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Im done with windows! now i wanna try linux...HOW?

Am really really pissed of with windows!!!!malwares, viruses, trojans!am really pissed! now i wanna try linux.. hmnn so how should i start? i dont know anything about linux..can you tell me what it is all about? my major concerns are can i still enjoy the programs i frequently use like firefox or ie, yahoo messenger can i still watch youtube videos?or make powerpoint presentation or make a document? or can still enjoy my beloved wallpapers and screensavers? you know the usual stuff.. can i download the os for free.. i heard ubuntu stuff from linux but i dont know what is ubuntu in the first place..haha what an ignorant boy.. just to let you know am an internet addict...pls help I NEED SOME ENLIGHTENMENT! am SICK of Windows!!!!!!10 points

Public Comments

1. Linux is a great OS, but it also has a huge learning curve. I would buy a book or start looking at some Linux sites for noobs. If you don't do your homework first, you will become very frustrated, very fast.
2. I would go to www.ubuntu.com download the newest version for your computer, burn the image and install it. it comes with firefox, pidgin which is an instant messenger program that can use yahoo. aim, icq msn.. accounts. you can watch youtube videos and make powerpoints and word compatible word process or documents in openoffice which comes with ubuntut it, wall papers all still work and there are thousands of other free programs you can download if you need them.. see www.linuxchurch.com.. its a site i'm building that talks abotu the basics of linux.. what is linux, which version to use and so forth.. its not fully built yet but it will answer some of your questions.. I have been using linux for 3 years, and I will never go back to windows.. welcome to the club
3. Linux is awesome. Hands down, far and away, I would never switch back. I use the Ubuntu distribution (Currently using 8.04) and have no other operating systems installed (except for a virtual windows box that I use for Microsoft Office) That sound like Greek? Let me define some things. Ubuntu, first off, is a distro, an Unix operating system that runs on the Linux kernel.To be simple, it is like a brand of Linux. You can download it for free from the Ubuntu web site and write it to a CD. You can then use this CD to try it without changing your computer, to create a partition to run it on, or to install it. Many freeware programs run on Linux. Firefox is the default browser for Ubuntu. I have not tried Yahoo messenger - Ubuntu comes with Pidgin, a very versatile messenger that will let you use your Yahoo account. You can still watch Youtube. Microsoft Office will work (using WINE, see below), or you can use OpenOffice, the freeware version. There are also other alternates for running Windows programs. So, a word about Windows apps. I use VirtualBox to run a virtual Windows machine - I have never gotten a virus on a virtual windows machine, though it is possible. This provides full Windows functionality without having to worry about the hassle of Windows. WINE is also an option, and allows .exe applications to run (with some glitches, but usually usably). If you are just getting into Linux, be warned: you will be constantly fiddling with something if you are getting the most out of your OS. Linux is the OS for people who have some knowledge of computers - but it is very easy to learn, if you want to. The support community is large, and there is help for almost any problem online. If you are curious, I would suggest creating a small Linux partition and playing with it. If you don't want to cut up your hard drive, try installing VirtualBox in Windows and playing with Linux virtually. It is worth the time - and you will likely find yourself getting rid of Windows completely after a few weeks of fiddling.
4. You should install Wubi: http://wubi-installer.org/ It'll make putting UBUNTU onto your desktop super easy, and if you hate it, it's easily reversible. Firefox will still work Yahoo messenger - dunno about that, but you can still access it via pidgen Flash works in linux, so youtube wil still work OpenOffice comes with UBUNTU, so you can still create documents and powerpoint presentations, but you need to muck with the defaults so that it saves to .doc/.xls/.ppt instead of the .odf format You can still put wallpapers (they have cooler wallpapers, like ones that move) UBUNTU = windows or mac; right now ubuntu is on 8.10, which is like xp or vista, just a version of the operating system Unless you have specialized needs, most of the stuff you do on Linux (create documents, download stuff, go on the web, convert files, create and edit images) will have a linux alternative. Go ahead and dual boot and see how you like it. Also, make heavy use of the ubuntu forums. I had only one slight issue with the headphone jack, and I posted a question and got a pretty quick response. You'll have to muck with it, but the community is really encouraging.