Tips on moving to Linux?

[Fats]

Never said it was.

But you had a choice.

You also have the choice on Linux. It's just that most Linux users also learn to use the CLI and thus propose solutions for problems using the CLI.
And once you are used to it HOWTO's for example for Windows with step-by-step click here, click there just seems quite involved.
But like said before if Linux is not for you, don't use it. Just don't assume everybody thinks or functions as you.

[persia]

Windows users don't even know there's a command prompt in Windows.  And heaven forbid one of these new Windows Server 2012 Administrators ever has to fix a config file.  Face it, Windows is for people who don't ever want to see a command line.  It's really no different to Android...

[cgutjahr]

If you have to court an existing Linux user to find out how to do the same, then I can see why Windows has a much higher installation rate.

If you don't know how to do it in Linux, then why bother to reply?

On Ubuntu, you open the main menu then go to System -> System Management -> System Monitor. I don't think that'r rocket science.

[polyp2000]

So what?  Barely 1% of computers *connected* to the internet run Linux.

Im not sure where you get that statistic from but market share does not a good operating system make!

Linux is a good server OS.  What does it do? Negotiate connections, allow other computers to access and facilitate the transfer of data from the servers.  

Very true thats why server market penetration for linux is high. In fact linux is not just great for servers its also great for lightweight embedded devices such as home routers, industrial equipment as well as very popular devices like the Raspberry Pi.

But the demands of a server OS are very different to those of a desktop OS.  

Thats why , just like windows there are different flavours of Linux , eg Red-Hat and Centos for the server and Ubuntu or Mint on the desktop.

As an amateur, free to acquire but not free in time OS Linux is a decent.    

Amateur is a very loaded term, it suggests that you are not aware that Linux is a multi-billion dollar industry. It suggests that its not built by paid professionals such as those employed by IBM, RedHat, Canonical and Cisco plus many others. Or perhaps Google who use the Linux kernel as the basis for its operating systems Android and their Desktop ChromeOS. Android has the lions share of the mobile operating system market , greater than iOS and others combined. Thats pretty impressive for what you describe as an "Amateur" os.

 But most users would rather just pay for a Mac or Windows PC and not waste their valuable time fartsing around in the terminal to do simple things.

Most users are not aware that they have Linux as a choice. That is because Microsoft actively penalize OEM manufacturers for offering it as an option. Finally any new version of a desktop oriented version of Linux running on supported hardware eg: Ubuntu , is every bit as capable for every day simple things* without going anywhere near a command line.

* Web browsing, email, word processing, image processing

But linux can run non-simple stuff too! Many of the industry standard 3D modelling packages run on linux such as Maya. There are also some great DAW's such as Renoise and Bitwig studio.

The ONLY thing thats really holding it back is gaming and thats taking a big turn because Valve have chosen it as the backbone for SteamOS.

There is actually one other thing thats holding it back , and thats people like you propogating the myth that people seem to think that an operating system that can do all the things above and more is no good for the desktop.

This guy has some great video's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTOavWs6Aw&list=TLRaDy3dFjCDwahACdqauwexl5Rf2T5j5D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuTv92LOy1U&list=TLVqbQzmooAQzKMcl7rxuN3n-CtARVBCCR

[persia]

Yes, the market is fractured at the moment with desktop ruled by Microsoft, Server split between Linux and Microsoft and Mobile devices dominated by Google's Android.  With the release of MS Office for Android Microsoft has conceded that the split is likely to be long term.  

Operating System choice is becoming irrelevant as more and more software supports Windows, Android, iOS and to a lesser extent OS X.  The money has moved to the cloud.  Microsoft happily collects the same amount of money from an Android, iOS, or OS X user for Office 365.  And they collect it annually, not once like they do with an operating system.  In a single move they have negated the number one reason for buying a Windows tablet, because they make far more money from that Office 365 than they would have from from the tablet itself.

[ElPolloDiabl]

When Linux just freezes at boot, it can be really offputting.
I have a fix... Go back to an earlier more stable version. The latest release with great features is not the best Linux. An earlier version that has all your drivers is the one to pick.

[psxphill]

Windows users don't even know there's a command prompt in Windows. And heaven forbid one of these new Windows Server 2012 Administrators ever has to fix a config file. Face it, Windows is for people who don't ever want to see a command line. It's really no different to Android...

This statement is full of fail. I know plenty of Windows users that use a command prompt, jpsoft have even made a business out of it. I wouldn't even say that Mac users don't know there's a command prompt in OSX, because I now some do.
 

If you don't know how to do it in Linux, then why bother to reply?

My point didn't require me to know, in fact quite the opposite.
 

On Ubuntu, you open the main menu then go to System -> System Management -> System Monitor. I don't think that'r rocket science.

What if I'm not using Ubuntu? Is it the same in all the other distros?
 

Im not sure where you get that statistic from but market share does not a good operating system make!
 
Apparently it does, at least the following post he was replying to implied that it did. You can't have it both ways.
 

Two thirds of the Internet is running on Linux these days - but hey, what's that compared to your glorious insight in Linux' stability...

Linux is good when a company wants to make a profit out of someone elses hard work, to drive down prices on TV's, phone's, servers etc. It also can break compatibility a lot easier, something that Microsoft can't. Windows gets some really dreadful device drivers and software written for it too, but then you should be able to buy any old printer (or other peripheral) and expect that it should just work with Windows.

[AmigaPixel]

When Linux just freezes at boot, it can be really offputting.
I have a fix... Go back to an earlier more stable version. The latest release with great features is not the best Linux. An earlier version that has all your drivers is the one to pick.

How far back would you suggest? I have 12.04 installed right now and freezes right after booting to the desktop.

[Bif]

What if I'm not using Ubuntu? Is it the same in all the other distros?

I'm on Linux Mint 16 here. I was curious so went to look. You can find the "task manager" at "Menu -> Administration -> System Monitor". Took me about 5 seconds to locate it, seemed logical enough of a place, I'd hope other user friendly distros would take about as much time.

Over various versions of Windows various tools/utilities/apps have also moved around, but it's usually pretty similar to find what is needed. The exception for me was Windows 8, takes me forever to intuitively find a damn thing on that OS.

There's 3 reasons I am running Mint right now:

1) My experience with Windows 8 was extremely annoying. Why do I want to use something that annoys the hell out of me?
2) Both my Windows 7 and Vista computers stopped working after a bad automatic update from MS.
3) With the above I thought lets give Linux another try since my laptop wasn't booting anyway. Linux Mint has been working just fine for what I need a computer to do for several months now. Not once have I gone into a command line, nor have I messed with a single damn config thing. It just works. And it doesn't annoy me. So why wouldn't I use it?

Keep in mind I have nothing against Windows in general, I've been a happy Windows user over the years, just at this point Mint is making me happier. If it doesn't work in the future for some reason I'll drop it and move to something that works better, I'm not that attached. These days I just need a good web browser, music player, editor and a few other things, it's very easy to move around.

[Fats]

It's really no different to Android...

One of the reasons for me to choose Android phone is that I can ssh into it...

[Surreal]

How far back would you suggest? I have 12.04 installed right now and freezes right after booting to the desktop.

Honestly, today, I'd try 14.04, it was just released and pretty slick in general.  You may actually find a newer version will fix something that existed in 12.04.  I'd try this first.

Failing that, you may want to try Debian Wheezy, it's not unsimilar to a 'core' version of what is in the *buntus.  

~S

[Fats]

Linux is good when a company wants to make a profit out of someone elses hard work, to drive down prices on TV's, phone's, servers etc.

Yes you are right. The reason we use Linux to design chips is that we don't want to pay a few bucks for an OS to run our software with license fees of a few $1000.
NOT!

[AmigaPixel]

Honestly, today, I'd try 14.04, it was just released and pretty slick in general.  You may actually find a newer version will fix something that existed in 12.04.  I'd try this first.

Failing that, you may want to try Debian Wheezy, it's not unsimilar to a 'core' version of what is in the *buntus.  

~S

Yes I may do that this weekend Ral-Clan did already and said it is running pretty good with only an issue with OpenGL

[desiv]

Not once have I gone into a command line, nor have I messed with a single damn config thing.

Uh oh.   I can't hep myself.... :griping:


Man, what is the fear of command line and config files in this world.. ;-)

And I'm not talking Linux..
I was just on an interview panel for a Windows "server tech" and most of the applicants seemed afraid of Powershell.
(I love Powershell!!)

Don't get me wrong, GUIs are great.  
One of my favorite parts of the Amiga was the GUI.

But if I can do something faster and more efficiently with text, why wouldn't I want to do that?

When I want to send a quick message to someone, I don't call them or skype them.  I TEXT them..
Sometimes, even today, text is still better!!!


:lol::lol::lol::lol:

desiv

[gertsy]

Im not sure where you get that statistic from but market share does not a good operating system make!

...
Most users are not aware that they have Linux as a choice. That is because Microsoft actively penalize OEM manufacturers for offering it as an option
....

I agree on the first point. Please don't get me started on Market share.  It's based on sales not downloads of free Linux distributions. So how could it be used to determine Linux popularity?  
Once more: Market share can never be used to determine the popularity of machines in use. So don't.

On the second point, bullsh1t.  Microsoft give direct incentives for their OS on OEM kit for sure, but they have no reps with black top hats, capes, and stiffly waxed moustaches going around the world sabotaging other products.  ALL the major MB manufactures support Linux and provide drivers for most or at a minimum subset of their MBs.

[psxphill]

On the second point, bullsh1t. Microsoft give direct incentives for their OS on OEM kit for sure, but they have no reps with black top hats, capes, and stiffly waxed moustaches going around the world sabotaging other products. ALL the major MB manufactures support Linux and provide drivers for most or at a minimum subset of their MBs.

It's not cost effective for an OEM to ship Linux. It limits their hardware selection for a start.