How many of you completely switched to Linux?

[mamamia88]

after almost a full week of using xp on my desktop when my laptop is getting repaired i realize now that there is no going back. ill probably delete the windows partition on my laptop when i get it back. hell i'm running ubuntu off a live usb flash drive just so i don't have to deal with endless "program not responding" messages in xp. if you get an error message in linux and you click ok it goes away

[bakedbeans4life]

Does tinkering with the latest build version of Windows 7 count as sleeping with the enemy?

All my main machines run Linux, Windows 7 was just there for the download. I could not help myself, honest. Why do I feel violated?

[amadorjp]

Allmost converted to Linux. My Laptop runs Ubuntu most of the time. Only the PES2009 make me enter in VIsta. 3/4 games and I restart to enter Ubuntu.

I can't stand all the waiting, all the errors and all the aplications running only to mantain the sistem without virus.

On my desktop I miss my Ubuntu... for that... even in my house i use the laptp :D

[visionaire]

Linux user since 1999, i quit using windows at home in 2003 or so

it feels awkward when i have to use a machine with windows nowdays

[Adler]

it feels awkward when i have to use a machine with windows nowdays

visionaire,

Hey, I had the same thing happen to me today. Somebody needed help in printing something out, Microsoft want to save it to a file, and I could not help them.

Been using only Linux for about 5-6 years ago. I'm glad I converted - running Ubuntu 9.04 now.

JJMacey

[Maverick7687]

I have Ubuntu 9.04 running on two older hardware laptops and one desktop I just got today which is a fairly new custom system. My main, workhorse dual-monitor, dual-core, 1.5TB desktop is still running Vista Ultimate. I am slowly trying to migrate to Linux but I would like to get a little more acquainted with the Terminal and different ways to work out bugs before I ditch M$ Completely.

[Adler]

Maverick7687,

Just download the Live CD of Ubuntu 9.04, slap it in the cd / dvd tray and re-boot.

See what happens. It won't hurt your system.

JJMacey

[Nick Rhodes]

Our house has been Windows free for the past 12 months.
Amazingly my wife beat me to swapping over to Linux permanently as she got an Asus EEE and we found WinXP to run dog slow on that machine.

[chriswyatt]

Thinking of converting my dad's laptop as all he uses it for is going on the net, emailing and watching porn :P . Also he tends to pick up quite a few viruses from all the dodgy sites he goes on and codec packs he downloads. I think I'll set it up for dual-booting and try to wane my dad onto Linux, but he doesn't like change.

[Maverick7687]

Thinking of converting my dad's laptop as all he uses it for is going on the net, emailing and watching porn :P . Also he tends to pick up quite a few viruses from all the dodgy sites he goes on and codec packs he downloads. I think I'll set it up for dual-booting and try to wane my dad onto Linux, but he doesn't like change.


If you're like me and double as son/IT professional for the family then just tell him the next time it crashed due to viruses obtained through porn it will be bye bye windows and hello Linux.. Just make sure that if you don't live in the same house you set it up so that you can remote connect to it when he gets stuck on something and he can watch what you're doing.. That's why I use VNC on Windows machines, it doesn't take it to the Welcome screen for the remote connection.


As far as using the LiveCD on my desktop machine. I have done that when it crashed once. I think I was using 8.10 though and had it installed and everything and one day it did something weird (and I can't remember what it was) so I just threw Vi$ta back on there.. I may setup 9.04 to dual boot tonight to see how it gets along with all my hardware and dual-monitor setup. I wish they had UltraMon for Ubuntu..

[WinterMadness]

im not much of a gamer, so 99.9% of usage is ubuntu.

the ONLY time i use windows is to put mp3's on my zune, but my windows machine hasnt worked in over a month.

[joeray]

With new jaunty release it was easy. Vista win explorer had slowed down to such a crawl that there was nothing but frustration. I'm a computer user with very little demands on a system. The fact that ubuntu caches all the ram for speed and puts it out on demand to running apps makes it all run at warp speed. Comparing it to my vista install is like the tortoise and the hare.

Compaq Presario RZ537AA-ABA SR5010NX
Intel Integrated 945 Chipset, 1.5GB Ram
Intel(R) Celeron(R) D CPU 3.46GHz
Jaunty 9.04 2.6.28-11 Generic Kernel
Gnome 2.26.1
Firefox 3.0

[ranch hand]

chriswyatt,
I would switch him to firefox under Wx first to let him get used to it. It will also be more secure.

Then when it croaks you can install linux and FF and he will never know the difference.

[prem1er]

Done

[milio1401]

i've been using ubuntu 8.10 for like 12 months so far and i don't regret it,although i miss some games,i don't miss them that much,i recently found some really nice games such as savage2 and regnum online and also crest,and i saw on youtube this little app that i'm waiting for the guy to translate it to english ,because it's in portuguese it's called IUG (installer ubuntu games)
this is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvpvkINVvcc

there are other really nice games for ubuntu,really stable the only bad thing is that when i tried to installed some of the games,there are some requirements or libraries you have to download and that has messed up my other games,and some times i'm no longer to play them,but if they are in a bin file it's all good,i hope that helps you make up your mind.

[Eupho]

I exclusively use Ubuntu on two laptops. The only issue i have is playing itunes m4p files.

[Clopin]

I use Linux (Ubuntu 9.04) on my desktop PC, but Windows on my laptop. The reason for my laptop being Windows, is because of the ThinkVantage software (it's a Lenovo) and because I'm using it for school stuff.

Switching over to Linux was though because of the loss of gaming, but I've kinda forgotten about gaming, as Linux can do so much more.

[physwizz]

I found digital TV program and now I'm investigating "wine".
It seems to have worked for DVDshrink3.2
I like Ubuntu 8.10 better than Windows XP.
Now I only need to access the Tom Tom Navigator.
Ubuntu finds it as a usb device and can see the files (windows can't) but it doesn't load the Tom Tom Home program.
I'll keep trying.):P

[clairefun]

I've been a windows user for far too long, and have used linux for just the past two weeks. I've been wanting to before then but was put off by suddenly not knowing how to do things again (that, and a few bits of software). I've rgadually replaced the software (learned how to use gimp instead of PS, for example) and I've got a console for new games. TODAY! I went Windows free (after a dual boot for 2 qweeks where I didn't go back to windows ONCE in those two weeks!). In fact, I'm still moving files about & getting it all set up as I want it, but SO FAR (touches nearby knitting needle) it's gone *really* smoothly - more so than a windows restore, of course!

I'm really excited - and just a little bit proud, too!

[RoboNuggie]

No windows OS at all in this household.

Main PC - Ubuntu 8.04 / Fluxbox
HTPC - Mythbuntu 8.04 / XFCE
Laptop - Ubunti 9.04 / Gnome
Secondary PC - Ubuntu 9.04 / Gnome
Proxy Cache - Debian 4.0r4 Server


8)

[coldReactive]

Scratch my reply. I'm back on windows since Angels Online can't work in vbox.

[jal4568]

Been using Ubuntu for almost 2 yrs now. I originally installed it on my home computer to allow for dual boot into XP but after the install I only booted into XP once to do something with my old MP3 player that I later found out I could have done in Ubuntu.

I never got rid of the XP partition but the computer died on me about 9 months ago. I've now got Ubuntu on a desktop & laptop at home. I'm still stuck using XP for work and let me tell you, switching back to that five days a week is physically painful.

[HereZiz]

I tried switching to Linux exclusively. For a while it worked, I especially liked OpenSuse. But then, with time, various problems started bugging me. Since it is a laptop, I grew annoyed with lack of suspend/hibernation support. Then KDE problems with nvidia prevented me from using that DE, and I didn't like or want any other. I couldn't print properly, nor scan. I couldn't connect my cellphone to it, nor the GSM USB modem. I couldn't use my net banking auth software on it. So I reverted back to Windows.

[MickS]

Since jaunty came out, I didn't follow the upgrade path but did a fresh install instead and took the opportunity to get wipe my windows partition because I simply never used it, don't use wine either.


Mick

[Boaslad]

I wish I could say completely. Unfortunately at this moment, "no".

We have 4 computers in this house:
2 Asus Eee 1000's running Eeebuntu 8.04LTS
A custom built twin-monitor box running Ubuntu 8.04LTS
And an eMachine dual booting Ubuntu 9.04 and XP.

The ONLY reason I haven't deleted XP is the fact that I have children in public school who occasionally need it for specific homework assignments. I, personally, never touch it. I even told my oldest daughter, "If you break it, You get to fix it." (yes, I am an evil dad.)

I would like to make one quick point about one of the things I have read a lot in this thread. It seems that a lot of times the reason that people are not switching to Ubuntu completely has to do with their dependency on Windows programs. "My favorite Win-app doesn't work". To me, thats like complaining that Chevy parts don't work on your Ford. If you use Linux, like Linux, and want to support Linux, use Linux apps. O.k. so may be they don't do everything you want them too. Thats where you give feed back to those who make the apps and hopefully help to fix the problem, thereby making Linux stronger. Using Windows apps, even in a Linux environment, only helps to strengthen Windows' strangle hold on the market.

Not meant to cut any one down. Just my thoughts.

[monsterstack]

I wish I could say completely. Unfortunately at this moment, "no".

We have 4 computers in this house:
2 Asus Eee 1000's running Eeebuntu 8.04LTS
A custom built twin-monitor box running Ubuntu 8.04LTS
And an eMachine dual booting Ubuntu 9.04 and XP.

The ONLY reason I haven't deleted XP is the fact that I have children in public school who occasionally need it for specific homework assignments. I, personally, never touch it. I even told my oldest daughter, "If you break it, You get to fix it." (yes, I am an evil dad.)

I would like to make one quick point about one of the things I have read a lot in this thread. It seems that a lot of times the reason that people are not switching to Ubuntu completely has to do with their dependency on Windows programs. "My favorite Win-app doesn't work". To me, thats like complaining that Chevy parts don't work on your Ford. If you use Linux, like Linux, and want to support Linux, use Linux apps. O.k. so may be they don't do everything you want them too. Thats where you give feed back to those who make the apps and hopefully help to fix the problem, thereby making Linux stronger. Using Windows apps, even in a Linux environment, only helps to strengthen Windows' strangle hold on the market.

Not meant to cut any one down. Just my thoughts.

I notice that a lot of people's complaints about Linux's shortcomings aren't the fault of Linux or its developers at all. They may well be valid problems, but when I see people yelling stuff like "It won't work with proprietary device X!", or "X and Y aren't compatible with Office 2007!", I always think, "And just why do you suppose that is, hrmm?"

[vikasmk]

Today I removed the Xp installation from my pc.I have to say , the only reason I did this was my PC is too old to support high end windows games now.and Games was the one reason I had XP. flying with just Ubuntu now:D

[unclejac]

I would like to make one quick point about one of the things I have read a lot in this thread. It seems that a lot of times the reason that people are not switching to Ubuntu completely has to do with their dependency on Windows programs. "My favorite Win-app doesn't work". To me, thats like complaining that Chevy parts don't work on your Ford. If you use Linux, like Linux, and want to support Linux, use Linux apps. O.k. so may be they don't do everything you want them too. Thats where you give feed back to those who make the apps and hopefully help to fix the problem, thereby making Linux stronger. Using Windows apps, even in a Linux environment, only helps to strengthen Windows' strangle hold on the market.

Not meant to cut any one down. Just my thoughts.

I actaully agree with this, you can find many alternatives to your favourite Windows based programs in some form of Linux.

But I also think that you have to have the patience, desire to learn and not give up on the first hurdle when things don't quite go the way you want.

. . . and hey if you do get stuck you can always find a nice forum like:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org

There are plenty of nice people here to help! lol ;)

[Ampi]

Well, the only Windows I have on computers I own is a partition on one of the desktops, just for two programs that I need for other people and aren't made for linux (yet) just windows and mac. There both 'communication' software like chatting and videocalling.
The windows I have on office2 is not my choice, I can't change that.
So as far as I am concerned I am switched to linux completely.

[Skara Brae]

Here are my 2 cents.

I have just installed Xubuntu (8.04) with XFCE on an old, modded, second-hand HP Vectra, which has had Windows Millennium on it for over 2 years. It ran fine (no comments, please), relatively speaking, until earlie this week. Lockups, crashes... So, instead of waiting for the final crash, I just put Xubuntu on it. It seems to run just fine (well, duh, huh?)

Next to this one, I also have a:

- main desktop PC (Athlon64) with XP Home // Ubuntu 7.10 64bit (and Virtualbox) in dual-boot. (OpenSUSE/KDE stinks, no offense)
- old Compaq Armada E500 laptop with Xubuntu/IceWM (and XFCE, which is abit slow).
- a 1st generation iMac G5 running OS X 10.4 (Tiger).

The only reason why I still have WinXP on my main desktop is because of the excellent CorelDRAW suite... I just cannot work with The GIMP... Now that CorelDRAW works with Virtualbox, the future for Win XP looks even bleaker...

Ubuntu rocks!

Oh, six months ago at work we got SLED 10 w/ KDE (though I prefer FVWM), instead of Windows 2000. Good decision :-) (anything is better than MS Windows, imo)

[Knatchwa]

Switching to Linux is my next objective, as I am becoming more aware of the ability and functionality of Ubuntu, I am becoming more interested in the sheer power of the Open Source Operating System, from a person who first came to the online world when DOS was popular I am becoming more familiar with the command line interface.

Certainly there is more to learn, but as it stands I use Ubuntu almost exclusively for just about everything, and as I explore these forums and other resources I start to see that it would be a better option to kill windows server and setup that partitition for something else.

I still have another three/four machines that for some reason still use Windows 2000 but as the kernals and functionality improve, more are starting to realize Linux's Power. The games do seem to be a constant, particularly when The Sims2, AOE and other earlier games are already installed and of course only run on Windows -=Big Surprise=- hah but yeah as we each share our awareness and experience more and more will start to see that linux is actually far better then windows.

[terabyte1]

My family are still with Windows - I'm the odd one out and go with Ubuntu on my main machine and Fedora 10 on my experimental machine (Heh! Heh! Heh!) Igor switch on the power....

[joelpedersen]

Oh, I have to have one Windows machine for work. The OpenOffice formatting is good, but it's not perfect. I hate that... I hate Windows...

[Dj Melik]

I started Linux during Feisty, went back to Windows for a month or two; and came back during Gutsy.

I now have Fedora 11 PR on my Desktop, and Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop on my netbook. Everyone in my family uses Ubuntu, except my dad because he needs a Forex Trading Workstation and the software isn't available on Linux.

[silent_shade]

Some five months ago I bought a laptop. I desperately tried for a long time to make proper back-up and dual boot with vista. Than I just unscrewed all 22 screws on the back of my laptop, replaced old hdd with new one (160 with 250) and installed Ubuntu alone. Till now it is my only OS. Sure, I have some problems with it: my built-in mic wouldn't work and wireless card wouldn't connect to one particular network without apparent reason.
Yet, hdd with windows lies somewhere untouched and forgotten; I have no intend to bring it back. And hopefully never will.
So count on me = )

[Lozzie683]

I've totally moved my laptop from windows vista to ubuntu. Its great, i love it, only problem is though is that i'm having problems with my wireless and now with the package installer :(, as soon as i figure out how to fix these problems, i will be so happy, and there will be no going back to windows. i'm going to leave my pc as it is though, as i know it works if all fails with the laptop, and i can still do all my work on it because all my works programs are on it.

[whitefang5412]

Starting using it during feisty, but I'm real bad at distro hopping and always find my self running ubuntu for 3 months, windows for 3 so It's a back and forth ordeal. Not sure what I like.

[Master Darko]

My PC is only running Ubuntu but I also have a Vista laptop for uni/work stuff. I still need Office 2007, EndNote, ChemDraw, Gaussian and few other chemistry specialised apps that mainly exist/run on Windows.

[Insoc]

I switched recently from Windows and am currently 100% Ubuntu, considered OSX86 for a time since I would not lose Itunes support for my 2G Touch but passed. Not sure how I'll handle the Ipod thing yet?

I'm not missing Windows but I'm considering using Adobe PS Elements 7 under Wine since I can't find a decent photo manager that can replace it.

Still stuck using Windows at work, so I won't be totally devoid of it.

[Puzzlenoise]

I completely switched to Linux. On both PCs here are Ubuntu, it works alright since '07 for me.

Well, lately I have a problem with video editing... it's all being developed, nothing is really "finished" what I'd like to use. Well, I guess I'll have to wait...

[grungedoobie]

I switched recently from Windows and am currently 100% Ubuntu, considered OSX86 for a time since I would not lose Itunes support for my 2G Touch but passed. Not sure how I'll handle the Ipod thing yet?

I'm not missing Windows but I'm considering using Adobe PS Elements 7 under Wine since I can't find a decent photo manager that can replace it.

Still stuck using Windows at work, so I won't be totally devoid of it.


If you're looking for just a photo manager, Picassa does a good job keeping track of pics and helping organize albums.

I don't believe there is an all encompassing photo package in the free world just yet. Right now, I'm using the "Gimp w/ QuiteInsane" as editor and scanner, "Picassa" as manager, and of course, the generic viewer for anything else. ( In Ubuntu Jaunty though, I don't really need the general viewer, lol :) )

Best of luck to you whichever path you chose,


The Grunge

[dwolf]

I switched over about two years ago and have never looked back. :)

[mad_max0204]

2+ years

I'll never go back

[frpaul]

Im in progress of switching to Ubuntu at the moment. Last time I tried, I managed couple of months and failed in the end - I had had to use some very specific Windows soft. So to move forward I had to write several cross-platform programms. I had written it on PHP and after that switching to Linux was only a question of time.

In the first place, I began using free soft in Windows: Open Office (about 3 years now), Firefox and Thunderbird, Gimp (occationally). It really helped in the end.
I chosen Brother printer, knowing it works in linux and my new video-card is on Nvidia chip.
It all worked nicely - I got a new desctop and there was fresh Ubuntu to install. No problems with hardware so far. Good job!

My first impression of Ubuntu is great. I love Aptitude command :) Also the way it all looks and works. I've a tendency to minimalizm, so probably i'll try xfce later on.
Its great that ntfs partitions are available for writing by default! A lot of things changed to the better in linux world since my last visit. At least I dont have to recompile kernel to get X working. Its kinda zen, I think. When it finally worked i felt a kind of enlightenment.

Out of interest tryed to run Compiz, but failed (it asks for Xgl or smth). Probably later (there are more important things).
MC is not the same thing as FAR manager, but nevertheless I find it handy. A bit difficult bindings file format. I understand regexps, but not all of the bash sintaxis.
Plus I use PHP as a script language (I dont know bash as good).

Another failure - couldnt move files from my cellphone Nokia 6300. I connected by USB cable (Bluetooth adapter doesnt work), got it in the 'network connections', but I didnt get how to mount its file system. Any help's appreciated.

Im seriously thinking of formatting available disk space in ext3 and moving home directory there (its only 20 G for linux system now - no fair). :)

[ruipedroca]

Only Ubuntu and Debian here! :)
I completely gave up windows about a year ago.

[Insoc]

If you're looking for just a photo manager, Picassa does a good job keeping track of pics and helping organize albums.

I don't believe there is an all encompassing photo package in the free world just yet. Right now, I'm using the "Gimp w/ QuiteInsane" as editor and scanner, "Picassa" as manager, and of course, the generic viewer for anything else. ( In Ubuntu Jaunty though, I don't really need the general viewer, lol :) )

Best of luck to you whichever path you chose,


The Grunge

I installed Picasa 3 and works pretty well, compared to F-Spot it is faster at least on my machine. I tried F-Spot & gthumb, but it seems like Picasa will work for now.

Thanks

[Wa1k3rTXRang3r]

im completely linux now.
i used to keep a partition just for itunes but i just use my parents computer for that now
that is one of the few things i need windows for

[MBybee]

I admin databases on AIX, Linux, Solaris and Windows, so I use Windows on a work laptop (mandated by the company -they're quite picky about it).

My other machines are all Debian, BSD, or Ubuntu - going on 12 years now. Every now and then I play with the new Windows releases, but there's simply too few tools for it.

I have a couple old OSX boxes too, but I spent most of my time using darwin ports anyhow. Just not enough decent OSX apps.

[medicalystoned]

four out of five........ 3-kubuntu, 1-puppy linux, 1- win-crap xp

[lettucelady]

My 2 XPCs and IBM notebook are running on Ubuntu 9.04 I effin love Linux!

[KegHead]

100% ubuntu 9.04

[Zerth1]

How can I completely switch to Ubuntu? When I browse or use the Internet, I am being tracked by my IP address. There are, of course, proxies such as Fox Tor that are barely usable (as are most free proxies), because the proxy is overwhelmed with other users. ! I do not have the time or expertise to set up a separate proxy server, such as Squid! However I can use Ghost Surf ($$) on Windows and hop from site to site with little lag most of the time. The "average" Linux user has no privacy as far as I can tell. I see this as a weakness in the Linux environment that makes it unusable for me, because I do not want to give up my privacy on the Internet. Also, if the Linux community is committed to using only "free" software, it is being very narrow minded, in my humble opinion. I do not like to pay for software any more than anyone else, but if it is something that I need, then I will gladly pay for it. Can anyone suggest a solution? I use Ubuntu 9.04 under WUBI and on the Sun VirtualBox as a Virtual System.

[noonenose]

I made the complete switch to linux about 4 or 5 months ago after using linux for about the same time. I miss some games but that's about it.

oh and my scanner doesn't work under linux but they're cheap so I'm just going to buy a new one. Once I get around to it.
I have use Ubuntu for about two years now. I have downloaded wine; but seem to have problems with Microsoft word files. I am running Vista on my desktop, and XP on my laptop, as a dual boots. I would love to switch totally. I have Open Office on each OS.

[raffraffraff]

At work: three years. (I support Linux)
At home: two and a half years (I kept Windows on dual boot for a while)
Wife: still uses Windows. She needs Photoshop - the gimp won't cut it for her.

I realised one day that I hadn't booted into Windows in about 6 months, so I bit the bullet and removed the partition. I missed Bioshock 2, which I bought and never finished, but other than that it was just a matter of finding the right open source apps to replace the Windows ones I used.

I still play Half Life 2 (wine + steam), Enemy Territory Quake Wars and Quake 3.
- Photoshop mainly. (Gimp doesn't cut it for her I'm afraid)

[VioletsPie]

Crossover compatibility is getting better by the day, and I am almost to the point where I can completely switch. There are just a few windows apps I need to ditch completely or learn how to get them to run on linux.

I have learning disabilities and really need MS OneNote 2007, probably the only good piece of software Microsoft ever wrote. It is just not the same as Tomboy Notes (amazing software) or freemind or anything else.

Anyway, when I build my new tower I will make sure it has optimum components for gaming on linux.

In other words, I'm getting there!

[Mr Bean]

I don't know where to post and say hi but this seems as good a place as any.

Just signed up as I installed Ubuntu 9.04 a few days ago and just about everything I've Googled in relation to it has linked to a thread on this forum so I thought I might as well sign up and participate myself.

Having spent 6 months using Vista and not really getting much from it I fully intend my main PC to be 100% Linux from now on. My Vista experience was disappointing from the start, the installation DVD actually came scratched and no one would volunteer to replace it – I had to use a CD repairer to grind the surface off. And the problems didn't stop once it was installed either.


Anyway, no ones here to hear about Windows. :D

[ranch hand]

Welcome Mr Bean

I came to Ubuntu because of Vista myself. I thank the Vista devs for their hard work. If it weren't for them I would probably still be using a MS product.

[Mr Bean]

Thing is I actually turned to Vista because I was dual booting XP and Ubuntu (version 7 I think... can't remember for sure) and they both had their pros and cons. I was hoping Vista would be a good compromise between the two.

Ubuntu seems to have improved a lot since version 7 though and I recon it's now usable as my only OS.

[jonathonblake]

If you use Linux, like Linux, and want to support Linux, use Linux apps. O.k. so may be they don't do everything you want them too. Thats where you give feed back to those who make the apps and hopefully help to fix the problem, thereby making Linux stronger. Using Windows apps, even in a Linux environment, only helps to strengthen Windows' strangle hold on the market.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, the cold, hard facts are that once one gets into specialized software, Linux programs are either non-existent (which is the overwhelming majority of cases), akin to those from the Apple //e, Amiga, and CP/M days, or bleeding edge state of the art.

The day you can buy an OOo template whose sale price (25% off MSRP), and costs US$25,000 is the day you will be able to find specialized software for Linux that is both functionally, and quality wise, on a par with that which is currently being produced for Windows. (I'll grant you have to look for MSO templates that retail for US$25K, and up, but they do exist. There is nothing for OOo, or in the FLOSS world that provides the functionality that those templates provide.)

jonathon

[ranch hand]

Yup.

I hadn't really looked at linux for 10 years and was shocked when i looked at Ubuntu 8.04. I admit that linux had a long way to come, but that much progress just laid me out.

Debian is nice, I like Sidux, Mandriva2009-1-Gnome is nice if you can deal with RPMs.

Basically, if i can't do it with linux, I won't be doing it.

[f.diaz-maroto]

I'm still dual booting with Vista (puagh). if ubuntu/kubuntu had itunes, good sound control and games i'd be trashing windows instantly. i hate it to death, but i still rely on it :(

[jack24]

I have. About five years ago I started dual-booting. Within a few months I was rarely using Windows for anything and I eventually got tired of having the dual boot.

Since then I've used it on my desktop and laptop for both work and home stuff. I rarely have a problem interacting with people at work (the new MS Word format was a problem for a little while a couple of years ago) and most people don't even realize I'm using Linux.

When the IT people found out, after a few years, they freaked out. If they can't call HP or Microsoft and get them to fix something, they panic. They complained about everything from viruses to global meltdown, but eventually had to admit they hadn't even noticed for nearly two years (I had cloned the mac address of the company-supplied laptop).

The strange thing is, I don't even know much about computers. Ubuntu is just easier to use than windows and a heck of a lot easier to get help for.

jack

[MeanEYE]

Aaah, a tough one here...

I've been using almost any OS, started with win95 then followed that line until win2000 era finished. As far as linux is concerned, my first one was RedHat 6.2 if I recall correctly. I had crappy machine back then so KDE was my choice for desktop since Gnome was resource hog. After that I tried everything from debian, mandrake, suse, fedroa, gentoo and then finally Ubuntu. I've even tried FreeBSD and QNX, which I liked but since I needed something out of the box that works... I just sticked with Ubuntu...

First ubuntu I had installed was 6.04 but completly switched to linux at 8.04. Now Ubuntu is all I have on my laptop which I use 98% of the time, at home I still keep WinXP along Ubuntu. XP is just for gaming with my brother when I get home once a month...

I have few issues with this new ubuntu (9.04), but ubuntu team is quite agile in solving problems so I dont plan on :D ever switching... :D

[frank75riz]

I am running a lappy and a desktop, the lappy has Vista, Ubuntu and XP. The desktop has only Debian. One of the reasons I have not made a total switch, is that I either don't know how or just can't get my web cam working in skype, yahoo or any other chat program.

some day

[sfrasher]

I've had so much trouble and aggrevation trying to get my wife's Linux to do what she wants it to that I probably won't switch to Linux, at least not any time soon! If I do, I will make sure I have XP also.

So...completely switched? Probably never!

[TonyFordz]

Yeah I too am a gamer at heart so its a pain to swap out completely though I have tried a few times out of frustration with the glitches, bugs, spyware & so on in windows. I grew up with Dos, and windows so when I was told about Linux at first I wasn't interested because I didn't need or want change same as when XP first came out my meaning of XP was Xtra Problems because nothing past 98SE, and 2K was really worth installing because Microsoft didn't take the time to work out problems before popping out new windows versions.

I don't know how long this install will last because I want so bad to play my steam games as well as all the other games I have & I am having fun trying to figure out how to use PlayOnLinux as its telling me now I need to enable or install 3D Acceleration support & I have no clue where to start or begin.

I am guessing I will have to run a dual boot also as much as I don't want to Windows is a virus in itself & I am honestly sick of it. Shame game companies don't support Linux more but all the money is in Microsoft.

Who knows maybe I will be able to handle not installing XP again lol, and at least 64-Bit Ubuntu works with my sound, and other things that XP Pro 64-Bit wont run do to no drivers support on most of the things I use otherwise & it makes my games glitch like hell.

[ctrlmd]

I enjoy using both windows and ubuntu and if i get the chance i will buy mac :popcorn:

[wsonar]

I play with everything, I don't want to become ignorant of a new technology
I want to be able to do everything with anything

that's just me

home linux
work I work in what they call a Microsoft shop that won't change until I find a different job

[killermist]

All of the machines on my network are Linux with the exception of an xbox.

I do however have one windows machine, primarily for games (old games, like Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Diablo 2, etc), which is an island (network card, no cable connected). Best firewall money can buy.

Data only gets to or from it by way of an 8Gb flash USB drive, with scans with ClamAV to prevent anything from getting onto the machine in the first place. Not that they'd be able to get anywhere even if they developed a foothold, due to the lack of networking.

[iKevin09]

I'm primarily using Windows, only because it has the Internet access. Once I finally solve the problem on why Blueman 1.10 isn't installing on Jaunty, I'll be moving onto greener lawns.

[rliegh]

I have Ubuntu 9.04 running on both my laptop and my desktop computer. It's the only Linux that plays nice with (most of) the peripherals on my laptop and I like to have the same OS on both machines (it makes like easier).

Of course, in a month or even three weeks I might have windows, hackintosh or even solaris on both again ...I tend to have really unstable setups.

[burvowski]

I am in the process of moving all my files on my MBP running 10.5 to my new Asus eee 1000HE running UNR 9.04, which will be my only computer for a while. If I get into law school in 6 or so months like I hope, I will probably treat myself to building a new PC for myself for gaming and media, which will mostly be running Ubuntu but have a small XP partition for a couple games here and there. I have to say, though...as much as I love Ubuntu, everytime I go back to use the MBP, I kinda miss it :(

[smeg0l]

i have been using Gnu/Linux since 2003 with dualboot and in 2004 full blooded Gnu/Linux

2 running Karmic Koala

1 running GnewSense

:p

smeg0l

[horned0wl]

My whole home network is Ubuntu Linux - three machines and a spare, and only one with dual-boot to Winderz XP for faint-hearted visitors...

Cheers;

[Chris_no]

Of course I only use Linux. Made the switch over 2 years ago.
Up until then I used Windows XP for games. Wine does that now. :D

[ryecomp]

Not yet.

Internet environment of Korea is very hostile to Linux. 100% goverment website is not readable from firefox, they, proudly said their website supports only IE and requires Active X. 100% internet banking site or internet shopping site is usable only though IE active X.

I want to completely switch to Linux, but it is impossible without their help.

[longtom]

Not yet.

Internet environment of Korea is very hostile to Linux. 100% goverment website is not readable from firefox, they, proudly said their website supports only IE and requires Active X. 100% internet banking site or internet shopping site is usable only though IE active X.

I want to completely switch to Linux, but it is impossible without their help.

You are kidding me? This is awful! I have never heard of something like that. I couldn't imagine using IE anywhere, be it Windows or Linux. I love Opera - and use Firefox as well.

Anywhere else, where such restrictions are imposed? Does MS pay banks and institutions to do that? I still can't believe it....

[penguin-of-doom]

I'm using Linux for 2 years, but sometimes I still use Windows, because some programs don't work on my linux. I'm thinking of installing XP as second boot on my pc, because I want to use programs like photoshop, visual studio, and so on...
But Linux is the best operating system in the world :D

[seppl82]

Don't Blame me but!

My private Situation is... (500 GB Harddisk)

Main Operationg System (Surfing, Music Chatting.....) OSX
Gaming ., Firmware upgrades for Funny Devices. Windows 7 RC1 1 (32 GB Harddisk)
All the cool Rest (developing things)............. (32 GB Ubuntu 9.04) => Not Running well on my Macbook (Repository Broken!)

My business Situation is

My Laptop only uses Windows XP.
But i'm using NX Client / Server to connect to our "Development Machine" Ubuntu 8.04.
Unfortunatly my company don't allow Linux as Main Os.
Fortunatly i would work because they Migrated Outlook (Exchange) to Lotus Notes (Domino)

But nearly everything works on ubuntu (except the Oracle Unix ODBC driver) :-(

[DemonBob]

Yes

Home
Desktop:
Dell Optiplex GX620 - Latest Ubuntu
Custom Build Desktop - MCE Running Latested Mythbuntu
All other PC's in the house running Ubuntu

No VM Window XP at all at home, not even using wine.

Work:
Laptop: Latest Ubuntu - (Windows XP on VBOX tied to it's own GDM session)
Switched most servers over to Ubuntu Server 8.04

[sameerorth]

I have been using ubuntu now for 2 months but there is one issue usb streaming using my sony digital handycam that I cannot seem to get, I will have to keep xp for this purpose

[Mosaab]

I completely switched to linux that I cannot look at windows.

First time I tried linux was in 2003 , it was mandrake.. and know I use linux mint which is ubuntu based.

[karmaloop]

Ubuntu Noob here!

Can any of you guys help me? I upgraded my ubuntu on my Dell mini 9 the other day and it changed EVERYTHING. It takes two minutes to upload my desktop and even then, not everything shows up (i.e. my desktop icons), everytime I log on, I have to enter in the password in order to connect to my wireless, also, my Youtube videos wont play. How can I fix this? I hope I dont have to reformat, AGAIN :(

[ranch hand]

karmaloop,
This is not the place to ask questions like this.

Go to "Absolute Beginner Talk" (top of this page upper left corner - click on ubuntu forums and then pick beginers fro m the list of forums. Give some information and ask one question at a time so folks can answer in a logical manner.

Need to know info - What are you installed on (see my sig for an example), what are you running.

I think your box can be straightened out.

Try to Have Fun.

[EoRaptor013]

Kinda depends on what "completely" means... I completely replaced Windows on my Dell E1705; no dual-boot, not even Dell's Window's recovery partition. But, I do have a vbox WinXP VM. Use it for Zune and Quicken. I've never liked the way Quicken works under Wine, and I'm too lazy to set up accounts and such in Gnu Cash. And Linux just can't deal with Zune -- M$'s fault, not Linux.

[Harpie Queen]

I use ubuntu on all computers I have control over. I would like to set up the shared computer with a partition of ubuntu on one of the hard drives (they are 250gigs each). Unfortunately I have to use windows on other peoples computers, for example at school. I am a massive gamer, but seeing as I prefer console gaming and game consoles are cheaper than gaming computers and do not need new bits bought for them as often that does not tie me to windows.

[mevan_snp]

i'm in games too so . i have to use windowes too...

[cartman640]

I haven't completely switched over to Ubuntu on all systems yet, I'm triple booting Ubuntu, Vista & 7 on my main machine, run Mac OS on my laptop, but I do run Ubuntu on all except 2 of my servers (one is SmoothWall, the other is Windows Server 2008, which I'm working on replicating all useful functionality in Ubuntu anyway). It's only games and lack of reliable sound support (stupid Intel HDA...) that are keeping me in Windows now too.

[WolfyAU82]

Pretty much...

I play games I Linux will run, otherwise I will by any new games for Playstation (PS3/PSP) or Wii.

NEXUIZ ROCKS! :D

[mamamia88]

i love linux but probably will always have a windows partition on my laptop just in case i go somewhere and i can't figure out how to connect to a wireless network

[LunaticHiatus]

I used to use red hat back in the day in highschool. It was insane and you had to specify everything and went back to windows. However, I switched back because of ubuntu about three years ago. I tried it on a cheap laptop and enjoyed it immensely and installed it on my desktop as well. Sold my laptop and put it on my Asus 1000he.

[BlazeFire247]

I haven't completely switched; Yahoo Messenger isn't supported, and Pidgin can't Buzz! or use other YM stuff, but I don't mind that. Switching back and forth from Windows to Ubuntu just bothers me because my Windows partition is so slow.

[rcayea]

I would love to do a complete switch-a-roo. However, me is a football manager addict and WINE can't run it.

The only legitimate info I could say about me and linux is that Ubuntu is on one hard drive and XP/games on the other. The XP hard drive only gets booted when I want to game which is often, yes, but I have no documents on it or anything.

I feel like I am justifying to myself why I still have windows.:(

[evermooingcow]

I switched to using Linux only within about two months of making the move. Converted all of my boxes one by one leaving Windows only on the family PC. I did not want to deal with the mess that is dual booting. I've been using Linux for about three years since then.

I used to be a PC gamer but quit in favor of Linux. I find learning Linux a much more productive use of time on the PC.

[LepeKaname]

I did around 5 years ago... In my home and at work... I just use windows to make some IE tests, usually under Virtualization.

[geekygirl]

I would love to ditch Windows but I can't :(

I still need a Windows partition to play COD4 Online as my clan uses a PB server :(

(I complain about that a lot..lol)

So I still have a couple of apps I want/need/use that either really do not have a *nix equivalent no matter where I look or do not run under Wine. I also use the Windows partition to use the Nokia Suite for my phone.

For everything else I use *nix. I spent most of my time hooked up to Ubuntu on my Vaio TT though ;)

[guitarMan666]

I have switched. I switched back in January of 2008. There are a crapload of games for Linux that are just as good as the kind you would go and buy anyway. Many games seem to also run under Wine passably (I hear this, I don't know first hand although most of my games do but they are older 1997 - 2001 games).

[mal1958]

The three things that kept me using Winblows were::



lack of Novel writing software.
lack of game support on Linux
Lack of helpful folk to walk this noob through the hoops with it.

Well now it is different.



Writers World Maker is an excellent program that has the best perks for the best price (free)
Between WINE, and the free download CrossOver Games that my brother gave me (he used to use Linux and downloaded it when they made an offer of a free version a while back.) the games issue is slowly going away.
This forum and the entire Ubuntu community is killed off reason three.

I have installed Ubuntu on this old system and will probably never go back to Bill Gates 'braindead" child again. Just have to figure out how to get a few games running in this wonderful OS and I will be one happy fifty year old.

Mike

[jamsh]

3 days ago,after a few years of trying various Live CDs, I decided to do a full install of Ubuntu . This is on my little Dell x300. Well, everything just works!! Very pleased with the rejuvenation of the little laptop. It is now so much quicker than before with Vista.
Glad I made the switch.

[monsterstack]

3 days ago,after a few years of trying various Live CDs, I decided to do a full install of Ubuntu . This is on my little Dell x300. Well, everything just works!! Very pleased with the rejuvenation of the little laptop. It is now so much quicker than before with Vista.
Glad I made the switch.

Well done you! My third day was a couple of years ago now, and it's been nothing but awesome for me. Good luck with your Linux journey. :)

[johnycage]

I've completely switched to Linux.
My mobile phone is linux based as well!!

[MichaelSammels]

After using the Windows 7 RC... I am now using Linux. Phone/Laptop/PS3/Server, everything.

[I_can_see_the_light]

I posted in this thread a month or two ago, stating that I was ready to go full time with Ubuntu (was dual booting with XP for the past year). Well, after fiddling around with Kubuntu 9.04 for a couple of weeks I decided that KDE wasn't for me. As I prepared myself for the switch back to Gnome I found out that Linux Mint 7 was released, decided to try it out, and my mind was made up.

Feels good to have nothing but Linux on the computer :)

[inspriation26]

I am a linux only user. I started out with Fedora Core 9 in 2007. Then Fedora 10 for a while before I got mad at it because of having to fight the sound card. Then I tried Ubuntu 8.10 Intepid Ibex. I loved it but the wifi card was a deal breaker. I went back to Fedora a while untill I tried a live CD of jaunty. It worked great for me. The only thing I still use windows for , on my mother's computer, is games that dont run well under wine like Sims 2. Alot of games do work under wine but its if-y and you need to check out the wine application website. If you are a major world of warcraft person wine covers it. I'd look into things like that before you do. I personly regreat getting rid of windows completely because of some high profile games so I would keep it but use it under a virtual machine with VM workstation (just use it long enough to make the vm) and later get vm player. Keep your games going but be free. I hope I helped.

[tjustleft]

I am only using Ubuntu 8.04 now. I admit it was not actually a choice though. My main hard drive with Xp on it fried. I don't have the restore disk for this old Compaq Presario 5000 so no mo windows.

I am glad I had ordered that Ubuntu cd. I can't afford to buy windows and would have been computer-less. Thanks Ubuntu :).

[Viva]

Since I got sopcast-player working, I don't have any use for windows anymore.

[SeanOScare]

I had to completely switch to Ubuntu, since Vista had been completely destroyed by viruses. In this respect, the situation has definitely helped me appreciate what Ubuntu is doing for the computing community and how functional alot of the software is (with a little perseverance.

[pantera10]

ok i want to make a complete switch...but this is my first time using ubuntu...i hate vista !! and now tht RA 3 works3 on ubuntu thanks to WINE..i guess i shall swtich for sure..or is it a bad idea ?

[3startuna]

ok i want to make a complete switch...but this is my first time using ubuntu...i hate vista !! and now tht RA 3 works3 on ubuntu thanks to WINE..i guess i shall swtich for sure..or is it a bad idea ?

I went cold turkey. But I would recommend dual booting in the begining

[Cowchip7]

I completely switched to Linux on my home PC. Unfortunately, I am forced to deal with Windows XP at work... :cry:

[ranch hand]

ok i want to make a complete switch...but this is my first time using ubuntu...i hate vista !! and now tht RA 3 works3 on ubuntu thanks to WINE..i guess i shall swtich for sure..or is it a bad idea ?

I recommend dual booting too, but with a twist. Dual boot Ubuntu/Ubuntu.

Use one as your "work" OS. Use the other to tweek/experiment on before doing it to your "real" OS.

I switched from Vista last year and kept Vista on a removed HDD as a back up in case I broke Hardy. Got smart and put Hardy on again and then wiped the other HDD and put it to work. It has 11 different flavors on it now and all of them are better than WinX.

You really should have a "safe" OS though while you are learning. Ubuntu will do that as well as some MS crap. Just do anything you are thinking of doing to your "real" OS to the "play" OS first to make sure you know what you are doing. This is obviously better than having WinX on your box as you can't experiment with it.

[monsterstack]

I recommend dual booting too, but with a twist. Dual boot Ubuntu/Ubuntu.

Use one as your "work" OS. Use the other to tweek/experiment on before doing it to your "real" OS.

I switched from Vista last year and kept Vista on a removed HDD as a back up in case I broke Hardy. Got smart and put Hardy on again and then wiped the other HDD and put it to work. It has 11 different flavors on it now and all of them are better than WinX.

You really should have a "safe" OS though while you are learning. Ubuntu will do that as well as some MS crap. Just do anything you are thinking of doing to your "real" OS to the "play" OS first to make sure you know what you are doing. This is obviously better than having WinX on your box as you can't experiment with it.

Dual-booting with two Linux flavours is a really great idea. Keep one, safe installation for day-to-day activities, and use the other partition for crazy mad experiments with out-there distros. I do that, and end up installing whichever distro happens to catch my eye every now and again. Good stuff.

[H2SO_four]

I also went cold turkey and just nuked windows and installed Ubuntu. But for new users I would advise to dual boot for at least a week or two.

[DaveQB]

I recommend dual booting too, but with a twist. Dual boot Ubuntu/Ubuntu.

Use one as your "work" OS. Use the other to tweek/experiment on before doing it to your "real" OS.

I switched from Vista last year and kept Vista on a removed HDD as a back up in case I broke Hardy. Got smart and put Hardy on again and then wiped the other HDD and put it to work. It has 11 different flavors on it now and all of them are better than WinX.

You really should have a "safe" OS though while you are learning. Ubuntu will do that as well as some MS crap. Just do anything you are thinking of doing to your "real" OS to the "play" OS first to make sure you know what you are doing. This is obviously better than having WinX on your box as you can't experiment with it.


Why not just use virtualisation for this with VirtualBox or the like?

[stuart.reinke]

When I got bored with my computer, I decided it was time to do something new. I bought a new computer and installed Ubuntu (erasing Windows). Haven't regretted it a bit. I'm having a ball learning Linux. The best way to learn is to jump in and sink or swim. Yee Haw!

[SLEEPER_V]

me. score.

[ranch hand]

Why not just use virtualisation for this with VirtualBox or the like?

Well, I suppose that is an option. Haven't ever used it and really don't see the point in this case. I want my "play" OS to work just like the "real" OS and, to me, that means running under it's own steam all the way.

I have never played with VB because it seems to be most useful for isolating an OS from the real world. If you are talking about an MS product this would be a great idea. I won't have any of that crap on my box.

If you do have MS products on your box, I am not trying to start a flame war in any way. MS pissed me off for the last time. I choose ont to use their products at all. It is my box. What you have on yours is up to you, it is your box.

As you can see from my sig (does not list all OSs) I have a number on here at all times. I could do this through VB on a large partition. I prefer a number of smaller partitions (2 per OS usually) and to run them full out and try to break them.

I am really not knowledgable enough to do great testing (that is what I am trying to learn running 9.10alfa1) but I have learned from my inept testing that I don't get along with KDE, I don't really like RPMs and that Ubuntu loves this box. Lenny and Sidux have some problems with it but Ubuntu, with Gnome, is here to stay for a long time.

One thing I expect is easier with VB is not having to deal with grub problems with multi boot. I have gotten pretty good at grub and love it.

[keplerspeed]

I thought I had a few partitions... talk about fun ranch hand!

I swapped to linux about a year ago, I have xp in virtualbox to run CAD such as solidedge, that isnt playing die with wine.

[ryecomp]

You are kidding me? This is awful! I have never heard of something like that. I couldn't imagine using IE anywhere, be it Windows or Linux. I love Opera - and use Firefox as well.

Anywhere else, where such restrictions are imposed? Does MS pay banks and institutions to do that? I still can't believe it....

There is home tax website by NTS korea, but it main function (checking tax and reporting incomes...)
is possible only when you use IE.
There is patent office website but its main fucntion (applying a new patent) is possible only through IE.
All internet banking and shopping site is payable only through IE.

But, these sites allows just reading their material through firefox.
But, because these sites were designed for IE in mind, it looks like scrambled like a website in maintenance.

Websites look good in firefox under ubuntu are newpaper sites, 2 major portal sites. But it is common,
even for these sites, video streaming service is not usable.

[grungedoobie]

There is home tax website by NTS korea, but it main function (checking tax and reporting incomes...)
is possible only when you use IE.
There is patent office website but its main fucntion (applying a new patent) is possible only through IE.
All internet banking and shopping site is payable only through IE.

But, these sites allows just reading their material through firefox.
But, because these sites were designed for IE in mind, it looks like scrambled like a website in maintenance.

Websites look good in firefox under ubuntu are newpaper sites, 2 major portal sites. But it is common,
even for these sites, video streaming service is not usable.

A question for RyeComp,

Do you have the medibuntu repository installed? Medibuntu handles the proprietary play pretties the many websites use for beautification and content control.

If you don't know of Medibuntu, here's the place to visit and follow their instructions of adding the repository:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Use your add/remove packages program to add "Synaptic" package handler to your computer. (The Synaptic package handler seems to be the most capable.)

Open up Synaptic and do a search for "restrict" and this will give you a list of the restricted (unalterable by law) packages used to view and interact with proprietary coding that has been embedded in Microsoft only websites. Install the package that matches your flavor of Linux.

Granted, there are still sites that require you to have a Microsoft only computer to use their sites. Yahoo is one of them. It is interesting though that you can take courses in the USA for Linux training, however, most schools require that you use Microsoft for such training. Welcome to the land of the free!! Cough Cough.

Hope this helps,


The Grunge.

[joyneo04]

I have accepted it as a war against microsoft and i have switcheed completely to ubuntu....no way .no matter what it takes and whatever sacrifice i have to give i am ready to....for ubuntu only.....by heart and soul....only linux ubuntu....

[Viva]

I have accepted it as a war against microsoft and i have switcheed completely to ubuntu....no way .no matter what it takes and whatever sacrifice i have to give i am ready to....for ubuntu only.....by heart and soul....only linux ubuntu....

That is way OTT. It is just an OS

[ranch hand]

That is way OTT. It is just an OS
As far as Linux goes I agree.

As far as MS goes I'm with him.

[JDArnott]

Greetings

I've this thread to thank for nudging me over the 'edge'. I've been toying with the idea, but comments like 'You just have to do it and comit to it' and 'who's fault is i if there isn't enough people using Linux?' and 'sink or swim' [I'm sure I'm misquoted people, but that's what I gout out of them ;)] made me realise that until I do it, who else would?

So I did! A little Acer Aspire One, AOA 150 ZG5 which I booted straight onto a Ubuntu LiveUSB and installed 9.04 Netbook Remix. So yes this machine is completely switched, but my family Fujitsu Siemens isn't, yet.

Of course this machine came preloaded with MS, and there's a license sticker on it, so they still got theit money...

There is a fair point to be made about paid for software. I've invested some money in a very good app which I would like to keep running, so I guess I'll be pressing the developers as well as playing around with the help of teh forum to get it working, but that's another post.

Thanks again.
Enjoy!

[LucasCordina]

I started using ubuntu a couple of weeks ago, after the first few days i completely deleted windows =]

[Veteropinguis]

Got rid of it yesterday, though at some point I might resurrect XP for gaming. I don't do too much of that, though, so that won't be any time soon.

[jprophet420]

My wife just got a laptop, i completely eradicated Windows from this box. Ill be triple booting Kubuntu/slackware/and gentoo or bsd.

I can play all games that I had in windows except eve online, and do anything else I could in Vista/XP. I have Divx to DvD, DvD to Divx (for all of my personal files of course). My desktop looks way sexier.

I havent run into any websites thet DEMAND i have I.E. installed yet, there may be some i cant trick.

I would say overall compatablility is 95%+ overall, 98%+ for me personally.

[fencer]

I did with no major efforts needed

[NickWilsdon]

We completely switched the office over to Ubuntu about 15 months ago now. All our workstations and laptops are Windows free. The Ubuntu team should give themselves a well deserved pat on the back. After following other *nix flavours for years, it was only Ubuntu that finally allowed us to make the transition. The work that has gone into the interface and KISS features, as well as the stability. It is ready for non-geeks and production workers in a web agency.

Well done Ubuntu :)

[BlazeFire247]

I am NEVER going to boot into Windows unless I make a video or have to go to Yahoo Messenger. So, maybe 90% of me is switched, but 10% hasn't so, not completely.

[3startuna]

I am NEVER going to boot into Windows unless I make a video or have to go to Yahoo Messenger. So, maybe 90% of me is switched, but 10% hasn't so, not completely.

why not use kopete or pidgin for yahoo messenger?

much better interface, all the same icons d functionality, with cooler features.

[urbangeek]

I have given up windows as the primary os I only use it within a vmware environment and some of the games I can still run within it. ubuntu rocks

[Cpt. Kabel]

I decided to commit to trying out Linux, therefore, I deleted Vista and started using it.

Haven't had many problems, and there's nothing Ubuntu can't do that Vista could.
Well, nothing I need anyways.

100% Windows free.

[V!><0N]

You should try to use Kdenlive, its a very nice video editor

[redgs95]

I have completely switched my daughters box to ubuntu and have both ubuntu and xp on mine. I only keep xp around for warcraft and pretty soon that will be cured. I am in the process getting software that will let me run windows programs on linux and then i will be able to delete xp for good.
I hate the fact that every time i have to boot to xp i have to worry about virus' or spyware or something to that nature. I fell more comfortable with linux. I just have to learn how to use commands to get it to do what i want it to.
Ubuntu rocks !!!

[don1ogan]

Now fully converted!
My wife has the Toshiba N100 Netbook upgraded to jaunty. She is very happy with it.
Last week I bought a new laptop emachines E525 tested okay with a usb live image.
Everything worked perfectly straight out of the box. From there formated the hard drive and made a full install and never looked back.

[devosion]

It's taken me about a year and a half, but I think I am officially a linuxer, tux, whatever we call ourselves here in this awesome open source community. Initially I wanted to pursue dual-booting options with Vista and / or 7, but after 7 decided to triple BSoD me in the span of 3 start-ups, then refuse to start and at the same time accuse me of the issue while not repairing. Shortly thereafter Vista took a huge dump on Fallout 3, and now I am here running Ubuntu on both my pc and laptop. I wouldn't want it any other way. :)

[BlazeFire247]

why not use kopete or pidgin for yahoo messenger?

much better interface, all the same icons d functionality, with cooler features.

I do use, and don't mind using Pidgin. But I was hoping that Yahoo! Messenger would get supported again. I don't really mind.

But, seriously, my favorite game is already great running in WINE, so I think I completely switched; I don't touch my Windows partition anymore.

[jerry53]

i am sticking with a dual boot for the time being because linux is too complicated and because i am a gamer

[Simfan147]

I first dualbooted Vista and Ubuntu. After 10 minutes I completely erased Vista and did a fresh install of Ubuntu. That was Tuesday. On Wensday I checked out Mint and installed that but again did a fresh install of Ubuntu again. Today, I decided to again run Vista and do a complete install with the intentions of using a VM to use Ubuntu. After I installed it and download VirtualBox I got the Blue Screen of Death. So I finally installed Ubuntu for the last time and loving it. :)

[MetroidJunkie2008]

Windows XP reinstalls give me hanging bootscreens and the Windows 7 installer isn't working in Wine so, temporarily, I'm a total Linux user.

[Darael]

I've switched almost completely to a combination of different distros, but I'm getting some entertainment from re-creating an old machine that ran Windows 3.11 because I've still got the disks.

What? I never said I was getting MUCH entertainment - just enough to make it worth doing.

[Hetor]

I very rarely run xp on virtual box. I use either Xubuntu or Linux Mint for other tasks.

[ranch hand]

Darael
I think that you should check out this thread, you may get even more entertainment.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=478237

[Polaris96]

I've been off windows for a year, but I'm starting to think an integrated system is the way to go. Like it or not, it's usually quicker in the clench using a windows app that "sort of works" than it is to tweak out a Linux app that works best. For business reasons, I'm going to add an XP VM under Xen, so I can use the stoopit IE whatever patches to read proprietary .pdfs etc etc etc.

Also, I'm thinking of adding a headless XP device server to avoid the hardware issues we sometimes face. I wish I didn't have to do this, but there's just no way to beat the WinMafia's "download plugin now" facility when time is critical.

[micdhack]

On both laptops i have dualboot ubuntu and windows. I use windows only for games and on rare occasions that a program wont run on wine, or there is no linux alternative

[blackxored]

I've completely switched to Linux years ago. I do server administration and application developing in a daily basis, and never had Windows-integration issues. I use portable programming languages like Java, Python and Ruby. And in the server side we mostly run Debian and CentOS based servers. We've integrated with Windows workstations almost transparently to the users, and the applications we provide (mostly web 2.0) run at every browser we've tested. So I'm pretty happy about linux by now.

[riminicat]

I think I posted a year or so ago that I was dual booting windows and ubuntu. Now I'm running Ubuntu only because I was making back up discs for vista off of my recovery partition and the system froze, when I tried to make new discs I was told I couldn't because I had already made some. I emailed HP and they told me just to use the partition itself to recover, so I restarted and hit f11, the recovery thing came up, I clicked recover, and vista was deleted from my laptop! I called HP and they wont send discs, so I decided to go windows free. I might have to use windows on other computers but thats because I work on them, and I have to know how to fix my clients pc's. I always make sure to leave a copy of Ubuntu on their table when I leave(-:

[loveandequality]

I have just move to only Ubuntu from a Mac and xp. I found that xp has nothing at all for me as only itunes was the only thing i had it in virtual machine for my ipodtouch 2g since it did not work until recently on Ubuntu the older ones work but un 4 more months they will be automatic sync. Also my Mac i only miss the easy is to make music and movies but i replace that with Kdenlive wich is better than movie maker. Then i replace garageband with jokosher wich is pretty good. The only thing that was keeping me from Ubuntu 100% was ipod touch sync but now i just do drag and drop but it will be better in 4 months. Games i dont really have a card for it only the intel one i got the Ubuntu laptop from Dell the XPS. Im fully satisfy as Ubuntu gives me way more than xp and it does the job compare to a Mac so yea i can even run emulators in Wine so i got lots of games plus there is native Linux emulators around so you got endless games there.:popcorn:

Ubuntu since Nov. 2008

[marcwatt@api-partners.com]

on one laptop, 100% ubuntu, and on the other (to appease my dad although he is quickly being converted) i have both vista and ubuntu. i rarely use vista. probably 3-4% and generally involves debugging a problem to see if i can recreate it in 2 environments.:KS:KS:KS:KS:KS:KS

[james.brantley]

I have totally switched over to Ubuntu after only 6 weeks of use. I love it and I love the terminal. Windows does not even compare. Ubuntu is a totally customizable system. People that complain about it all the time are just not willing to relearn a few things. You have to invest a little time and use the forums for help if you need it. If you don't get an answer right away give it a few minutes. Long live Ubuntu!

[valex]

I'm completely using ubuntu. first RedHat in 2006 and now ubuntu.
I removed windows permanently 4 months ago.

[jkmlaok]

I have Windows 7 installed in case I need it but I have completely migrated to Ubuntu Linux. I have come to the point that if I cant do it outside Windows, I will wait till Linux is capable or just not mess with it. I can do everything that I need and want to do as of right now.

[Amilo1718]

completely switched & only one thing not working: the usb recognition for my digital camera

[iiyohnewb]

I completely switched, about 2 weeks ago...and now i no longer have to worry about

"this program is not responding, let windows find a solution"

NO REGRETS UBUNTU ALL THE WAY

[guitar_man]

I do use, and don't mind using Pidgin. But I was hoping that Yahoo! Messenger would get supported again. I don't really mind.

But, seriously, my favorite game is already great running in WINE, so I think I completely switched; I don't touch my Windows partition anymore.

try using gyachie package for yahoo messenger...you can usa web cam and do phone call with gyachie..its the yahoo messenger for ubuntu.

[luca_blight13]

I have been using linux for a week now and i could say that it's really a lot better than windows... the graphic details are amazing and there aren't chances that im bored using this OS...
I only use camfrog on windows... therefore my only solution was Ubuntu's Vbox, which is pretty handy.. i am satisfied and happy that EVERYTHING is now possible in Linux...

[oldrocker99]

100% Ubuntu since Hardy.

:guitar:

[longtom]

try using gyachie package for yahoo messenger...you can usa web cam and do phone call with gyachie..its the yahoo messenger for ubuntu.

How do you get that installed without being a geek in any Ubuntu version from Hardy upwards?

[xx58]

:rolleyes: I am 100% with Linux. I find everything, what I need under Linux.

[guitar_man]

How do you get that installed without being a geek in any Ubuntu version from Hardy upwards?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=773802&highlight=gyachie

here is the thread

[bedwards2000]

My first taste of linux came just recently when I did a demo of Jaunty on my wife's old system. After that I was buying parts online to assemble my own system to run linux. This is how I imagine computing should be. I'm loving it thus far and can't ever imagine going back.

[chips24]

i had 64x vista, my eyes are burning, ummm i have ubuntu

[ugm6hr]

100% Ubuntu at home (except the FreeNAS server). Dell Mini 9 and an Acer laptop.

Not used Windows at home for over 1 year now.

Still MS at work though...

[Amilo1718]

Still MS at work though...
soundz familiar

[vividia]

I completely switched. I do not miss Windows. Was never much of a PC gamer. I have Xbox and PS3. I have considered putting the windows 7 beta on my old Dino just for the hell of it.

[acefromspace]

Don't miss "*******" at all! Started using Linux (Fedora) years ago (5 or 6?) now using Ubuntu (love it!) Unfortunately, many friends I try to swith to Linux still also want their *******, so I setup dual boot and a shared partition so they don't panic (many are gamers) I'm not a gamer BTW, so don't care about that. Hey, if you can't convice some to give up *******, then I suggest dual boot, but disable network device in ******* to keep it safe... use only linux for internet (I did this originally so I could use my film scanner... ha ha, film... the good ol days) I got my son into Linux and now he has convinced many others to try it (he is computer "guru" and already teaching me about Linux... he likes Ubuntu also!) Getting ready to put Ubuntu on a friend's Dell (first time I messed with a Dell) Most of us actually build our own computers so I hate working on something like a Dell, but the poor guy lost his diary because of major virus problems with ******* (fool never backed anything up) So far, I have been able to do everything I need with Linux... not looking back and wonder why I didn't try Linux sooner.

[ranch hand]

vividia
I check regularly and my wife is a girl too! She uses linux too.

[epicoder]

I use Windows solely for photoshop and gaming, but I'm going to switch completely to Linux once I get used to GIMP and install playonlinux.

[ranch hand]

I use Windows solely for photoshop and gaming, but I'm going to switch completely to Linux once I get used to GIMP and install playonlinux.

I don't know squat about gaming or photoshop but I really like Gimp. It may be easier for me because I don't have the photoshop background.

I use it mainly for photo editing and it may not be as good as photoshop (don't know) but I do know that it is a lot better editor than I am so it works great for me.

[ahndoruuu]

I'm planning on switching over completely as soon as I can get my wireless card working on Ubuntu and learn a bit more about it.

But from what I've experienced up til now, it completely kicks my current OS's (Vista) butt, though I may end up dual-booting Ubuntu and XP. (XP left with a very small partition however....muahahahaha)

[Gatemaze]

Pretty much linux...

[mynameinc]

My Windows installation was corrupt (Microsoft's fault - sent out a bad update), so instead of reinstalling Windows (for the third time), I installed Ubuntu 9.04.

[faintscrawl]

I meant to set up a dual boot but ended up wiping out Windows. That was a year ago. I haven't missed Windows at all, except I wish there were a better video editor for Ubuntu.

[ZackM]

Unfortunately I haven't ridden myself of Windows completely. I run Ubuntu 9.04 on a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop, and OpenSuse 11.1 KDE on an HP Pavilion dv8000. My desktop, however, is Windows XP, and the Dell Laptop used to be Vista Home Basic. I'm a tech guy for a school corporation and we use mainly Windows, so unfortunately I still need to stay well versed with it. :(

[longtom]

I use Windows solely for photoshop and gaming, but I'm going to switch completely to Linux once I get used to GIMP and install playonlinux.

...and get decent drivers for your printers. That is what is preventing me (and some others, as I have found out on this board) from completely switching. I can learn to drive gimp alright - but I can't write a printer driver....

[super kim]

i only use vista to connect my smart phone, and photoshop.
and when i do i'm amazed at how fast the log in screen appears, then i remember the programs that have to load, oh and it tells me my antivirus software is out of date lol it never worked when it was up to date and so far (touch wood) no virus/spyware problems with ubuntu!

[super kim]

totally, i couldnt work pitivi or cinrealla or hewever it goes lol

[brallan]

Artha (http://artha.sourceforge.net), a replacement for the WordWeb thesaurs was the last nail in the coffin for me. I don't think I will ever go back or buy hardware incompatible with my philosophy, which is pretty much the same as GNUs (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/).

[cgemein]

I completely switched for 2 months now, however I wouldn't say its easy. I've always talked going cold turkey without Windows, but there are some issues. My cheap built-in webcam is a problem. I'm still troubleshooting.

I get myself into trouble by attempting to update the kernel or testing the bleeding new updates. I'm probably that percentage of users that just needs to regularly save a clean drive image to bounce back to.

I miss webcam support, Office 2007 (without wine errors), a little less struggle for setup of devices (i.e printers, scanners etc). Although I made a fair trade for a faster machine and reliability.

[BiOhAzArD77]

Yea im 100% ubuntu now and could not be happier.As far as gaming goes i have a 360 for that so dont see the need to keep a Win box around,i have 2 boxes and a laptop all running ubuntu.
Paul

[rkirk]

I've been 100% Linux for about two years now, but I've only been using Ubuntu for a little under a year, if my memory serves correctly.

My microphone's a Logitech, my printer's an HP, and I every device I own (such as my mp3 player) mounts as a disk through USB under Linux. So I've never had a hardware problem and I'm among the lucky ones because of this.I don't game at all and there's not a single piece of software that's Windows only that I miss. In fact, most of the software I really love are GNU/Linux terminal commands such as grep, sed, and ffmpeg.

[chris.willis]

I've completely switched over on my laptop (Acer Aspire One), have removed Windows entirely. I have Wine and Virtualbox installed but haven't used them as yet. Ubuntu is fantastic. I don't like the brown theme - changed it to blue. I have a few problems with it but it's part of the learning curve (ergo, more posts). I think the biggest part of my transition is this forum and getting help for seemingly common problems (which are not so common to the new Linux user) so thanks to everybody, not just those who have helped direct, but everybody involved with Ubuntu.

[Groucho Marxist]

I completely switched for 2 months now, however I wouldn't say its easy. I've always talked going cold turkey without Windows, but there are some issues. My cheap built-in webcam is a problem. I'm still troubleshooting.

I get myself into trouble by attempting to update the kernel or testing the bleeding new updates. I'm probably that percentage of users that just needs to regularly save a clean drive image to bounce back to.

I miss webcam support, Office 2007 (without wine errors), a little less struggle for setup of devices (i.e printers, scanners etc). Although I made a fair trade for a faster machine and reliability.

The only element that keeps me with one foot in the door of Windows is Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete Edition. As soon as I can play it free of errors in Linux using Wine/another appropriate program, I'll be a full-time Linux user.

[dyess002]

well this is 2009 and I have 3 computers and I am running Ubuntu on all three of them, I love the system because it seems to be hassle less.
hardware support is great and I think that proprietary software should be an option for users.

[JordyD]

i have a 360

My eyes started bleeding a little there. :D

I switched a while ago, and for gaming I always have my PS3 to turn to...

[ametalguitarist]

I tried using many different distros of linux about 10 years ago but it would never work with my hardware. I got sick and tired of worrying about security viruses/ spyware and when my websites got hacked through a key logger (I think) and it was the last straw. I downloaded ubuntu 8.04 about 3 months ago and I was surprised that everything worked. I used a dual boot for a while and finally got tired of that so I removed windows. Now I'm 100% linux. I wish I would have stayed with 8.04 though 9.04 has been nothing but trouble for me.

I do miss itunes because it just worked. I insert a cd and it imports it with the correct song names and artwork. Nothing in linux does that. I suspect linux will be able to do that soon though so I'm not too concerned.

[kixome]

I completely switched my main pc when hardy came out. I hate windows, and the only reason I have any PC running windows is that I have a magicjack (which I almost got to work in Sun Virtualbox, but the headset had no sound, Trying crossover now) Ubuntu and linux have their problems but it is a small price to pay for much better security and customizability.
I quoted this because I wanted to suggest using sun virtualbox and virtual XP to run your printer, other than that you need a new comp as you say.


3 things keep me using xp on my laptop(however ubuntu is my main OS for everything else so i use my laptop very little):

my canon i850 printer.

[jeffkny]

Back in my previous life at IBM, I used Redhat exclusively on my T21 laptop. The laptop had winXP, but I heard about linux and wanted to try it. So I downloaded the installer from my work server (the Redhat version I used was tweaked by the boys at IBM Research, so I used this). I shrunk the partition and installed Redhat. To my wondering surprise, it worked. I could dual boot! I booted into Redhat daily, only using winXP for one (1) app which would never run in Linux. After leaving IBM, I tried many versions of linux on an IBM Thinkcentre. To this day, this box still runs only Ubuntu (2 years now).

Using VMplayer, I tried other versions, and thought I would install PClinux on an hp Pavilion laptop. It would not see my wireless, and I did not like the installed version. Next I tried Dreamlinux. Same issues. I knew I could not fail with Ubuntu, so I installed Jaunty next to win7. I boot into Jaunty 95%, and win7 some times.

My only concern now is the upgrade icon says I need 300 updates! wow

Jeff

[loweehahn]

I'm using dual boot because my brothers are supporters of Windows and there's only one computer at home. But once I buy my own laptop rest assure I'll be using ubuntu fully.

[arm-c]

Well,

First, I still keep dual boot with XP on most of my computers. Why? Because as many of you know, there just aren't some things I can do without (which happen to be very very few). Most recently, I needed to recover a drive from accidental format. COULD NOT FIND a linux program that would accomplish the task -- which is dismal -- so I had to purchase a windows program to do the job. Outside of the stupid reasons (previously mentioned -- LOL), I __rarely__ must go into windows. There are a few programs that I have no alternative for:

a. Adobe Professional -- sometimes need the robust editing features. Why isn't there a Linux OSS program to do this yet????
b. DBsign -- a program that ONLY RUNS on windows and is required for some web based / CAC Card support with my job.
c. PureEdge -- Form engine that is required at work... and well... I can't seam to get running under linux/Wine.

Well, as you might imagine... very few reasons for me right now. So, when I am home, always boot to Linux. Sometimes I run a VM (VirtualBox) with XP in it, but that is infrequent.

Open source is moving along quite well. Sure, compatability is an issue at times (BlackBerrys anyone?) and industry that requires certain applications, but in most cases, if there isn't a solution now, one is around the corner.

Bottom Line: I am 99.9% windows free. That .1% is so infrequent that I have a hard time saying that I am not 100% free.

[perceptus]

I made the switch entirely a few days ago. I miss some of the games but all in all I have no regrets. I love the support for linux

[teknotuck]

I quit using windows around 12 years ago. (redhat 5.0 then slackware) Never have looked back, have also done quite a few windows to linux migrations for friends and clients.

Working less, making more and doing everything i need to do is easier and more secure in linux.

[Shiftbutton]

I recently switched to Ubuntu 8.04 (then 8.10, then 9.04) It's a fun experience, and if you're worried about gaming just grab (And I'm sure this has been stated over and over) wine windows emulator; I'm nabbing better graphics than ever. You'll almost assuredly run into problems though, but most of them are so well documented that you'll simply have to google search in the firefox browser, and insert a few lines of text in a field (most of the time, haha).

[JordyD]

I recently switched to Ubuntu 8.04 (then 8.10, then 9.04) It's a fun experience, and if you're worried about gaming just grab (And I'm sure this has been stated over and over) wine windows emulator; I'm nabbing better graphics than ever. You'll almost assuredly run into problems though, but most of them are so well documented that you'll simply have to google search in the firefox browser, and insert a few lines of text in a field (most of the time, haha).

WINE stands for "WINE Is Not an Emulator". Just thought I should get that out there. A Windows emulator would actually be illegal, since Windows is not allowed to be reverse-engineered.

[xtjacob]

I've been using Ubuntu on and off but i recently switched to it because 9.04 had support for my wireless card. My house is now windows free :). My first distro was Fedora Core in 2006.

[ranch hand]

If your house is windows free isn't it kind of dark?

[Sykobabul]

I switched to Ubuntu about a month ago and love it. On the odd occasions when I do need to run Windows, I just fire it up in a Virtual Machine - Sun Virtual Box to be exact.

[xtjacob]

If your house is windows free isn't it kind of dark?
Hahaha yes but thats what electricity is for!

[Dado-HR]

I started using ubuntu (9.04) two montha ago - it was dual boot as most common case. In that period I didn't need M$ Windows for a second. So, from last Saturday my PC is Windows free :D

[dernsber]

Got in Macs about 2 years back (yay), started playing with Linux a year back at work a little... now at work my laptop is ubuntu, sadly still need windows for proprietary software that has no other options, but i do a lot of work in a xubuntu VM.

At home, I have a Macbook Pro and just got my desktop switched to Ubuntu for a media center... and windows was a bitch to kill... seriously, trying to save data and the thing just didn't want to die... sort of sad, but happily windowless at home now... silly work.

(also, when i need windows, VMs work)

So out of 4 computers, 1 Mac, 2 Linux, 1 Windows(Work only, but I use a Linux VM a lot)... and going to be adding a Mac mini for the media center and turn the tower to a media server... :-)

[billgoldberg]

I don't see a reason to completely switch to Linux, yet.

Windows is a good operating system and has it's place.

I prefer Linux but still use Windows sometimes.

[JordyD]

I don't see a reason to completely switch to Linux, yet.

Windows is a good operating system and has it's place.

I prefer Linux but still use Windows sometimes.

Blashphemy!

Honestly, I had to switch one of my laptops to Windows for school, and I dread using it. The only reason is because if one program on the computer freezes, the whole computer freezes. That and I get "End Now" popups for my "End Now" popups.

Other than that, the OS is fine.

[sumoman]

I still keep Windows for 2 things that I have not been able to do in Ubuntu

1). Magicjack phone (Heard that they will start supporting Linux in 3Q 2009)
2). Watch streaming movies on Netflix

Otherwise this is a great operating system and has given my 6 year old laptop another 6 years of life.

[wojox]

I run 8.10 server on one box and 8.10 desktop on another box. Life has never been sweeter. It still amazes me that something I download for free is easier to configure and run than stuff I have paid a lot of $$$ for in the past. And those of you who have not completely wiped out windows, I guarantee once you feel more comfortable with linux, you will.

[ads2k2]

I've got a dual boot vista home 64 and jaunty desktop at home, 2 xp boxes sitting in the closet, not in use, just haven't switched them yet, I use only Intrepid on my laptop, my wife's laptop is only vista, although I've convinced her to start using open-source apps, so it's only a matter of time. At work I've got a linux only machine, and a tri-boot, Windows 7, xp (32 :( ), and jaunty. Since installing jaunty, it's all I've used, barring the vboxed xp. I administrate a bunch of windows boxes, so it's handy to have the environment available. I work at a university and will soon be putting Linux machines in all of our labs, so that students can get used to using them. :) Some machines in our environment are already running fedora core 10, but I'll be pulling for Jaunty, it's easier to jump into I think. Plus I love the slick interface.

[Nautilus112]

I switched to Linux completely, even though I have Windows on a second hard drive. I am also a gamer, and I play windows games through crossover and sometimes Linux games as well. I haven't booted into Windows in a really long time, I don't see the reason if everything I need, even windows apps, can run on linux.

[smaclean]

Switched to Ubuntu Linux about 4 years ago, never looked back. And now I'm lucky enough that where I work, management is very open to Linux solutions. I still use XP at work for various things (network administrator), but all our servers aside from 2 run linux.

At home, I have XP running in a VM (for those rare moments when you just need it) on the office pc which runs 8.10, an eee laptop running eeebuntu, an HTPC running mythtv on ubuntu, and a new toshiba laptop running 8.10.

I bought the laptop and was worried about driver support, laptops can be the most trouble. Threw the live cd in to test, and to my surprise everything worked out of the box. It came preinstalled with Vista, I left it on there long enough to create the Vista restore cd's, then wiped it and installed 8.10. It took Vista almost 2 hours to go through the entire OEM setup process before it booted to a desktop and was ready to use. Ubutnu 8.10 was installed from scratch and ready to use (minus the updates) in about 25 min.

[Phreaker]

I am now full time on Gnu/Linux.
I will not use software made by M$ or Apple, because that software is poison!
It is pure capitalist evil!

[NfF]

Almost made a complete switch to linux, well it has some slight problems that can't be solved..yet.
Like my wireless router for example.

I still keep Windows though, just for that purpose. If isn't for this problem my HD would have more space for my favourite OS.Sigh. ()X
And it's quite a long way since Ubuntu evolved. Last time i used was 7.04, and had many bugs and problems. Now, i think even first timers to Linux could make Ubuntu their primary OS, as its so ez to use.

[Uncle Mort]

My migration away from MS XP to Ubuntu completely has slightly stalled as a result of the Dear Lady Wife buying me an iPhone for my birthday.

I don't want to jailbreak, I just want to be able to use either iTunes (via WINE or natively, I'm not bovvered) or something with equivalent capability.

And shocking as this might seem, I rather like the iPhone and can't bring myself to regard either it or its creator as evil! I just want to use it with Ubuntu.

[fela]

My migration away from MS XP to Ubuntu completely has slightly stalled as a result of the Dear Lady Wife buying me an iPhone for my birthday.

I don't want to jailbreak, I just want to be able to use either iTunes (via WINE or natively, I'm not bovvered) or something with equivalent capability.

And shocking as this might seem, I rather like the iPhone and can't bring myself to regard either it or its creator as evil! I just want to use it with Ubuntu.

The only way you'll get round Apple's proprietary DRM sh*t is by jailbreaking - why won't you do that? I have a friend that jailbroke his iPod touch and it works absolutely fine....or does it void the warranty? If it does, then you have a reason to believe that Apple are, in fact, EVIL. But jailbreak it anyway!

[Xylar Wasterend]

I currently dual-boot with base-line command Xubuntu system and Windows XP. The XP is, quite simply, only for games (Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2, GTA: San Andreas, Descent 3 at the moment). Everything else is in Xubuntu, including the audio I play during the Windows games (on an ext3 partition, read-only via ext2fsd -- if there was an ext4 Windows driver I'd just move the audio into the /home/ folder). I do have it set up where Pidgin and Mozilla SeaMonkey Nightly use a shared folder on a USB Flash Drive, so I can use both Windows and Xubuntu versions of Pidgin / Mozilla SeaMonkey Nightly without any data loss from having different profiles. Wine is used to run some win32 programs on the flash drive as well, such as uTorrent. I've contemplated on using just Xubuntu, but I feel that configuring everything to work properly for the aforementioned games would be too much time and effort even for a "tweaker" like myself (I may look into specific tutorials for getting at least the Steam-based CS:S and HL2 to run, but I know that GTA: San Andreas is a pain in the *** to get working). It took me 4 full formats and reinstalls to get this "base-line system" just right for me.

90% Ubuntu, 10% Windows presently.

[philcamlin]

im fully over

[matchstich]

came down with a nasty form of lymphoma. and am trying to get help from all the local charities. no joy, so far. have no money to pay rent.

but, one local charity here called interfaith runs on ubuntu.

they turned me down because i am too young for them to help.

[philcamlin]

i hate windows i use ubuntu at home :):):)

[cyberknight72]

Completely over to the Ubuntu world (well almost)! I use Windows XP in Virtualbox for MS Visio. When I can get a solid open source version, the VM can go to the bit bucket.

[jperez]

I posted here QUITE some time ago, but I'm going to post again.

Well, my experience has been a roller coaster ride, if nothing else. I have Ubuntu (kubuntu-desktop as default) on my laptop, but my main PC has Windows XP still. Why? Games. Games that I can't, and have been tested, be played on Linux using WINE, Crossover or anything else for various reasons. Biggest game reason(s): The Sims 3 & Tales Runner

Unfortunately for me, Gpotato games don't work at all under WINE or Crossover because of GameGuard. Other GameGuard games work, but not these. As for the Sims 3, I'll wait until it becomes more compatible. Other games I like I have tested with WINE and Crossover and they worked well, so I wasn't miffed about it.

Also, until Pidgin can do Photo Sharing ala Windows Live Messenger, I can;t completely switch over. Mind you, that doesn't stop me from using my (K)Ubuntu laptop and Maemo Linux Internet Tablet (Nokia N810). I was going to opt for a Linux-driven netbook, but I'm going to have to hold off for a while due to money constraints. Oh well.

Another thing that keeps me from switching over...my Lexmark Z1300 printer. Yes, I know I can just network it off my Windows PC, cept for one problem...no desk space. My desk is pretty small and I live in a small apartment...so it doesn't help.

Anyway, one day I'll make the switch. Until then, I'll calmly enjoy Linux as an "alternative" that's on my laptop and IT.

Jesse~

[Blacklightbulb]

Me I mostly play Urban Terror so.........

[DeathMetal]

I have a dual install with XP and ubuntu because I play a lot of World of Warcraft. And I find that it just runs better with XP. My Lexmark X6650 also doesn't work with ubuntu and I still have yet to find a driver that is compatiable with it. But other than those two things, I use ubuntu for everything else on my laptop.

[juliopjuliop]

I`m proudly a full-time linux user, although i still have a dual-boot for games, but i haven`t booted into windows for a month :guitar:. I don`t know if this counts (probably) but i also run a VM for Majicjack.

[JDShu]

The only reason I still have a dual boot is that I paid for Vista when it came with my comp. It might be a psychological thing.

[ChrisNZ]

I made the gradual migration from win98 (couldn't update or afford to) to Linux 1 1/2 yrs ago, gradual cause I had Quicken and Access dependancies, games were there but for the kids.

Eventually the need for quicken was removed to other OSS, MS Access on the hand I am still looking for a suitable replacement.

As for Games - well WINE fixed most of the windows dependent issues subject to the hardware on any of the PC's I have to drive them these days. There are several great nix games out there today and always adding.

Windoz.... well 1 PC still has it (XP) but not dependent or relied upon for anything.

I would definitely advise friends and family to leave windows and consider linux. Stability has been great (Linux Mint, Ubuntu, CE Ubuntu, Edubuntu, KDE, PCos) And you start to get a better performance on the older hardware; thats "Rocks"

Support the open community and you will be amazed at the great things that are happing in other OS's

[cmltow]

I haven't used Windows since XP crashed for 'nth time in August of 2008. The learning curve wasn't too bad. The one down side is that I now spend way too much time in front of my computer, there's just so much you can do in Ubuntu. I just found an old HDD with XP still on it (from an old broke down computer of mine), as soon as I pull the pics off there, that I thought I lost, I will wipe it clean and use it as an external HDD for songs and pics. Ubuntu is the *****! Every day I thank my brother for downloading porn on my old XP set up, because without my brothers porn habit I would not have Ubuntu.

[vikkikanhaua]

I just got windows free,abt 3 days ago & I m feeling like oh what i've done{It's positive}.

[Rifester]

I just switched from Windows Vista. I was so disgusted with how much money I spent for my new laptop & Vista only to have a system that barely ran after a year and even worse a complete lack of support with correcting problems. After spending hours of time removing software to correct problems and running system restore I decided enough was enough. I switched to Ubuntu completely, cold turkey. My experience has been wonderful so far. I have had to think through a few issues and play around with it, but I love it. It has some really well thought out features. My wife has limited computer ability and she loves it. We have installed extra software and Gnome Do. I am very pleased with Ubuntu and will NEVER give money to Microsoft again.

---Mark

[AICollector]

ooh! Happy people! That's what we all like to see! :D


By the by, VirtualBox 3.0 now supports 3D...so it 'should' run a good deal of your games, aside from the massive ones (which your probably better shutting off all other programs for)

Yes, I switched in the Winter of 08...moved to Kubuntu about two weeks ago. Loving it :)

[Short__Error]

I have used windows 95, 95, 2000, ME, XP, and Vista. This by far blows windows out of the water i have no reason to go back to windows and i don't plan on it. I started using Ubuntu about this makes my third month and i have not booted windows in i would say 2 1/2 weeks :D.

[Henrikzhura]

I would but I'm too much into gaming. That's why I run windows but use a Ubuntu partition as my main OS.

[Ubu2009]

Has been a year since my permanent switch to Ubuntu and have never looked back at Windows. I get to do all the things I usually did with XP with Ubuntu much better and without waisting my time doing virus and Spywear scans every day.Thank you Ubuntu team for this great linux distro.

[daweefolk]

I only use one windows program. and that i run through wine. it's a free gameboy emulator because for some reason none of the linux ones i tried would save my data correctly.
I've been using linux for so long i find it hard sometimes to use windows, the main reason being the command-line in windows is so much different than terminal in linux (that's pretty much how i get around, run programs, and troubleshoot).

[Lewis M]

Unfortunately I still get a little lazy and like my programs to run more easily, but I will try and stick to Linux my best this time. :)

[imagecko]

I have Windows installed on a dualboot because I want to study .NET. I know I have Mono under Linux, but I want to start using .net on a windows environment and then later go over to mono under Linux. Other than that I'm 100% linux-user.

[Pappy2003]

I have. No more microcrap ******* for me.

[H4F]

I am still on dual boot. just for one big reason.
I can't fix my ******* microphone and video. so to make call with skype I need to reboot.

Thats weird I know!!
(Acer Aspire 5720)

P.S Please any of you who fixed those problems on Acer 5720 give me a suggestion

[wolfv]

I want to erase Windows but unfortunately, I'm still a gamer at heart.

Hi, I've switched to Ubuntu and don't have a dual boot anymore. I feel safer, freer and (unconsciously, probably) more myself without being desperately locked in the MS iron grip.

After testing different programs essential to me for quite a while, I came to the conclusion that I was only dependent on the word processors and slideshow presentations, watching movies and listening to music (and, it goes without saying, on web browsing). I was also attached to several Windows games but was keenly aware that I wasted way too much time on them --- and decided to cut loose from all that one day, not too long ago.

Now I surf the Net, watch films, listen to music, write my stuff and have enough gaming on my Linux box. On top of this, I feel as free as a bird. Ubuntu has finally made it as far as my personal needs are concerned :-)

[pythonscript]

I almost exclusively use Linux, but some of the apps I use simply refuse to run under Ubuntu. Tunebite is the major one I can think of. My copy of Mathematica is for Windows too... since I've never gotten around to buying one for Linux, but I'm using XP in a virtualbox anyways, so it's not like I have to exit Linux to use those apps.

[fela]

I use Ubuntu all the time, except from when my friends come round.

Cause when my friends come round we play computer games, and they require winblowsucks.

I also have a home server with Ubuntu Linux on it, used for file storage, printing, media sharing via UPnP, downloading, etc. My mum's laptop also has Ubuntu on it, due to Windows XP not supporting its wireless (at least, not the official IBM drivers or any others I could find on the internet).

I'm a hardcore geek, 13 years of age and have been using Linux for the last 2.75 years (roughly). I've had alot of experience in all three major OSes, I even know my way around a DOS command line for basic tasks, and I am a grand master at bash.

Whoever said OSX is user friendly, what are you talking about? In OSX, the default binary path for installed applications is no less than: /Applications/Foobar.app/Contents/MacOS/Foobar! That is even worse than winblowsucks' C:\Program Files\Foobar\foobar.exe (yes those are backslashes, and those ARE indeed spaces without quotes). Obviously Linux is best with /usr/bin/foobar, or just foobar most of the time (what could be simpler than typing the actual name of the application without any added junk?).

[sdlynx]

Blashphemy!

Honestly, I had to switch one of my laptops to Windows for school, and I dread using it. The only reason is because if one program on the computer freezes, the whole computer freezes. That and I get "End Now" popups for my "End Now" popups.

Other than that, the OS is fine.

the end now thing is hilarious!:lolflag:

well I still use Windows because one thing is file/printer sharing, I know there's samba but its much easier on Windows. Also games. But aside from that I'm always on Ubuntu.

[Finalfantasykid]

I wouldn't say I have switched 100% to Linux(Ubuntu), but I am now using it probably around 95% of the time. When I first got Ubuntu(8.10) I used it maybe 50/50 along side Windows XP. I would have used Ubuntu more, but there were a few things that I found much easier to do in Windows(Record Podcasts, Write Java, I dunno a few more things). However once 9.04 came out, I was pleased with the changes/performance upgrades. I started finding ways in Linux to do the same things in Windows. Really the only thing I use Windows for now is Podcasting, which I hope to be able to do in Ubuntu at some point, then I will use Ubuntu exclusively :D

[agel1]

i only boot into windows when i need to
-------------
print something (my lexmark doesnt have drivers)
or
watch some soccer game in sopcast, tvu or tvants
-------------

everything else i do it in ubuntu

[Barney Oatmeal]

Have been totally free of other operating systems for 18 months now. My only regret is that I have a $100, 40# paperweight because KODAK (the rat-finks!) refuse to support Linux. Please bombard Kodak with e mail - spam them to hell and gone for not supporting US, the Linux community!

[zoomy942]

that is some huge font

[nielsek]

i removed the last bit of windows a month ago :)

[Viva]

i only boot into windows when i need to
-------------
print something (my lexmark doesnt have drivers)
or
watch some soccer game in sopcast, tvu or tvants
-------------

everything else i do it in ubuntu

Sopcast works on ubuntu. Install sopcast-player

[zoomy942]

Sopcast works on ubuntu. Install sopcast-player

i didnt see it listed in the repo

[Viva]

It is not in the repos. Get it here.

http://code.google.com/p/sopcast-player/

[martini1179]

It depends on what you mean by "completely." Does it involve deleting your Windows partition? Using Ubuntu for mission-critical tasks instead of Windows?

I use Ubuntu for work (writing and maintaining my blog), general use, and to house my vast collection of music. But I do keep Vista around for gaming. Didn't buy a top-of-the-line graphics card to spin my cube ;)

Personally, I was going to quit Linux to go back to Windows because I couldn't get the browsers that I wanted to work without crashing twice daily, I couldn't get my 10-button mouse working properly and couldn't get my old Cowon MP3 player to recognize subdirectories not created under Linux.

Now that I got Firefox to stop crashing and my extra mouse buttons to function, I'm sticking with Ubuntu.

Strangely enough, though, I did buy the Windows7 upgrade. Guess I can't resist a deal...

[libra1780]

it's 5 years now that im M$ free at home. at the office i have to use xp because of pro-software not running on penguin systems. :x

just say: PENGUIN POWER!

[andoni]

I've completely switched to Linux (Ubuntu, specifically) for 2 and a half years now. I don't play PC games, so I don't need Windows whatsoever.

Greetings from Spain :).