Bye bye Windows, HELLO LINUX !
- Filed under: Uncategorized
- Date: Jun 24,2008
I’m almost ashamed to admit that all my computers are running WindowsXP. Not because i’m pro-microsoft, but because it’s the most common OS and I know how to use it very well. Because of my job it’s important that I know the softwares that are most commonly used. I’ve been wanting to learn linux and switch to that, but was too afraid of the down-time while I switch everything over and basically have to re-learn all my computer stuff.
Last Friday I decided to use a spare p3 866mhz with 360mb Ram to test out Ubuntu. Ubuntu has a very nice graphical point and click interface that’s similar to XP and MacOS.
The installation went VERY well and it pretty much installed everything on it’s own. Internet worked, file sharing worked (With my XP computers!), bluetooth worked, sound and video worked. WONDERFUL! I literally ran out of stuff to do in under 2 hours since there was nothing for me to configure. It JUST WORKED !! WOW !
So with that install having gone so well, I decided to install it onto my work laptop. a P4 1.1GHZ with 256MB Ram. I was afraid of losing some important windows only software so I decided to install it as a DUAL BOOT system. Meaning when I turn on the computer, I choose if I boot into linux or windows.
Ubuntu was freezing during the install on my laptop. I tried lots of things but it just wasn’t happening. I decided to try install Xubuntu which is basically a slimmed down version of Ubuntu. The installation of that OS went well, and I didn’t lose my XP data. HOWEVER, this install did not install everything for me.
I had to manually configure my sound card, I had to manually get my no-name brand PCMCIA Wireless adapter working using NDISWRAPPER, and a few other things. Considering I don’t know linux, these took a LONG time to figure out. I still haven’t gotten file sharing to work properly.
It took a whole weekend but I know have 2 computers running Linux and being able to do all the same things I always do on my pc’s. Mostly browsing the web, watching video’s, msn, email, my blog ofcourse, billing and quotes for my business that I used to use Microsoft Office for, downloads, etc etc etc … The best part is, I do all the same things, but these computers are now running much better and faster than they used to !
All in all, i’m LOVING Ubuntu and Xubuntu. I have finally free’d myself of the chains of Microsoft !! (Don’t get me wrong, I like XP a lot. Problem is it’s expensive and can get lots of virus’s - Spyware - adware, crashes, uses lots of resources….etc) I’ve already learned a lot about Linux in the last few days. There’s nothing like just throwing yourself into it !! 
2 Responses for "Bye bye Windows, HELLO LINUX !"
I recently got an Asus Eee PC with Linux on it - I love it! So simple to use. I think I will keep it and get rid of Windows on my other PCs too!
Yeah it was a big surprise to me that it worked so well right away. Although like I mentioned in this post, I had trouble with my laptop. Not that it’s all done though, i’m SOO happy with Ubuntu and Xubuntu !! (Although i’m still having a hard time with file sharing on the network with the Xubuntu computer)
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