Looking To Get Rid Of Windows ???

Question

I'm looking at going to an open source program and get rid of windows, although I would like something that is user friendly and hopefully will allow me to use a bunch of my favorite windows programs that I consistantly use...

do you have any suggestions & links...

Spam:

with Lindows (now known as Linspire) is it possible to make it the main OS on the computer ?
sorry I'm kinda new at this but am looking at trying something new

Roger G:

Fedora, currently checking it out as well can I install it as the main OS and am I able to use windows Apps

m34tba11;

thanks for the very informative response, I'm checking out Gentoo.. I like it from what you said but I plan on reading up on it I like something with good support (unlike microsoft....oooops did I say that ;) ) anyways I tried another open source one (Ubuntu) and having issues installing it for some reason...

but I do appreciate your feed back and everyone elses feed back since doing something like this is never easy and it's always a good thing to know that you have knowledgable people who'll be there to post there thoughts and help.

Answer 1

Switch to UBUNTU. You will find that there are LINUX equivalents for most Windows programs. Since switching from XP we have not missed any of the windows programs.

However, you can install many windows programs using the WINE windows emulator.

Some useful sites:

Answer 2

Hmmm . . . if you want to use Windows programs, you'd better keep Windows on your computer. Linux is great and all, but it isn't exactly a Windows replacement. Why get rid of Windows when you can have both Linux and Windows peacefully coexisting on the same computer? If I were you, I'd go with Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) for the Linux part. Do a little research about how to dual boot with Windows. Theoretically, there is a way to run Windows programs on Linux (using Wine or Crossover Office), but it doesn't always work. That's why you should keep Windows on your computer. Especially since you've already paid for a legitmate copy of Windows.

People HAVE been working on creating a Windows-like free operating system. I haven't tried it, but here's the link: http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

A word of advice: if your only reason for wanting to switch to Linux is political or philosophical, you may as well stick with Windows because you're probably going to be disappointed. There IS a reason why non-free software exists . . . it costs money to develop software and most people don't want to just give away their hard work. In the case of free software, that cost comes in the form of people and governments (which are funded by people) donating time and money to the cause. Linux is great, and sometimes corporations deviate from open standards (to the peril of those who would try to write software that uses them), but I don't want you to be one of those loons that bashes closed-source software for no good reason.

(Also, I have to say that you are mistaken about Microsoft's support. I have never ONCE failed to find what I was looking for on the Microsoft website. The difference between open source support and closed source support is that people get paid to provide support on closed-source products, while everything in open source is voluntarily done . . . except where the project is subsidized by a corporation. Don't mistake me for a Microsoft freak now . . . I'm running Fedora Core 6 as I write this, and I have experience with several other Linux distributions [Ubuntu is my favorite]. I just don't see that you're giving Microsoft a fair shake on this issue.) Good night!

PS: I would not recommend Gentoo as your first Linux . . . too much compiling and customization to mess with for most users. At least from what I've heard.

Answer 3

gentoo linux, it is really easy to setup, the forums are not that unlike answers (ie..you ask a question, and tons of people will offer you thier advice).
Also, there are tons of Emulation apps that will allow you to run windows apps on Linux. (Most of those APPs are based upon WINE (www.winehq.org)

and what is nice about Linux (any linux distro, or for that matter Unix) is you can customize it to look however you want it to look (ie..different "window managers/desktops). the KDE desktop system looks the most like windows, GNOME looks a little like MAC's Aqua.

I used Linux and Freebsd for ever as my desktop OS of choice until my work bought me a Macbook Pro. (the new Mac OSX is the best of both worlds in that it is a Unix operating system w/ a pretty GUI.

Also with Linux you can typically find some sort application that is identical to some windows program..
For EXAMPLE...Open Office which utilized the ODF *(open Document Format)* will open all Office documents which I believe office is also coming around to adopting the ODF too, so Open Office, while not as bloated (it is bloaty) isthe same as MS Office.
GIMP is not that different from Photoshop..
etc..

spend some time reading www.gentoo.org, as well as forums.gentoo.org and packages.gentoo.org..

Good luck, and congrats on finally seeing the light..

Answer 4

if it's your first linux OS, and want to keep a somwhat windows feeling, you could try LINdows, or my favorite, ubuntu "linux for human beings"

just google them.

they are both very user friendly, and can be run ALONG SIDE WINDOWS, so you can boot into either, have the gameing of windows, with the free software from linux.


oh also you can EMULATE a windows environment in ANY distro of linux by using a windows emulator called WINE.

Answer 5

I don't know too much about Linux but they do have few supports for Windows program but that about it.

You are really shooting yourself in the foot if you ask me.

Answer 6

For free stuff Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the easiest to switch over to.

Answer 7

Fedora 6 is good. I've heard opensuse is good but haven't tried it. Fedora can be found here http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/Download

OpenSuse here http://en.opensuse.org/Welcome_to_openSUSE.org

Answer 8

linux http://www.linux.org