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Everything I've read so far in this thread leaves me believing this to be true.
However, no matter how enthusiastic or confident someone might be, it is a bad idea to try out a new 'experiment' as one's production environment.
I'm one of those people who finds the *buntu distros and their derivatives, like Mint, to be a tad too "overdone" for my liking. I've found that a minimalist Debian system works best for me. (your mileage may vary)
Most people tend to conflate Linux with their preferred Gnu/Linux distribution. Linux, by itself, is virtually useless so we add other software to it. In our case that's mostly Gnu software, but there is also Android that has very little Gnu software in it and a huge number of custom, embedded systems that use a Linux as their kernel.
Anyway, my point is that you need to try setting up an experimental box that is separate from your production system. Once you've got that running and you've ironed out the wrinkles, then you can migrate that to your production system.
Keep in mind that many of us are merely humble enthusiasts. (Okay, so some of us aren't all that humble. lol)
You will also find, in my opinion, that it's more 'fun' to learn Linux when your business does not depends on it.
(P.S: I never could understand Windows, so I have some idea of how Linux makes you feel.)
Last edited by qlue; 11-01-2015 at 08:20 PM.
Reason: punctuation
It is questionable how wise it is to post a response in a thread with more than sixty posts without reading past the first post. In such cases it is easy to lose sight of the context.
However, I own a business where I cannot afford not to use Windows at this time.
It was you and you alone who made the decision to attempt to switch to Linux. No one was coercing you? Certainly no one here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkirksey1889
Someone mentioned if it's a POS I want to use I should use Linux. This is how I stumbled across Linux in the first place.
Who is "someone". Did this person offer support or provide any recommendations?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkirksey1889
Someone else said something about the wireless adapter. I don't know what to tell you. I tried 2 different ones and both would only work for 5 minutes or so before they'd start disconnecting every minute or 2.
I once tried the same, I needed working wifi so I just bought two cheap adapters - that was many years ago. Wading through trying to find out what chipset is in which device can sometimes be baffling. You are faced with days of boring research or you can just buy two £10 devices and take a gamble. That's what I did - both were complete crap.
It's easy to blame "Linux", but you should consider that most free software is developed by volunteers. The people writing drivers often get no help at all, not even specs from the vendors. When you consider that, what they can do is pretty amazing.
This is not the place for more specific advice, if you wanted that you could start a new thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkirksey1889
Well I cannot afford to shut down the business until I learn it.
Of course, but it was you who installed it and then had to reinstall windows.
Lets say you employed an IT support person, like you he did not research or prepare, just migrated your systems to Linux because "someone" said it was better and because of his "HATE" for windows, then you had all these same problems + downtime, lost production and revenue until Windows and all of your programmes were reinstalled. What would you do with regard to the IT support person?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkirksey1889
I have also used Quickbooks for the past 4 plus years and would like to use GNUcash, but I cringe at the thought of having to try to convert or transfer 4 years of data to a new program. I cannot even create a shortcut in Linux, the thought of moving 4 years worth of data to Linux is scarier than death.
This is something to consider once you're familiar with the platform you want to migrate to. It's your idea to migrate to Linux, you don't migrate your business to an OS you're clueless about. "Hating" windows is never the right reason to migrate to another OS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkirksey1889
It was just so frustrating that almost everything I tried to do failed. Sure my lack of knowledge played a role in this failure. I wasn't expecting what I got.
Consider it part of the learning process. You will mess up multiple times, again and again - just try not to do it on the systems and equipment you depend on to make a living.
Wow there's an awful lot here in just 3 or so days. Others have said this as well. My suggestion is that you should have a second computer devoted to Linux. Don't just use the oldest system you can find. As someone said, computers are not too expensive these days, so purchase a reasonable system that has the bells and whistles and try some distributions on it. There was a time where getting WIFI to work was problematic, it was like kernel 2.6.38'ish. Quite a few years ago, and things have changed. Perhaps there are WIFI devices out there that are still problems. I will say that in the main, stuff does work. If you have specific problems with a certain system and distribution, then start a new thread in a forum concentrated on your problem area, such as Software or Networking. This thread is in the Non-Nix-General forum, not the best location to seek technical assistance. Once you've learned enough about Linux where you feel comfortable using it more within your business, then switch over. If you need a computer to maintain operation to run your business, then stick with what works. Only use Linux for certain tasks until you know enough about it. You can ask questions about software and how to use it, or how to configure your system, or how to diagnose and get working hardware. Instead of being specific, you've offered complaints. Perhaps you have started other threads, if not, then do so. Don't get overly detailed with complaints, but instead offer the technical details you know, or do not yet understand and need help with.
I'm surprised no-one's suggested a VM, which will let you learn and use Linux without having to worry about hardware compatibility.
I was reading through and about to post the same thing.
In a VM, you have fairly standard graphics, network, etc "hardware" so you don't have to worry about incompatibilities. Install VirtualBox and try things in there.
Not disagreeing with the VM suggestion, but the OP is running their business with the computer. I figure leave that alone, use what they have for now and set up a completely parallel system where they can explore configuring it to work for their business properly.
Distribution: Slackware64-current with "True Multilib" and KDE4Town.
Posts: 9,039
Rep:
Quote:
Originally Posted by NGIB
....so they expect stuff to just work. After struggling to create a bootable ISO, they load it up and get no WiFi or a blank screen....
That is getting to be pretty rare these days, especially with some of the better known Linux distributions aimed at former ms-windows users, e.g., Linux Mint, Zorin, and others. Even with Slackware you can install a usable system in 20 to 30 minutes.
The other day I had a hardware problem, unrelated to Linux, and was able to do everything needed to fix the problem by booting from a "Live" version of Tails, an OS on a DVD complete with an e-mail client, browser, graphics viewer and editor, and several utilities including a CD/DVD burner. Saved the day.
I know persons who have found computers that can run Linux adequately in thrift shops at remarkable cheap prices. That might be an option for finding something that is okay for learning, even though it might not be suitable for a production machine.
I know persons who have found computers that can run Linux adequately in thrift shops at remarkable cheap prices. That might be an option for finding something that is okay for learning, even though it might not be suitable for a production machine.
All of my computers are either other people's junk or gifts. Older hardware (3+ years old) is a really good bet in my opinion, because it's been around long enough that most of the hardware has some form of a driver but it's not so old that it won't run anything. Plus, people are more likely to be throwing it out than, say, their brand-new laptop with the dual graphics, new unsupported wifi, strange backlight settings, etc.
After fighting, mostly unsuccessfully, with everything I tried to do regarding Linux, I found a simple way to cure all of my problems.
I switched back to Windows.
What an incredible irony...I fixed my windows problems years ago of buying anti this and that programs. Viruses and malware still living in the filesystem and slowing down the computer and now a windows 10 operating system that spies on everything you do.
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