OSNews

What do you imagine that you need to re-learn with a switch to Linux?

Given a Linux system properly pre-installed, then here you go:

(1) There are two passwords, and admin password and your normal user login password (except for Ubuntu, where the one password does double duty). If you are asked for the admin password, it is because a change is about to be made to the system. If you didn't actually want anything changed ... don't give the admin password.

(2) on Linux, there is a one-stop convenient place to install software from. It is called "Add/Remove software" on the main menu. You can "browse" it like a smorgasboard, and use search, there are 20,000+ packages to choose from, and if you stick to it then your system won't get malware. This is the only place where you would normally use the admin passwrod.

(3) on the Menu, the programs are grouped into main categories (such as "Office", "Multimedia" and "Internet"), and then each actual entry on the menu is named for what the program actually does (such as "Web browser", "Text editor" or "Wordprocessor"). You don't need to know the name of the company that made the program in order to find it on the menus.

(4) most of the programs that you would normally use are already installed for you. You normally don't have to search the Internet for any extra stuff, anyway most "unusual" extra stuff is readily available from the "Add/Remove programs", and it is all available at no extra cost. BTW it is also all guaranteed to be add free, and not trialware or shareware. Enjoy.

(5) Yes, you use the menus and click on things just as you would with Windows. The menu button is in the same place, it just doesn't have the word "Start" written on it.

(6) Yes, copy and paste work the same way. If you just want to copy text strings, you don't even have to copy it ... just select the text with the mouse, and then "middle-click" where you want it pasted.

(7) You actually get four "desktops", not just the one. This is great for organising busy screens. You can even "spin" them around as a 3D cube, which is a good way to visualise what is happening.

(8) Yes, OpenOffice works a lot like Microsoft Office, and it can even read and save the same files if you like. Some of the menus are a bit different, but it is a lot easier to get used to than that "ribbon" stuff.

(9) OpenOffice includes a "drawing" package that MS Office doesn't have as standard.

(10) Yes, I have to agree that the raster graphics "paint" program also has a funny name and is weird to use. "GIMP" is indeed strange. Try Krita ... it also has a funny name, but it is a lot more like Photoshop that you may be used to. Both of these, by the way, can be found on the menu where you would expect, under the "Graphics" group.

(11) Instead of "Outlook" use either Thunderbird or Evolution ... yes they are funny names, but no funnier or stranger than "Outlook" is when you think about it. On the menu, the program is listed under the "Internet" group as the "Email" application ... which is far easier to find when you think about it than "Outlook" under the "Microsoft" group.

(12) The "Home" icon in the file manager is effectively the same as "documents and settings".

(13) Yes, when you plug in a USB stick, it will open automatically, as will a CD or a DVD. Rather than "stopping" it, you should instead choose "eject" or "unmount" before you unplug it again. These mean the same thing, for a USB stick.

(14) Use either "Brasero" or "K3B" to burn CDs or DVDs. Either one is at least as good as Nero.

(15) No, you don't need an anti-virus or anti-malware. Just use only the "Add/Remove programs" to install additional software, and don't give the admin password anywhere else.

(16) I'd recommend Amarok for your music collection. It is a way better iTunes than iTunes. "SMplayer" or "VLC" are the best options to play videos. VLC will play DVDs for you ... but SMPlayer needs an extra bit to read the DVDs that is sometimes not installed. Search for "dvdcss" in the "Add/Remove programs" ... if it isn't listed, use VLC.

(17) The instant messenger program is called "Pidgin", strangely enough. It think it is meant to suggest a carrier pidgeon. It works with a number of different messenger systems. Yes, also found in the "Internet" group on the menu. I think you are getting the hang of it.

... anything else? Yes, I can't really think of anything either. I'm sure you will cope ... it isn't really all that different to use from Windows really, apart from where it is better. Have fun.

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