2009/9/20 L Smith
<lhs47crewe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Hi
I am an untechnical 50 something who came into Linux via an Acer Netbook about a year ago after many frustrating years of "This Program has performed an illegal operation ect" Windows use. The final straw of course was Vista. Now I happily use Linpus (which I have fine-tuned to my needs (read/write to NTFS), I also have Ubuntu and Mint on my full sized machines and run a coiuple of windows programs under Wine.
I understand that now Windows 7 is the "perfect" operating system and is "whay winndows should always have been", I'm sure that will be true until the first batch of security fixes become neccessary, I shall be sticking with my Linux machines. and will be serene.
My feeling now is that with the like of Ubuntu and Mint that any average newcomer could be up and running ever bit as easily and probably more quickly than with
windows in any of its manifestations and what more they would save themselves a lot of money.
Lena
Hi Lena,
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Welcome to the list. I have been using Linux for several years now. I am not very technical either but, have no wish to return to using Windows, for anything other than occasional use when I have no choice (downloading and using BBC Iplayer, for example). Wine means that many Windows programs can run under Linux, anyway. I use this to run Spotify which I like for listening to music.
I am a bit of a rarity in the group I think for being a Mandriva fan. According to the Linux Format magazine it is a lot less popular than Ubuntu and other distros derived from it. However, I find it really easy to use and very stable. I had problems once with a distro upgrade and intended to stop using it but, I ended up coming back to it.
One bit of advice, based on my own experience. If the distro you are using comes up with a message one day, saying there is an upgrade available to a new version, be very careful about doing it without backing up everything first. Probably better to hold off and see what other people say about the upgrade before you try it yourself. Obviously, normal regular updates should be fine. Twice though, I have had major problems with a distro upgrade and now prefer to reinstall the new version, even if it takes longer.
About 6 months we converted one of our friends in the village to using Mandriva and have since moved them over to PCLinuxOS 2009 as it suited their upgraded machine better. I am afraid that she is our only convert to date. We do continue to try though.
regards
Viv (and Phil))
