Hello,
--- On Sun, 12/6/09, Rixta Francis <rixta.francis@
From: Rixta Francis <rixta.francis@
Subject: [LINUX_Newbies] questions from a real newbie
To: LINUX_Newbies@
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 10:54 AM
Hello everyone,
I am so new to Linux that I don't even have it as my OS, though I do have Ubuntu, which I have tried a few times. But I can't really figure out what it is, as it seems to have only a few options. Anyway, my computer is more than seven years old, gets very slow and it's really time to get a new one. As I'm sick and tired of Microsoft I seriously consider Linux, but I don't know much about it. Which is the reason why I joined this group, hoping I would get more information, so that I can make an informed choice about whether or not to change to Linux.
This group is called Linux Newbies, but so far I have felt overwhelmed by the amount of technical talk. Directories, extensions and loads of words I have never even heard of. I had been told that nowadays Linux is actually very user friendly and a good alternative to Windows for the experienced computer user. I am experienced and good with computers, but not an expert.
So one of my questions is: is Linux indeed quite easy to learn, or should I get discouraged by all the technical talk and forget about it? I understood that Linux is in a way a bit a simpler version of Windows, which I have noticed with the e-mail program and browser from Ubuntu. Easy to use, but with fewer options than the Windows versions.
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>>>Some lists don't like top posters...
Hi Rixta,
If your computer is too slow from Ubuntu, try Xubuntu, as it has a less
RAM hungry GUI desktop, but can use both Gnome and KDE files if you
choose to add them. I am having fun with Linux Mint 8 on a dual-slot1
Intel P3 motherboard. When I put a faster PCI video card, it was
playing TV shows a bit slow, but that was fixed with another video card.
Most distros, or flavors of Linux have a firewall built-in, I know
Mepis has one turned on by default. The Linux file system usually
doesn't need defragging. The AV programs are there for mail servers
and to protect Windows users, but there are online AV free scans you
can do that are Java-based. I have used a few that can be added to
Linux after installing through the distro's repositories. It's nice
some distros are including graphic views of some programs that can be
added, too.
One friend's laptop likes PcLinuxOS LXDE version because it's faster
than his Windows side of the same hard drive, dual-booting, but I
prefer separate hard drives for testing Linux installs. He also said
it picked up his Charter internet connection while even running off the
Live CD.
Remember, that the top or bottom first button, think START button,
brings up the menu to more programs. Oh Openbox GUI you right click
the mouse button to get the menu. Don't worry Windows like Linux will
come, for years all I could do in Windows was play games, I was an old
DOS girl.
Welcome,
Joan in Reno
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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