Re: Linux

Your questions are all very good and valid.  The answers anyone may 
provide, however, would be subjective and geared towards each user's 
personal stake, experience and programming background.  I say this to just 
be aware that others who may respond may offer opinions Linux is the bee's 
knees while others think it's crap.   To each their own.

If I may be so bold, why do you think WinME is crap and Linux will solve 
your problem(s)?  (Personally I think WinME is crap, when compared to a 
more stable Win98SE or Win2000, when used as a standard desktop O/S.  As to 
comparing it to Linux, you are close to comparing fish and bicycles ...)

Ease of use is a relative term.  If you can install any Windows O/S 
blindfolded, with one hand tied behind your back, and have no problems to 
boot, of the standard Linux distributions any will suffice with relative 
easy street.  If your experience includes Unix and command line use with 
DOS (pre or post Windows), you should be fine.  However, if your O/S 
experience is limited to following all the directions, and rereading them 
when you installed WinME with baited breath and a cold sweat, perhaps a 
move up to Linux is not for you just yet.  :)

Can one use Windows software with Linux?  The answer is the same as using 
Mac software on a Windows machine.  :)  Then again, if it were possible, 
why ruin a quality O/S with Windows applications?  Besides, comparable 
Linux applications are often included in a Linux distribution or freely 
available off of the web.  The key word in that last sentence is, "freely." 
You can have a complete Linux desktop up and running with a standard slate 
of applications for the cost of the hardware alone.  Not possible for a 
Windows desktop.  :)

Which flavor?  Chocolate, vanilla or whut? :)  Listen to the other posters 
for their opinions, but don't forget more objective viewpoints such as at 
cnet.com and other review sites.

Finally, just remember that replacing WinME with Linux for your desktop is 
not the same as trading in that ol Piper Cub prop plane for a bit better 
model.  You are effectively going from a Piper Cub to an FA18, and the 
aircraft carrier thrown in.  :)

It's good to see you are wading in.   Once you're in, you'll find the water 
is fine.  Besides, sharks cannot live in freshwater. :)


At 16:34 2001-10-31 -0500, Lisa Bradshaw wrote:
>Hi group,
>
>I hope this is not off topic. I'm seriously considering switching over to a
>Linux OS. I'm currently running Win ME (which sucks). I have never seen or
>used a Linux OS. If anyone on this list uses or is familiar with Linux,
>please let me know what you think of it, good or bad. Is it easy to use? How
>steep is the learning curve? Can I use my current M$ and other windows based
>software with it? And which flavor of Linux should I get? I'm thinking about
>getting SuSe Linux. You can e-mail me privately so as not to clutter the
>list if you wish.
>
>TIA,
>Lisa B.


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