Looks like I'm finally on my way with Linux! I've avoided it for a long time, preferring a desktop environment for productivity. My initial attempts were fruitless. I didn't care for the command line (and still avoid it when I can). To me, command line seemed like a step backwards, going from Windows 3.1 to MS-DOS 6.0 (yes, I AM that OLD!). Plus, my first experiences were with hardware that wasn't supported by, or too complicated to get working in, Linux. I don't even recall the first Linux flavor I tried.

Since then, I've had a toe in Linux so-to-speak, installing Apache on my Windows systems a few times to run as a local web-server. Also, working with Arduino products is similar in some ways... building and compiling outside the arduino environment, avr-dude are all CL controlled.

Motivated by Microsoft's move into "smart" OS's, I decided I was going to finally have to switch to Linux, like it or not. Windows 8 and even worse, 10 are simply NEVER going to be installed in MY house... EVER. I'm not bashing Windows.... It just no longer works for ME.

I did some research to pick a version and decided on Ubuntu. Still, I had the negative experience with hardware compatibility. So, I found an older computer, an Optiplex 755, on ebay for about 50 bucks delivered... with Ubuntu already installed! No compatibility issues! Perfect. Even though it's an older computer it is lightning fast. That was about a year ago and I'm slowly migrating to Linux on all my systems. More and more, command line is appealing for certain things, but it's nice to know I can still rely on a visual desktop for most everyday things.

I'm looking forward to getting more familiar with Linux and what it can do. I'm happy to have found LQ and to meet others with that same mutual interest.

Greetings cw.

Welcome! (from another Forum Noob).

While I do like the command line, and have, sadly, both Windows 8 and 10 installed on some systems, I must agree with your disdain for them and find the new style of OSes really makes me want to take my toe out of Linux and plunge my whole self into it!

I also have an Optiplex 755 sitting next to my desk (currently with XP installed!), which I am planning to install Lunix on this week once I choose a distro...

mr_wford, every new version of Windows raised the ire of their users, but Window's regression in making my desktop look, behave and feel like a smart phone went way beyond "raising MY ire." I'm kinda stuck with Windows 7 on one of my desktops because I have an Autodesk Design Suite and I'm uninterested in "upgrading" to a new Windows version. One of these days, I may experiment with installing Linux on my Autodesk workstation, but given that it's a suite with multiple applications increases the likelihood of some degree of failure. Plus, I only have a license for one installation so I anticipate a bit of pain in the experiment. Otherwise, I'm with you... whole self in and don't look back. I'm really digging Ubuntu.

And greetings to you too mr_wford.