Mistakes to Avoid: Difference between revisions

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Changing Operating System involves a learning curve and might not be quick. Many people trying Linux abandon the attempt, following inadequate investigation. Avoid the following, common mistakes:
Changing Operating System involves a learning curve and might not be quick. Many people trying Linux abandon the attempt, too quickly, following inadequate investigation. Avoid the following, common mistakes:
#Expecting a Windows/iOS experience, when the general look & feel might be similar but the different paradigm in Linux results in :
#Expecting a Windows/iOS experience, when the general look & feel might be similar but the different paradigm in Linux results in :
#*often a longer "time to boot", on the same hardware, offset by
#**fewer needs to reboot
#*"drivers" being generally inbuilt and installed automatically
#*"drivers" being generally inbuilt and installed automatically
#*antivirus software not being required
#*antivirus software not being required
#*frequent, but not automatic updates
#*frequent, but not automatic updates
#Expecting Linux to run (and very fast) on long superceded hardware
#*specialised distributions can run remarkably well on such - but
#**contemporary software, particularly for streaming, graphics editing etc require much more resources
#**a dual-core (or fast single-core) CPU plus 2 GB RAM is required for reliable evaluations
#**the majority of distributions have phased out releases for 32-bit computers
#*popular distributions will run much better if (eventually) installed to SSD - but
#**older computer '''BIOS''' doesn't support "AHCI", which is required to gain much benefit from SSD
#Not Adjusting Settings
#*many apparent "anoyances", such as background image, fonts etc can quickly be changed
#**a summary Handbook is often accessible via the "Help" pull-down menu
#Changing Distribution, when a different Desktop Environment would be better
#*each Desktop Environment is designed & implemented for a range of characteristics
#**simple v full-featured
#**contemporary v historic "look & feel"
#**low v higher hardware resource pre-requisites
#*many distributions have a choice of Desktop Environments, whilst being similar "under the hood"
#Installing too Soon
#*live DVD are generally free and do not time-expire
#**time to reboot from USB 3 device is relatively short
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Desktop Environments
#**from the same Distribution, to get the best comparison
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Distributions
#**staying with one Desktop Environment, to get the best comparison
#Expecting '''all''' of your existing hardware to work
#*Linux generally supports older hardware longer than do other OS - but
#**drivers for new hardware might not be available quickly - plus
#**there is insufficient market to make Linux drivers viable for some hardware
#*in general, avoid buying new hardware without doing a search for "hardware model + Linux"

Latest revision as of 00:53, 5 October 2021

Changing Operating System involves a learning curve and might not be quick. Many people trying Linux abandon the attempt, too quickly, following inadequate investigation. Avoid the following, common mistakes:

  1. Expecting a Windows/iOS experience, when the general look & feel might be similar but the different paradigm in Linux results in :
    • often a longer "time to boot", on the same hardware, offset by
      • fewer needs to reboot
    • "drivers" being generally inbuilt and installed automatically
    • antivirus software not being required
    • frequent, but not automatic updates
  2. Expecting Linux to run (and very fast) on long superceded hardware
    • specialised distributions can run remarkably well on such - but
      • contemporary software, particularly for streaming, graphics editing etc require much more resources
      • a dual-core (or fast single-core) CPU plus 2 GB RAM is required for reliable evaluations
      • the majority of distributions have phased out releases for 32-bit computers
    • popular distributions will run much better if (eventually) installed to SSD - but
      • older computer BIOS doesn't support "AHCI", which is required to gain much benefit from SSD
  3. Not Adjusting Settings
    • many apparent "anoyances", such as background image, fonts etc can quickly be changed
      • a summary Handbook is often accessible via the "Help" pull-down menu
  4. Changing Distribution, when a different Desktop Environment would be better
    • each Desktop Environment is designed & implemented for a range of characteristics
      • simple v full-featured
      • contemporary v historic "look & feel"
      • low v higher hardware resource pre-requisites
    • many distributions have a choice of Desktop Environments, whilst being similar "under the hood"
  5. Installing too Soon
    • live DVD are generally free and do not time-expire
      • time to reboot from USB 3 device is relatively short
    • evaluate at least two Desktop Environments
      • from the same Distribution, to get the best comparison
    • evaluate at least two Distributions
      • staying with one Desktop Environment, to get the best comparison
  6. Expecting all of your existing hardware to work
    • Linux generally supports older hardware longer than do other OS - but
      • drivers for new hardware might not be available quickly - plus
      • there is insufficient market to make Linux drivers viable for some hardware
    • in general, avoid buying new hardware without doing a search for "hardware model + Linux"
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