Difference between revisions of "Mistakes to Avoid"

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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:
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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#Expecting Linux to run (and very fast) on long superceded hardware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
  
#Changing Distribution, when a different Desktop Environment would be better
  +
#*each Desktop Environment is designed & implemented for a range of characteristics
⚫
#*many distributions have a choice of Desktop Enviroments, whilst being similar "under the hood"
  
  +
#**simple v full-featured
  +
#**contemporary v historic "look & feel"
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#**low v higher hardware resource pre-requisites
  ⚫
#*many distributions have a choice of Desktop Environments, whilst being similar "under the hood"
 
#Installing too Soon
  
#Installing too Soon
 
#*live DVD are generally free and do not time-expire
  
#*live DVD are generally free and do not time-expire
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#*time to reboot from USB 3 device is relatively short
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#**time to reboot from USB 3 device is relatively short
 
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Desktop Environments
  
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Desktop Environments
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#**from the same distribtion, to get the best comparison
 +
#**from the same Distribution, to get the best comparison
 
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Distributions
  
#*evaluate at least '''two''' Distributions
 
#**staying with one Desktop Environment, to get the best comparison
  
#**staying with one Desktop Environment, to get the best comparison
 
#Expecting '''all''' of your existing hardware to work
  
#Expecting '''all''' of your existing hardware to work
 
#*Linux generally supports older hardware longer than do other OS - but
  
#*Linux generally supports older hardware longer than do other OS - but
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#*drivers for new hardware might not be available quickly - plus
 +
#**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 10:53, 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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