Ubuntu or XP Pro?

Stick to XP, Linux or Ubuntu is not for you yet.

HI,

I'll add my contribution and encourage you to move toward the switch.

I agree with several of the points others have raised and I would say, first, get used to the software by running it on your Windows platform. When you're happy that you can use ALL the software you require and that the software is ALL available to run on a Linux platform then prepare for the move.

I think the hardware is a little old for new distributions but xubuntu8.04 should run well and continues to be supported. With newer hardware I have had no problems with 10.04, which runs better than 9.10 for me, but I enjoy DSL and very small footprint distributions on my older kit.

I use 8.04 extensively in the work's server installations, some of which are the same sort of spec as your hardware though, of course, I'm not running the desktop environments.

Good luck! Derek

Ubuntu 10.04 is way ahead of xp sp3....buddy,plz try ubuntu as it wil run fine on ur pc....i am having a similar config..

Ubuntu 10.04 rockzz

I have been running Fedora for some time. I used to be an XP Pro bigot. I got fed up with crashes, blue screens, and finally MS asking me to register my computer and bend over to let them know everything I was doing with my computer. Enough!

I downloaded Fedora 8 a couple years ago. I'm now on Fedora12. I can't say enough about it. I haven't had any crashes, no viruses, no problems whatsoever ... well, except for when I did something stupid when I was playing around with a configuration file. With OpenOffice.org3, I can do anything I need.

As for dual boot, I ask: Why? Everyone has there favourite windoz based system they can't find an open source for (mine are Punch! Home Design, Corell Draw, and a few others).

So, instead of running WindozXP and Fedora on the same box, I installed wine (~>yum install wine) in the Fedora environment, which shows up under 'Applications' after installation. Then, open the wine foldout menu, and open Wine File, which looks/acts exactly like Windows Explorer. Then put your windowz application CD in the drive, find it in the wine directory folder (under /media/...), double click on the setup or install file on the windows-based installation CD, and it will install on the c:-drive (even though linux doesn't know what a c:-drive is) under whatever windows directory you want (usually Program Files, which wine creates for you during wine setup).

Once installed, go back to the Fedora Applications foldout menu, and like magic, there will be your newly installed windows application under the Wine/Programs menu item, ready for you to coddle, cuddle or otherwise make you feel at home (away from home). I even installed Windows Office Professional under Wine for those cases I get some files from friends/associates who haven't caught on yet that Linux/Fedora is a faster, finer, friendlier operating system (BY FAR!) This allows me to view their files, modify them or do anything else I could ordinarily do in WindozXP.

A Fedora Fanatic

Another way to have the best of both worlds is to run Windows as a Virtual Machine in Virtual Box or VMWare Player, both absolutely free and superb. It uses less resources than running two operating systems side by side. I started off running Linux distros as VM"s in a Windows 7 host, and before too long realised that I had it completely the wrong way around and now I run Windows xp and 7 as VM guests in my Linux machine. Once you come over, you rarely go back! Pretty much everything works fine in a VM- network connections, peripherals like printers and scanners, CD and DVD's and anything else you want to use. If you do run into any strife: the community support, knowledge base documentation and plain, useful help available covers pretty much every known situation and then some.

One more point.

You mentioned you don't like needing to use the command line.

I found that you can do most things without resorting to the command line.

However, it is much easier to give advice to someone by copying the commands he needs to use at the command line than by telling what buttons to click on and when.

The command line is a real plus when you need advice.

The person who knows the answer does not need to give you a lot of contextual descriptive information, telling you what to click and when, they can give you a quick definitive answer, in the form of one or more command lines.

Because of that, you get the answer. They have the time.

You may need to type a few things in, but your problem is solved quickly because the steps are clear and hard to misinterpret. The command line is usually the best way to give and get advice.

Sorry for this noise message. It deletes a message accidentally posted twice despite the absence of a delete button.

I think a good way to get a feel of a distro is in a Virtual Machine.

If you like it, either install it or do a dual boot.

You can have Windows under a Virtual Machine in Linux if you need it.

Thanks Pierre for your excellent answer. You make a lot of sense. I was tring 10.04 on my Mac using Vmware Fusion. Works fine. I had a problem when I pressed comnand - f2 or something close to this. I ended up with a black screen that prompted me to log in. Where was I and how do I get back to my desktop?

If you really want to try Ubuntu as opposed to any other Linux distribution, I'd suggest you install Wubi. The reason is, you don't need to partition your drive - the whole linux install lives in a file on your Windows partition. It allows you to test drive Ubuntu at faster than VM speed without messing with anything, because Wubi installs and uninstalls just like any other Windows application.

However, you said you're a Windows user. Now, if that means that you're planning on using KDE as your desktop of choice, here's some advice that will save you heaps of time and effort tweaking things to behave right in Ubuntu - use OpenSuse 11.2 instead. Its a KDE desktop and even Firefox has been themed to look like it just fits in. You can access any of the system config options from within KDE. If you're going the GNOME route, Ubuntu is what you want.