I am seriously thinking about fully trashing Windows and using a Linux distribution for my laptop computer as my operating system of choice. If anyone could answer any of these following questions (all or a few) that would be very helpful in my decision-making process.

a) I am running Windows on my laptop. What is the biggest benefit or benefits of running Linux on my machine? If you say freedom—what kind of freedom—I won’t be tinkering with drivers and low level stuff. I’ll be a pure end user. Lastly, I haven’t gotten a virus in 6 years. What is the biggest advantage to a person who wants to:
a. Code
i. Java
ii. C++
iii. Perl
b. Burn DVS
c. Burn CDs
d. Watch DVS
e. Write documents
f. Publish documents
g. Print to various network printers
h. Use AIM, GAIM, Firefox, etc
b) Any suggestions on a very well rounded desktop operating system? (See the stuff I’ll be using it for above) I presently use Ubuntu for the server—it works very well. There is no doubt I’m convinced about using Linux for the server world—or at least making room for it.
c) If I end up using Linux on the desktop, do I need to learn the commands—or can I left the GUI do the work for me?

Thanks!

a) freedom to do what you want with it. Freedom to download thousands of packages, all for free(as in, no cost). Don't even need to worry about virii in linux. Most linux distributions come with everything you'd need to do any of the listed items, except play DVDs, and potentially burn CDs.

b)I would personally recommend Kubuntu/Ubuntu. Kubuntu because it's based off of KDE, which is probably the most similar to windows, in it's operation.

c) You may need ot learn some commands, but only some. Like, you may need to compile something to get wireless working, just basic stuff.

bear in mind that linux is different from windows, and thus will have a learning curve. very similar to going to Mac OS X from windows, the same kind of learning curve.

hi
for the tasks you have outlined that youll be doing, i think any major linux distribution will work. since you already have ubuntu for the server, using ubuntu for your desktop would be a great idea. ubuntu is well known for its ease of use.

with _any_ linux distro youll need to learn at LEAST basic command line utilities/commands. i think with ubuntu you would rarely need to use the command line if all of your hardware is detected initially. also, all of the software from your list should be included when you install the latest ubuntu (except the DVS stuff, maybe; maybe not, i have no clue).

personally, the major differences between linux and windows are: (what you already mentioned) freedom, and stability. you are free to customize your entire system (if need be) _exactly_ how you want it. your free to choose from huge amounts of free software.
its also know for its stability, as im sure you have heard.

i have not found windows unstable or insecure.. i get crashes in windows as often as i do with programs in linux. iv never got a virus in windows, and same thing with linux. i think in both windows and linux, the security of your system is up to the user.

the only reason i use linux (along with windows) is to explore and learn it. as i know i will not be buying the next version of windows and soon have to be fully converting to linux as well. come that time i want to be prepared.

so, again, practically any linux distro will work. for ease of use i suggest ubuntu/kubuntu or suse. check out distrowatch.com for lots of info.

good luck.

Hi,

My thoughts are not helpful in discussion making unless you decide on few things,

As you said your main use is Programming in JAVA, C++ and perl, and in general music, movie documents etc...

on these I can bet Linux is no different to windows for music , movie and document handling they are equally good for me,

for programming well JAVA and perl are almost platform independent (java is definetly and if coded with care most of perl scripts). for C++ well you just need to be sure about your code for beginner its no difference in Linux and windows for programming these languages.

Again after two points I vote equally to both OS...

About learning linux command or staying with GUI of it,
Well it depends if you are using Linux mostly on Data center server than you better learn commands and stuff and note that linux is best Os if you learn its commands otherwise my KDE desktop crash once in a day on my P4 3.0 HT machine.

The only disadvantage with windows is the threat of virus and spyware, which even I don't have from last 4-5 yrs (infact any "FREE" anit virus software do that).
once you have license windows (as you already), you can get free software for windows too, check even microsoft site you get lot of softwares there, Just you don't get is popular softwares source code which you hardly Recomplie to just change the Vendor name and putting you name in place.

So what you tell above you don't need to switch your Linux fully. But I definetly vote for dual boot system for you, as you are programmer and you want to check your program running on both platform, so better use both OS so that you can test your softwares. its hardly a matter of 2-3 GB of harddisk.

rest if your choice

Thanks for the quick replies and helpful insights.