Lets Get Some Linux Converts
Jul 5th, 2008 by Don Ray
I have been using one version or another of Linux as my primary PC operating system for over two years. I have been playing with Linux, since around 2000, and I feel that it is finally able to satisfy most people’s needs for a desktop PC.
It wasn’t until I installed UBUNTU that I became a true convert. Now I can’t imagine using a different system. I have migrated away from UBUNTU, but all Linux distributions have their followers.
Here are the main distributions that I feel are worth considering:
A good source of information for new Linux users is Full Circle Magazine.
While it is oriented more for a user of UBUNTU, it has good information for anyone interested in Linux.
Questions I hear:
1.Can it really replace Windows XP? Well, it depends. For most people that aren’t invested in a large number of games, designed for Windows XP, my answer would be yes.
If you use the Internet, Word and Excel applications and that sort of thing, you should do very well with Linux. The normal Microsoft Office applications can be replaced with Open Office. Outlook can be replaced with Evolution or Kontact.
2.Where would I go for support?
If you are even a little technically inclined, you will probably find that you can get better support with Linux than you ever got from Microsoft. There is a lot of information on the Internet. I personally use user groups on Internet Relay Chat (IRC).
All of the distributions above have very active channels on IRC. #suse has solved all of my problems.
3.Will I really not have to worry about viruses?
For all practical purposes, No. No system connected to an Internet is totally immune from people wanting to get into your PC’s knickers. However, with am active firewall (free in the distribution), you can lock out all of those intruders.
4.How do I go about trying it?
Most of the distributions have a “live” CD which can give you a flavor of what Linux looks like. If you think you really want to try it, I would recommend that you add another hard drive and install Linux on it and leave Windows XP on the existing drive. Then when you boot up your PC, it will ask you if you want to use Linux or Windows. If you ignore the questions, Linux will come up.
If you live in Chiriquí and are interested in trying Linux, I will offer my help in installing it. I think that Linux will run better than Windows XP on the same hardware. My only constraints are that you use an Ethernet connection to the Internet.
While Linux will run with dial-up or wireless, I don’t want to fool with it on a new installation. I will install either openSUSE Gnome or KDE desktops, what ever your preference happens to be. Both desktops can be installed if you want. I will provide you with a DVD of the system, if you give me a blank DVD in return.
I will give you an instant messenger id for you to use to contact me, if you run into a problem. Many problems are easy to solve. I have one local David user that is now on openSUSE and loves it.
I think after you use it for a month, you will never regret leaving Windows XP and you can turn the XP hard drive into another volume for storage. With some experience, you can make copies of the DVD and start helping others free themselves from M$.
I plan on reviewing some of the software I am using in the near future. If you are interested, drop me a line. If you have a question, leave a comment.
Great show, Don Ray. While no one can cover all the features of Linux in a short article (or even a long book), there is one feature that is especially pertinent here in Panama. With Linux, you can have two or more language versions on the same computer, and switch back and forth from English to Spanish, and vice versa. This can save a lot of heartache in a one-computer, two language household.
Henry
Hi Henry. Yes, I thought about writing that and I even use it. I have some people that use my PC and speak only Spanish. When they sign on the entire system comes up in Spanish.
I have agreed to help one store in David put together a system for demo purposes. I have told them we will configure two users. One named “english” and one named “espanol”. The store will then use that feature to demo it in both languages.
Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment.
Don,
I’ve recently installed ubuntu as a dual boot with Windows XP. My problem is that there hasn’t been any local help or advice available that I am/was aware of. If there is sufficient interest in Linux then how about the group getting together say once a month for discussion, help, advice or whatever?
Clayton
Hi Clayton. I am willing. The problem will be finding a place that is suitable. What would be nice is to have an area that has connection to the Internet. Without a live connection, it can be difficult to do things. However, I am willing to meet once a month.
If you add one of the chat addresses on the righ to your messenger, give me time to authorize your id, maybe can solve get some of your questions taken care of.
Feel free to send me an email with your problems or questions too. My experience has been that it is the initial period that causes problems. After that you gain experience fast.
How great of you to offer help with Linux. I always have it in the back of my mind that I’ll try it someday.
I do want to respond to Henry’s comment, though, to say that you have the same language ability in Mac OS X that you do in Linux. You can log in or start up in any language you wish by choosing the setting in advance. Even when your primary language is, say English, you can with one click of the mouse change your keyboard to a Spanish keyboard and then easily insert all the accents, upside down question marks, etc. when you are composing something in Spanish.
Mary
Hi Mary. I just think that Linux would be a good thing for a lot of Panamanians to use. Many Panamanians pay someone to install “cracked” microsoft Windows. I have a friend that recently did that. He paid $50 and got Windows XP, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, all of Microsoft Office and I forget what else. All the software appeared to work fine and updated from the Internet.
I just have this mental problem about using something illegally. Most people can do anything they want and more. If a person wants to learn to program there are lots of compilers and editors and all the tools that any developer would need.
I will se if anyone takes me up on an install.
Mary said, “I do want to respond to Henry’s comment, though, to say that you have the same language ability in Mac OS X that you do in Linux.”
Thanks Mary. Since I am not a Mac user, I didn’t know that. The HUGE advantage goes to Linux, though. I can buy a new, complete system with monitor, printer, and scanner for under $400.00, install Ubuntu on it, and have a multi-language system.
What Panama really needs right now is a few people like Don Ray (whom I believe is about to get drafted) to show people just how easy it is to use Linux.
Henry
Come on Henry. Now be fair. To get equivelent hardware technology to a current MAC, you aren’t going to spend $400 for that much equipment. My 22 inch LG monitor cost me $350.
I never meant to imply that the cheap Linux box would be equivalent to the Mac, only that you can buy into the game a LOT cheaper with Linux than you can with OSX. You can get a new Windows computer for only a little bit more, but not with the multi-language advantage. Sometimes I don’t express my brilliant wisdom very clearly.
Henry
Hahahaha. I just wanted to keep the playing field level.
The area I have found to be the weakest in Linux is the ability to work with videos and send them to YouTube. I still haven’t been able to solve that to my satisfaction.
New , both to linux, and David, desperately need assistance ditching microsoft, and all of thier fellow cyber-terrorists. I don’t know which version of Linux to download (I require one with all drivers, etc), or is a boxed version available here in David, how much$? It seems highspeed internet here =24kb download! So an 8 hr download is rather excessive, si o no? Please assist. Feel free to contact via e-mail
I have a DVD of openSUSE 11.0 that I am using. I also have a CD of the latest versions of UBUNTU, KUBUNTU and Linux Mint.
I will be happy to help. If you want a copy of any of the above, let me know and I will make you a copy.