windows minded mental block
 

Hello, I've been using windows for years. When I was learning computer repair years back, the person who taught me said that Linux is a waste of time because the money to be made is in Windows.

I've tried multiple times to start learning about Linux and every time I just cannot seem to absorb the information due to unfamiliarity, the feeling of comfort residing within the Windows world, and sometimes stepping outside of that comfortable box is mentally awkward.

I'm assuming that they're ppl here who have felt the same when first starting their trek into the Linux world. Does anyone have any pointers on how to break the Windows close-mindedness? I like doing my own research, so I'm not looking to have my hand held, just need to get past this Windows minded mental block. Linux seems more secure and more fun (all the cool little toys are in Linux) and I see myself having a lot of fun with Linux and greatly expanding my knowledge of computers once I start.

Any pointers is greatly appreciated.

Well, a tiny bit of research on your friends part would have told him that most large companies use Linux, and more and more are going to it.
There are no pointers, other than "load Linux, and use it". How did you learn Windows? You were unfamiliar with it at one point, and just started in. This is no different, except you'll have to get used to having CHOICES. There are many different window manager environments that look/behave differently, from ones that have very little eye-candy (and use TINY amounts of memory), to those that give you EVERYTHING. You choose.

Best suggestion for someone brand new? Load Linux Mint, and use it. Don't ask the question "How can I get Windows program xxxxx to run on Linux?", but rather ask "What Linux program equates to Windows program xxx?". If you hit a snag, ask us, or do some research on how to get it working....much like you did when you learned Windows, right?

The most important suggestion I give you is to be curious. If you love to learn, play and discover new software, this attitude will be your force to know and master Linux. This is what happened to me.

Hi voidspirit,
A very hearty +1 to the wise words of TBOne. Burn a few livecd's, bung them in the CD drive and off you go! You'll find one that you're comfortable with and that'll be your choice. Linux is about freedom. You get to choose. Above all have fun.

One very tiny word of advice. Fixing problems is rarely very difficult. The real art is finding the information that allows you to solve the problems. The real skill is learning to use a search engine (avoiding google of course ;) )
jdk

thx to TBOne,Shm0,jdkaye
 

Thx a lot tbone,shm0,and jdkaye. For some reason i never considered the simplest answer here. Just needed someone else to see this from a different angle. Reading all of your posts, got me remembering when i first got onto a computer back in the 1980s, (the first one i ever owned was an old northstar back from the 1970s and i relished learning how to enter commands the rush i got figuring something out).

I will say that i just learned the other day that my cable provider uses debian: my box went out for a couple of seconds and saw a command prompt on my tv screen.

The other thing is the person who taught me computer repair would go through a series of tasks if he needed to recover data from a customers computer if they couldn't log on (one had a password changed by his kid and didn't remember what it was)...he would take out the hdd, attach it to another system, boot it into safe mode in order to gain ownership of the files for access. About 6 mos later, i found that with a Linux live cd, i could gain the same access without removing anything! So i guess it goes to show there's always something new to learn.

I'm still learning the navigation of this forum, (just signed up about an hour ago so I'll do that reputation feature when I figure it out.

Thanks again...good looking out

I can't add to the pointers above, but I can add one from my own experience learning Linux:

Linux is not harder than Windows. It's just different. Expect it to be different, and you will be okay.

Here are some links I've found useful in my journey:

http://linux.about.com/. It's oriented to Ubuntu, but it's full of good info.

http://tille.garrels.be/training/tldp/. Machtelt Garrels's Intro to Linux.

http://www.slackbook.org/. Slackware oriented, but excellent on the basics, such as file structure, permissions, and the like.

A couple of links
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm - short essay about beginners issues switching to Linux; worth a read
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz - a fine cli tutorial that inevitably also covers some of the design issues that explain why it is the way it is :)

@ voidspirit

If you're new to linux take small steps learning it because if you try to learn everything to fast you will get discourage.

After several years of booting linux and windows, I've learned enough linux to abandon windows completely. And doing so, I became more focus on linux and I learn alot. Of course, that depends on you.

I started my learning of linux with commands using the terminal, then basic shell scripting, then more advance scripting, some python and setting up simple servers and etc...

BTW, you never really stop learning linux because it is constantly changing and your linux skills get better.

Welcome to LQ!

Hi all;
 

:twocents: not solved if still using m$, at least personally:

Linux magazines at Barnes and Noble++ come with (mostly +installable +many other sorces++ ;)) live Linux operating systems++!

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...11#post4981411

How To Make An A In Managerial Economics++

Been a very hectic couple weeks, but to all who have provided feedback to my post, thanks much. The entire Linux world seems like so much fun! (e.g. data recovery, and servers). It's such a different experience. I've been reading up on different material, from a security standpoint, it seems to be much more safer and "hardened" than MS Windows. (However since Windows 7 and they're User Access Control, seems like they're taking notes on a variant of the Linux aspect). Much more enlightened on why so many ppl are uneasy with breaking out of the closed mindedness. It seems to be the "follow the herd" concept. Windows is easy, but also, i've never really run my Windows system under an Administrator, so after realizing that, seems to me that my mental method computer wise follows this concept of Linux.

Anyways, I just want to say thanks again to all of you, glad I got lucky and joined up in a forum with good ppl who wish to strive in learning.

Just reviewed my previous post, 4got to extend my apologies for not replying to some of your posts, mentioned earlier it's been a very hectic couple of weeks, but if a question is posted and someone kindly takes the time and effort to reply, i feel it should be acknowledged. So, I forgot to mention that in my previous post, and I meant no disrespect, nor as any form of shining on. As said, all posts have been extremely helpful and i'm very appreciative.


"Study without reflection is a waste of time, reflection without study is dangerous."

Confucius