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Day One On Linux: What Would You Miss?
I've decided once and for all that I'm going to make a serious effort to make Linux my primary operating system. Am I dissatisfied with Windows? No. In fact, I'm quite happy with it. It's just time for a change, that's all.This isn't my first attempt to switch. I've made several others before with various distros: Ubuntu, Mint, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva, Fedora, Slax...There's always been something early on that made me bail out and head back to my trusty old Windows XP install.
Now, I'm not blaming Linux. It's more to do with my comfort level with the programs I have installed. Certain apps that I've been using for ages in Windows aren't available in Linux, and that's held me back. For me, it's always been Photoshop (CS2 in Wine has never worked very well for me).
Recently, however, I've been testing out so many other similar apps that I don't think I'll notice it missing this time. I'm getting comfortable with GIMP's UI, and I can always use Drpic.com for really quick edits.
Which brings me to the larger point: how much does your OS really matter any more? I use Firefox and a handful of addons and a number of web apps now, so switching ought to be relatively painless. So far, the only thing I've missed is being able to install a Windows app to review it for DownloadSquad, and VirtualBox will take care of that soon enough.
What about you? Could you switch to Linux and not miss a beat, or are there still some apps you just can't live without on your desktop?
Comments
57
Subscribe to commentsPeterSep 18th 2008 8:37PM
"those were quickly solved with a little bit of shell scripting and a quick C program written to detect if I was connected to the dock at work or not."
That experience is exactly why you're not going to get most users to switch. No one wants to do that, and they shouldn't need to be a programmer to get basic tasks done.
Complain about Windows all you want, but for the majority of the people it just works with very little tweaking. Linux still requires too much technical knowledge. We don't think it does because DLS readers are geeks who like playing around with computers. Your average computer users just wants to do something online, not write a shell script to configure their graphics card.
Dan KegelSep 18th 2008 5:52PM
What problems did you have with Photoshop CS2 in Wine? Maybe we can fix them.
Lee MathewsSep 18th 2008 5:53PM
...and that's one reason to love Linux. Seriously. There are a ton of people that are really, really excited about helping you.
Thanks, but I'm gonna stick it out with Gimp. 2.6 is shaping up rather nicely!
Dan KegelSep 18th 2008 10:41PM
Aw, c'mon. Help us out here. Even if you don't care anymore, you should still tell us what bugged you about CS2 on Wine. Otherwise you're just taunting us :-(
mvpSep 18th 2008 6:48PM
I've attempted numerous time only for me to never use it because the lack of game support, no steam :(
wirenikSep 18th 2008 8:09PM
I used Windows XP, then switched Ubuntu a few months ago. I've tried many of the other mainstream distros and live CD's. Last week I switched to Arch Linux, which is undoubtedly the best distro I have come across, hands down.
I'm a minimalist at heart, which is why Arch appeals to me so much. With Arch you are given the Linux kernel, the GNU toolchain, and just enough hardware drivers to get an Internet connection up and running. From then on you use their package management system -- which is an amazing little tool called pacman -- to built your own system. You can install a DE like GNOME or KDE or LXDE, or you can go the minimalist method (which, needless to say, is what I chose :]). I installed and configured Openbox and all my other apps and utilities. My system is small and snappy, and runs exactly how I want it to.
That's not to mention the community. I don't speak for everyone, but I speak for the majority of Linux users when I say that they are always, ALWAYS willing to help if you are willing to learn. They were newbies too once; they know how it feels. ;)
With Linux there is an insane amount of choice. You like eye candy? Get yourself KDE and load up as many Compiz effects as your CPU can handle. Want a server? Install Gentoo or Arch and don't bother with a GUI. Want a great computing experience on a low-powered machine? You can have that too.
And it's all free. No $320 Windows Vista Ultimate for me. My system is exactly what I want it to be.
Sorry for the wall of text! (Can you tell I'm a proud Linux user?)
tl;dr: I absolutely love Linux. I couldn't live without it. ;)
tigsfanSep 19th 2008 2:25AM
@Lee Mathews
Out of curiosity which Linux distro are you trying to switch to?
Lee MathewsSep 19th 2008 2:28AM
Right now, it's Ubuntu - and only for the ease with which it installed on my MSI Wind Netbook. Other distros booted, only Ubuntu got the video drivers right with no fussing.
With Wubi, I was up and running in no time!
djfdatSep 19th 2008 1:24AM
winamp, digsby, convertx, cs3, all the nice homemade games for windows and visual studio and more stuff
phyrexiaSep 19th 2008 9:31AM
For me the problem would be, that I can't install my games. I would have to use virtualbox or something similar... but I don't think that I could run some newer games like Crysis or Oblivion comfortably virtualizing them. (There's no problem with older RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment).
So I think to myself: why switch at all? I'm comfy with my Win XP Pro SP3 install; it runs smoothly, doesn't give me bluescreens...
wattssr60Sep 19th 2008 7:45AM
I use Ubuntu as a second boot but I have not went to it completely because I can not get my home network to work correctly. Plus I have not as yet figured out how to install download programs. Still working on all my shortcomings. But not ready to quit XP as yet.
chuckSep 19th 2008 12:02PM
I just switched my system to a dual boot (XP and Hardy Heron- now my primary), the only thing I miss is lexmark printer support (if anyone has any tips email me at crho85 @ gmail. com). Other than that I have open office, GIMP (and photoshop on XP), I can write to my ntsf drive, and I discovered amorak... all in all I am happy I switched (minus the printer thing).
DoranwenSep 19th 2008 11:30PM
Filetopia. Supposedly it can be run in Wine, but every time we tried it got hung up trying to connect to the Internet (and the laptop was browsing the 'net fine), and since it's built so it automatically connects first thing (you have to turn the auto-connect off at some point), it was impossible to make work. So I'm staying with Windows for now, but I have an Ubuntu partition and would be comfortable having a Linux laptop. If I had an extra one to spare, I'd probably go with an Ubuntu laptop.
Steven EdeSep 23rd 2008 3:19AM
Well i took the plunge .... I installed Ubuntu last week and haven't looked back! I agree with some of the quotes here that Linux is much more fun, its also easier than i thought it would be!
One thing i am missing though is me Serif applications, PagePlus and WebPlus, but half the fun of a new OS is finding new applications to learn and play with. I am also still looking for an application in the mould of DVD Santa!
These three packages aside i'm now wondering why i didn't move sooner!!
Installing Linux applications is a breeze and if i have any issues a quick Google usually finds a solution.
The next stage is to build a PVR using Mythbuntu ... could be fun! :)
AspraSep 24th 2008 9:21AM
Winamp. I NEED winamp. I have tried to use the players that are alternatives to winamp but nothing beats it.
Lee MathewsSep 24th 2008 9:13AM
Even Amarok? Amarok is pretty damn sweet, dude!
SeanSep 27th 2008 9:05AM
I've switched. Doesn't bother me that much. It is a laptop so I seem to be getting 30 minutes less or so battery live in ubuntu so that is the main big issue that makes me want to boot into vista if i'm running on battery. If i want to run a windows only program virtual box with xp works good, and then i don't have to mess with wine. Unless it starts to get unstable or I have issues i plan to be on ubuntu 100 percent of the time for now on.