linuxgeek: [LINUX_Newbies] Re: questions from a real newbie

Hi, Rixta, and welcome!

There are various "newbies' guides" to Ubuntu on the Internet that will address many of your questions as well as a wide selection of books. Also, the Ubuntu Forums are very good at answering specifics as well.

Part of the problem is simply that you have been accustomed to Windows for many years, and suddenly moving to something that is in many ways quite different seems a huge change all at once. Don't worry--a little familiarity and you will quickly feel more at home.

Unlike Windows, Linux has a wide variety of interfaces. Ubuntu uses one called "Gnome", but there are others. Personally, happen to prefer KDE, which is also somewhat closer to the Windows interface in its operation. However, that is all personal preference.

I disagree that "Linux is a simpler version of Windows". They are both very complete operating systems today, but with all the different choices in Linux and with a much greater ability to get into the inner workings and customize it, Linux can be quite complex--but don't be alarmed, since you don't have to fool with that stuff if you don't want to!

To address some of your questions about programs:

"firewall, anti-spam, anti-adware, pop-up blocker, photo-programs etc."

First, a separate firewall program is not at all necessary in Linux--firewall capability is already available. There are several programs, though, that will give you a graphical means of making exactly the settings you prefer for your use of the computer. One of these is called "Guard Dog",for example. I suggest you get someone with some technical experience to help you choose the settings right for you on that one; many areas have Linux Users' Groups that can offer help getting it all set up for you. (I posted a link yesterday to a listing of those LUG organizations).

I have never used an anti-spam program on my Linux box, personally, and to this day I don't see a need for one. Because of the way Linux works, there is very little such programs could do to cause harm. I did hear the other day about one Linux virus that supposedly has been around, but I have not heard of it actually in the wild from any of the many Linux "gurus" I know.

Anti-adware and popup blockers are more a matter for your web browser. If you use Firefox, there are several very good extensions you can install for free from the Mozilla site that help immensely. I use AdBlock Plus and NoScript on mine for these purposes with excellent results. Again, if you are unaware of how to download and install Firefox extensions, it should be easy to find someone who can walk you through it if you don't choose to look around on your own. Generally, though, you go on the Firefox menus to Tools-->Add-Ons and a small window pops up with a simple button to search for more extensions. I suggest you start with the two I just suggested--even on your existing Windows box.

There are a variety of photo programs available in Linux, depending upon what you need to do with the photos. Someone mentioned the GIMP, which is an incredibly capable image editor--but somewhat complex. The average user can do well with one of the programs that lets you create photo albums and also do light image editing--such as cropping, resizing, and removing "red eye" for example. Ubuntu comes with one called F Spot, I think; I use the Kubuntu version with KDE, which has its own version of the same.

It is unlikely you will find programs you use in Windows that don't have replacements in Linux. There are various lists of equivalent programs on the Internet, in fact. Here is one: <http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software>

Take your time and give it a few weeks and you will begin to see some real advantages of Linux--including much better performance than the same machine running any version of Windows.

David

--- In LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com, "Rixta Francis" <rixta.francis@...> wrote:

>
> I have also looked around for programs that are important to me, but most of them don't seem to run under Linux: firewall, anti-spam, anti-adware, pop-up blocker, photo-programs etc. Are there acceptable alternatives for all these programs that do run under Linux? I don't need to know the names yet, but I really can't do without any of these programs, as I use them a lot.
>
> Well, these are my questions so far. I hope that you can help me figure out what would be the best option for me. I hate the idea of paying Microsoft again, but if Linux is still mainly for techies, then I better stay away from it.
> Thanks for the help!
>
> Cheers,
> Rixta Francis
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>