I have switched my operating system from Windows to Linux. I removed Windows XP from my computer and replaced it with Ubuntu. It has been a month now since I installed Ubuntu and I must say that I am quite pleased with it's performance.
My computing needs are not too advanced. Like most people, I need a computer to surf the web, check email and do office stuff such as creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations. You don't need a Windows PC to do these tasks because they can be handled sufficiently well in Linux.
If you are unfamiliar with Linux, it is useful to read an article in this website to understand the differences between various Linux distributions and help you decide which distribution is right for you.
As for me, I choose Ubuntu because it is said to be the easiest for newbies and also the most popular. According to this website, There are about 10 million Ubuntu installation worldwide. If so many people choose Ubuntu, there must be something good about it.
I find Ubuntu rather easy to use. Perhaps it helps that this is not my first experience with Linux. I have experimented with Linux around 2005 - 2006 when I installed Fedora on my home PC. At that time it was Fedora Core 3, now it is already Fedora Core 11. Linux distributions get upgraded pretty fast. The speed at which new versions are released indicate rapid progress and usually better user experience with each new version.
If you want to experiment with Linux, you can run a Live CD. It lets you experience the Linux environment without erasing your Windows operating system. However, the best way to learn Linux is to install it and experience it on your computer. Here are some reasons to help you consider changing your operating system from Windows to Linux.
1. Linux is free. One of the main reasons why you should consider Linux is because it's free. You can legally download the installation file from the Web and install it on as many computers as you want. If you purchase a Windows CD, you can only install it legally on one computer.
2. Less virus threat. You don't have to worry too much about virus threat in Linux. It is safer compared to Windows. The number of known viruses that attack Linux are far less than known viruses that attack Windows.
3. Abundance of web-based application. These days you don't need to install software on your computer. There are plenty of web-based applications to help you do the things that you need to do. There are applications for office work, productivity, games and etc. and since they are web-based, they are independent of your operating system.
4. Free software. There are plenty of free software that will help you remain productive for example Open Office. It is as good as Microsoft Office and it is free.
5. The Joy of Learning. Experimenting with Linux will give you a new project to work on. It's good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while and try something unfamiliar. You will certainly gain useful new knowledge.
Now that I have mentioned the reasons why should consider Linux, I must also highlight possible reasons why Linux may not be suitable for you.
1. No customer support. The fact that Linux is free means that you don't get any customer support. You must figure out how to solve the technical problems that will arise. But don't worry, you are not alone. There are plenty of on-line forums to help solve your problems. You can also google your problem and you are most likely to find somebody who had experienced similar problem and found a way to solve it.
2. Some applications may not work. There are no Windows Media Player and no Internet Explorer in Linux so some files will not work. Although media files can be played using alternative media players, there are windows media files with Digital Rights Management (DRM) that simply won't work in Linux. In addition, there are also some applications that only run on Internet Explorer (for example online tax filing at http://www.hasil.gov.my/).
So there you have it - the pros and cons of changing from Windows to Linux. I hope it is sufficient at least to convince you to experiment with Linux and if you like it, become a real user.
My computing needs are not too advanced. Like most people, I need a computer to surf the web, check email and do office stuff such as creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations. You don't need a Windows PC to do these tasks because they can be handled sufficiently well in Linux.
If you are unfamiliar with Linux, it is useful to read an article in this website to understand the differences between various Linux distributions and help you decide which distribution is right for you.As for me, I choose Ubuntu because it is said to be the easiest for newbies and also the most popular. According to this website, There are about 10 million Ubuntu installation worldwide. If so many people choose Ubuntu, there must be something good about it.
I find Ubuntu rather easy to use. Perhaps it helps that this is not my first experience with Linux. I have experimented with Linux around 2005 - 2006 when I installed Fedora on my home PC. At that time it was Fedora Core 3, now it is already Fedora Core 11. Linux distributions get upgraded pretty fast. The speed at which new versions are released indicate rapid progress and usually better user experience with each new version.
If you want to experiment with Linux, you can run a Live CD. It lets you experience the Linux environment without erasing your Windows operating system. However, the best way to learn Linux is to install it and experience it on your computer. Here are some reasons to help you consider changing your operating system from Windows to Linux.
1. Linux is free. One of the main reasons why you should consider Linux is because it's free. You can legally download the installation file from the Web and install it on as many computers as you want. If you purchase a Windows CD, you can only install it legally on one computer.
2. Less virus threat. You don't have to worry too much about virus threat in Linux. It is safer compared to Windows. The number of known viruses that attack Linux are far less than known viruses that attack Windows.
3. Abundance of web-based application. These days you don't need to install software on your computer. There are plenty of web-based applications to help you do the things that you need to do. There are applications for office work, productivity, games and etc. and since they are web-based, they are independent of your operating system.
4. Free software. There are plenty of free software that will help you remain productive for example Open Office. It is as good as Microsoft Office and it is free.
5. The Joy of Learning. Experimenting with Linux will give you a new project to work on. It's good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while and try something unfamiliar. You will certainly gain useful new knowledge.
Now that I have mentioned the reasons why should consider Linux, I must also highlight possible reasons why Linux may not be suitable for you.
1. No customer support. The fact that Linux is free means that you don't get any customer support. You must figure out how to solve the technical problems that will arise. But don't worry, you are not alone. There are plenty of on-line forums to help solve your problems. You can also google your problem and you are most likely to find somebody who had experienced similar problem and found a way to solve it.
2. Some applications may not work. There are no Windows Media Player and no Internet Explorer in Linux so some files will not work. Although media files can be played using alternative media players, there are windows media files with Digital Rights Management (DRM) that simply won't work in Linux. In addition, there are also some applications that only run on Internet Explorer (for example online tax filing at http://www.hasil.gov.my/).
So there you have it - the pros and cons of changing from Windows to Linux. I hope it is sufficient at least to convince you to experiment with Linux and if you like it, become a real user.
0 comments:
Post a Comment