I want to switch to Linux and need advice

I had this as my desktop wallpaper for a few months and it came in handy while making the transition:

[link to www.technocrazed.com]

Cinnamon, KDE, Gnome, Mate, and XFCE are what's known as Desktop Managers. If you think back to Windows XP and how they gave you the choice between the newer, flashier appearance and the more classic Windows 98/2000 appearance, it's the same concept except you have a lot more options available to you.

To use a car analogy, you chose Mint as your frame and powertrain. Your choice of desktop manager determines if it looks like a Chevy Equinox or a GMC Terrain.

As for aptitude, synaptic, and the like, they all basically accomplish the same thing - installing and removing software packages. 9/10 you're going to be able to accomplish what you want with the built-in Software Manager, which is equivalent to an App Store. Synaptic and Apt give you some additional advanced options when installing that you probably won't need at first.

Also, if you want to install a package that you find on the web, .DEB files are the Linux equivalent of .MSI files in Microsoft. Just download, double-click, and it activates the installer.

I firmly believe Linux is the best operating system available to users. Microsoft is giving users less and less control over their machines while becoming more and more intrusive. Mac OS is a viable alternative (for all intents and purposes, it is Linux under the hood), but the hardware is pretty expensive. With Linux I can take just about any old Celeron/P4 system or higher and turn it into a functional computer.

As for "being too reliant on the community for support," you ever tried calling Microsoft Technical Support? It is, admittedly, a double-edged sword. If you want people who know the subject matter inside and out and don't mind helping others with their knowledge, the Linux community has some of the best people out there. But the nature of Linux prevents a centralized technical support call center.

Linux has its pros and cons. I can run the laptop I'm posting this from practically indefinitely without a reboot, including multiple suspends/resumes. I don't have to worry about malware or viruses. I don't have to worry about my data being mined and sold to the highest corporate bidder or government agency. I can pull the hard drive out of this Toshiba laptop, pop it into a Dell laptop, and boot right up with no accusations of being a software pirate and having to jump through re-registration hoops. And I fully support the philosophy of Free Open Source Software (FOSS). But I have to accept that in a Microsoft-oriented world, there are just some things I cannot do, and for those I maintain a Windows 7 Pro installation on a virtual machine. I also have to accept that hard-core gaming is out of the question (not that I care), and that I will occasionally run into a printer or other peripheral where device drivers are problematic.

When I encounter such problems, Google is my best friend and rare is the occasion that I can't find a solution.

Not necessary. I have a Linux version of AVG installed on my laptop, but I only use it for scanning infected Windows hard drives.

Thanks. I'll assume from your post i don't need a software firewall or any kind of anti-phishing\malware software.

I looked and saw bit defender and clam

I was hoping for mainly we based protection

one of the real advantages of Linux is that I can
EASILY roll back my system to a Clonezilla backup
in 3 to 4 minutes. And it's an image, an exact
snapshot of my entire system. Windows backup
is a file-by-file copy which works *most* of
the time.

I can full image my system in 3 or 4 minutes,
and full restore it in 3 or 4 minutes.

Once you control your entire system,
all that stuff about viruses,
and firewalls, etc, it's just not important.

Thanks. I'll assume from your post i don't need a software firewall or any kind of anti-phishing\malware software.

I looked and saw bit defender and clam

I was hoping for mainly we based protection

Thanks

I use Acronis 2014 with windows. I like the full image and the system state.

Ill check out clonezilla

What is the best distro to use for a noob?

I'm started with M$ long before windows. Many years I used DOS and wrote batch files.

That being said U know nothing of Linux file system\directory structure.

I know nothing about command line usage in Linux

I want to learn but I also want to have the easiest distro to use while learning

Xubuntu. You will still have a start menu. Ubuntu has fucked that up sidways with Gnome. Xubuntu comes with XFCE instead of Gnome. More windows like, runs 1000% faster, and is extremely user friendly.

Linux full time if blasted adobe ported their programs over.

My preferred Linux distribution is Zorin - [link to zorinos.com]

Zorin has a unique feature to emulate the looks and action of the Microsoft Windows user interface like XP or Win 7. The paid version emulates other systems too.


My second version is Robo Linux - [link to www.robolinux.org (secure)]

The Debian derivatives have a large software repository and the software installers are ok as far as loading any dependencies.

Good luck on your OS exploration!

I'm about to switch too. Probably going with Arch.

I actually think Linux is really shitty, with a godawful mess under the hood (that you unfortunately are going to have to open and have a peek at sooner or later).

But Windows 10 has decided to go full NSA Big Brother 24/7 surveillance on us, so Windows is simply no longer a viable option. They have disqualified themselves from consideration by anyone who isn't a born cuck.

I've been sticking to my Windows 7 (with updates off!) for a while, but that's not a long term solution either. So I'll have to make the move to Linux eventually. Might as well get it over with.

The hardest part right now is cleaning up my hard drive, sorting my shit and backing up what I want to keep.