel at the time.What were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
Best to try lots yourself. Live CDs are great for this. Like openSUSE, Mandriva and Fedora. Intend to make a crack at those source-based ones such as Slackware or Gentoo some time though. There's not much between many. Main differentiating factors would be slightly different themes and default visual interfaces, aiming at different types of users (enterprise versus typical end-user) and so on.What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
Grand. Don't use any security programs. Common sense is the best protection! Install No Script in Firefox, make sure you're behind a firewall (your router) or install a software-based on as well.How is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself? Any distro's you would advise against?
It's best and easist to use your distro's package manager. The package you're looking for might not have the same name across all distros. You can try and find an RPM or Debian package and install this or, failing this, you can get the software's source code (where possible) and compile and install it. This can be tricky as this usually require extra software to be installed that is required by the software you're trying to install (dependencies).Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
Give it a go. You've nothing to lose. There's a great community, bashing of other distros and software and development is very much active.Anything else that you would like to add. I would love to hear constructive feedback on getting up and running with Linux. Thanks
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I started off with Freebsd, but then moved to linux because the community isDid it take long to get used to??
a bit more active(Sorry BSD people:pac:) I still respect BSD variants because of
there focus on stability over superfluous junk.
Yes, I like the idea of openness with availability of source code, and the stabilityDid the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
of most long running open source projects like CIFS, Apache, Perl are pleasing over most crap
you find on a windows box these days.
Perl for me is an especially useful learning exercise.
It took some time, and I am not over the hill by a long stretch, but the GNU/Linux trail is worth the time investment.
Programming/Scripting, Light gaming(Quake ect), Sysadmin stuff, and almost anything releated to Linux:pac:What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
The whole idea of maintaining a system that meets your needs, and not someWhat were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
corporate monolithic entity.
CLI work was tough at first, but now I will take a bash prompt over a GUI any day of the week.
Slackware, because of the barebones no fluff approach. The system scripts are arranged in a nice simple logical manner.What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
The distro is a generic Linux distro as very little patching is done to sources of Programs,Kernel ect which makes my tinkerning a little easier to deal with than say Red Hat/Fedora.
I just use iptables as a firewall with my own custom script for specific port blockings/No Masquerading ect. Works well and consumes a lot less memory thanHow is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself?
bloatware from Symantec.
Not really, most fill their niche quite well.Any distro's you would advise against?
Don't really understand this, but I just get the source and configure it to my needs, then use src2pkg to build, and pkgtool to install and track.Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
More time consuming, but allows buidling of apps without X11/Gnome dependencies for instance .
Hopefully we can wean more people off the Microsoft brigade, and prove to regular users with distros like Mandriva, that Linux can benefit everyone.Anything else that you would like to add. I would love to hear constructive feedback on getting up and running with Linux. Thanks0 -
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Did it take long to get used to??
Getting used to the terminal took me a while as I'd used windows ui for several years but I try use it for as much as I can now.Did the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
Not really. There's alternatives for everything.What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
Browsing, word processing, media storage and other general stuff. Nothing too taxing on me or the PC.
What were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
I tried earlier in the year to get it working on and old PC and it kept booting into low graphics mode. I reckon it was my lack of knowledge and the **** PC rather then linux tbh.What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
I've been using ubuntu now for about 2 months. I put ubuntu-eee on to my Asus EEE 1000 and it was a lot easier to manage then the xandros distro they had on there. I've now got Ubuntu on my desktop in my home and in my parents as they'd have similar usage to me.How is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself?
I've no anti virus but do have a firewall on my router.Any distro's you would advise against?
The xandros distro that comes pre-installed with the EEE, not great imo.Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
For installing stuff I try my best to get it through apt-get.
Try thisaptitude search <program name>
If it recognises the name it will bring up a list of programs that will match the name. Try simple stuff like VLC or Thunderbird and it will bring up the exact name you use to install program usingsudo apt-get install <program name>
I'm still learning and will always google something as the answer is usually out there. I found out a few things from this site and also had help from friends who have been using for quite some time. As I don't game anymore it's perfect for what I need my PC for and is a lot better then Vista Ultimate which I was using before.0 -
Not really. I'd played with a shell account before and I'm very comfortable with the cli anyway. Took a little bit of getting used to where things are in the menus but that's about it. My other half is not a computer whiz by any means and she took to it like a duck to water as well.Did it take long to get used to??
Didn't phase me in the slightest. I was already using OpenOffice, Firefox, GIMP in Windows (and still do on my work Windows pc). I find them superior to the MS alternatives with the exception of GIMP/Photoshop - I can't say which is better of those two - I only use the basic functions anyway. I haven't quite got the hang of OO Database yet but I never got the hang of Access either anywayDid the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
Browsing, gaming, media storage/streaming, office applications. Like I said I was using most of these anyway.What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
World of Warcraft in WINE took a bit of trial and error to get working properly. And I couldn't get my Zen Vision working in Amarok but then I discovered Gnomad2 and it's been plain sailing since. Twinview (dual-screen setup) took some work to get right but that was in Feisty - in Ibex it was a piece of piss.What were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
I use Ubuntu. I tried and didn't like PCLinuxOS, Kubuntu (don't like KDE), Suse and LinuxMint. LinuxMint is good in that the media codecs are all installed but it's easy to install them in Ubuntu anyway - I don't like the Mint interface at all though. Try them all. You can always use VMWare or VirtualBox to install them and test them out - or use the LiveCDs. It's all about personal preference which is one major thing I like about Linux. I also use MythBuntu on my HTPC and Ubuntu on my laptop.What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
Security is excellent. I use nothing really. My router has a good firewall and I have no AV installed. NoScript in FF is essential but mainly is just common sense to keep yourself safe. I do have the SSH port open on my router and recently noticed a brute-force attack on my box over SSH. So I turned off password authentication and set up a key exchange login instead - sorted.How is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself?
None. Try them out. As other posters have said avoid the source based ones. I haven't gone down that route myself. I'm no expert in Linux at all when it comes to building from source. All distros have good and bad points. It's down to which one suits you.Any distro's you would advise against?
Always use the distros package manager. Nearly everything is there. If it's not in a repo then you can download the .deb or .rpm (depending on distro). If in a Debian distro and there is no .deb for the software you want you can always use alien for a .rpm installation. But it's rare you'll need it.Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
There's very very little you will need that is not available in open source for Linux somewhere. For the odd occasional app there is always WINE. For gaming some games just won't run - an example is UT3. TBH I'm prepared to sacrifice games that won't support Linux and if there's any game that I want to play that I can't then I will forgo it and mail the software house explaining why. UT3 for Linux is still in development but at least they're working on it. Eve has a native client now. WoW actively work with the Wine community (despite them releasing Wrath of a Lich King on a DVD that is not readable in Linux! - how they managed that I don't know). Other gaming houses are waking up to the fact that Linux is on the ascendant with gamers.Anything else that you would like to add. I would love to hear constructive feedback on getting up and running with Linux. Thanks
One other point - check your hardware. Particularly external devices. Some printers/scanner will just not work due to lack of support. Personally I have an Epson multi-device which is fine but I've heard bad things about Lexmark (for example). Also ATI video support is pants. They say they are supporting Linux now but it's still pants. An example is MythTV. If you use the open source driver watching video is like watching a slide show. But if you switch to the ATI proprietary driver then MythTV is corrupted. So go with NVidia - I have never had a problem with an NVidia card in Linux.0 -
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Not really, I used linux a few years ago when there wasn't that many distros around, and when XWindows was still very new. I recently installed the new Ubuntu on my laptop, and I have to admit, I was blown away.I have been experimenting with a few distro's lately and really think its a great alternative. I'm still getting used to it and won't be leaving windows just yet but I could possibly see myself doing so at some stage in the future.
My question is to any Linux lovers. Here's a few things i have been wondering. . .
Did it take long to get used to??
Yeah I suppose using things like firefox etc slowly eased me into moving my OS to Linux [/quote]Did the move over to other software programs phase you and in the end was it worth it??
I a network Administrator mostly, so most of my tools are on the command line already. Linux supports Remote Desktop for the Windows servers I administer. My next task will be to get my games running on Linux. I'm looking forward to it.What line of work do you use your computer for and was it hard finding replacement software?
There are a few programs that only run on windows, so getting them to run under linux using Wine can be a bit trickyWhat were the main things you found difficult changing over and how did you get around them?
I love the new ubuntu. Try out a few distros using their live CDs, it's the easiest way to see if something will work for you, and on your machine.What is your favourite distro and any advice on finding the one that suits you??
I don't have any software installed on my machine to protect myself. Most virusses out there are aimed at windows. So I just use common sense, and the small firewall that came with my router.How is Linux's security? Do you use any programs to protect yourself?
not reallyany distro's you would advise against?
I mostly use the command line to install what i need to. I feel more comfy with it.Also aside from going into adept to install software how else can you install it cause I have found stuff online but when I type them into adept it doesn't have them?
Well, the one thing I love my Ubuntu for is it trippled the battery life i get out of my laptop, compared to windows VistaAnything else that you would like to add. I would love to hear constructive feedback on getting up and running with Linux. Thanks0 -
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