Q. Today I decided that I am officially tired with Windows and want to install Linux on my laptop. I read on a website all the pro and cons of each operating system ( Windows, OS, Linux) and discovered that Linux is the only one who had the pro list longer than the cons list. ( windows too vulnerable and Macs too pricey). In any case,in the Linux cons list it said that Linux should only be used by experienced computer users. I know my way around a computer but I cannot call myself and expert. Would it be difficult to transition from Windows to Linux if I am not a computer expert?
A. Welcome to the would of Linux based OSs!!
At one point or another most Linux users made that switch, and it can be difficult IF you try to use Linux (remember Linux is the kernel not the OS) like you use Windows. There is a learning curve that you must overcome. Things are just different, but not difficult. Years ago it was harder, but now, there are many distros (distributions) tailored to new users.
Since you already know the pros and cons, there is no need to discuss them. But when you start using Linux based OSs, you WILL be in "windows mode". This just takes time to overcome. Most people that tried Linux and said it was to hard, did not give themselves enough time to get out of "winblos mode".
When you install a Linux distro, you do not need antivirus, antimalware, firewalls, you do not need to defrag. You can install them if you like, but there is no real need unless it makes you feel better. If you stick to the repos (repositories - just to make it easier to explain - you can think of it like an app store that you use on your phone) you will be safe from malware.
Now the hardest part, at least for me, is to choose which distro. Go to distrowatch.com for info on hundreds of different distros.
Most distros are based on a few main distros. Here is an image to give you an idea how many forked from other distros:
http://files.cyberciti.biz/uploads/tips/2007/06/44218-linuxdistrotimeline-7.2.png
When I made the switch from winblows to Linux, here was my criteria:
1. made for beginners - you will have many problems if you jump to a distro made for experts
2. it must be a popular distro - the more people using it, the more help you will receive. you can ask on YA, in a linux forum, or people you know.
3 must look decent. I just don't like an ugly desktop.
Also, you can take almost any distro and add different desktop environments. You can think of the DE as the user interface. You can take Ubuntu, that ships with the Unity DE, and ad another, say KDE. But they do have this already, and called Kubuntu.
You can take Mint (which I recommend for new users) which you can choose form Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE, MATE, Xfce desktops. Or you can add others. Here is a gallery of some of the DEs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment#Gallery
So I would suggest to get an 8 or larger USB flash drive (or what ever you have) and use a program called YUMI to install as many different distros on that drive as it can hold. You choose which distro to boot into on start up. This way you can try out many different distros.
Also try out many of the different DEs. There is no way to know which one is right for you. since they are personal choice. I recommend the KDE since you are coming from winblows. It is pretty and (to me) easier to use. So I recommend Mint with KDE.
There are other made for beginners. If you decide to use Ubuntu make sure that you have a wired internet connection when you install. Ubuntu does not use closed source or proprietary software (it a FOSS thing). It will ask when you install if you want to use restricted software. Mint ships with this software and works better out of the box.
There are distros made for just about anything. If you have an older computer, there are distros for old computers. If this is the case I suggest to not use KDE but one made for older or slower computers. Like LXDE (You can download Mint with LXDE). There are distros for media production, scientists, educators, security, privacy, embedded, etc.... Heck, you can even put Linux on your router, mp3 player, tv, and other devices.
Here are some others:
http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=Beginners
At one point or another most Linux users made that switch, and it can be difficult IF you try to use Linux (remember Linux is the kernel not the OS) like you use Windows. There is a learning curve that you must overcome. Things are just different, but not difficult. Years ago it was harder, but now, there are many distros (distributions) tailored to new users.
Since you already know the pros and cons, there is no need to discuss them. But when you start using Linux based OSs, you WILL be in "windows mode". This just takes time to overcome. Most people that tried Linux and said it was to hard, did not give themselves enough time to get out of "winblos mode".
When you install a Linux distro, you do not need antivirus, antimalware, firewalls, you do not need to defrag. You can install them if you like, but there is no real need unless it makes you feel better. If you stick to the repos (repositories - just to make it easier to explain - you can think of it like an app store that you use on your phone) you will be safe from malware.
Now the hardest part, at least for me, is to choose which distro. Go to distrowatch.com for info on hundreds of different distros.
Most distros are based on a few main distros. Here is an image to give you an idea how many forked from other distros:
http://files.cyberciti.biz/uploads/tips/2007/06/44218-linuxdistrotimeline-7.2.png
When I made the switch from winblows to Linux, here was my criteria:
1. made for beginners - you will have many problems if you jump to a distro made for experts
2. it must be a popular distro - the more people using it, the more help you will receive. you can ask on YA, in a linux forum, or people you know.
3 must look decent. I just don't like an ugly desktop.
Also, you can take almost any distro and add different desktop environments. You can think of the DE as the user interface. You can take Ubuntu, that ships with the Unity DE, and ad another, say KDE. But they do have this already, and called Kubuntu.
You can take Mint (which I recommend for new users) which you can choose form Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE, MATE, Xfce desktops. Or you can add others. Here is a gallery of some of the DEs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment#Gallery
So I would suggest to get an 8 or larger USB flash drive (or what ever you have) and use a program called YUMI to install as many different distros on that drive as it can hold. You choose which distro to boot into on start up. This way you can try out many different distros.
Also try out many of the different DEs. There is no way to know which one is right for you. since they are personal choice. I recommend the KDE since you are coming from winblows. It is pretty and (to me) easier to use. So I recommend Mint with KDE.
There are other made for beginners. If you decide to use Ubuntu make sure that you have a wired internet connection when you install. Ubuntu does not use closed source or proprietary software (it a FOSS thing). It will ask when you install if you want to use restricted software. Mint ships with this software and works better out of the box.
There are distros made for just about anything. If you have an older computer, there are distros for old computers. If this is the case I suggest to not use KDE but one made for older or slower computers. Like LXDE (You can download Mint with LXDE). There are distros for media production, scientists, educators, security, privacy, embedded, etc.... Heck, you can even put Linux on your router, mp3 player, tv, and other devices.
Here are some others:
http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=Beginners
Why do you think the Linux community donates its time to supporting the adoption of Linux?
Q. I have been working with Linux for a short time now and was wondering why people would donate time and resources to support Linux. Please list any sources that you have that can give more information on this topic please.
A. Well, large companies like IBM contribute to Linux for their own reasons. They want a lean, mean, robust server OS, and Linux is ideal because they have their own in-house developers tweak it for their own uses. That's probably the biggest reason that Linux is a very good server OS: Because career programmers work on it as their job.
Linux on the desktop has some smaller companies behind it that may try to sell support for it, but it also gets contributions from other programmers in their spare time. You don't see many people who work on Linux as their actual job outside of the aforementioned large companies. People contribute because they want to, or perhaps because they're lifeless neckbeards with nothing to live for beyond coding for open source (certainly not all contributors fit that category, but there are definitely a lot of those guys in the FOSS movement). That's a big reason why Linux on the desktop hasn't really gone anywhere. There's no real advertising campaign, no big push beyond grassroots, no big reason to switch over to an OS that may not even have real support beyond user forums or possibly email.
Linux on the desktop has some smaller companies behind it that may try to sell support for it, but it also gets contributions from other programmers in their spare time. You don't see many people who work on Linux as their actual job outside of the aforementioned large companies. People contribute because they want to, or perhaps because they're lifeless neckbeards with nothing to live for beyond coding for open source (certainly not all contributors fit that category, but there are definitely a lot of those guys in the FOSS movement). That's a big reason why Linux on the desktop hasn't really gone anywhere. There's no real advertising campaign, no big push beyond grassroots, no big reason to switch over to an OS that may not even have real support beyond user forums or possibly email.
What is the best Linux password cracker program?
Q. I somehow got access to the shadow password file. I found the list of users in encrypted form. What is the best cracker program out there to crack?
A. You should not "Trade passwords, product decryption keys, or programs."
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