A Layman's Switch From Windows to Linux

Aug 1, 2011
Julie Mathews

ubuntu Logo - Canonical Ltd (Ubuntu Visual Identity) [Public domain]

Non-technical answers to the top questions asked by prospective Linux users, and how to switch painlessly.

What is Linux Ubuntu?

Simply put, Linux is an operating system (OS). Linux is not owned by any one company or person. It is a community based OS, for the community; the OS, programs and tech support are all absolutely free. Ubuntu is a distribution (distro) of Linux, with a user interface much like Windows. There are several variations of Linux distros in which applications are packaged together to suit individual needs. I chose Ubuntu because of its reputation of being the easiest to switch to, and user ease of operation. Software is abundant and free. Anti-virus programs are not normally needed.

Ubuntu and Windows Programs

Out of the box, Linux Ubuntu has with everything needed to get started. There are several ways you can obtain it including trying it on-line.

Open source programs are used on Linux systems. Many open source programs will run on other operating systems, so they can be learned without leaving your safe environment. For those who use FireFox Web Browser, you are already using Open Source software. Open Source Windows has a list of programs that can be used on both platforms. OpenOffice.org is a productivity suite just like Microsoft office. It comes complete with spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and presentation applications. OpenOffice will also run on Windows, and it is free. WineHQ, is a program to be used after switching to Linux, which will allow you to install and run many Windows programs and applications on other operating systems.

Open Source software was born from the free software movement during the 1990s and is going stronger than ever. The software is free to download, share and modify. There are hundreds of programs and applications available from graphics, file sharing, music, educational, business, science, programming and so on.

There is some controversy over the need for anti-virus programs for Linux. In a nutshell, every computer is susceptible to exposure and infection. According to BBC News, Symantec reported one million known viruses in 2008, most of them targeting Microsoft Windows. According to Scott Granneman, in 2003 there were 40 Linux viruses versus 60,000 Windows viruses. Linux has somewhat of a built-in security system. Most viruses are .exe, or .scr based files, which do not work on Linux. It is said among the Linux community, that one really must work at it, or be really careless to be infected with a virus. With Linux gaining in popularity, it might be a good idea to have some extra protection. I have run Linux 3 years with out protection without any problems so far; however, I am considering adding some protection in the near future. There are anti-virus and firewall programs available, free.

Not being familiar with the gaming scene, I recommend consulting linuX-gamers.net. For those who like simple screen games, there are plenty of those to select.

Hardware Compatibility

This is something you can check on prior to migration. Conduct a search for hardware compatibility with Linux, then check several sources for your hardware, drivers and peripherals. Most of these sites report results according to user experience, so there will be different results per site. The quickest way seemed to search for your item using "make, model, "AND" Linux compatibility" as your search terms which will steer you to direct links. You will find results such as if the item did or did not work, what they did to get it to work, or what you need to get such as downloading another driver.

Most installation CDs will not work in Linux since they are executable Windows files. I just plugged the peripherals in, and everything worked except the printer which needed to be replaced.

The Actual Migration

To try Linux while still keeping Windows you can do one of two things; partition your hard drive and run them side by side, or run it on a separate or external drive.

Partitioning the hard drive was too scary and over my head. I opted to run it on the USB external drive. Ubuntu was simple to download and install to a secondary drive. I used Linux for two days on the external drive and did the full migration the next day and have not looked back.

Conclusion

Three years later I am still thrilled with Linux. No screen freezes, blue screens, errors, or speed issues. All the programs, apps or add-ons ever needed have all been provided for free. Not one penny has been dumped into software. Most of the programs install on their own after you authorize it. Some have to be done manually. Manual installation looks scary at first, but it is not.

System maintenance (such as disk scan and defrag) is not an issue with Linux Ubuntu; it's built in and performs the task itself on every 30 start-ups.

Checking to see if hardware or a device will run with Linux prior to purchase may seem inconvenient, but you can do that all on-line before you go out a buy it. Hardware and packaging rarely state if they are Linux friendly, and most people you ask in stores have never heard of Linux.

When I look back at the money that has been saved, all the aggravation I used to experience as a Windows user, I realize all this has been very much worth the switch.