How to decide if Linux is right for you

[Angel Eyes]

This open-source operating system offers a Windows-like experience without all the hassles. Plus, it's free. Should it be your next OS? <br />
<br />
Had it up to here with Windows? Can't take another &quot;blue...

[Ineedanewusersname]

I have read that before somewhere. Any quotes/footnotes?

[zelig]

try a live cd first to see what the os is like.

[sassy1]

So I dumped Windows years ago and only run Linux Mint on all my machines at home. Sure there is a learning curve, but there was the same curve with windows as well, I even used OS2 as long as it was available, I still have a complete boxed version sitting here and still play with it on an old laptop.

The only real problem with Linux is ...its not for Gamers. it sync's my music and e-mail just fine with my cell phone,,

I run Libre Office and haven't had a problem importing Office files at all iI couldn't get it to import Outlook files because of MS proprietary file ext..

As for the command line and terminal options, when needed I go online and very quickly find answers for the Sudo and Apt options among others.

Printers are a problem, but they seemed to have solved most to the problems by using the "Open Printing option".
Wine does alot, but like you said its not perfect but still works well and has options up to Win8 in the file section of its configuration.
I can honestley say i dont miss Microsoft any more and would never go back..

just my opinion

take care

[zelig]

I would rather multiboot xp and whatever.
There are hacking things you can do in xp that you just can't do in linux or osx86.
And all the loaders/editors for sat receivers are windows based.

[MeSat_FTA]

I disagree on gaming unless you only want to play Windows games. There are hundreds of Linux games, including on-line games. Steam supports Linux quite well.

In our house, Linux has been used since 1999. Minor issues. I use it at work and even save Windows users butts many times when Windows won't allow something to be done.

Higher security and if the rumors are true about backdoors in Windows, then less NSA spying. :)

Yes, there is a change from Windows but some of the tools are much better than Windows.

Support for standards is higher than with Windows.

LibreOffice is much better than OpenOffice which has lagged ever since Oracle took it over and finally gave it to the Apache foundation.

I installed Linux on a brand new Asus laptop and all the hardware worked without doing anything. My daughter purchased a new laser printer and it worked out of the box on first try.

Fedora 19 has a complete electronics design package available as well as a complete suite of 3d printing tools.

Note, many of the software programs on Linux will also run on Windows. GIMP, Blender, Stellarium and LibreOffice to just name a few.

I agree, try a live disk which will be slow compared to a HDD install. Dual boot is easy to install if your system isn't using the new Microsoft controlled secure boot system. If it is, then some problem can crop up.