I have been toying with the idea of a Linux desktop for years, but now that I have been trying it for 2 weeks, I am uncertain as to what precisely is the draw, for me at least. I always thought I would be thrilled with it once I did it, but I am just not sure. I am trying to determine what precisely it is that I am gaining by switching to Ubuntu. I am unfortunately drawing the conclusion that I have not actually gained anything much and I about ready to switch back to Windows.

Realize that I was indeed expecting and HOPING that I would be very happy with it, but I'm not really thus far.

I have two PCs on my desktop presently:

1. A 3G single core machine with 512M RAM running Windows 2K
2. A 2G dual core with 2G RAM running Ubuntu Gutsy

Windows Pros:

1. UltraEdit is an excellent editor and I know it well
2. SQLyog is a fantastic MySQL GUI and I have not found an equal to it for Linux
3. IrfanView is an excellent image view/simple editor
4. Version 2.3 of FileZilla is actually better IMO than version 3. Only version 3 is available for Linux however

Ubuntu Pros:

1. It's Linux
2. It's not MS
3. I can customize my desktop and entire environment

Other issues:

As far as viruses, I have only gotten one in 9 years of using Windows. I don't use a MS mail client and I don't browse with IE (except for sites I myself built) and so for me personally, I don't think this is much of an issue. Some years I run anti-virus, some years not. I recall very few instances that an anti-virus actually caught a real virus anyhow.

A few other issues I am having:

1. I tried to open a large SQL dump in gedit and my PC choked on it--Quanta performed even worse. I opened it in UltraEdit in Windows with no problem whatsoever. Note that my Windows machine has a quarter the RAM as well. And the Ubuntu machine was using (according to the System Monitor) under 1G RAM at the time.

2. Seems to me that switching windows via clicking on the taskbar is faster in Windows

3. Overall it seems that Win 2K is faster than Ubuntu. Perhaps some empirical studies are necessary, but that's how it feels. Strikes me as odd, as well, because my Ubuntu machine's hardware is a lot better.

I tried Hardy, but I found it buggy. Perhaps because I used the 64 bit version. Anyway it didn't work well for me so I have Gutsy now. I have read now that Hardy may be faster.

I am not sure what to do now. My other tools I have found suitable replacements for in Linux, but I can't really think of any that I think are truly better.

Any feedback, thoughts or experiences are appreciated.

Ubuntu is one of many GNU/Linux distributions. I'd suggest that you aim your browser at distrowatch.com. Down the right side of the page are the top 100 distros.

Click on the Search link in the banner, scroll down the search page, and there is an area in which you can search for distros by category, country of origin, and others.

The distros have many of the same applications, so searches via www.google.com/linux is in order to try to find applications that may exist, but aren't usually included in distros.

Some distros are full-bodied, such as Ubuntu, RedHat, Centos, Fedora, OpenSuse and others. But, some are lean, giving you a sparse installation that you can then flesh out with software you want (plus their respective dependencies of course).

So, look around, try a few liveCDs, search for software to do what you want to do. In the end, it's your satisfaction with the operating system and other software you install and use that's paramount.

Fred

Linux is not for everyone. If you do not have an issue with windows then stay with windows, there is nothing wrong with that. Most of us (IMHO) run Linux becuase we have had issues with windows. In my case Linux is much more stable than windows. On the exact same hardware, I went from reinstalling every month (unexplained Blue screen of Death on XP pro) to only reinstalling to maintain support (Fedoras support is now only for 1 year after each versions release). I also have moral objections to M$ predatory behavior. The other thing is cost. What was the price of the full blown version of Vista? I do not remember what I paid for XP pro when it came out but I do remember that it hurt.

I dunno, I mean: when you get sick of the general instability, high succeptability to viruses/malware/adware, understand are read the EULA thoroughly, and try some more distros ... maybe then you'll change your mind.

The whole malware problem is greatly underestimated nowadays. The new generation of malware-writers is going into great lengths to stay undetected and they are successful. When in the past greater penetration meant more fun and glory then now they try to keep the number of infections under control, for instance. The malicious code puts no heavy load on victims computers and do not cause any visible malfunction. Every Windows user who tells his/her computer is clean simply does not know what's going on behind scenes. In underground markets hijacking kits are sold with warranty, they are so certain they can get into any Windows computer regardless what protection software is used.
The bottom line is as of today a Windows PC is best protected by good luck (even innocent legal web sites my be infected and inject malware into visitors Windows PC-s). No need to say this protection level is not good enough.

Regarding your question whether Linux is right for you ... we don't know. FOSS community does not force nor beg anybody. If you feel you want it and need help - you are welcome here.

As has been mentioned, Ubuntu is just one "flavour" (I didn't like it). There are lots of others which might meet your needs (or not). Your options are limited - persevere with Ubuntu, try another distro (either immediately or after a break), or give it up as a bad idea and stick with what you've got.

If I were you, I'd look at something else. Even if you don't end up with a replacement, it's fun trying and you learn something new. And there's nothing to say you have to find replacements for everything - you can use linux for some things and Windows for the things you think it does better.

An option I forgot to mention: you could have win2k and Linux installed in a dual-boot setup. Use Linux for any connection to the outside world, and run your windows apps via wine or crossover office, from the Linux installation.

I completely agree. If you see no reason not to use Windows, use it. Even better, if you see no reason to use Linux, don't use it. Use what works best for you.

Just to emphasize that most and not all, I, for example, am not using Linux because I've had some sort of issue with Windows; I just like Linux better, and, at the moment, it does what I need it to do better than some other OS I have tried over the years. Should I, in the future, see that Windows would serve my interest better, I'd have no trouble using that.

Sure, and then perhaps he'll go for one of the BSDs. I don't know why Linux would be the best OS to take care of the problems you've mentioned.

-- Every -- user? A bold statement, I should say, heh. You seem to have information regarding the (in)security market, kudos to you (not being ironic). (genuinely interested Do you happen to know this doesn't apply for other operating systems as well? [talking about exploits/backdoors/etc.] And what about software which takes advantage of various services rather than operating systems? [i.e. Apache/SSHD exploits, etc.]

--

As has been mentioned before Ubuntu is just one distribution. One can read it otherwise, as well: Ubuntu is just a distribution. You seem to be suffering from not finding worthy equivalents for your Windows software, I somewhat doubt other "free" (as in beer) distributions will be able to help you in ways Ubuntu can not.

So you have a choice. Check out this article and continue to check Linux out or for a more enjoyable Windows experience upgrade to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 safer, more reliable, better performance.

stay with windows if it works for you. that's probably the best if you just want to get things done...

windows pros:
1. UltraEdit is an excellent editor and I know it well
1. Emacs/(g)Vim. I don't know UltraEdit but there are a lot of editors for Linux/Unix.

2. SQLyog is a fantastic MySQL GUI and I have not found an equal to it for Linux
2. http://webyog.com/faq/31_71_en.html

3. IrfanView is an excellent image view/simple editor
3. gqview! one of the best i have ever used

4. Version 2.3 of FileZilla is actually better IMO than version 3. Only version 3 is available for Linux however
4. but this should be no major obstacle

linux pros:
1. it's free!
2. it's free!
3. it's free!
4. it encourages you to alter/change, disassemble it, recompile and putting it together again and start it all over.

changing from win > linux is like getting grown up. when you are young it's better to do what your parents say. growing up means making your own choises even if it hurts at the beginning because not everything works out the way you thought it would. but you learn to cope with it and master your own life/os . there will be setbacks but you still go on. if it's going to be tough, the tough get's going! it's not easier but you are more free. it's like conciousness raising.

also, using windows is like letting some guys build a house for you and they retain the keys for it. they give you a key as well but it will not open all doors. they can open all doors, you can't. once in a while they check on you (you won't notice them) to look what you are doing. have a fatherly eye on you. and then talk gossip about you to everybody who wants to know. if you feel comfortable with it there's no problem with using windows. i wouldn't like it and thus wouldn't buy a house from those guys. if you encounter problems with your house than pay them a not so small fee...with luck they do something about it...with even more luck/money it get's fixed. the more money the better customer.

linux is different. sometimes nothing works . it might come crashing down on you (metaphorically). you will do a lot of cursing. the window house guys laugh at you because your sound does not work out of the box...but you have no guys sneaking in and out of your house whenever they want.

shiny house under surveillance use windows. otherwise linux. it's your decision

vadkutya

@introuble
Human being is a weird animal. If a driver hears hissing sound and his car starts bearing sideways most of drivers can deduct there's a puncture. After reading a dozen (you can find tons of them) articles about Windows security issues one just forgets what it's all about and comes out with statement: My Windows is clean. Why is the brain suddenly turned off? Because the threat is somewhere ... in distance? Unfortunately internet is a place where weakest and strongest meet head to head. A malicious hacker from, say, Korea, will do not less damage than similar hacker from your physical neighbourhood. Still, for most of us this threat feels not real.

Continued after solving some domestic problems.
Imagine you are a boss at some big company. You need to hire a deputy who will organize security.
First applicant tells you: We will let everybody in, but we will put checkpoints into main corridors and security guards will check everybody against a blacklist of known thugs. We wont be able to cover all service and other entrances, but lets hope criminals are not aware of these.
Second guy tells you: We will put guards at every entrance we need, close all other ones we can do without. Everybody entering the building will be checked against a whitelist, default the entry for everybody is denied.

You know which guy you would choose, right? How comes Windows users still can say: my PC is clean? Isn't the first scheme ridiculous, pathetic? There is what, about 1.3 million known viruses and malware for Windows. How many unknown viruses you need to infect a computer using the first security scheme? One! And of course, there are thousands of them ...

"IrfanView is an excellent image view/simple editor"

we need a port of that excellent program.

You should use the OS that works for you....

Why I use Linux:

• Faster and easier to install and setup
• More SW available (Yes, I think that's now true--especially if you count all the Windows SW that will run on WINE)
• Does not feed what is arguably the biggest monopoly ever spawned in the capitalist world.
• More control--eg a real command line, and config files vs. the (shudder) registry.
• Free of cost
• Upgrades and maintenance 10X easier than Windows
• More reliable
• True multi-user OS (ever try ctrl-alt-F8 in Windows?..)

Other than that, not much......

My suggestion is that you keep your Windows PC and install Linux (any Linux) on another PC. Meddling with dual boot setups and back and forth booting is too much for an easy start.

Having separate PC's allows to use what your used to on Windows, while experimenting with your new Linux system and it's applications.

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