To Linux, or not to Linux...

Created by Jeff VanDrimmelen (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) on May 14, 2007

Well... I finally decided to take the plunge. I have officially taken one of my machines and installed a Linux operating system on it. I decided that since I was in education, edubuntu would be a good place to start.

Likes:

FREE! Need I say more. Free OS, Free Software, free free free!
Applications Installer (just select the stuff you want from a HUGE list and it installs automatically).
Windows Selection - there is an option you can enable that activates windows as soon as you mouse over them.
Networking capabilities - I was able to connect to a windows share server and FTP site directly and edit stuff on them directly without having to FTP back. NICE!
Panel Widget's - Like applications, there are a bunch of built in widgets and a totally customizable toobar to put them on. I installed some little eyes that watch my mouse where ever it goes.
Games - Not that I really have time to play games, but there are a ton of them, including a impressive selection of educational games.

Dislikes:

Terminal (or command line) - I have already had to use the terminal multiple times. I'm not a native Linux user so I am having to learn a LOT of command prompts...
Application installation - This is kind of ironic considering point number two above, but if something is not on that list you have to go into the terminal to install it... not good for GUI spoiled people like me.

This is my initial reaction. Mind you, I have been using Linux for all of a day now. But I have set up the Synergy client so now I have a Mac on my left screen, a PC in the middle and Linux on the right. I am trying to use all three so I am familiar with all of them at least to an extent. There is so much to explore and learn about!

Request for Help:

So I know there must be some Linux users out there.

What do you like about Linux?
What help would you offer to a beginner?
What makes Linux so great?

Please share your thoughts in the comments on the original post: http://www.edutechie.com/2007/05/to-linux-or-not-to-linux/.

edubuntu | Linux

Jeff's blog
Login or register to post comments
3232 reads

		To Linux, or not to Linux... Created by Jeff VanDrimmelen (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) on May 14, 2007 Well... I finally decided to take the plunge. I have officially taken one of my machines and installed a Linux operating system on it. I decided that since I was in education, edubuntu would be a good place to start. Likes: FREE! Need I say more. Free OS, Free Software, free free free! Applications Installer (just select the stuff you want from a HUGE list and it installs automatically). Windows Selection - there is an option you can enable that activates windows as soon as you mouse over them. Networking capabilities - I was able to connect to a windows share server and FTP site directly and edit stuff on them directly without having to FTP back. NICE! Panel Widget's - Like applications, there are a bunch of built in widgets and a totally customizable toobar to put them on. I installed some little eyes that watch my mouse where ever it goes. Games - Not that I really have time to play games, but there are a ton of them, including a impressive selection of educational games. Dislikes: Terminal (or command line) - I have already had to use the terminal multiple times. I'm not a native Linux user so I am having to learn a LOT of command prompts... Application installation - This is kind of ironic considering point number two above, but if something is not on that list you have to go into the terminal to install it... not good for GUI spoiled people like me. This is my initial reaction. Mind you, I have been using Linux for all of a day now. But I have set up the Synergy client so now I have a Mac on my left screen, a PC in the middle and Linux on the right. I am trying to use all three so I am familiar with all of them at least to an extent. There is so much to explore and learn about! Request for Help: So I know there must be some Linux users out there. What do you like about Linux? What help would you offer to a beginner? What makes Linux so great? Please share your thoughts in the comments on the original post: http://www.edutechie.com/2007/05/to-linux-or-not-to-linux/. edubuntu \| Linux Jeff's blog Login or register to post comments 3232 reads
		© Copyright 1999-2009 EDUCAUSE Need Help? \| Feedback \| Privacy Policy
	Unless otherwise noted, EDUCAUSE holds the copyright on all materials published by the association, whether in print or electronic form. In certain cases the work remains the intellectual property of the individual author(s) (see Special Circumstances). Content from conference speeches, presentations, blogs, wikis and feeds reflect the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of EDUCAUSE or its members.