Top 5 Regrets After Migrating From Windows To Linux
It has been several months that I fully migrated to Linux. The whole company has moved 100% to Linux, all servers, desktop … every machine. The only traces of Windows are in two of my personal laptops, the IBM ThinkPad with Windows 2000 and the Compaq Presario with Windows XP, which I have kept for testing purposes only. My top 5 regrets after migrating to Linux are:
5. I should have bought a scanner after checking it's Linux compatibility. My UMax Astra 4100 is still not supported. I am using my Compaq Laptop to use it, which also adorns my desk and is remotely controlled from the keyboard and mouse on my Linux desktop machine.
4. Why did I spend so much on Windows software when I could get equivalent alternatives (for free) on Linux? All my Windows software are gathering dust nowadays.
3. Linux is like a Rolls Royce while Windows is like a Honda Accord. While Linux takes lots of configuration, the end result is your own operating system made to your taste. All these years I felt boxed in Windows; now I feel liberated. My only regret is why did I miss realizing this in my earlier analysis on migration.
2. It is regrettable that big brand names like Compaq or IBM would rather ship the computer with FreeDos than with Linux operating system. It appears to me their way of appeasing Microsoft; do I hear monopoly practices?
I would be happy to pay extra for well configured Linux boxes than for hardware without an OS or just FreeDos. Dell has taken the lead in providing Linux powered desktops.
1. Why didn't I migrate sooner? It pains me to see how much I missed over the years by sticking to Windows. It was bad for my business and bad for my personal productivity.
Linux, after you spend some time with it, can be a huge productivity booster. All of my developers and QA are extremely happy with it and wouldn't trade it for any other operating system. I am very much hooked to Linux.
I personally think Linux today heralds the beginning of the end for Microsoft. Linux is ready to take on Microsoft for what its worth today and now. Take the plunge today and thank me later. I have done it and am enjoying it.
Update: See my comment below for some more rationale for switching to Linux.
Filed under Country, Enterprise Software, Fedora Core 6, Hardware, Headline News, India, Java Software, Linux, Linux Migration, Microsoft, Open Source Software, Programming, Windows | 
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July 30th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
From the title, I thought this was going to be another, “Linux Not Ready for the Desktop” post. As it is, many of your regrets mirror mine exactly. I converted… almost three years ago now, I guess, and I can’t believe it took me so long.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I completely agree, I just moved our entire office to Linux except the laptops and some office admin folks PC..
July 31st, 2007 at 12:25 am
> From the title, I thought this was going to be another, “Linux Not Ready for the Desktop” post
Sorry to disappoint
July 31st, 2007 at 1:12 am
Blogroll Dive: 7/30/07…
Here are the highlights from today’s Blogroll dive:
Bryan announced the upcoming release of his band’s first album.
Michael discussed the upcoming film adaptation of Beowulf.
Joen discussed “the double-click”.
Angsuman shared h…
August 4th, 2007 at 8:27 am
You are living in a delusional world if you think, as you stated, “Linux today heralds the beginning of the end for Microsoft.”
Have you researched how small a percentage of total world sales, Linux owns.
I am a full time user of Linux on my home PC’s but that statement of yours is just wishful thinking on the part of another Linux zealot.
I think the Linux community has its best shot at developing a niche into Microsoft, in the way Ubuntu is doing it. It takes money to fight money.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Phil, I disagree.
He said “beginning of the end” not “M$ is gone tomorrow”
10 years from now, Windows will be fighting for space on the desktop.
20 years from now, M$ will be radically different from what it is today.
If M$ thought Linux wasn’t a threat, they wouldn’t be doing all the sabre-rattling of “patent infringement” FUD and all this recent bs.
It may be longer than 10 years, but it’s gonna happen.
August 11th, 2007 at 12:15 am
@Phil
Have you researched how much of the server market Linux owns?
What I am saying is that Linux is not only the best choice for a server but also the best choice of a desktop, today and now. I am saying this from loads of personal experience with Windows over the years and Linux for about 6 months of intense immersion.
That Microsoft survives today in the desktop market speaks volumes about their marketing acumen (my hats off to them) but not the capability of their operating system.
I think in the next 5 years we will see a dramatic correction in the desktop market share of Linux OS.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
hi Angsuman,
Several developers still think Linux is NOT there yet. More accurately, they think that
Windows(Not vista) reigns supreme on the desktop
See
http://beust.com/weblog/archives/000070.html(dated)
http://beust.com/weblog/archives/000394.html
for one developer’s thought on why windows wins over other OSes.
I agree that Linux is second to none on the server side EXCEPT for the manageability (where MS wins hands down).
But … Desktop, Manageability is very important in Big enterprises and Linux is way off there. The amount of documentation available to get a SOHO to use 100% linux is very little. The number of people who can get a business owner setup a 100% SOHO are very few and spread far out.
Once the above issues are taken care of, there won’t be much Linux needs to do. Now that a new version of Ubuntu has been announced (LTS) for april 08, some of the above issues will be taken care of. I would not hesitate to bet that in 5 years, Linux Desktop will be more than 20% of all the desktops/laptops/cells in the world.
The fact that Java Swing is getting better and being open sourced can only make this process faster. Also, RIA apps like AJAX and FLASH with increasing Internet coverage make it easy for SOHOs to use any OS.
Just my 2 cents.
BR,
~A
August 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Lot has changed since Cedric wrote about Linux. You should check it out now. I would recommend Xubuntu or Fedora as desktop.
I have been using Linux (specifically Fedora Core 6) for over 6 months now and I can safely say Linux has today matured enough to provide the usability, functionality and manageability of Windows or Mac.
In work machines we have the home directories mounted on NFS, the user authentication served using NIS. This allows any developer to work on any machines and still get the same environment, desktop and files.
The NFS & NIS are served from a server with RAID-1 disks.
The data is automatically backed up on a different RAID-1 server on periodic basis, providing for a robust setup.
I use the Fedora CD’s to install the operating system with our necessary software. The NFS & NIS take care of the rest. It becomes a part of our cluster which can be used by any developer as his login and passwords are valid on every machine and even over VNC. I am thinking about creating either a custom CD with only our required software for a fully automatic installation or using Ghost to further speed-up the installation time.
All my developers love it. It gives them more power and flexibility than windows. In file & data processing you simply cannot beat Linux command line.
Personally you cannot even pay me to switch back to windows
Take a look at new Fedora desktop. You will be amazed at the functionality they expose through the UI.
BTW: The second article your posted is about Mac OS.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:36 am
I’m currently working behind the scene with several vendors to preload Linux in their machines.
I’m supplying the linux expertise needed and link to the linux communities.
They’re very much interested to save loads of money by not paying the Microsoft tax, but unable to do so by :
1. user un-friendliness of Linux desktop
2. threat from Microsoft (losing OEM discount, etc)
Now, Linux desktop are becoming much more user friendly (thanks ubuntu & gnome - at the moment all of them are looking to preload ubuntu), and they’ve had enough with microsoft and they can’t afford to be the expensive one because their competitors have launched cheaper products due to freedom from microsoft tax.
2008 will be a VERY interesting (and extremely busy, for me) year.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Judging from the title, it sounded like another “Linux Is Not Ready For the Desktop” thing. It wasn’t.
I’m running PCLinuxOS 2007 Final(STRONGLY recommended), and couldn’t be happier. Fast, affordable to the point of free, and both secure and easy to use. Linux (especially with Beryl) is DEFINITELY ready for the desktop, and has been ready for the net (servers, etc) for a long time. Companies: Don’t waste your money on Microsoft. Use Linux, and save money not only by eliminating OS fees, but also by being able to use budget computers without losing functionality.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Oops! I could have sworn closed the strong tags, but it still displayed most of the message as bold. Eh, oh well.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
[...] are shared objects used in Linux like dll files in Windows. It goes without saying that we are Linux based. However the instructions above will also work on [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Couple of questions to the Linux zealots ( abit off the topic):
1. Did you queue for Windows 95 or at least use Dos?
2. Do you understand that Microsoft was built on a capitalist model of making money, not giving stuff away for free (what the hell is so evil about that or do you offer your services/products for free as well)?
3. What is your opinion on capitalism and monolopies; where do you draw the line VERY CLEARLY?
4. Is the anti-Microsoft sentiment not just another social driver of the masses or is Microsoft really that BAD or EVIL; enemy number 1!
In the end Microsoft will need to/are reacting to whatever happens in the open source space and as this topic is about desktop share I know that Linux is a threat. However, the techies probably overrate the situation with probably a lack of business savvy
November 17th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I keep trying each version of Linux (Ubuntu 8.10). It’s still a joke. Windows may be overpriced, but its still vastly superior for everything I do.
Windows 7 pre-beta is better than the final release of any Linux distro out there.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Superior in what respect? You are making vague accusations without basis. I have used both Windows XP, Vista as well as Ubuntu and Fedora. Ubuntu is vastly superior to Windows any day, hands down. I can give you 10 reasons why (check out my recent article on Ubuntu in this blog). Can you give me at least 5 reasons?
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:07 am
Retired recently, read Microsoft’s warning on my machine at home, realized my company was no longer paying license fees, being law abiding, shut my computers off, got a friend to download Ubuntu for free from net, installed it, sweat bullets a bit, it worked fine! Still using Ubuntu after many years. I simply do not buy products not supporting Ubuntu - their loss, not mine! For an older guy with limited resources, the old box works much better with Ubuntu, no more trips to the M$ dealer to get hard drive speeded up every few months, no more ‘blue screen of death’ episodes with data losses, no more virus problems, smooth trouble free computing and great happiness, Thank You to Ubuntu who ever you are! Poor kids at my church switching to Ubuntu on older cheaper second-hand boxes say it is better than not having computers at all. The Great Depression is upon us, give generously to the folks at the food banks, send old clothing to churches, we need it desperately and the future doesn’t look to bright for the poorest among us either. Older computers with smaller Linux systems on them are still good for homework for the kids with less. Don’t forget them, they may become the programmers of the future for America, so donate your old boxes, but stay legal, load them with Ubuntu first! Love our country and respect its laws, If you didn’t pay for your OS, switch to the free and legal one, Ubuntu, and stay legal!
February 1st, 2009 at 11:55 am
No other OS can match Ubuntu….U will be spending most of time with tat Ctrl+Alt+Del if u use tat idiotic windows….Ubuntu rockz…..Thanx to Open source community…Salute to Free software Foundation..
February 1st, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Fedora closely matches Ubuntu in terms of features. We use Fedora as our desktop.
March 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
i dont want a start a geekish jihad. IMHO? windows is/can be made as good as any FOSS derivative, * the person knows what he/she is doing. Like linux, windows also gives the source for free, incuding the kernel, to all for free, just the frigging NDA (non disclosure agreement of source code as its violation of intellectual rights). then, we got M$ and OpenSource and also binary only softwares, eg, broadcom’s wireless driver nag.
my 2 cents.
so? ultimately? it doesnt really matter as its windows or linux or solaris or sco (okay YUCK SCO, bad example) or BSD (open/free/net) the purpose of any operating system and the softwares related with it to make operability easier.
and if you are a total complete idiot you will continue to feed fuel to the linux/windows/bsd/solaris holy IT jihad, accomplishing nothing. moral? IF YOU CANT COMPILE YOUR KERNEL YOU ARE A SHIT. period. wrt to linux/bsd and IF YOU CANT EDIT THE REGISTRY IN ANY M$ PRODUCT LINE YOU ARE A SHIT. period. wrt to windows. as in M$ or linux/bsd the heartbeat cum brain is kernel to linux as registry to M$. stop complaining, you are making yourself harder to live.
and those ubuntu retards? define “ubuntu” : an operating system for those who cant install debian. hehehehehe! period. ubuntu and its variants are like debian simplified. blah!
core dump aka segfault = error reporting
kernel panic = bsod
dont you think both the OS works in a similar basis, so unless you know the fine granular details of any OS all OS will be probably trash. oh well, i been compiling linux from scratch, from a USB drive, which is with a custom kernel with root encrypted with a UUID, now beat that. now some ubuntu moron please step forward and explain how i did manage to compile linux from scratch from a 2 GB pen drive drive with / with UUID encrypted? huh.
and second? i am also unofficially linked with windows 7, now SHUT UP ubuntu idiots.
if you think you are cool, forget ubuntu and get linux from scratch up else if you think you are cool with windows? go and join windows 7 dev team. they are sucking up all good dev.
signed
-online good for nothing bored programmer aka partho
March 18th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
i totally disagree with someone who says linux is poorly documented. excuse me. there is the lovely man. so i suggest you to give up looking for pirated learn-linux-easily-v1.2.3.4.5.pdf or learn-linux-easily-v1.2.3.4.5.chm and RTFM. i am sure you know whats “RTFM”. and secondly opensource is the obvious choice of all server admin. advanced users opt debian as opposed to ubuntu, and enterprise customers opt for RHEL well you need to pay a price for everything if you want it easy, the hardcore ones preffer debian or linuxfromscratch. thats number one. and windows website runs on windows server 2008 and there are many things in windows which you will never know unless you purchase windows .exe or .iso binaries else roll your own windows from scource. M$ never says NO it sources. and since start they give away of source to most of eerything (well almost) type windows “shared source licence” in google. and lastly. i find this windows vs linux vs bsd a total waste of time, as i read points from those who are neither well versed with windows neither with linux. as both are damned OS. and it all depends on how you manage them. unless you are a kindergarten drop out failure? you will prolly continue to argue and i give up. if windows asks for $ then so does RHEL and SUSE via novell. how does one linux user tend to define that condition. and second, rhel and suse, both gives away the srpms which is nothing but source rpms. now unless you are an absolute braindead moron? you may want to stop arguing which is nothing but a total waste of time. i didnt say brainless, i said braindead, yead braindead. and frankly ubuntu is a laughing stalk in the debian community.
if you cant manage any OS? then shutdown your computer take huge 20 step backward walk and go buy a kite and fly it. simple.
March 18th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
angshuman, i had a big fight with the fedora team in irc freenode, where i refused to stick with fedora guidelines, way back in 2003-2004, then i moved all my desktops and laptops from fedora to debian potato. well, i guess i had a rough ride with many OS. right now i am in
Linux debian 2.6.26-1-686 #1 SMP Sat Jan 10 18:29:31 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux
and i am making a new kernel with ath9k for the FOSS support for my atheros wireless mini-pcie card.
dumbo@debian:~/kernel$ ls
linux-2.6.28.8.tar.bz2
so? who gives a damn to fedora, and secondly i even ran a friggin windows sevrer 2008 enterprise on this same laptop, and even with 2008, because of proper fine tuning, i was beating a quad core HP laptop with vista enterprise. my CPU is just 1.8 gig of celeron, with that i was competeting with a HP quad core, amd phenom laptop. no shit!
so it proves nothing. i am neither god nor superman. i just read the docs well ahead and i apply common sense. as opposed to other uber senses.