If you have a fairly recent computer, and a decent amount of RAM, another option is Andlinux (http://andlinux.org), which installs a fully-functional version of Linux that runs simultaneously with Windows.

The people who say that it’s easy to switch from Windows to Linux are those who are so familiar with Linux and its quirks, they’ve forgotten how difficult and unfamiliar a lot of this stuff is for those who aren’t continuously immersed in it, and who don’t actually enjoy learning this stuff. So be prepared for a significant learning curve, and don’t expect Linux to be a panacea for Windows’ problems.

Every few years, after reading a story about how a Linux like Ubuntu is finally easy to use for a newbie, I try installing it again, and then discover that performing a really basic task requires you to fire up the terminal, log on as a superuser, then twiddle with an obscure config file in the hopes that will solve the problem. Or I try to do something elementary, and discover that Ubuntu can’t do that. For example, last time I tried Ubuntu (7.10), I wanted to run it in a stand-alone box with no monitor, using VNC to see what was going on. I then discovered that if there’s no monitor, you can’t set the screen resolution higher than 1024×768; how brain-dead is that?! Too much work for not enough return, at least for what I do.

Linux fans have been saying for years now that it was poised to supplant Windows on the desktop, and yet that whole time it’s been stuck at about 2% of installations. I think that part of the problem is that determinations of usability and user-friendliness are being made by regular Linux users, people who are familiar and comfortable with its quirks and the command-line, rather than by ordinary computer users. For that matter, some Linux people (like Linus Torvalds) get cranky about attempts to make Linux more friendly for newbies, telling people to use KDE because Gnome tries too hard to make life easy for the newbie.

As I see it now, there are two desktop uses for Linux that make sense:

- Creating a bullet-proof, crash-proof workstation where all the applications are fixed, and the user can’t change anything

- For the uber-geek who’s willing to get into the guts of Linux, learn the command line in all its glory, and continuously tweek, optimize and extend the installation

If Linux works for you, that’s great – I’m personally very happy that Linux powers so much of the Internet rather than Windows. For the ordinary user, though, I’d still recommend Windows, warts and all. I actually wish I could recommend Macs over Windows, but the geographic software base (free and paid) just isn’t big enough on the Macs to make it a viable choice.

Anyway, thanks for the links. Will come in handy, methinks.

I’m a quasi-geek from a long time ago, but Linux is still too geeky for me.

If you’re looking for a good & easy linux transition, try Kubuntu (KDE Ubuntu) and install Automatix (http://getautomatix.com/) after install. Only ArcINFO keeps me form converting all of my boxes to Linux.

Cheers!
-bd

KoS