What should we do after January 2020

ian50 said:

For those who advocate some variation of Linux, the issues here are two:

1) drivers for peripherals such as printers, plotters, scanners etc. Most manufacturers don't bother developing drivers for Linux (too small a market) so one is dependent on Linux programmers to develop for your specific peripherals. Too hit and miss for reliability

2) the whole group of Windows software programmes I've bought and nurtured (CAD, mapping, modelling, 3D). No true equivalents for Linux without enormous effort on my part, way too much trouble

Linux Mint will use propriety drivers. During installation you have a check box choice...install propriety drivers (recommend) or use open source. There might not be a driver for more obscure hardware, but when I installed Linux Mint 19.2 a month ago it automatically installed the propriety driver for my Nvidia graphics card...and my Brothers printer installed perfectly too with an open source driver. I'm not saying there's no problems with drivers in Linux, but then again just go to the Windows 10 Forum and see how many people have problems with installing hardware and drivers in W10. Problems can happen in any OS.

As far as the specific Windows programs like you mentioned: (CAD, mapping, modelling, 3D) there might not be equivalents in Linux software. One could run WINE in Linux and use Windows programs like that. That's what I do with Photoshop. But that might not work for every program.

No OS will suit everyone, but there's a lot of myths about Linux that people get wrong. One can always try a Linux distro for free (how about that!) and run it from a USB without installing it (another cool thing!)

Only those brainwashed by Microsoft into thinking that Linux is an inferior OS have trouble switching to Linux. In fact, is a superior OS (yes this is just my opinion, so I won't attempt to document it as it's based on my own experience. Primarily, much less catastrophic failure, and much easier to fix problems. Plus, a fantastic community who, like this place, genuinely want to solve your problem).

The only issues with drivers I have had are with printers. But more often than not, I have no issues, once I figure out how to make them work. With video drivers, I have found that open sourced work better than proprietary.

In general, Linux can do anything Windows can do. You may not be able to be able to run programs designed for windows, but then you can't run programs in Windows designed for Linux. But if you have a program you can't live without, you can keep using on it a W7 machine which you keep offline. That is what I will be doing with my music creation computer. There is no way to run those programs on Linux, the developers simply don't write Linux drivers for them, and I am too heavily invested in them to use Linux equivalents, which in this case are decidedly inferior.

So, a Windows 7 computer or drive for what you absolutely need it for, kept offline, and a Linux computer for everything else.

Rokkor said:

I'm not saying there's no problems with drivers in Linux, but then again just go to the Windows 10 Forum and see how many people have problems with installing hardware and drivers in W10. Problems can happen in any OS.

Linux is far from perfect although no OS is or ever will be perfect.


I've had to chase drivers down and then force them to install using compatibility mode in Windows 10 and in Windows 7 sometimes that's the only way to get something to work.

Rokkor said:

No OS will suit everyone, but there's a lot of myths about Linux that people get wrong. One can always try a Linux distro for free (how about that!) and run it from a USB without installing it (another cool thing!)

Well said Rokkor.


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@ RoWin7


You're welcome.


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Good Evening to all.
I'm going to enjoy a few drinks.

Rokkor said:

One can always try a Linux distro for free (how about that!) and run it from a USB without installing it (another cool thing!)

A couple of questions...

1. Is there a specific website(s) recommended, from which to download a Linux distro?

2. Which version of Linux is suggested for someone who hasn't the faintest idea of how Linux works, and needs to start out 'simple'?

Much obliged for any info!

Thanks very much for those two links, Jeannie!

Lady Fitzgerald said:

Linux is not the same as Windows of any kind. You wil have to forget everything you learned in Windows and start all over learning how Linux works.

A good read.

Linux is NOT Windows

Lady Fitzgerald said:

Once you accept Linux will not work like Windows and just go with the flow in Linux, it will be easier for you. That said, I know I'm going to go through Hell unlearning Windows and learning Linux but, being part Irish and part German, I'm stuborn enough to do it.

I think you will be surprised how easy Linux is to learn.


Don't try to learn everything at once.


Become familiar with the Linux distro you install.


You learn Linux while using Linux and the important thing is to have fun and enjoy Linux.



Here's a good place to start your migration from Windows to Linux.

Linux Lite Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System

Linux Lite - Help Manual

Linux Download | Download Linux Lite Free Linux Operating System

Linux Lite Forums - Index


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Main Page - Linux Mint

Linux Mint Installation Guide — Linux Mint Installation Guide documentation

Editions for Linux Mint 19.2 "Tina" - Linux Mint

https://forums.linuxmint.com/

Years ago now I had some Linux-based servers and it was mostly great fun learning and using them. As for converting to Linux exclusively, I can't do it because I have several W-only programs that are the reasons I even have a computer now, so will continue using W7 until I can't anymore for whatever reason.

I suppose it is possible that in the future these programs will be converted-to or runnable-on Linux-based computers and when they are I'll certainly do it.