There are many of you out there who are looking to make a change from your current Windows operating system to the Linux operating system. Some of you may have doubts, many of you most likely have questions before taking the plunge. I’ll try to point you in the right directions before you switch from Windows to Linux.
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can.axis
16 years 19 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago
Philosophy
I would be tempted to add the most important: join the FSF and read "Free Software, Free Society"... ;)
https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom?
http://www.gnu.org/doc/book13.html
crimperman
16 years 18 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago
Not quite the best way
This is a good article but it implies that these users should go cold turkey. I would (and do) recommend the following:
* install some free software on Windows: Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org will do.
* run a few LiveCDs to get the idea of it and try different interfaces (GNOME,KDE,XFCE, IceWm etc.)
* install GNU/Linux alongside your Windows and dual boot for a while BUT for the essential apps (like e-mail, web and office) use GNU/Linux instead. So use GNU/Linux as your primary OS.
* try to do things in GNU/Linux first before resorting to Windows. If your favourite app isn't there, look for alternatives. Gradually wean yourself off Windows milk and onto GNU/Linux solid food.
* give it a go - don't give up at the first hurdle and get involved with the community.
In my experience that gives users a much higher success rate than going cold turkey. 18mths ago - on my recommendation - my Father-in-law followed the above method. Two months ago he bought a new laptop, got hold of Ubuntu and installed it himself as a dual boot (although he admits he hardly uses Windows), repartitioning the hard disk as he did it. Going from Windows baby to computer user is about confidence which can only be built at the user's own pace.