I think a lot of Windows XP users will be aspiring to try Linux. A poll in the UK found that 13 % of XP users were planning on switching to Linux. That is still not a huge number, but it is significant because Linux leads everywhere, but on the desktop. That has always been its weak point. Linux Mint recently produced Mint Box in Europe and the PC sold out in hours. There is an interest among users, but the PC market has been locked up by Microsoft.
To be a Linux Newbie and make a successful transition you you need to be open to the differences. Linux is not just one thing. It is a multitude of things. It runs on everything from watches to supercomputers, so it is very flexible. That also means you have lots of choice. This confounds Windows users. Why so many distributions? Why so many desktop environments? etc. And to make it worse, everyone has an enthusiasm for their favourite which can lead to in a multitude of push me/pull me directions.
My advice is to know what you need and want and stick to that. Find one distribution and become comfortable with it before you branch out, always knowing that you can change. The most important choice at the start is finding a solid base. Linux is just the kernel and the rest is assembled by the developers to give it a distinctive look and feel. The base is the foundation on which it is built.
There are several bases. Debian, Red hat, Mandriva, SuSE, Slackware, Arch, and Gentoo are some. Each base has its own installer and package manager for example. Debian represents about one third and the RPM based distributions are roughly half with the rest being something else. Generally Debian based systems are easier to use and have more applications by far. Ubuntu is a subset of Debian and it is the most widely used and supported distribution, by a wide margin. Linux Mint is a subset of Ubuntu. It started out as just Ubuntu with built in codecs and its own menus, but has lately become a powerhouse of its own with its own desktop environments. It fills a specific niche, IMO, but could become a big player if its desktops catch on outside of Mint and it gets more development help.
A desktop environment sits on top of the base and it is usually a GUI. Some server editions do not come with graphical user interfaces for obvious reasons. The most popular desktops are KDE and GNOME (or something based on it, such as Mate --- which is pronounced like the drink not like a buddy, Cinnamon and Unity). There are less powerful full functioning DEs such as XFCE and LXDE.
KDE is the Swiss Army Knife of desktops. It has its own set of applications and is the most configurable with a common interface for every application. GNOME gives more basic functionality with separate applications to do the heavy lifting. For example, in KDE compositing is built in and you can have a slideshow of wallpapers on your desktop in the settings. In GNOME, you must run an application with its own settings and menus to do the same thing. The menus in GNOME applications are not standardized as they are in KDE.
A distribution is the name given to the kernel plus its libraries, plus display server, plus the window manager, plus the desktop environment. It is really another name for an operating system in Linux.
So, you must first choose a base and then settle on a desktop environment. If you do not like the base then you must re-install, but you can add more than one desktop environment to most bases and change when you login. The base then is your hardest decision. I would suggest looking at Ubuntu because it gives you the most options. You can add KDE or XFCE if you do not like Unity. You can even add Mate and Cinnamon. In choosing Ubuntu you get the largest selection of applications. It has the best installer, one password for root and user, an upgrade tool, a software centre (app installer that looks like iTunes), long term support, and the largest community. Once you use Ubuntu (or one of the other *buntus) for a time then you could try other things such as install other desktop environments in Ubuntu. If you crave a challenge try other distributions afterwards. You can even build your own from scratch using a toolkit. Anything besides Ubuntu will limit you which is not a bad thing if you know what this means and agree to that. Finally I would add that anyone considering Ubuntu wait until April 17 when the new version comes out as it is long term support.
My reason for suggesting Ubuntu is based on the fact that it has been around a long time now, has its own Wikis, support sites such as AskUbuntu.com, a multitude of forums devoted to it and the most users to assist you. It is the distribution with the most of just about everything. Not surprisingly, it has the most detractors as well. To get to the top it has alienated a few people, including me. That does not stop me from recommending it for newbies, though. Once you become experienced then you can move elsewhere.
Things that you will have to give up when you switch to Linux are: anti-virus scanners, anti-malware protection, updates and re-boots without your permission, maintenance such as defragmenting, your computer slowing down over time, and constant nags screens. Soon, you will not even need to re-boot after a kernel patch. And everything is free. Things you will have to be open to are password protection (which is for your protection and is essentially just saying you agree to whatever you are doing), understanding the bootloader and some interest in the commandline would help, but is not essential. You can also add learning some things about file system differences (such as / instead of \ and the root file system and how it works). Linux has no central registry. Everything is stored in folders in the root file system as a separate file.
If you understand this then you are already on your way to being a Linux newbie. Mentoring is definitely a good idea. There are many great mentors here. If you do not understand anything, ask or Google it. If you Google then check the date. Much information is stale dated.
Windows XP users should feel welcome in Linux. Just know as well that some communities are less welcoming. I find Debian so. Generalisation warning: Debian is more for experienced users and they tend to regard newbies as a nuisance in my experience. If you ask a dumb question they will tell you so. Not so in most Linux forums and communities.
Good luck, Roy
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