To most people Linux remains an enigma, something to be wondered about and rarely experienced. Invariably, you cannot talk of Linux without comparing it to Windows, and that is where the main issue is. Those who have used both operating systems remain deeply divided on which is the best operating system to use. Microsoft Windows has a massive market share so for many people they have prior familiarity with it and little else. On the other hand Linux offers some features not found on Windows and many people become fans once they use it. For those who have never used Linux before but would like to give it a try, I hope this article will give you the opportunity to take that plunge. Some may ask, why move to Linux anyway, after all there is nothing particularly wrong with Windows. If you are one of the people who think this way, l will ask you these simple questions: Do you have an anti-virus program installed and running on your computer? Has it ever occurred that in the middle of working on something your computer just happen to freeze and you have to restart the computer?, Is your computer now slower than that time when you bought it? Do you frequently pay licenses for upgrades, maybe from Windows XP to Windows Vista or from Office 2003 to 2007 just for your files to stay 'compatible'? If you answered yes to any of these questions then surely you should consider giving Linux a chance. Admittedly, any topic on moving from Windows to Linux is best covered in a book, a thick one for that matter. However, I hope this article will ignite the interest and lead to further individual pursuance of the issue.

One single biggest reason that prevents people from successfully adopting Linux into their default operating system of choice is they expect a Windows experience from Linux, which is not the case. Before getting on with the transition, it might be proper to cite this analogue about Windows and Linux. Switching from Windows to Linux is like switching from a car to a motorbike. They may both be operating systems/road vehicles. They may both use the same hardware/roads. They may both provide an environment for you to run applications/transport you from A to B. But they use fundamentally different approaches to do so. Windows/cars are not safe from viruses/theft unless you install an anti-virus/lock the doors. Linux/motorbikes don't have viruses/doors, so are perfectly safe without you having to install an anti-virus/lock any doors. Both operating systems have different strengths and weaknesses: A car/Windows is the clear winner at transporting a family & a lot of cargo from A to B: More seats & more storage space. A motorbike/Linux is the clear winner at getting one person from A to B: Less affected by congestion and uses less fuel. There are many things that don't change when you switch between cars and motorbikes: You still have to put petrol in the tank, you still have to drive on the same roads, you still have to obey the traffic lights and Stop signs, you still have to indicate before turning, you still have to obey the same speed limits. But there are also many things that do change: Car drivers don't have to wear crash helmets, motorbike drivers don't have to put on a seatbelt. Car drivers have to turn the steering wheel to get around a corner, motorbike drivers have to lean over. Car drivers accelerate by pushing a foot-pedal, motorbike drivers accelerate by twisting a hand control. A motorbike driver who tries to corner a car by leaning over is going to run into problems very quickly. And Windows users who try to use their existing skills and habits generally also find themselves having many issues.

When moving to Linux, the first thing to decide on is which version to use (in Linux they are known as distros not versions). They come in many flavours, shapes and sizes, with some which you can run from a CD/DVD and some which you can boot from a flash drive. For the long-time Windows user, this might be a bit confusin. It usually comes with the computer you buy, already installed. In the case of Linux, for normal laptop or desktop use, I recommend Ubuntu Ultimate Edition (these days it is now known simply as the Ultimate Edition. From here on the terms Ultimate Edition and Linux are used interchangeably). This might seem an odd choice to many Linux fans but I believe this is the most complete Linux distro which offers little newbies who need to get their feet wet. If you are installing on a netbook, it’s a toss between Linux Mint, (Intel) Moblin and gOS. Personally, I use Ultimate Edition on my laptop and gOS on my netbook. In the case of netbooks, most come preloaded with manufacturer tweaked distros and I strongly suggest sticking to those to minimise compatibility issues.

Now that you know which distros to install, what is left is for you to get them. In the case of Ubuntu Ultimate Edition you can get it on http://www.brothersoft.com/ubuntu-ultimate-gamers-edition-192127.html. For netbooks, you can get gOS on http://www.thinkgos.com/gos/download.html and if you want to give Mint a try you can download it on http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/stable/7/LinuxMint-7.iso . Ultimate Edition is a fairly large download so you need a reasonably fast internet connection and patience. If your Internet connection is really slow, I suggest you install Internet Download Manager which can boost your download speed by between 5-15 times and can resume download even if you shut down your computer. Depending on your hardware, it may be necessary to check hardware compatibility by running the Live DVD although modern Linux distributions automatically detect most hardware. Hardware drivers may be needed for newer or rare hardware. The Linux community is well-known for writing their own drivers when the manufacturers refuse to release one (chief culprit being Intel).

There are two main ways to install and run Linux on your computer but here we are going to focus on only two which we suppose are the easiest. Here, the goal is to run Linux alongside Windows, so that you are assured of your comfort zone. The first option is to boot from the Linux DVD and follow the on-screen prompts to install Linux. For a step by step on how to do this you can see a related article on this page http://tindothegeek.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-run-xp-vista-and-linux-on-same.html which guides you through the installation process. For experienced Windows users they might be surprised to hear that the installation process is a lot easier and faster than the Windows installation process. On my computers, from boot up to full installation this takes on average twenty to thirty minutes. The second option, which is a lot easier, is to pop the Linux DVD in your computer and wait for the autoplay which gives you the option of installing Linux from inside Windows. All you need to do is create a username name and password, point to the folder/drive where you want Linux to be installed and hit the 'Next' button just like you do when installing Windows programs. When the installation finishes, you are asked to restart your computer and on the boot loader you will see the option to load into Ubuntu. Choosing that option will take you to Linux where you will complete the installation process.

Being able to drive a car does not necessarily mean you will be able to ride a motorbike the first time around, even though both have an accelerator, brakes and a steering system. Similarly, you will need to learn a couple a couple of things, assuming that you successfully booted into the Linux desktop. The first thing you will notice is the absence of the 'My Documents' and 'My Computer' on the desktop. The clock, network, volume and battery icons you see on the bottom right hand corner in Windows have moved up and are on the top right hand corner. In the bottom right hand corner is where you will find the Recycle bin now called 'Trash'. If you use the default Start Menu in Windows, you are in covered because the layout is almost similar in Ultimate Edition. To launch Programs you click on the Upper left hand where it’s written 'Applications'. This will open a pull down menu with applications listed under groups. For example under Internet that's where you will find Firebox (the web browser), Thunderbird (the email client) and Pidgin (the IM client). Going through these menus will bring you to the other fundamental difference between Linux and Windows. Here you will find lots of applications already pre-installed. Unlike a newly installed Windows you have a CD/DVD authoring programme, a full office suite and applications to cater for all your multimedia needs. If you are into designing you can find all sorts of applications to tickle your fancy. For example, you can make games and 3D models with Blender which is much better than the commercial and expensive 3D Max (who dare challenge this?) or you can work images with the versatile GIMP which has the same capabilities as the insanely expensive Adobe Photoshop (those who differ raise your hands).

After going through the software(if you are new to Linux you will spend hours exploring these applications and getting surprised at every turn by how much Windows withholds from its basic operating systems) the next place to explore is the one named 'Places' which is besides the button that launches applications. This is where you will find the equivalent of your 'My Documents” and 'My Computer' as they are the default file repository places. The 'Home Folder' right at the top does what 'My Documents' does in Windows, that’s where you are pointed when you want to save files in many programs. Within the Home Folder are several folders like Music, Pictures and Videos which holds and handles the corresponding file formats. Navigating and moving around files within Ultimate Edition is an effortless experience as the layout is similar to Windows. One thing that may appeal to most people is you can access your file from Windows from within Linux just as long as you are familiar with navigating the Windows directory structure, which is pretty much the same as uploading files to Facebook or YouTube.

Those who have installed Windows will testify that there are limited multimedia formats you can play out of the box in Windows Media Player. In Ultimate Edition, users can play almost every conceivable multimedia file thanks to a host of codec pre-installed. Under Sound and Video on the Applications launcher, you even find a number of DVD and CD ripping software pre-installed. Those who use VLC media player in Windows will be immediately comfortable as (in my opinion) this is the best media player around which can handle your audio and video needs in a superior way and is a worthy replacement to the popular PowerDVD application. Even if you are a music enthusiast, you find Audacity pre-installed which will rival all the commercial software that you use for music editing. The ability of Ultimate Edition to cover all your basic daily computing needs without you installing a single piece of software is one reason why I recommend it to newbies instead of the more popular Ubuntu 8.04 and Ubuntu 9.04 as these distros are made with no new users in mind and need extensive configuration and tinkering before a new Linux user can appreciate them as worthy Windows replacements. Actually I pointed this out in my review of Ubuntu 8.04 got some bit of bashing from Linux fanboys. Your can read the review on this page http://www.techleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/03/11/ubuntu-804-a-disappointment/.

Now that you can play your audio files this is the time to get connected to the Internet and have some fun hurling insults on forums. If they told you that Internet connection in Linux is complex then they lied. Just like in Windows, just plug in your cable in the Ethernet Port and off you go. Wireless is not too different either. Clicking on the Network icon will bring up all Wireless networks within range and you can choose the one to log into. If you are into wardriving (going around neighbourhoods looking for unprotected wireless internet access points) then you are lucky because you can wardrive without installing any third party applications. For those like me that tether their phones (connecting to the internet using your cellphone as a modem) the process is simple and requires little effort on your part so much that no tutorial is necessary. It is even much simpler for phones running the Symbian operating system. Unlike in windows you don't need to use your cellphone drivers, (which are meant for Windows anyway). I am told tethering an iPhone 3G is impossible but I have never used one so I cannot aver this). After connecting your phone, right click on broadband, select your country and carrier and you are online. I have heard of people struggling with 3G PCI cards in Linux distros but personally I am yet to face any difficulties. Once you are connected, forget Internet Explore, Mozilla Firefox is your browser. If you are a computer user who pays little attention to the browser that you use, worry not as Firefox will do just fine. For your email, you have Mozilla Thunderbird. This client works as admirably and you can equip it with add-ons that will make Live Essentials look archaic and démodé. When it comes to IM you have Pidgin which is capable of bringing your friends from your Gtalk, AIM, YahooMessnger (and more) accounts into one place. By installing some plugging, you can even import your friends from MySpace, Facebook and Mxit. Lately, I have been reading that Google have ported Chrome to Linux which means even more options for the Linux community.

After exploring 'Applications' and 'Places' and found out that you can still access and manipulate your files in Windows from the later (of course without importing viruses that riddle them) its normal that the next places to click is on 'System' which is besides the 'Places' button. Here you will find all sorts of tools to customise and personalise your computer. From System you can change themes (is it really possible to change themes in Windows, and if so how many options do you have?), screen savers and a whole lot other stuff. The option under 'Administration enables you to configure the system to your liking. If tinkering under the hood and getting your hands dirty is not your thing, worry not as the default options works just fine. The 'System' menu is the equivalent of Control Panel in Windows. The main difference is that in Linux it’s more extensive and easy to navigate, without bumping into techno-jargon each time you select an option.

Now that by this time you have had a chance at playing with Linux, its time to highlight a couple of ‘issues’ that you need to know about Linux. First, you will find that most of your beloved programs and 3D games (Linux has its own huge collection of games though it comes nowhere near that of Windows) may not run natively in Linux. Not that this is a bad thing, as there are Linux alternatives for almost every program that you can think of. Also, on the flipside, more programs also means more malware (viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans). To ease yourself into Linux, I suggest you use OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office (you might not notice the difference), Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, Thunderbird instead of Outlook Express/Live Essentials and VLC instead of Windows Media Player/PowerDVD/WinAmp/iTunes. This way you get a taste of Linux before even getting there. Admittedly, there's more hardware support for Windows. No operating system supports more hardware out of the box than Linux - but Windows drivers exist for close to all hardware. This is not thanks to Microsoft, but of course their market share means any hardware vendor would be out of business quickly without working with them. Unfortunately the same can't be said for hardware vendors not working with the Linux kernel people. However most hardware is supported by Linux and more hardware is supported every day as Linux grows in the market place. Another issue with Linux is that for Windows users who download programs and pound on the 'Next' button to install may find things a bit different in Linux as installation of downloaded programs is usually done via the command line. This may be a shock to Windows users who are at a loss when they are expected to 'do stuff' without a graphical user interface and wizards. Related to this is the fact that to get the best of Linux, you need to have an Internet connection. This is important for installing programs (its easier to install them from the Internet using the Synaptic Package Manager than downloading and installing them independently) However, Internet connection is only a fillip, not a necessity. In fact most operating systems now insist on an internet connection upon installation and those with Windows 7 experience can attest to this. While it is my opinion that if you approach it with an open mind Linux (Ultimate Edition to be specific) offers a far more enjoyable experience than Windows, this cannot be said of all Linux distros. They come from 40MB distros to those with a footprint as huge as Vista. While some come with all the bells and whistle like the distro under review, some are barebones systems where you have to put everything in place yourself. For this reason, the Linux computing experience is not as uniform and seamless as from moving from Windows 95 to Windows 98, or from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Another issue that finicky Windows users may face is that there is no official support for most Linux distros. You can get all the help you need from the forums. Consider this similar like an eating experience. With Windows it’s like eating at a restaurant where you pay for your food and expect good service in return. Shouting and snarling at waiters is not uncommon and the management is expected to try their best to make your meal enjoyable. In the case of Linux this is like eating at your friend's place. You don't pay for the meal and the atmosphere is a bit personal and informal. Common etiquette dictates that the word 'please' features prominently at the table and you don't snap at your host if dinner is late or not up to your liking. After the meal it’s considered good manners to thank your host and complement the meal. Knowing this is one thing that helps ease many people in the Linux mainstream. Obviously more issues can be identified with Linux in general but ultimately these tend to be hair-splitting issues not fundamental flaws in the basic architecture of the basic Linux kernel.

Since you know what to expect from the Linux kernel, its time to open the present and see what you will get from the Linux experience. First, its necessary to point out that the biggest variables that determine choices when computing are cost, performance, options and security, though not necessarily in that order. Talking of cost, the Linux distro used in cited in this article is free (and so are most others). The only cost is your bandwidth. In spite of this zero cost most Linux distros comes with 3D desktop effects, desktop search, desktop widgets, and many other features that you have come to expect from a modern operating system. When it comes to performance, Linux runs relatively lighter than Windows and this means you rare have to wait for two minutes for your machine to boot up like what you do with Vista. This is also the reason why most low-end netbooks run Linux distros because they are relatively lighter and more responsive than Windows flavours. What this means is there no need to upgrade hardware whenever a new version comes in, which pretty much is the case with Windows. Closely linked to better performance is the fact that Linux systems are more stable than Windows. Once you make the switch, you will rarely see the glitches associated with Windows. Also you can be assured that your computer will runs smoothly always unlike Windows which gets slower with time. This is attributed to the absence of a registry in Linux, which is the underlying difference between Linux and Windows. Maybe it also need to be stressed that most Linux system come with all the necessities bolted out of the box unlike Windows where you have to install even a word processing application. For the restless ones, in Linux development is fast, you don't have to wait for two or more years to get a new version which is the case with windows. Some Linux systems even offer daily builds. From an ethical point of view, puritans and prudes will rejoice to know that in the world of open source software where Linux operates everything is free; therefore there is no need to pirate software. Maybe to top it all, if you feel that you cannot migrate to Linux because you have specialised software that you run of which there isn't an open source equivalent, you can install that software in Linux through Wine, software which allows you to run Windows programs in Linux. Some Linux fanboys even claim that tweaking the Wine application enables them to run time-limited demos in Linux though I am yet to explicitly prove this personally.

Contrary to what many people believe, moving to Linux is not as daunting as they believe. I believe getting started with Ultimate Edition builds the platform where newbies can gain experience and get the capacity to make subsequent solid decisions on which distro to use, which desktop to use (Gnome, KDE or Fluxbox)and ultimately, if its worthy booting into windows after all. If you still have doubts that Linux is inferior let me disclose one simple fact: From day one Google has been running on Linux, and I’m sure at some point you used Google to look up something on the Internet.