VERY Basic
 

I am a very disgusted MS user,,,VERY technologically challenged,,,,need something simple. I have heard that Linux requires more tech knowledge than MS. Really about all I use on computer is gmail and firefox browser (dogpile search home page). Other wise just occasional pictures and documents (which I would want to import to Linux). So, with these things in mind,,,would Linux be the thing for me?

you have MS? That explains why everything gets on your nerves. On a serious note. Not really, unless you want to do all of the 'neet' things one can do with Linux that cannot be done with Windows. Like change everything to suit your personality.

Welcome.

I'd recommend one of the easy distros where everything, more or less, is set up for you by default. The two to look at would be one of the Ubuntus or else Linux Mint. Both have Live options that you can boot from USB stick or DVD and try out before planning an upgrade.

You should be able to read the legacy documents just fine but if you make the upgrade then any new documents are better if they are created in the international standard formats and not M$ old ones.

Burn a DVD with a Live version of Linux Mint or Ubuntu and if you like what you see, write and we can help plan the upgrade. An upgrade is easy, but best to have all the I's dotted and T's crossed. If you try the Live sessions and almost like what you see, write that too and we can probably find a way to tweak things to your satisfaction.

The important point to keep in mind is Linux is not Windows. Some things work more or less as they do in Windows (like gmail and firefox), but other things work differently. There is a learning curve. My 91-year old mother-in-law bought her first PC a few years ago - it came with Vista. I set up her printer and her desktop, and she learned the basics of browsing, viewing photos, and creating documents (using OpenOffice). She tends to forget how to do even simple things if she hasn't used the computer for a few weeks, so I take that as my baseline for comparison. Concerned about security (she always opens the attachments people send her in emails), I switched her to Linux - Ubuntu, with the Mate Desktop Environment) about a year ago, and again set up her printer and desktop. So far, she's not had any problems attributable to using Linux rather than Windows.

Set up VirtualBox on your Windows box ... it's free, yet backed by Oracle Corporation ... and try any Linux you please! You can do that from within the Windows world you now use, without changing or endangering anything.

So, Rock Doctor,,,maybe a very limited "learning curve" in order for me use gmail and firefox??? Security is NOT as much of an issue with Linux?? Also heard that Android on tablets and smart phones is an offshoot,,or based on Linux? I've heard most frequently that MINT is the best one to start with? I wish there was a local Linux group (New Braunfels Tx.)

Hi sojen1 and welcome to LQ.

Given that you do feel you are very technically challenged, then I would tend to agree most with sundialsvcs' recommendation that you install VirtualBox and explore some distributions to find which are to your liking.

Also Turbocapitalist's recommendations for Ubuntu or Mint, where they are both very good, beginner distributions.

Another place to look would be DistroWatch where you can read about a lot of different distributions. I feel you'll want to concentrate on those which are considered desktop distributions for users. Most of those, if not nearly all, will have browsers and a mail client. Please note also that it also may be useful to just use the gmail browser interface as opposed to trying to learn how to set up and use an email client.

Best of luck. And as you explore your start with Linux, please update us with any further questions.

Hello and welcome to the forum :)

From your description, to be honest, unless you're willing to go through a significant learning curve, some of it very quickly, then no, it might be better to either stay with what you have or take your system to a computer repair shop or technician, who is proficient in Linux, and have them install it for you. A local Linux User's Group might also help you with this free of charge.

Another option would be to purchase a computer with Linux pre-installed from a company such as ZaReason or System76. If you live outside the United States, you can most likely find a company that does this either in your own country or have the computer shipped to you. Let us know if you need help with this. :)

Regards...

mtmistler,,,,guess I don't know the concepts of browser interface as opposed to email client? Just know I can go any computer and log onto gmail and use the messaging ????

It looks like you're right next to San Antonio, you can see if these guys can help.

Regards...

Never really been a user's group type of person, however there is a forum to check, here where you can ask or browse other questions.

I feel also a large number of regulars on LQ are from the TX area, but ... me being from MA where you can drive across the state in 3 hours is rather different from TX where distances are much larger. I have about zero idea where New Braunfels is, except if I look it up on a map. I'll let the TX based LQ members who notice your thread comment towards some local, to you, options.

As far as security, and also Android. Yes, Android as well as the Chrome OS are both based off of Linux. Therefore if you're more comfortable with the touch based OS, similar to phones and tablets, then these would be similar, or the same. Might be better to buy a Chromebook directly versus try to install.

Meanwhile, no OS, Windows or Linux is secure. I feel it is more about how you use it and how safely you use it. Per RockDoctor's comment that their mother will open any attachment, that is a risk which people have to manage, either personally, or at the level RockDoctor ends up having to contend with when their Mom ends up opening a bad document, resulting in viruses. That's a fundamental thing which is to not click on or open things you don't know about or trust. Also consider some forms of add-ons to browsers to block ads and pop-ups, or block scripts. Since you've mentioned Firefox, you might then know about add-ons.

I don't know about them all, but since you said "gmail", we use that for work and I use it personally. You can go to gmail.com and then login using your email account name and password and access your email. The cautionary note is that if you do that from any computer that is public, such as at a school or library, you have the risk that your information can be stored in memory or in some other form on that computer. Remember to log out from gmail specifically in that case.

The only obvious difference in firefox is that Tools->Options in Windows becomes Edit->Preferences in Linux. Once in the browser (for example, accessing gmail), it's all the same. On the other hand, Photoshop and GIMP are two different beasts.

[quote]Security is NOT as much of an issue with Linux?? [/quote} Still an issue, but at least for me, easier to deal with.

. True. Same kernel, but a totally difference user interface and experience. Kind of like saying chimps and humans are both primates.

The best is in the eye of the beholder, but if you're totally on your own, it's what I'd recommend, too.

I wish there was a local Linux group (New Braunfels Tx.). I learned a lot from the members of my local LUG when I was starting out with Linux. Perhaps San Antonio (website looks dead) or Austin?

Have a look at the documentation here
http://linuxmint.com/documentation/u...glish_18.0.pdf

If it seems your sort of thing, download a live version and run it off a usb stick or DVD to make sure you like it. If you do, install. Simple!