I'm thinking of switching to Linux, what should I know?

[thersites]

I thinking of switching to Linux-anyone have any information for me? How much different is it than windows, etc.?

[digitalfour]

All I know is I am having a hell of a time getting networking to work.

[fatcat]

From what I hear Ubuntu is pretty good.

[MasterShake]

Ubuntu is the easiest yo use distro out there... but even that one still requires a bit of knowledge to install...


Though ubuntuforums.org is a vast wealth of help and info

[Rebel]

My advice is: get a mac and use safari instead.

[JWI]

All I know is I am having a hell of a time getting networking to work.

Same here.  With Ubuntu I've had to download all sorts of drivers and shit and still nothing.  I used Mandriva...worked like a charm the first time.  It's just very slow.

[SnowDog]

I thinking of switching to Linux-anyone have any information for me? How much different is it than windows, etc.?

You're screwed...

[BonerJoe]

Linux is like socialism. It appears to work, but in reality the average user just gets fucked.

[bad_cab]

Well for basic stuff it works without much of a problem (my roomate has used Linux for a few month now and I hardly ever had to help h out) but it can get tricky if you try to do more complex things. Same with everything. The
Most difficult thing for new users to grasp are:
There are no "drives" what you call drives are folders mounted to your file system
There is no anti virus
She. You look for help the answers will offten be given in command line format $ means run command as yourself and # means run as root
It runs it's own programs with different names learning them takes time
You don't download programs by going to the website you use your package manager
That should be good for starters. FYI I use Fedora but it is a little tricky for new people I recomend you use Linux Mint.

[bad_cab]

Working with an itouch the auto type is a pain in the ass

[Level 20 Anklebiter]

If you're looking for a just works desktop in Linux, there isn't. You will have to learn to use CLI tools. You will have to manually configure some hardware, especially wireless networking devices. If you like that sort of shit, bang away. If not, BEWARE.

[TimeLady Victorious]

There's got to be a way to just install a program in Linux without having to be connected online.

I get interweb outages often enough for this to be a problem.

[Level 20 Anklebiter]

There is, download the deb/rpm/package-file, run whatever package program you have (dpkg, rpm, gDeb, etc) on that file. And then you have an installed program, so long as all the dependencies check out.

[TimeLady Victorious]

There is, download the deb/rpm/package-file, run whatever package program you have (dpkg, rpm, gDeb, etc) on that file. And then you have an installed program, so long as all the dependencies check out.

That sort of makes sense, but since I have not set up an altar to the penguin god yet I have little if any idea how to make that make sense.

My best friend's a penguinista, and she's told me that if I ever install Linux again (long story) she'll help me out with it (again).

[thersites]

If you're looking for a just works desktop in Linux, there isn't. You will have to learn to use CLI tools. You will have to manually configure some hardware, especially wireless networking devices. If you like that sort of shit, bang away. If not, BEWARE.

I'm pretty handy when it comes to that stuff-sounds like a challenge, actually. I have an older laptop and a couple of towers, that the dream is to be able to get a few more years use from. Security is a big deal for me too-I like the idea of only a few people even knowing what the fuck I'm using, let alone getting into it.

I think I may give Ubuntu a try, before I invest in a Mac.

I simply refuse to use Vista.