Switching to Linux, part 1
Like most people, I’ve always used Microsoft Windows on my computers and the product has served me well. But the cost of running Windows is going up. Not just in terms of price, but in terms of freedom. While each release of Windows offers more features than the last, at the same time they offer more restrictions on those features. It’s a big ruse: you think you are running the latest, greatest Microsoft Windows but it’s not really all that much better, it’s actually worse. Every time you upgrade the corporate tossers gain more control what you do and see on your own computer. This marketing crap has been going on for years at Microsoft and I’m not sure if I want to be part of it anymore.
The upcoming release of Windows Vista is being hailed by Microsoft as the next great leap forward. But there’s nothing in it that appeals to me. I see a lot of shiny stuff but I don’t see any more functionality than in Windows XP. I see lots of highly integrated commercial features, and little else.
Some of these features don’t seem to be for your benefit. Genuine Advantage is one such feature. As a paying Microsoft customer, you can’t help but to feel a little betrayed when your legally owned operating system accuses you of running a bootleg. Is there anyone out there who thinks this will get any better running Windows Vista?
I question the wisdom of stuff like HDCP, Digital Rights Management, product tie-ins with Windows Media Player and the five different versions. Are these things really being done for the benefit of the consumer? Did consumers really ask for DRM, for product placements, and stripped down versions? Or did the guys in the suits ask for it?
So I will never upgrade to Vista. I don’t want to deal with its DRM, its advertising, its integrated applications and its blantant corporate shit. But what am I going to do about my aging copy of Windows XP? Eventually Microsoft is going to stop supporting it and people aren’t going write software for it. That scenario is probably way off in 2010, but I might as well do something about it now.
After years of subtle prodding from my friend, I’ve decided I’m going to migrate my personal computer to Linux. If that goes well, I’ll do the same to my work machine too.
Using Linux is nothing new for me. I use it at work all the time: the router is a Linux box, the fileserver is a Linux box, the jukebox is a Linux box. I’ve installed all kinds of Linux boxen over the years but mostly for server work, rarely as a desktop. Sure, the jukebox has run a primitive Linux desktop for a long time, but it only does one thing on that desktop, the rest of its roles are all server-based.
I’ve never used a Linux-based system as my primary desktop. This is partly because until recently I felt that Linux really wasn’t ready as a desktop product. Without going into too much detail, I felt both KDE and Gnome (the two most popular Linux desktop systems) were clunky and the available applications second-rate compared to their Windows counterparts. But that was then. As I noticed last year, the Gnome desktop has improved greatly, as have the number of polished applications available for it. So maybe the time is right for a switch. I run mostly open-source apps as it is.
But to configure an install of Linux for me, one I’d use all the time…
Switching is a big deal. Linux runs Linux software, not Windows software. I would have to find Linux equivalents of all of the Windows applications I use. This means I’m in for some change. And I fear change. I spend all day dealing with the chaos of personal computer services. When the day is done, I want my shit to just work. I want it to be safe and familiar. I don’t want to have to constantly hack on it just to restore functionality I used to have with Windows.
My home machine must have these capabilites:
- Surf the Web the way I like. Luckily, I use Firefox, which is available for Linux too. All of the plugins I like are also cross-platform too (I think).
- Instant Messaging. I require both MSN and Jabber support.
- Graphics. Something has to process the pictures that keep showing up on this blog.
- FTP. A decent graphical FTP client would be nice.
- Word Processor. I use Abiword mostly, sometimes Open Office. Both would seem to be available for Linux.
- Burn CDs. Don’t laugh — Linux has never been really good at this.
- Works flawlessly with Samba. Most of my files actually live on another Linux machine, a fileserver configured to share files using Samba. This should be no problem — the machines in the office all seem to get along and they use Samba.
- Tunes. I’ll need something to play my MP3s.
- Movies. I’m going to need software that can play movies encoded with a wide variety of audio and video codecs.
- Bittorrent. Everyone has their own reasons for using Bittorrent and I have mine.
If a distro of Linux can do these things for me, then I’m going to switch and I’m gonna stay.
Next: Let’s get it on.
Well, make sure you try out both Gnome and KDE. That’s what I did when I decided to finally switch to Linux for my desktop. I gave them both a go for a couple days, then finally decided on KDE myself. Been thinking about installing Gnome again, just to see what they’ve improved in the meantime.
Instant Messaging: Well, you could use Gaim, it’s decent for Jabber and MSN. But for more, “better” MSN support, I recommend either aMSN (TCL/TK Based) or Mercury (Java based). They’re both great MSN clients, I tend to switch between them on a regular basis. Kopete is a decent multi-protocol client as well.
FTP: Personally, I love gFTP. I’ve tried alot of GUI FTP clients for Linux, and I just keep coming back to gFTP.
Burn CDs: Can’t beat k3b. Sure, ya might have to convert some image formats, but that’s what bin2iso, nrg2iso, ccd2iso, etc are for.
Tunes: Well, there’s good ol’ XMMS, or you can try amaroK. Sadly, no real Linux alternative of Foobar. ;(
Movies: Well, there’s MPlayer. Xine is also good as well. Actually, Xine is great for watching DVDs.
Bittorrent: Well, there’s Azureus. KTorrent is ok, but it does have it flaws.
Not sure about Word Processors, don’t have a need for them. But yeah, Abiword and Open Office are available.
SMB file sharing? Well, I know that KDE works pretty good with it, what with using the Lisa daemon. Heard Gnome has even better SMB support though.
One thing that’ll bite ya when you switch to Linux though, sites that have Flash 8 content, if you visit them. Macromedia/Adobe have decided not to release a Flash 8 Player for Linux. There might be a Flash 8.5/9 Player, but who knows when that’ll be.
Anyway, remember that when you switch, give it some time. I convinced that I’d give Linux a full two weeks to try. Sure, the first week was rocky, but I started to get the hang of it. Best I can explain it, it’s kinda like switching to a manual transmission after you’ve been using automatic all your life.
BTW, StarCraft runs great under Cedega. ^_^
Comment by CyberFoxx — 2006/5/11 @ 22:35
Oh, crap. I could never run all my graphics applications on Linux. Does this mean I’m eventually going to have to get a Mac? Will you start fixing Macs? If not, I’m boned!
Comment by Nancy HT — 2006/5/17 @ 12:39
It’s not like I’m not going to stop fixing Windows systems, lol ;) I just need to do this Linux thing for me. Maybe I need to come home to something less shitty, I dunno.
I keep thinking I should get into fixing Apple stuff. But Apple today is very much a consumer electronics company. They really don’t care for people to fix their stuff. They just want to keep pushing those iPods out the door.
Comment by cobolhacker — 2006/5/17 @ 19:52
I hear you about Apple, I’m just thinking when Microsoft gets too full of itself, Windows too annoying for me to use, too patronizing and too intrusive, will I have to make the switch? Sure I can keep limping along with Win2K and the software I have, but eventually it will all become obsolete and I won’t be able to keep up with the rest of the printing and web development world.
But Macs break, with great regularity from what I hear, and I need a reliable machine or someone nearby who can keep it running, oh great PC fixing guru!.
Comment by Nancy HT — 2006/5/23 @ 07:10
Apple is just like Microsoft, only smaller, with a better marketing department.
So solution is run Linux on your existing PC hardware. Eventually all the stuff you need will be available.
Comment by cobolhacker — 2006/5/23 @ 08:23
Well your requirements are quite fair and they’re very easily handled by Linux nowadays (even if you’re stuck with an Ipod, that can be fixed too :) )
And with linux, things are pretty much starting to just work ™. If you take a new windows computer you have install mobo drivers, lan drivers, sound drivers, even cpu drivers, and drivers for your cameras etc etc etc…
With linux you only need to install the close source binaries for an ATI or Nvidia card if you wish to make full use of it’s 3D capabillities (and no the screen won’t stutter like hell if you choose to rely on the linux-provided drivers like the windows drivers does.)
However it’s really funny to note that you’re using opensource software without really being aware that most of that software is created largely because of linux :) But that’s just good because the change will then seem less dramatic :)
Trust me, it’s very doable, I switched as a twelve year old lad with no intimate knowledge of systems or programming at the time :)
About the graphics program though, I’m quite sure you have used Photoshop and if so, perhaps you should consider getting a license for Pixel (www.kanzelsberger.com/pixel ) It’s currently still in beta but quite useable and it’s interface bears a striking resemblance to the much more expensive Photoshop :)
A last thing, should you head into any troubles on the way to switching, don’t be afraid to either drop me a mail or ask questions on linux forums such as linuxquestions.org :)
Comment by DarkCarnival — 2006/5/26 @ 10:54
I think one of the solutions I needed came from one of the forums at linuxquestions.org! Linux is cool that way — look long enough on the Internet and you’ll find the answer to your problem. Free forums and weblogs are actually a great help. Properly indexed by a good search engine, they are an excellent resource for the Linux newbie.
One of the reasons I started using FOSS apps (in addition to my being cheap) was to get used to that way of doing things… I had been planning to go to Linux for a while, but never seemed to get around to it.
Here’s another good reason to use FOSS applications, even if you still use Windows. They stay out of your way. Commercial application software these days is always getting in your face about one thing or another. “Buy an upgrade!” “Get these cool product tie-ins!” “Subscribe to our services!” “Activate. Activate! ACTIVATE!” Another reason why I started using FOSS stuff so I could get some peace and quiet from my programs.
Now that I’ve played with it for a while, I actually don’t mind the GIMP (there, I said it!) It takes a bit of getting used to, but it has all the features I’m looking for.
As for the iPod… I hate the iPod ;). Always have. I’m one of the few, I know, but I’m proud of my dislike of them.
Comment by cobolhacker — 2006/5/26 @ 13:03