Have you read “Is it time for XP Users to “Fight or Switch?”?
http://www.wxpnews.com/?id=405
Darn! I could say that i could really relate to this. I encuontered
the delema mentioned when i constructed my 2nd Green PC (a D945GCLF2D
powered PC) couple of weeks ago. The story goes like this:
Since i have no available OS on-hand for my newly built desktop,
except for XP currently installed in my 1st Green PC. I really wanted
to try Win7 but i cant settle for an evaluation version for i need
something that will last long. This forced me to switch Ubuntu.
….Downloading Ubuntu 9.04 (9.10 was in beta stage during that time)
….still downloading …still downloading …and still downloading.
…done.
Everything went well in the OS installation. First problem envountered
is that my Genius GPen can be detected. Tried several sites and forums
but no avail (or should i say, i can’t comprehend with the
discussion/instrcution). Anyways, that is not much of my problem since
i don’t use the pen much.
Second problem encountered was the installation of my Brother DCP-130C
Printer. Search for an instrcution didnt took long but the having it
installed cost me a lot. I beleive i still have it bookmarked…let me
post the link later.
Since i find all hardware working, all that i need at least, i becan
installing all applications that i need. I searched for all Linux
equivalent of the necessary applications i usually need. I have a list
below thinking that you might have a need for them:
- Outlook Express = Evolution Mail / ThunderBird
- Trillian Pro = Pidgin
- Photoshop = Photoshop via VirtualBox
- Notepad++ = Notepadd++ via VirtualBox/Wine
- Google Chrome = Google Chrome via VirtualBox
- Opera = Opera via VirtualBox
- Safari = Safari via VirtualBox
- IE = IE via VirtualBox
Good thing that there are several applications that supports Linux. I.e.
- Firezilla = Firezilla
- Firefox = Firefox
I know… I know. Why use Linux when all my needed applications don’t
run in Linux? Reason is simple. I dont have the luxury to buy a new
OS. Now back to the configuration of my Ubuntu….
Everything runs smoothly in my dry run. Speed is satisfactory
consdiering i only have a dual core 1.6ghz procie and 2gb ram. I then
thought it’s time to put this new amazing OS to real time tests.
The usual applications i use at the same time are: photoshop,
notepad++, and at least 2 browsers. After several hours of working,
virtualBox crashes at least twice. It didnt bother me much and would
just restart it. But as days goes by, it becomes more frequent that
there are times that i am required to restart the whole system.
Im not sure if it is really virtualBox that crashed. But my lack of
knowledge on Linux is making things more complicated. I have been
using Windows since 3.1 and have not tried non-Windows OS ever since.
This experience made me well versed in tweaking and finding soluitions
when an application crashes.
The frustrated me now decided to uninstall Ubuntu and go for Win7.
To be honest, i really like Ubuntu and will recommend it to those who
need a desktop for ineternet and office use.
To conclude, if ever you need to switch OS, make sure that you know
what you need it for. If you will use it to search the internet, do
research, type/compose document and spreadsheets, go for Ubuntu.
Windows 7 costs too much that i can build another desktop out of it.
Mac? Not sure if i can recommend this. Have not used one yet.
