Switch From Windows XP to Ubuntu Linux for Everyday Computer Use

A few weeks ago, I looked at my old desktop and thought, "What should I do with you?" A few hours later, it was wiped clean of the Windows Virus and it had a fresh install of Ubuntu Linux.

I'd been tinkering with the idea of switching from Windows to Linux for a while - and I haven't had any second thoughts. Everything my Windows machine can do, my new Linux system can do as well or better.

Better yet, it's all open source and... free!

Installation

The one thing I was a bit disappointed with was the "Live CD." Before you install a Linux distribution, you can boot it up off of a CD. The computer loads the operating system into its RAM and you can test everything out.

Well, it ran kind of slow. Granted I was only sporting 256mb of a RAM. But it was pretty slow.

Instead of tinkering with it, I threw caution to the window, rebooted the computer, and installed Ubuntu with the text-installer. I later upgraded to a full gigabyte of RAM as well - to ensure decent performance from my new system.

Installation was streamlined and simple. After I answered a few questions, the installer did everything for me. The hard drive was formatted and partitioned, my user account was set up, the files were installed, and the computer was ready to go.

First Stop: OpenOffice Suite

Ubuntu comes loaded with a complement of useful programs pre-installed. Among these is the OpenOffice Office Suite.

OpenOffice is similar to Microsoft Office in many ways. It contains a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet editor (Calc), a presentation creator (Impress), and a fully functional database engine (Base). It also comes with Draw - a program that combines word processing with simple drawing and chart making.

Although the shortcut icons are somewhat larger and nicer looking, a first glance doesn't reveal many glaring differences between this Open Source office suite and Microsoft's proprietary office suite.

One great feature is that you can save any file in OpenOffice in a number of formats - including Microsoft Office (*.doc, *.xls, etc) and a cross-platform *.xml format. This makes it simple to transport documents back and forth between a Linux and PC computer.

OpenOffice programs can also save their files directly as pdf files - something that Microsoft's products do not do.

Oh, and did I mention that they are entirely free?

Next Step: Programming Suite

Besides typical office software, my biggest concern is a programming suite. I need a program that can edit HTML, CSS, and PHP. It needs to highlight syntax and organize the files of a complex project.

Previously, I'd tried a trial version of Dreamweaver - an expensive, proprietary product made by Adobe. I had no complaints about its effectiveness, but I didn't especially want to shell out $399.99 for it.

After browsing through the Ubuntu Linux compatible options, I found Quanta Plus. It is a fully functional programming suite. It's not quite identical to Dreamweaver, but it does everything that I need to do - and it is lightyears beyond the freeware programs that I had found for a PC (such as Notepad++).

Through Ubuntu's built in program installer (Synaptic Package Manager), I was also able to install a local web server (Apache 2.2) with mySQL and PHP enabled. I never quite got it working right on my PC, but Ubuntu helped me set it up with about five clicks of the mouse.

Filling In the Rest: Other Programs

After filling my immediate needs, I browsed through the other programs available for download.

Ubuntu comes with a wonderful built in program installer. You can select "Add/Remove Programs" to view a list of programs that can be quickly downloaded and installed on your computer.

Among these, I found GIMP (a photo editing program similar to Photoshop), Inkscape (a vector-based drawing program, similar to Adobe Illustrator), Amarok (an audio player far superior to iTunes), and a nifty little program that automatically checked my gmail account for new e-mails.

For each program, I checked the "Install" button on the list, hit "Apply," and the rest was done.

I was also pleasantly surprised to realize that every one of these programs is automatically updated whenever a patch is released. Not only are my programs free to use, but they will be constantly updated. I guess I won't have to use a five year old version of Office anymore.

Bottom Line: One Happy User

Since I've given Windows the boot and started using Linux, I've had no complaints. All of the programs I need have found perfectly acceptable alternatives under Ubuntu Linux. Each of them is free to use and free to update.

The only drawback is that most Windows games are not ported over to Ubuntu Linux. You can try to run them with an emulator (like Wine), but that isn't guaranteed to work. Luckily for me, I don't play video games any more.

The bottom line is - if you use a computer for typical productivity purposes, there is no reason to use Windows. Other than the fact that it comes pre-installed on your computer.

Rather than use an old, stagnant operating system - or paying a pretty penny to upgrade to a new, buggy operating system - scrap it altogether and enter the world of Linux. I did. I'm happy.