[wattsup]

As a 50 Year Old IT illiterate I am not fully aware of what Linux is or how it is used. Please give me a Readers Digest version so I can make a more informed decision.

[blackfarm]

Its an operating system that for the most part is for geeks except Lindows which is a nice cheap upgrade for windows. Checkout www.lindows.com

[BigSkyFreeper]

If your happy with Windows like my folks are, both of them roughly your age and computer illiterate to the point they only know how to turn the machine on, go online, check their mail and surf the web. I wouldn't bother switching. :)

[FastCoyote]

You want the low down - It ain't for everyone, but it is for a lot of people and situations. I am an IT guy, I use it for my web servers, I develop on it for myself, great for a Mysql database server. But, it takes a fair amount of work (as much as you put in learning Windows over the years). The great thing is, three years from now it will be on a par in ease of use with Windows (tortoise and hare kind of thing). Cost of ownership for some organizations can be substantially less (not always). Linux has now won its place in the sun, it is not going away as much as Bill Gates would like. If you can't stand the aggravation of Microsoft's tax every two years, if you think Office and Mediaplayer are spyware (they are), if you are tech savvy and want a real operating system, then go for it, the water is fine.

[MississippiMan]

If you're happy with what you have, if it works for you, then don't worry about Linux. Windows is an operating system, in that it creates an environment in which your computer can operate and in which you can interact with it. Linux does the same thing, but it's not as mainstream as Windows.

You wouldn't be able, for example, to go to Wal-Mart and pick any piece of software from the shelf as you can now, since the huge majority of commercial software is designed to run on Windows. You'd have to look for software designed to run on Linux. There's plenty such software out there on the Internet, but it's not nearly as standardized and often far more difficult to install. In short, it's an entirely different world. If your current way meets your needs, don't fix what ain't broke.

MM

[mattdono]

Catching up on my FREEPIN'...I missed this thread back in January...

I have been contemplating several new purchases for the house. My son is getting that age and is really starting to get into computers. I found a Lindows system that comes as an all-in-one set up, with the tower, keyboard, mouse, and a 14" flat panel LCD for $460.00. It is called Koobox and I am really thinking about getting it. I know the 14" flat panel isn't very big, but you know all of those kids games run at 800x600 anyway...

As far as Linux desktop OSs, I think that Lycoris' Desktop LX is one of the best Linux destop environments I have seen.

Their GUI would be very familiar to a Windows user, it has a fairly easy control panel/center, and seems to have a decent software installer. I read that Lycoris also has excellent hardware support with most everything except for Microsoft-made stuff. I put some screenshots of the desktop below.

Here is a shot of their desktop:

Here is the file manager:

Here is the launch menu.

Here is the Control Center (similar to Control Panel).

Lastly, the Desktop Installer.

I think I might set up a box, install Lycoris and tinker.

I have 2 XP Pro machines that have been pretty reliable. Only a few squirrely things have happened, but most of that started happening when I upgraded to winmedia player 9. Everytime I have something playing, my resources are pegged, 98-100%. I stop the music and it drops to 15%. It is weird. It is the same with the last version of WinAmp. There was so much crap added onto it that it became a burden to use.

Anyway, I thought that I would throw some thoughts out there on some Linux desktops.

And, my parting comment...learn both Microsoft and Linux, you only make yourself more valuable. 8^)