Hi Alexo: I'm with you. I use SimplyMepis myself now because of it's ease of use and the time l spent trying to stop or get rid of viruses, adware and spyware l can now devote to learning something useful and last month l went all the way and turfed XP ... no regrets either! :-)

Myself also experienced same like you. While I was going through your letter I was feeling that I am recalling my past.........

anindyanuri

Linux is no different than anything else, it takes time and some trial and error to learn. IMHO it's well worth the time investment to learn, Most of the newbies who give up and return to MS either have a very low frustration threshold or simply had no real clue about what Linux is and were expecting something "just like windows".

Whether it's learning to ride a bicycle, drive a car, or use an operating system effectively, it's going to take some time. Solving problems may be frustrating, but you learn from it.

ok ppl heres my idea and y i want to switch to linux on at least 1 pc i know linux is opensource and such and the thing i like est bout it is i kan put it on almost n e thing but im not shure how to use the OS i mean do progs that run on windows run on linux also my reason 4 the switch is because i want to create a file server for my console collection (xbox, gamecube, playstation 2 ) so i may acess and stream files to them well n e wayz im amember of the ps2hd forum and if u have any comments feel free to get ahold of me all my contact info can be found there also i was lookin for a few good sites to actually learn how to use linux to its fullest potential im not shure on what the deal w/ linu\x is like i said im just interested in making a file server for my consoles any help would be greatly appreciate d and suggestions are also appreciated

Generally, no. Well, not natively at least. Why would you think they could? You could get software like Wine to run Windows programs on Linux, but not all programs will work. There is of course some software that does have both Linux and Windows versions, examples that come to mind are Firefox and OpenOffice.org.

Also, you might wanna consider using full stops in your posts :/.

what u mean by full stops???

They're the punctuation mark that indicates the end of a sentence; also known as "periods."

ive ony been using linux for a few months. I knew about linux for a few years but never really got in to it till last summer. i still use Win as my main comp for now till i become better aquainted with linux cuse i dont trust myself with linux code yet. i still use the GUI becuse it is easyer for me. im kinda curious if this is really tiypical for noobs. also i dont do any software creation cuse im afraid of crashing my comp or by acedent crating a virus (though the likly hood is almost impossible)

Don't be afraid of using linux. You can go a long way using GUI (KDE, Gnome, etc.) and not having to use the command line. You will find as you progress the command line is a very useful tool, making some operations easier and faster. For all the really old windows users, and maybe some of the younger ones, the command line is like using the DOS prompt to run commands. Many of the commands are the same, or nearly so, as DOS with perhaps a little different format but is relatively easy to learn and use.

A good, online source of information for newbies, and even the old hands, is TUX Magazine (http://www.tuxmagazine.com). This is a magazine created by the people who also put out Linux Journal, but is directed at the new user. TUX provides a lot of useful information from answers to questions, what's new in the linux world, introductions to applications that are available in most distros, and reviews of available linux goodies. The existing nine issues are available for download with a FREE subscription which will also get your choice of notification when a new issue is available or having it sent to you as an email attachment.

One last thing, don't be afraid to go to the forums and ask questions. You'll find the linux community a much friendlier place than the windoz community. There will always be someone willing to answer your questions. You will find though that you will get an even better reception if you can include enough detail to describe the problem and info to show that you have researched and attempted to correct it but are either confused or in over your head. Remember, we've all been there and that's what makes the linux community what it is today.

My humble opinion!

For months I abandoned my home computer and used the computers at the Public Library because I was so fed up with my computer being constantly hijacked. I am back onto the Internet using my home computer and I use Suse linux 10's OS to accomplish that.

As long as you do not venture onto the Internet using any Microsoft OS their stuff is adequate. On the Internet Microsoft is a complete disater; I can surely testify to that with authority.

I may get ridiculed for not knowing much about Linux, such is life, but I will never stop using it.

I am considered a noob to Linux, but I have tried a few distro's: RedHat, Suse, Gentoo, Debian, Slackware and various live cd's. I have enjoyed them all but settled with Slackware. Yeah I know most say that it is too advanced but what a way to learn. If a person really wants to learn and grow, then a natural transition is to challenge yourself and change. When all these people first got a computer many a year ago, was it easy from the start or did they take the time to learn.

Nobody should give up on learning Linux - it offers so many options that they cannot all be listed 'cause they really depend on each person and their needs. If you want to experience the digital world thru anothers eyes and see what they want you to see, then dont challenge yourself. If you want to jump into the rabbit hole and see things as they really are then use your options and experiment with true freedom.

Dont give up on Linux as there are so many helpfull sites as this for a "noob" that you too can do anything you would like to - it just means a little effort to learn.

If nothing else how important is to you to protect yourself in the digital world?

Dont be one the herd - tell Bill the farmer to let you decide for yourself.

Maybe the newbies that quite were'nt ready or maybe a different distro would have been better. There are too many choices of distro's to not keep trying. One of them is probably made just for you!

Very, very well stated Wratz !!

I finally ventured into using the Konqueror browser and I like it very much. It will probably be a very long time before I try other distro's of Linux but little by little I am starting to use what is in front of me.

Linux is Not Windows can be read at:

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

I wish I had read this article just after I had installed a Linux OS on my computer. I could have saved a lot of frustration on my part as well as those trying to help me.

As more and more Windows users are driven into a Linux OS; this article is very, very enlightening.

Dec,2001 - 5Years ago I started trying to install Linux on a new hardware build. At the time slackware8 was the only distro that I was able to install as a newbie mostly due to a tremendous spirit of open license software community forums and chatrooms. I am still struggling to learn because I had to take a long break for work Comming back to slackware has been difficult, I forgot alot. Unfortunately there seems to be alot more arrogance towards basic question postings by newbies now a days.
IMO it would be helpful if - In Addition to infite lists of reading links to tutorials - those able to post replies include "Simple Code and Command Lines" with instruction on howto use them to solve the question posted. Once a newbie gets their system up and running they can continue reading and asking questions. Answers to Posts like "How does someone like this windup using Slackware." Must not be tolerated by moderators and be removed. Its horribly insulting, does not reflect spirit of Open Source Community, Newbies have enough frustration to deal with they ought not be subject to suedo intellectuals' arrogant insults. I am glad when I started using these forums and slackware I did not see much of the insults posted these days.
As a Newbie one can read endlessly and not be able to solve the posted issue because: 1. Reading new technical material takes time to comprehend. Which requires time and more questions. Regular folks need togo to work. 2. By definition in open source there are 1000ths of ways to complete one task in the chain of installation, compiling, setup, configuring, customizing, performing common pc & network tasks. The very reasons a user chooses linux choices and to customized functionality to individual user needs. If you don't mind reading, problem solving, and terning a deaf ear to those that advise "Slackware is not a distro for newbies". Linux is an excellent alternative to MS for anyone who wants to learn to use stable efficiently productive free PC Desktops and networks, as well as, those interested in maintaining and preserving the spirit of independent global communication which is increasingly depricated by growing corporate controll of internet and other communication technology. I love XFCE at first glance and am compiling for the second time ever a kernel for slackware 10.2
Thanks to all linux community and welcome to any newbies reading this. Slackware is for you if you decide you want it to be.

I've been playing the back and fourth game with Windows and Linux for just about a year now. For the billionth time I'm about to reformat my drive tonight when I get home from work to put XP back on, and I'll most likely follow up with a Suse dual. I try to convert completely to linux on my laptop but the lack of gaming support is just too frustrating. For my work computer I dual boot XP and SuSE, but never need to get into windows. My SuSE is on at all times at work and I have no problem with that.

Yes I have tried cedega with no luck. It literally boils down to the lack of gaming support. At times, if I think too far into the gaming support issue, I find myself getting a little angry. I just don't understand how the major contenders in the programming industry (C, C++, Perl, Python, etc.) are all completely integrated with linux, yet no developer with the exceptions of Atari and Id will give it a second thought to take a bit of time to make their release a cross platform release. It's so bad now that even with the linux community as big as it is, the cross platform games don't get all the linux credit they deserve.

I'm tired of all the talk. Because that's all it is. If anyone is to ever make this dream of leaving microsoft behind, there will have to be some more action. Nothing against MS directly, like I said, all I hear is a bunch of talk.

To those who have brought us (the linux community) this far, I thank you and want to show gratitude. Keep up the good work fellahs.