Thinking of switching from Windows to Linux?

Question

What are the pros/cons of Linux?

And if I do install it, can I go back and forth between Linux and Windows until I decide whether or not I like Linux?

What is the best place to get Linux, and is there a specific version I should get?

Also will my Linksys wireless router work with Linux?

Answer 1

Pros: Linux is a more stable operating system, it is also open source, meaning everyone contribute to its development, and it is a free operating system for everyone. You can get many different distributions of Linux for free anywhere downloading it from the web. You can give it away to others, and it is not illegal to do so.

Cons: It will not run Windows applications. - No big deal, most of people use Linux for its stability, not for compatibility.

Yes, you can install a dual-boot system, where you end up having Windows and Linux coexist on the same computer. You just install Linux on its own separate partition, and when you are done installing you will end up with a nice boot menu that pops up before any operating system, asking you whether you want to boot to Windows or to Linux.

Just make sure you know what you doing, or have someone with experience on using Linux do it for you, because you might end up erasing your entire Windows system if you do it wrong. - I am not currently using Linux, but I have used it before many times, and I tell you the very first time I installed Linux years ago I royally srewed up my Windows system, I ended up with nothing but Linux on the HD. - Later on when I got more "experience" learned how to do it right.

What I recommend is use Partition Magic and resize your actual Windows partition so you have extra unpartitioned space on your hard drive, then when you install Linux it will detect that extra not used space and it will create its own partition, format it and install itself there. - In other words, if you have only one partition on your disk do not try to install Linux just like that, just repartition your hard disk as I said above, leave an empty partition (besides the one where Windows resides now) and install Linux, then you'll be fine.

You can get Linux for free, from many places on the web, just do a search for "Linux distributions" for instance, you'll find tons of places everywhere. If you have a fast connection (broadband) and a DVD player, then I would recommend download it on a DVD rather than many CD's. - Or there are also ways to download just one small portion, and once you got that installed, the system will get the rest from the Internet. It's all up to you install the whole thing, or install just the parts that you want or need. :)

Go to http://www.linux.org and click on "Distributions" .... that's a good start.

I hope this helped somehow. Have a nice day.

Answer 2

Previous respondents have addressed the pros and cons, so I won't.

You can go back and forth. As another said, you can partition your hard disk with windows on one partition and Linux on another, and then you choose which you want to boot at startup. Not as difficult as it sounds.

However, before deciding on that, you can try Linux without installing anything on your disk. I do exactly that myself. I downloaded a copy of PuppyLinux and burned the .iso file to CD. Then when I want to run Linux, I just put the CD in the drive and reboot. Since the system looks at the CD drive before it looks at the CD (at boot time), it boots Puppy off the CD. I also use a USB flash drive where Puppy keeps a bunch of files (instead of hard drive, actually), and that's quite convenient. Anyway, it works great while I decide what I want to do. It's here...

http://www.puppyos.com

If you decide that you want to install to hard disk, then there's no doubt that right now the hot distribution is Ubuntu Linux. However, it's just huge and has everything under the sun, which isn't what I wanted while I was deciding. Also I don't think it will boot from CD. It's here...

http://www.ubuntu.com

Your Linksys will work fine. I find that Linux supports more than my old copy of Windows98SE . For example, Yahoo Mail's new beta version won't run on W98, but it works fine with Linux.

Answer 3

I use to run Linux, most of your software will not work with Linux, games, etc. You will have to go to the Linux site for the version you want to install to ensure all your hardware will work with it, sound card, video, etc. Linux is fine, but for a home user with a family, you will be in the proverbial dog house. What version of Linux to use, I have no idea any longer, maybe some good Linux users can set you in the right direction. Chow

Answer 4

You can download UBUNTU LINUX at ubuntu.com. You can actually run it from a CD once you burn the the disc.

If you like it you can install it on your hard drive. Backup your files to CD's or DVD's. If you do not play Windows games you only need UBUNTU as it comes with all the software(FREE!!!) that you will ever need.

If you do need WINDOWS create a partition for windows on your hard drive E.G. 40 percent., reinstall windows and then install UBUNTU.

Note: We used to run Windows but now that Linux has matured we only use it on all of our computers.

Big plus is the Users guide at WIKI , plus the user forums.

Answer 5

I'd start w/ Ubuntu.

Yes, you can dual-boot. The Linux will see the Windows files, but not vice-versa.

Your wireless router doesn't care what OS you're using.