Psyching up to switch to Linux

by Clair on March 20th, 2008

If you’ve been wondering how to make the switch, you have to remember these things:

Not all operating systems and applications are the same. One dilemma of people who switch is familiarity with it. Don’t expect it to be totally the same as Windows, Mac, or whatever you’re coming from. The bundled applications on Linux distributions are not the same either. And one could say it’s a good thing because you could have a variety of experiences before sticking with one distro. Besides, the application is probably in a repository. ;)
You have to learn new things. If you’re moving to a new house, you have a new layout, new ways to work with things. Relax and take it easy. One of the things that surprised me when I first used a Linux distro was the presence of virtual desktops. They’re usually those small rectangular spaces on the panel. They help you manage your desktop. Another example of new thing that new users would usually see is the package manager. It would help you install and uninstall applications as you see fit.
There’s a community out there and you could ask questions. You could also post them here. :) I may not be always ready to help you with your questions but if I can’t answer it, someone else might. Just leave a comment and watch the topic. And you could also watch the other community forums for specific stuff.

I do hope that these points help you prepare for making the big switch. ;)

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