A Free Windows XP Alternative - Comments Page 1

Thank you! I've been "agonizing" over whether I should go with Ubuntu or not. This helps a lot!

Question about installing: If I download and burn wubi.exe and the Ubuntu .iso file onto a DVD, can I use that for the installation instead of having to download Ubuntu installation files via the Internet?

I have some "technology challenged" friends and co-workers who frantically resist moving from something that has been so good. So, I have one question before pushing Linux on them: You mentioned the changes in documents and spreadsheets will open the same Ubuntu and Win. I assume that any changes in pics, videos, music, etc will also be the same even after they are imported into Ubuntu programs and then reopened in XP later. Is that true even of iTunes?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pictures, music and videos are use standard file formats that are recognized across operating system platforms, so there should be no issues there.

I have looked into replacing Windows XP with a free OS. Dependent on both Nero and Word Perfect, I ruled it out because neither run on anything outside of Windows. However, keeping XP with Ubantu running in another partition is worth exploring.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Some versions of Nero and WordPerfect run well under Wine. See

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=2584
and

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=530

So, will the MS office products work in the Ubuntu OS? I already am using T-bird & Chrome & Firefox.

And will T-bird import the settings from XP? I can't find them on my computer.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Some versions of MS Office components will work if you install Wine. But before going down that path, give Libre Office or Google Docs a good look. I did address the T-bird export/import in my article.

Hi Bob,

The first thing is that Microsoft do not stop supporting Windows XP in a couple of days. That is if you have the 'odd' £5.548mGBP to shell out for one year's updates.

Perhaps I should send your article to our Eton educated P.M. who would probably think of a 'free' anything as being useless.

The second thing is that, having used both, I agree that Ubuntu is a simple update, and far easier than windows 8 to cope with. In addition to the above programs VLC also works perfectly on Ubuntu.

Why doesn't HMG subscribe to Ask Bob - perhaps you should offer a special limited subscription of only £3 to £4 million a year before they would consider saving money.

All the best,

Jon

P.S. link to article on UK and XP, sorry it's so long -
http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2337979/government-shells-out-gbp55m-for-windows-xp-one-year-support-deal?utm_term=&utm_content=Government%20shells%20out%20%C2%A35.5m%20for%20Windows%20XP%20one-year%20support%20deal&utm_campaign=V3.Daily_RL.EU.A.U&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=V3.DCM.Editors_Updates

A bit of a learning curve with Ubuntu? That's an understatement if ever there was one! I consider myself to be of above average intelligence but even after spending days scoring the internet and Ask Ubuntu trying find out how to install first an Edimax wireless dongle (with Linux compatible drivers) and then a TP Link dongle in Ubuntu, I still could not do it! But not being one to give up easily, I purchased a really cheap wireless dongle off eBay and Ubuntu recognised and installed that straight away.

But bar the price (free) I hated everything about Ubuntu, from the way all the icons are down one side with the rest of the screen totally barren of anything except whatever background you selected to the fact that installing hardware and software nearly always seemed to involve entering whole strings of specific sudo commands.

No doubt if I had persevered for a few more weeks or months, I would eventually have mastered it. But compared to Windows, it is not at all intuitive and common tasks that happen almost automatically in Windows require a great deal of user input. Not for the faint hearted at all, in my opinion.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't mean to be a cheerleader for Linux or Ubuntu, but I think your problems are a bit out of the mainstream. Most computer users need only a point and click interface that offers web browsing, email, word processing, and tools to manage their music and photos. Ubuntu has all of that, right out of the box. No need to install anything, or muck about with the command line.

Most consumer PC hardware is well supported by Linux, but yes, there are some issues with peripherals as you discovered. I still think that a majority of users won't bump into the kind of problems you mentioned.

Now you tell me! I just bought a laptop with Win7 on it but I do have a question: If I install Ubuntu on a partition in my XP desktop and boot into Ubuntu, is XP still vulnerable when I go online in Ubuntu? Does it need to be password protected somehow? Thanks for all your good advice over the years. I've been reading your newsletter since the early days of Tourbus back in the early 90s.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Your XP system will be dormant, so no worries there.

I've been giving it a lot of thought about what I'll do with my XP. Sometimes I wonder if Microsoft is trying to make people feel it is "dooms day" for us XP lovers. Remember back on 1/1/2000? I did receive an email from Microsoft the other day, after they downloaded one file. This is the link they sent me: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/end-of-support.aspx

Do you think people who uses XP computers would be willing to pay a monthly fee to Microsoft, so they would continue supporting us?

I've noticed that people have a concern about using the command line in Linux. Most popular Linux distributions are easy to use without ever opening a terminal, though it's a good ideal to learn the terminal because some things are just easier to do that way. It's easy to install software without the terminal because almost all distributions have a simple graphical tool for that purpose. So far, every usb peripheral I've used has worked without any setup.

Since different desktop environments appeal to different people, I recommend installing VirtualBox and testing out various Linux distros in order to find one you really like. It may take a bit of time, but it's free. I also recommend going to distrowatch.com to learn about different distros. They include links to homepages and download locations.

Tried Ubuntu but could never get the Broadcom (BCM4318) wireless card driver to install with live usb so then I tried pclinuxos and it worked like a charm. I like pclinuxos's interface a lot better also.

My concern about open source operating systems is, can I trust all the vast community of volunteers who may insert harmful code into the OS. Microsoft is a reputable software company and look how many hackers have invaded that company.

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's MUCH harder for a programmer to slip malicious code into open-source software. The reason is simple: anyone can inspect the code. And in a large project like Linux, many sets of eyes will be reviewing each module.

The security problems in Microsoft's (proprietary closed) software don't stem from someone sneaking code into their programs. Those threats come from people on the outside, who have discovered flaws in the software that can be exploited.

UBUNTU is very easy to use AND relatively safe. On the other hand, MS is not safe at all unless you run an antivirus program.
The only problem is that some drivers are hard to find or non-existent.
Perhaps you could follow this article with one on drivers, Bob?

I would respectfully suggest that Ubuntu is *not* free. Not if sweat equity has anything to do with it. Ubuntu , like all Linux distributions, has a learning curve. Also Linux is terrible when dealing with DRM'ed content. For example if you want to watch netflix on your new Ubuntu system what do you do? Install Silverlight in wine? or run a Linux equivalent of silverlight?

Also like any other distribution that is not Windows it is not a given that it will run on your hardware.

I would think that most people who are smart enough to *successfully* switch to Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution would have done so by now.

Believe it or not, I still use an old DOS program called Q&A to keep inventories, keep track of doctor bills, and all kinds of things. Will that work?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've read that Q&A will run on Linux, using a program called DosBox to emulate the DOS environment.

I agree 100% with Sheri!! I have tried several versions of Ubuntu over the last few years with disappointing results every time. During installation, when asked if I want to install Ubuntu "alongside" Windoze, I answer "yes" and end up losing my Windoze functionality! THREE times I have had to format the hard-drive to rid myself of Ubuntu. And, WHERE ARE THE PRINTER DRIVERS?!

I'll stay with Xp until someone sells an O/S that's as good as Xp. And, I am NOT a fan of Micro$oft - it's just hard to beat a great O/S like Xp.

This a good idea that we have been selling to the Senior Citizens community. I have used it now for 5 years and find that Ubuntu performs more rapid and with greater ease than Windows. The final straw for Windows was when the Linux OS got OCR working in good shape. That was the final answer that said unplug Windows. Ubuntu forums always has an answer should a situation arise with the OS.

I like the idea, but are there many games that are made for the Linux OS oe whatever it is called. I bought tons of Windows games, especially for the kids. I think the idea is to have two OS. Linux for the internet and Windows just for what you have acquired before. What I would like is a real ANDROID OS to replace my XP. I tried that virtual Android bit and could not get it to work. With Android play store around, I could really do with their OS on my PC's as a full blown OS that I can setup as easy as Windows from a CD.
Do you think there might be a Android Operating System for Desktop PC sometimes soon?

Have a laptop too old to upgrade past XP, so I
am setting up to dual boot with Linux Mint "Maya" and am in search of a wireless driver. Glad to get
the directions for upgrading the email program data.

I have a 10 year old Sony Vaio Pentium 4 desktop with 10 different versions of Linux. The best for
XP users are Linux Mint(I prefer the Mate desktop)
Point Linux, SnowLinux, Solyd X, and others, all better than Ubuntu. This old computer is much faster with Linux than my main box, an AMD 8 core 3.8ghz, and 8gb memory with Win7 using the classic menu.

I have all these set up like my Win 7 with the classic menu.

Joe, I have considered switching to Linux for a long time. It was suggested to me to put the software on an external hdd, so there is no conflict. I agree with you regarding XP. It is the best O/S that Microsoft ever created. They are trying to make people feel that they should run out and buy a new computer, which I refuse to do. Like you, I'm definitely not a fan of Microsoft. Even their stock has gone down in price.