Hi People!!

[scannerman]

Someone the other day suggested that i should make the switch from using Windows XP to using a Linux platform. Now i have been using my computer for quite a few years and have heard of Linux many of times, but i never got around to using Linux as i have thought that Linux is hard to use and Windows in number 1.

Now, i have been doing a bit of digging trying to find out about Linux which led me to this forum. My digging is starting to convince me that i would be better running on Linux than on Windows, but for a newbie to Linux i dont know where to start and have lots and lots of questions? I have asked a few below and would love to hear people's response to the quesitons and what they think about Linux compared to Windows.

1. What is the best and easiet Linux platform to use? I have been looking at GNOME, is this any good?

2. Can you configure Linux to look and run like Windows? Especially like the new Windows Vista as i especially like the new Aero look in Vista?!

3. I watch alot of downloads from the net and would like to know if there is a Linux version of Windows Media Player.

4. I use Dreamweaver to make websites, can this run on a Linux system? Also i use Microsft Office alot, are there any comparable programs out there?

Thanks for any help you guys can pass onto a newbie like myself, and i apologise if this is a long winded thread but as you can tell i know zero about Linux and am trting to find out all i can.

Thanks

[tech_man]

1. A good learning distribution is Ubuntu, which uses Gnome.

2. You should be able to. Look here.

3. I recommend VLC.

4. Dreamweaver can not run of linux, but NVU is a good replacement. As for Microsoft Office, Open Office is a great alternative.

[weknowtheworld]

Visit here..

[Van Halen Man]

I use ubuntu. And have been told it is easiest to use. But I think I like KDE a bit better than gnome. Fedora Core/Red hat uses both i think. Fedora core or Red Hat are probably the most popular. But if you go for one of those, Fedora Core is free and Red Hat no longer is (just so you know). I dont know how much it costs but I assume it is now where near how much windows is.

[djmoymoy]

I would recommend KDE because it is extremely customizable...at least in my experience.