So a few days ago I posted about how I decided to dump windows and go with Linux.
Yes after I sobered up the next day I stuck to my decision :) and you know what - so far it's been relatively painless.
Before I go on let me give you some background - I have an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) designation, so I am very familiar with computers. In my spare time I build computers and sell them, so am familiar with both the hardware and software.
Up until recently it's only been Windows software though.
I'm telling you this because I believe that while I found Linux ok - I do believe that part of that has to do with my background. When comparing myself to, say my brother, who while younger isn't as computer adept as me and then I consider what he would do were he to attempt the same thing (switch to linux) it makes me shudder.
It's not that Linux is hard. Far from it. In fact, for the average person it's probably great. Although it's a little trick sometimes to configure.
But I digress, let me get back to my story.
So I set up Fedora Core 1 (the only thing I have on disc at the moment) and did a custom install - which is mostly the personal desktop but with added features like a MySQL database and Apache web server. I did this cause I wanna tinker with MySQL and PHP.
Anyways, after it was installed, I started checking it out. And there's already a ton of free software on it - it came with Open Office which for the average user is very much like Windows Office. It has word processing and spreadsheet, as well as a powerpoint like application.
This version of linux also comes with a comparible email system - evolution - which I found easier to set up to retrieve my mail than outlook.
My next task was to find an MSN compatible messenger as that is what my co-workers, friends and family use. I found a program called AMSN but I wasn't feeling comfortable enough with my installation skills yet, so I kept checking and guess what I found.
There is a program called GAIM, already built into Fedora, that is a multi-platform chat. In other words it covers MSN, ICQ, AOL and a host of others. All I had to do was launch it, add my account settings and voila I was chatting away.
So, up until now it has my needs covered, and I didn't have to install any extra software.
I soon realized however there was a few windows things I couldn't live without.
All my email history is stored in my Outlook PST file, and there's a few games I like to continue playing that I started on Windows XP, that aren't currenlty available to Linux.
So I started looking for a way to use these Windows programs on Linux. I found a couple alternatives, which I will go into in another post.
My experience so far? Not too bad. Better than I expected. You always hear about how terrible the install was for someone - usually a guy who got a brand new computer, or custom built in the latest and greatest hardware. Well no wonder the install was a nightmare, Linux probably doesn't support that hardware - yet...
So if you are fed up with Windows, and looking for an alternative, why don't you try out Linux. Do what I did first, create a small partition on your drive - say 5 gigs, then you can dual boot between Linux and Windows (after Linux is installed of course) and play around with it.
Next post - figuring out how to install applications...
Yes after I sobered up the next day I stuck to my decision :) and you know what - so far it's been relatively painless.
Before I go on let me give you some background - I have an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) designation, so I am very familiar with computers. In my spare time I build computers and sell them, so am familiar with both the hardware and software.
Up until recently it's only been Windows software though.
I'm telling you this because I believe that while I found Linux ok - I do believe that part of that has to do with my background. When comparing myself to, say my brother, who while younger isn't as computer adept as me and then I consider what he would do were he to attempt the same thing (switch to linux) it makes me shudder.
It's not that Linux is hard. Far from it. In fact, for the average person it's probably great. Although it's a little trick sometimes to configure.
But I digress, let me get back to my story.
So I set up Fedora Core 1 (the only thing I have on disc at the moment) and did a custom install - which is mostly the personal desktop but with added features like a MySQL database and Apache web server. I did this cause I wanna tinker with MySQL and PHP.
Anyways, after it was installed, I started checking it out. And there's already a ton of free software on it - it came with Open Office which for the average user is very much like Windows Office. It has word processing and spreadsheet, as well as a powerpoint like application.
This version of linux also comes with a comparible email system - evolution - which I found easier to set up to retrieve my mail than outlook.
My next task was to find an MSN compatible messenger as that is what my co-workers, friends and family use. I found a program called AMSN but I wasn't feeling comfortable enough with my installation skills yet, so I kept checking and guess what I found.
There is a program called GAIM, already built into Fedora, that is a multi-platform chat. In other words it covers MSN, ICQ, AOL and a host of others. All I had to do was launch it, add my account settings and voila I was chatting away.
So, up until now it has my needs covered, and I didn't have to install any extra software.
I soon realized however there was a few windows things I couldn't live without.
All my email history is stored in my Outlook PST file, and there's a few games I like to continue playing that I started on Windows XP, that aren't currenlty available to Linux.
So I started looking for a way to use these Windows programs on Linux. I found a couple alternatives, which I will go into in another post.
My experience so far? Not too bad. Better than I expected. You always hear about how terrible the install was for someone - usually a guy who got a brand new computer, or custom built in the latest and greatest hardware. Well no wonder the install was a nightmare, Linux probably doesn't support that hardware - yet...
So if you are fed up with Windows, and looking for an alternative, why don't you try out Linux. Do what I did first, create a small partition on your drive - say 5 gigs, then you can dual boot between Linux and Windows (after Linux is installed of course) and play around with it.
Next post - figuring out how to install applications...
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