Linux to Windows XP sticky on Newbie sub-forum

In the past week of so, I have noticed a proliferation of threads started by Win XP users planning to switch to Linux, since Microsoft will not be supporting Windows XP anymore. I think this is great! However, it seems pointless to have the same thread again and again.

Maybe for the next little bit, there could be a sticky on the "Newbie" section explaining to Windows users

• Best distros for beginners
• What Linux is exactly
• If switching would be possible for them
• Linux equivalents of Windows software
• Links to useful sites and articles

I think some good links to include would be
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
http://whylinuxisbetter.net/
http://www.linuxalt.com/

That is one approach. Another is to not spoon-feed people, but rather, educate them by telling them to use the board's search feature to see if their questions have already been asked.

With the influx of Windows XP users we're likely to see, it's possible a sticky makes sense. If member(s) want to write a quality informative post, we'll certainly consider making it a sticky during the initial XP EOL window.

--jeremy

Thank you both for your replies. Randicus, that's a good point, but I think some links to documentation would be good, so they can educate themselves about Linux. A thread with replies simply saying "Try Mint" may not be as helpful.

Jeremy, here's a rough draft of a potential sticky. I would be happy if anybody could tell me where it can be improved, or collaborate with me.

Going from Windows XP to Linux

Hi, and welcome to LQ! If you're looking for information about switching from XP to Linux, you've come to the right place.

First of all, what is Linux? It's an open source OS, which means anyone can contribute to its development. It comes in different versions, called distributions (or distros for short). There are all sorts of distros, and the ones below are both easy to use and run well on older computers. It's possible to dual boot Linux (install it alongside Windows), or run it as a Live CD (try it without installing it). So you have nothing to lose by giving it a go!

Linux Mint MATE edition: Very easy to get used to. Recommended for users with at least one GB of RAM, and five GBs of disk space.

Precise Puppy: Runs well on very old computers, and is still easy to use. Can run with 64 MB of RAM, but works better with 256.

There are many Linux equivalents of Windows programs. To find alternatives to the software you use, check out this site.

To learn about the benefits (and potential drawbacks) of switching to Linux, go here.

Lastly, to avoid common problems Windows users face changing to Linux, take a look at this.

Best of luck on switching to Linux!

This discussion on what to do after Windows XP is popping-up in several places. One place eHam.net, which has had some interesting discussions. I've been surprised, maybe I shouldn't have been, at the animosity some have towards Linux.

To really "capture" the Windows XP crowd, the Linux community would need to implement a public advertising campaign. Since the Linux community is "fragmented" it would be difficult to mount such an effort. However, Red Hat and/or Canonical would appear to have the resources for such an effort.

The more I think about it, the more I think that a sticky on this topic would be a good idea.

The important piece is publicizing it, so that members know to point posters to it (and then add their own ideas to the post if they wish). I think many persons--I know I'm one--skip over the stickies (I read "tutorials" when I was an LQ newb, but not many stickies).

Perhaps, when it's ready, it could be mentioned in a Community Bulletin with a suggestion to link it up to questions about moving from XP to Linux.

redd9, one thing I would suggest adding to a sticky is something to the effect that

Linux is not hard, but it is different--expect it to be different; don't expect it to act like Windows under the hood.

or some such thing that I'm sure can be worded better than that.

I do not see the point of promoting Mint. It would be much better to provide a list of the main distros, perhaps with short descriptions, and encourage people to read the information provided on the distros' websites.

Steve R. wrote To really "capture" the Windows XP crowd, the Linux community would need to implement a public advertising campaign.

The aim should not be to capture Windows users. We want to attract people who are potential users: willing to learn and interested in the system they use. Attracting anyone and everyone is a bad idea. The Linux world has already been damaged by the "wrong" people using, usually part-time (dual-booting with Windows), who should not be. The last thing we should want is to make the situation worse.

A sticky is a good idea but I wouldn't put it in the newbies section, rather I would put it ahead of all of LQ that way Noobs will see it at the top of the main entry point into LQ.

Who ever writes the sticky is in for a hard time. Why? because as soon as they promote 1 distro over another people will claim, and probably rightly so, bias. Much better to give links and a quick explanation of say the top 10 and then let people do some research for themselves. Maybe some links to youtube clips of different DEs and WMs as well so they can see what they look like.

Thank you all for your replies and ideas. Steve: I think you may be right, but that may not be a bad thing. Linux might not be good for some of the people who try it out, and then it will get bad publicity.

Frank, I think you have a good point. I will add something like that tomorrow, before the link to the "Linux != Windows" article.

Randicus, that is a much better idea than mine. I'll add those descriptions.

k3lt01, thanks for warning me, I will put the top ten distros. Will fix the
sticky as soon as I can.

There is a way for the Linux community individually reach out and build public awareness based on the expiration of Windows XP. Leave a quickie public information post on your blog. CasualObservations. Each blog may receive a few hits, but if there are multitude of blogs there will be many hits. Promoting Linux through "crowd sourcing".

With the death of Windows XP, now is the perfect time to switch to Linux

a sticky would be good
BUT!!!
have it point to documentation and guides that TEACH the people HOW TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW

the problem has been MS used XP to "unteach" people

To mindlessly just point and click and not even READ the thing they are clicking on

so is it this forums JOB to TEACH people HOW TO LEARN new things

Or just to point them to the knowledge

I always recommend distrohopping: trying as many different distros as you can, 'til you find the one that suits you best. Don't rely on other peoples' opinions too much. That's what I did when I first "discovered" Linux.