Chicken and Egg

[Sridhar Dhanapalan]

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007, "The Wassermans" <dwass at optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> Having only recently loaded Ubuntu 7.1 on a spare computer, I am striving
> (on and off) to come to grips with it.  I plan, ultimately, to switch
> completely to Ubuntu if I can learn to live with it.  I have decided that
> the best way to determine it's suitability is simply to use it as much as I
> can and attempt to configure things as I go along.  But I have a chicken
> and egg problem - how to wean myself off of Windows (XP)?  I will also need
> to assess which, for me, are the most suitable OSS replacement for my
> favourite Windows based programs.  I figure this will take me a year.
>
> First things first. Should I?:
> 1.  Set up a dual boot or,
> 2. Install a second HDD or
> 3. Simply network two computers?
> In each case I might need some assistance/advice.

A simple place to start would be http://www.linux.org.au/linux

That's a guide that I'm writing for Linux Australia. It's not yet complete, 
but any feedback would be welcomed. You'll probably want to read the 'Using 
Linux and FOSS' section.

The easiest path involves migrating to cross-platform apps on Windows, such as 
Firefox and Thunderbird. You can then copy the files across to their Linux 
counterparts once you are ready to switch. Technologies like WINE and 
virtualisation (Virtualbox, VMWare, etc.) allow you to run Windows apps 
directly on top of Linux.

> I have been watching, with great interest, the flow of emails from this
> group.  So much advice and information.  So much to know!  Trouble is I
> don't know what I don't know.  So I am tempted to save everything - just in
> case.  But that is ridiculous!  Does someone have a good management system
> for "just in case" information?  Maybe I should just ignore things that are
> not (yet) affecting me?

Like with any complicated system, there are countless possible problems. I 
would keep things simple and focus on the issues that directly concern you, 
lest you become overloaded with information.

If you want to search the list later, there are several ways to do it:

  https://wiki.ubuntu.com/AustralianTeam/MailingLists

Probably the best thing you can do is find like-minded people residing near 
you. LUGs are a brilliant way to do this:

  http://www.linux.org.au/usergroups

Many LUGs also have their own mailing lists, and other communications media.


-- 
Your toaster doesn't get a virus. Your television doesn't get a virus.
Why should your computer? http://www.linux.org.au/linux
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