Can I Switch, Should I Switch?

[varaonaid]

Hi there,

Well, I'm pretty much a complete linux newbie except for using the Xandros distro for some educational computers that I set up. Overall, I had a really good experience setting them up and the students using them.

However, I'm beginning to give some serious consideration to switching my personal computer(s) to linux. However, I need some advice before I go any further than the thought process. I know that switching my basic documents (office, etc.) isn't a problem with Openoffice and internet is covered with Firefox, etc. But there are a few other programs that I'm unsure of. We use Adobe Pagemaker on a regualar basis and have lots of files in that format. The same is true of Microsoft Photodraw (and the files are in the .mix format). Basically I would need to be able to access and edit those files though I'm not set on them having to stay in those formats (providing that some software could read and edit them). I use Outlook daily for email, contacts, calendar, tasks and pocket pc syncing. Other concerns would be a desktop search program, antivirus/firewall (currently using trend micro), picasa photo organizer and viewer, MS streets and trips/delorme street atlas, nero burning replacement, roboform for passwords etc., and something like weather pulse. Also, I have a digital camera, mp3 player, printers and pocket pc that all need to work with the system.

Maybe this is more info than needed and perhaps I really can't make the switch right now but I'd like to hear your thoughts. Would it really be of any benefit to me to switch? What would I be gaining? I should mention that I'm not a programmer and while I like tech stuff, I don't have the time to spend constantly messing with code - I need something that will just work (ideally plug and play). Also, which distro would you recommend for someone like me?

Sorry this is so long but I didn't know where else to start. Please flood me with your advice and opinions!!!

TIA!

[techieMoe]

I know that switching my basic documents (office, etc.) isn't a problem with Openoffice and internet is covered with Firefox, etc. But there are a few other programs that I'm unsure of. We use Adobe Pagemaker on a regualar basis and have lots of files in that format. The same is true of Microsoft Photodraw (and the files are in the .mix format).

I'm not sure about PageMaker and Photodraw, but if you could export those files first into something more universally-read (in the case of Photodraw, perhaps a .PSD Photoshop file or an image like PNG or JPG?) that would help you edit them wherever you went with your OS.

I use Outlook daily for email, contacts, calendar, tasks and pocket pc syncing.

Take a look at Evolution. It's a pretty full-featured mail handling app that I've heard speaks with Outlook fairly well.

Other concerns would be a desktop search program, antivirus/firewall (currently using trend micro), picasa photo organizer and viewer,

Antivirus isn't really necessary in Linux, but there are several free ones available if you just feel more comfortable. I like ClamAV myself. Firewalls almost always come pre-installed on Linux distributions. There is a Linux version of Picasa.

nero burning replacement

K3B is my favorite for this.

Also, I have a digital camera, mp3 player, printers and pocket pc that all need to work with the system.

What kind of camera, mp3 player and printer? Some work, some don't. It really depends on the brand and model.

Would it really be of any benefit to me to switch? What would I be gaining?

That's a really hard question for us to answer for you. What is a benefit for one person may not be for another. I recommend you try Linux in a LiveCD version first, which will allow you to play with it on your system without making any kind of harddrive commitment or installing anything permanently (LiveCDs run in your system's RAM and do not require use of the harddrive).

I should mention that I'm not a programmer and while I like tech stuff, I don't have the time to spend constantly messing with code - I need something that will just work (ideally plug and play). Also, which distro would you recommend for someone like me?

There's a common misconception these days that running Linux requires you to be able to write code. That's simply not true. Some Linux distributions require more work to get running (Slackware, Gentoo) than others (Ubuntu, openSuSE, Fedora), but none to my knowledge require you to actually have to write any code yourself.

I recommend you take a look at our collection of common new user questions here to get a better feel of what you're getting into:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

Welcome to the forum.

[varaonaid]

Thanks for all the info and the welcome!

As to the brands of peripherals between our family here we go:

Digital camera: canon g2, nikon, pentax s5i
Printers: canon mp730, i850, ip90
Mp3: sandisk sansa, creative labs nomad jb3
Pocket pc: dell axim x50v and x3i

I know that photodraw would allow me to export into a different file format but I think it loses all ability to edit the pieces of the whole pic. Make sense?

I like the idea of the livecd. Are all distros available with that?

What's your opinion on the easiest distro (with good support)?

Thanks again. I'll check out the link you gave as well.

[varaonaid]

Oh, and what's up with WINE? Could I run any win programs using it or is that just a headache in the making?

[devils casper]

yes ! you can run Windows based softwares with it. check this link.






Casper

[techieMoe]

Thanks for all the info and the welcome!

As to the brands of peripherals between our family here we go:

Digital camera: canon g2, nikon, pentax s5i

The Canon G2 is supported by gPhoto, which is the basis for popular Linux photo apps like DigiKam. I couldn't find the Pentax on the list, and I don't know which Nikon you're talking about. Here's the list of supported cameras for the gPhoto driver:

http://www.gphoto.org/proj/libgphoto2/support.php

Printers: canon mp730, i850, ip90

The Canon MP730 and ip90 aren't listed, but the 750 and 760 and i850 are in the "Mostly Supported" category. It's touch and go, but you might be able to get them to work. Here's the list I'm getting that from:

http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi

Mp3: sandisk sansa, creative labs nomad jb3

The e200 series Sansa seems to work judging from some searching I did. It pretty much gets detected as a USB thumb drive that you can drag and drop to. There are also music management programs that *might* work with it like AmaroK or Banshee.

As for the Creative Labs, here's a page that might be useful:

http://gnomad2.sourceforge.net/

Pocket pc: dell axim x50v and x3i

No idea about this one, sorry.

I know that photodraw would allow me to export into a different file format but I think it loses all ability to edit the pieces of the whole pic. Make sense?

Yes, that's why I suggested saving it in a format like a Photoshop PSD file, which won't flatten the image and will keep all the layer information and such intact. I don't know if PhotoDraw has that capability though.

I like the idea of the livecd. Are all distros available with that?

Not all, but most of the really popular ones are. Ubuntu and Knoppix are two of the more widely used, and both of them also offer the option to install if you like it. Mandriva One also offers a LiveCD.

What's your opinion on the easiest distro (with good support)?

Again, this is a loaded question. I suggest you read the "Which distro?" thread in the link I gave you earlier.

[techieMoe]

Oh, and what's up with WINE? Could I run any win programs using it or is that just a headache in the making?

In my personal opinion, it's a headache. WINE works with some programs and not with others. If you have a program that you *must* run I recommend you keep your copy of MS Windows installed and boot into that when you need it. It's not that hard to set up a dual-boot machine these days.

[devils casper]

i agree with techieMoe. setting up Dual Boot is very easy and before switching to Linux completely, set up dual boot and be familiar with Linux.
check Windows alternative packages in Linux.






Casper

[nlyric]

i agree with techieMoe. setting up Dual Boot is very easy and before switching to Linux completely, set up dual boot and be familiar with Linux.
check Windows alternative packages in Linux.
Casper

This is how I did it as a matter of fact Windows is still on this machine--I think. 2000 pro.
Another option might be Virtualbox or VMware>> you could install Windows inside your linux install and use when need be. Both work well.
I personally haven't had much luck with wine its more a hit and miss for me. Almost nothing seems to work 100% except maybe notepad---just my experience.