[KLUG Members] Windows user with interest in Linux.

[Nikolas Reist]

My suggestion would be to decide which PC you can call, "an install candidate."  For instance, I too have a 64 bit M$ machine for commercial development (student) so I decided to use my laptop for open source development.  For a project like this for new users, I always say, find a machine you can break, and by all means give it hell.  From the sounds of it you are fairly familiar with C so compiling from source won't really be an issue for you once you read the documentation.  The open source community has many projects that people across the globe contribute to collectively.  The FSF licence allows you to modify and make changes so long as you include a changelog of some sort and retain the original copyright if one exists.  Usually you can contact the developers directly and tell them you could like to help.  I haven't seen a case where they would tell you no.  They are always looking for help.  Also keep in mind there are several games that will run on Linux even from
 commercial discs.  Transgaming has a version of wine (windowsemulator) that runs a large majority of software.  If you are a fan of id then all the games from quake up will run on linux via a binary installer on their ftp site or by other developers (ie icculus.org or darkplaces for quake).  I know because I have them all and Doom 3.  They even run faster on Linux than they do on windows.  If you are looking for something that will help you be more productive in your workplace, Linux is definitely capable, with minimal sacrifice.  I say minimal based on needing to print documents, answer emails, do a spreadsheet, browse the internet for business related material, etc.  Truth be told, Linux users BUILD a Linux system not install.  For me the extra work is worth it.  I can learn how to use something without always leaning on someone else, and teach it to others.  Some flavors I would suggest are Ubuntu and SuSE Linux 10 or 10.1 retail.  They have 10.1 at bestbuy for about
 $60.  If you are new to this and feel commercial support is the best option, then either Ubuntu or SuSE Retail will do.  They also are the easier to use interfaces than most Linux Distributions.  Good Luck.

Nik


----- Original Message ----
From: Jason R. Schroeder <Jason at schroedercreek.com>
To: members at kalamazoolinux.org
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 12:30:19 AM
Subject: [KLUG Members] Windows user with interest in Linux.


Hi, I am new to Linux for the most part, and have some questions for you all to respond to. Hopefully with the feedback I receive I can get a better understand of the capabilities of Linux, and if it will suit my needs. 
 
I have been using windows for the past 16 years, so I am attached to it the software just like bill wants us all to be. I use windows for a lot of things. Video editing, homework (office), listening to music, and games. I have meddled with Linux in the past, red hat and mandrake. Let me tell you, it didn’t last long before I went back to windows. But over the years my computer collection has grown, and my needs have changed. I am not playing the quantity of games, but utilizing other aspects I have only been able to find in windows. I’ll go through the machines I have, and what I primarily use them for now. 
 
I have 3 computers that are running (handful of others for parts, etc). 
 
I have a Pentium Celeron 2.8 GHz, 784mb ram, 200 GB hd space that I am running Windows Server 2k3. I use this machine to host files, a web server, and an exchange server for my mail (also utilizing the calendar to share my schedule with the rest of my family). 
 
I have a desktop, AMD Athlon 64bit 3500+ processor, 2gb ram, 7800GT SLI ( 2 video card) setup, with 320gb of hd space. It is running Windows XP 64bit version. I use this occasionally to play games, and use it to program on it, Visual c++ and Visual C#, photo editing and video editing(my off-road videos), and burning DVDs. 
 
And lastly I have a Dell XPS laptop, Celeron Centrino 2 GHz, 1 GB, NVIDIA 7800 GTX go video card. I use this machine for most of my work (mobility is a great feeling). I play games, check mail, and program on it. This machine is also used by my fiancé who is decently computer illiterate. 
 
Anyways, the big thing I am concern about would be my server (computer #1). Is it possible to host an exchange server where outlook can connect the same way it can now? As for programming, is there any way to have a team collaborative programming project? I am always trying to find ways to better utilize the server other than increase my power bill. I also use this server for a shared printer connection for the other machines. As for the desktop, I could switch it to Linux or dual boot it, but I like to retain the same if not similar capabilities as before, plus also retain the ability to play games( I didn’t drop this kind of $$$ into it for it to just sit there). Heh
 
Well, that’s all I can think about for now. I will try to attend your meeting next Tuesday; you guys are only 2 blocks from my house. Please let me know if Linux might be able to serve my needs and yet free me from the cost of having to upgrade windows every 4 or 5 years. 
 
Thanks ahead of time,
 
Jason Schroeder  
_______________________________________________
Members mailing list
Members at kalamazoolinux.org


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/pipermail/members/attachments/20061110/3e3f15aa/attachment.html