Many Windows 7 diehards are facing the same dilemma. "Where do I go, now that Microsoft will no longer be supporting my most trusted OS?"
I've been thinking for a couple of years now, that I'd have to bite the bullet and finally make the switch to Linux. It was a scary idea for me, knowing that Linux isn't for the technically challenged.
I really dreaded the prospect of confronting what I imagined would be a huge learning curve, to become adept enough to download the basic package of parts, then build my own OS from them.
I feared it would be so far over my head, that I'd wind up succumbing to MS and 'upgrading' to Windows 10 anyway.
Fortunately, there are some technically savvy people on FR who really understand computer technology through and through. Freeper Openurmind saw me wringing my hands about another computer related issue and reached out to help me with my problem.
During the course of trying to restore my goofed up Windows 7 computer, he told me that we could much more easily handle the issue by switching my machine over to Linux. I was very hesitant to do it, but then he had me look at a site that showed what one of the current versions of Linux looks like, and how it operates.
I was surprised to see that it looked and functioned a lot like Windows 7, so I said, why not. I've got nothing to lose, seeing how 7 is about to go away anyway.
Long story short, we went through the steps and installed Linux side by side with my old Windows 7 operating system. What I most liked right away, was that there are so many similarities between the two operating systems, I was up and doing my usual tasks in no time at all.
If I had to quantify the similarities and differences, I'd say there's about 80% commonality between them and 20% difference,but the similarities are where it most counts - in the interfaces and tools that I use most. The differences are in areas that are the least important to me.
The version of Linux I'm now happily running, is called Mint Cinnamon 18.3. Talk to Openurmind about switching over. It's a free program, and it's waaaay more stable and secure than any Microsoft operating system. Takes up far less resources, too.
My kid uses Linux at his engineering job. Is Linux good for word processing? That is mainly what I do for work. I also have not “upgraded to Windows 10” not wanting to torture myself with learning a new program.
Good to hear it is serving you well so far sir, I was going to ask how the 18.3 was doing. I had the same reservations about the Linux before I pulled the trigger also. Having tried it years ago I had some misconception that to use it I would have to learn a whole lot of text line commands, similar to DOS. But same as yourself I was up against the wall, buy a very expensive MAC, be stuck with win 10 and MS, try the Linux and resurrect my older computer as new and up to date in capability, or do without a computer altogether. I found that Linux likes to bring older computers up to date with a current fully capable OS. It will even make older 32bit machines up to date with the most recent of versions.
But after installing it I realized that the new Linux distros are now a full graphic user interface just like windows. While the capabilities and power of the command line interface cannot be ignored, it is now very seldomly or ever even needed for the average user. Right off the bat the graphic user interface and apps are full and complete and are comfortable with a very minimal learning curve, mostly just the difference of “terminology and labeling” of the features that work almost the same as win 7. The Mint Cinnamon does indeed do a good job of comfortably replacing win XP and win 7 as a first time user and comes boxed with all the best apps you will need. It is a complete easy to use full featured turnkey vehicle ready to drive for the new Linux user.
For me it is the security and stability of Linux because of how it is structured, the thousands of apps available to replace MS apps even though these do have a minimal learning curve just like any new app would, And I am rid of the MS ball and chain, it is mine without restrictions and no longer perpetually belongs to MS. Well worth the very minimal learning curve. I am still in the learning stage myself and pretty much just a graphics interface user, but I have come to understand this particular distro version pretty well and have installed it on many many machines now. I would be absolutely privileged to help point anyone willing to give it a shot in the right direction!
I am seriously considering installing Linux on an old PC that runs 7. My problem is that while I like Unix I can’t stand Linux. It is an OS designed by teenagers for teenagers. I might just bite the bullet and go with an Apple, at least then I get a real Unix OS, but Apples are pricey.
I’d do Linux one more time if I could find one with the csh as a default shell and without the colored fonts. I hate the colored fonts.
I've been thinking of switching to Linux for a long time myself. I'm glad to see it is working out for you. That is encouraging.
Also, good to see you posting.
Glad you got 18.3 working- can’t understand hwy 19.3 didn’t work- but 18.3 is good too- keep it up to date and you should be fine- hopefully they work the bugs out of the 19.3 so you can upgrade at some point-
Actually what i might do is create a virtual machine, and keep trying to install and run 19.3 on it- just to keep up on whether they fix the problems or not- it won’t hurt anythign to try as you just delete the os in the virtual machine if it doesn’t work out-