I've had enough with Windows.

I love the GUI, but I've spent enough time, money, and effort and I'm tired of the glitches and everything else that makes me leary of it.

I'm concerned about the transition. I want to make it as smooth as possible.

It's important that I get a reliable version of Linux and all the equivalent application software with good GUI and compatibility w:

firewall, browser, Excel, Power point, Word, phot editors, and HTML editors etc.


I suppose what I'm asking is if anyone knows of any comprehensive transitional guides of what I'm use to doing with Windows that can be done with Linux with a steep and economical learning curve as absolutely possible.


What could someone refer me to?


Let me say the least I have at my disposal right now is the machine described below, but somehow I bet there is A LOT MORE different opinions and information on something better, especially with the faster smarter machines I intend to own 2GHZ+ & gb RAM &

WWW.FREEGEEK.ORG

THE FREEKBOX
What is a FreekBox?
FreekBoxes are computers built at FREE GEEK from donated parts. They can be earned by any individual in exchange for 24 hours of work at the Community Technology Center under the Adoption program.

FreekBoxes are built to be as similar as possible to each other, and we do not take requests. This is what goes into a Freekbox (specifications expressed as ranges may fall anywhere within that range).

Pentium II - 200 to 266 MHz
80 96MB RAM!
2 to 3 GB hard drive
8x or better CD ROM drive
Floppy disk drive
14 or 15 inch color monitor
33.6k - 56k Modem
Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers
The most common things people want to do with their computer are word processing, web browsing, and email. FreekBoxes have been primarily designed to do these things. The software on the FreekBoxes is all Open Source software. Specifically, the operating system we use is Debian Linux. For word processing and other office-type applications, we use OpenOffice.org 1.0, which is very similar to the widely used Microsoft Office suite.

There's a wide range of other software on the FreekBoxes, including the GnuCash personal finance software, Galeon web browser, The Gimp image editing software, and several games.

Support for FreekBoxes
When someone gets a FreekBox, they are also entitled to a class, where they learn basic use of the computer. We offer phone technical support on Friday afternoons after 3 pm, and can make appointments to do repair most days. There is also an email list for people who have FreekBoxes, so they can help each other out with exploring their new computers and share success stories.

It should be noted that we cannot support FreekBoxes that have had a different operating system installed or that have had hardware changes.

[Freekbox Manual] [Web Page for Adopters]


that I earned at --- www.freegeek.org

If you're a newbie, I highly recommend you install Mandrake. The install is REALLY easy, and you're instantly setup with an OS/GUI that compares to Windows on almost all aspects from a useability standpoint.

Mandrake comes with Linux versions of all of the programs you have listed you need compatability with.

Some people love Debian, but it is not where I would start someone on.

# Linux Distribution links:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions

The table of equivalents, replacements, analogs of Windows software in Linux

Your information will no doubt be much appreciated. I can't remember the last time I got such a fast response.

I don't know what else I need to ask now. I'll be busy for awhile. But I'll be back with more Q, and maybe some A too.

And why not?

Dear Sometimes,

Why do you recommmend a product that hardly knows a standard modern hard drive from it's own *ss?

I've had a copy of the CD 1 for the mandrake 9.2 install for a couple of weeks now and I still can't get it to run on my SATA 80 gig seagate with the 8 mb cache.

Here's the links to my threads if you really want t know exactly what I mean:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=135936

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=136244

studpenguin, you have had some problems... okay we get it. Stop trying to bad mouth it to others. So you have a SATA drive that you didn't get working. I have read the threads -- and well that happens. Beats me what the problem is but b*tching about linux on every thread where it might apply is just b.s.

edit: sorry to seem so pissy, we know you are having problems but this isn't solving them. I know those who have the drives are trying to find a solution for you.

ok... so i am another here. 2 years ago i bought 4 different distributions of linux. i am going to load linux and give it another try. one thing i wanted to mention is that there is a learning curve to linux. it is like neo being woke up out of the matrix. you'll realize as you learn linux all the Microsoft-eze that you've swallowed in your opinions about computers and how operating systems should work. don't give up easily.

i am going to use Mandrake because the 2 times i've loaded it on some machines i have around me it was an easy load and i could get it up and running with a GUI desktop easily. i've got to read up on sound config, system performance stuff, and network card config and stuff to get on the internet. i plan to load 9.2 (i've burned the iso's already) tonight. my system has a GeForce 4 4200, a RealTek NIC and Sound Card. So i'll be loading the correct drivers after the install.

all in all, linux is a challenging change. it won't be easy, but it will be rewarding for many reasons.

btw... i appreciate the site.

No I don't, the windows part of my PC works fine, it's the Linux software companies who are losing money when they can't even produce a convincing product.

No one forces you to read everything I write.

You obviously don't understand the concept behind open source. If something doesn't work, help fix it. You're allowed to complain if you've specifically purchased a support contract with a corporation and they can't help you out. And even then, you should be directing anger at that support corporation, not Linux in general.

If you haven't purchased support, don't complain.

Chill out, dude. Chill out.

SATA is a pretty new technology, and all new technology is written specifically for Windows. Linux developers will have a solution for all new technology (see WinModems) eventually. Use the drive as a regular drive until you receive an answer.

BTW, I do not use Windows any more. I have become fully dependent on my Linux machine. Best thing about Linux is you do not need the newest technology. Old Technology with Linux is better than new technology on Windows. Always has been, always will be.

Whoa...

Everyone
Please, keep threads on topic, do not flame each other, and above all else, move on if you have nothing constructive to add to the thread.

Thank You.

Oh please . . . you know that almost no one makes intellectual production, such as software, with the idea they'll never get paid for anything they do.

People write software to impress people, with the hope that eventually it will get their "full versions sold" or themselves hired somewhere bettter at the very least.

There are Linux "vendors" who compile "bundled software" --- entire packages and instructions, with their own little tweaks and modifications to satisfy demand.

Redhat does this and Mandrake does this
. . . people should be encouraged to tell the world where certain products are failing as much as they feel like.

How else will they ever improve them for their own economic interests?

uhhh companies DON'T develop Linux. everyone does... Open Source is a totally different concept. it takes time for Linux to be able to support new hardware. Open Souce is the strength and the weakness of Linux. The strength lies in the price and being able to read the source code and learn. The weakness comes from having to wait a little until the latest hardware gets supported. that is life with open source.

I suppose you are right to some degree, but you have to admit "having to wait" or taking the time to "read the source code and learn" has its own price too.

the debate is endless --- my point is, you should always have the right to complain if some invention doesn't work right no matter who built it

Ok, maybe it's just me, but this doesn't seem to be remaining on topic. In case I didn't make myself clear above...

Please keep threads on topic, failure to do so, may result on the thread being closed.

Thank You.