Posted on 02/10/2023 12:59:33 PM PST by ShadowAce
How long will it take you to learn to play chess?
As a basic desktop PC, I started using it right away. Took me a few years to come up with my collection of favorite programs since there are options and all free.
You never stop learning anything. You learn how to do things constantly with web searches. Google or other.
Shell commands, KDE, GUI will produce obstacles and you find the answers at that time.
So much in program operations are different, only different to avoid law suits between competitors.
One cannot find what you learned on Windows XP to work 100% the same on linux. Many items are just different and lots are now better and easier.
You got it backwards.
You can run Linux, and Windows, on a Mac. But you can only run Mac on a Mac.
And the question of this thread was, how long does it take. So in that sense, the child’s toy is much easier to grasp than piloting an airliner. And most people don’t need an airliner. But if you do, your Mac can run it.
A lifetime.
Learning Linux is like learning to breathe.
Seriously. It’s natural.
Pick a simple desktop like Mate or XFCE to start with. Even the most clueless Windows user can grok those basic desktop systems.
You don’t need the command line. It’s great, but you can live without it.
Browsers: Firefox and Brave and Palemoon and whatever are the same across computers.
Email is the same - just choose either a client app like Thunderbird or Evolution (similar to an old version of Outlook), or stay with a MAPI webbrowser app if that’s your gig.
If you’re a gamer, you’re on your own. I don’t know and neither do I care.
LibreOffice or any of the other open-source office suites are similar enough to MS Office as to be of minimal concern when switching over. Word processors are word processors, and spreadsheets are spreadsheets within normal usage.
PDF docs are the same, although Linux has far superior PDF readers to the bloated and brain-dead Adobe Reader.
If you do want to use the command line, learn a few basics such as ‘ls’ instead of ‘dir’ (or set an alias), ‘df’ for disk usage, ‘free’ for memory usage, ‘uname’ and ‘inxi’ for system info. ‘cd’ works (pretty much) the same as with DOS/Windows.
The great strength of Windows is the plethora of ‘Wizards’ for routine tasks. The weakest point of Windows are the brain-dead ‘Wizards’ that fake you out. Windows is the epitome of bloatware and spyware. Sadly, some Linux desktops are following Windows into the land of bloat and obtuse. But for now, Linux is the simpler, cleaner system.
Bkmk
“building a strong foundation in the command line”
i started with IBM JCL and punched cards and assembler language ... then decades with programming FORTRAN and C and the unix command line ... modern interpreted languages and GUI operating systems turned drudgery to joy ... F**k the command line!
Ask Chappy, the AI!
"And the question of this thread was, how long does it take. (Linux)"
Obviously because, you can run Linux in a window, on a Mac, while you learn Linux.
Otherwise you're likely to end up being stuck only on Linux, not knowing how anything works, losing patience, getting p-o'd, etc, like most people.
And then, after running them both side by side, you have plenty of time to decide which you prefer.
Is the best single answer, relative to the more thinks you try, as you will then ask questions, such as (for me): Presuming one is using Mint, how would one make and add shortcuts to right click menus (such as clock, desktop, etc) to certain selected programs and places? (Efficiency)
And I know I have asked this, but what is the equivalent (in scope and ability, such as r. clk to uninstall; update driver) to Windows device manager (hope MS does not "improve=diminish it).
I thought it was incredibly simple.
Of course I already knew Unix lol
Liking to have options and explore, I have tried most every major and minor Linus distro, and if MS get more controlling them perhaps I might take the time to learn how to customize a Linux distro (as much as possible) to the degree that I have rather easily done with Windows for increased efficiency etc., but for now it is not worth the time and energy that would be needed to be taken away from more immediately productive use. Related.
I am sure once you learn it. But I too easily forget even some of the hot keys I made via AutoHotKey scripts. Yet besides them, I do keep a collection of Windows commands to be run either in the Run command or the CMD or Power Shell. Such can be required even in Windows when you beyond "normal use" or sometimes there is a problem. I advised Jim Robinson on the viability of key remapping and hot keys due to his degree of paralysis. Hope it helps.
Thanks for posting this.
I recall downloading an app that allows you to learn and experiment with Ubuntu without actually instead of installing it until you’re ready.
https://www.maketecheasier.com/use-ubuntu-without-installing-it/
“While this is true, the casual user of a Linux system (Not the same thing as what is being discussed in the article) can use a Linux system effectively without ever having to touch the CLI.”
Thank you sir. I really really really do appreciate you adding this... :)
“By the time I learned LINUX, it would be obsolete.............................”
Actually if you can use Win XP or Win 7 you can fly right away on the newer Ubuntu or Mint. The Mint is almost a direct replacement for Win 7 in how it operates and feels. :)
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