The idea of only using open-source applications on ms-windows is good as well – it helped on me as well – it helps a very faster and easier migration.

The main idea about people seems to concern about the migration is the tipical ‘why must i learn everything again’ (not properly the case, since Ubuntu 9.04 is much more easier to use than Vista or windows-7, my humble oppinion again), when the most important is to learn generally how an operating system and usual applications works in common, helping being more open to changes when they happens.

I use Ubuntu for about 18 months on my home computer. Prime reason: I got totally fed up with anti-virus apps eating up all CPU cycles, and how much time it took to boot and shut down. For fun I installed Ubuntu on a 1GHz P-III PC with 256MB RAM, and it ran like a charm. boot up in 30 seconds, everything works, performance acceptable, and shuts down again in 10 seconds. That, and the fact that everything looks & feels like Windows was enough to get us going.

The big kicker for me: because of Ubuntu’s excellent performance you can settle for really cheap simple computers. And admin hassle on PCs is minimal; when it works, it works.

What I had to do to make it acceptable to the family:

- install Netscape Thunderbird for email, and convert all Outlook archives. Took an hour, but pretty straightforward.
- install Wine for those few apps you like and have no alternative for (my kids use it for playing games)
- install ODF import- & export modules (you can download for free from the Sun website) for those who wish to stick to Office. That way both sides can accept each other’s files.

And typically Ubuntu is a bit behind on what you are used to on Windows apps – just be patient. A solution always comes around. To the average user this is no issue.

Use an ubuntu theme (no harm done it’s only a theme), that’s what i set up my brother with and he had no problem with it. he was also a bit tire of the default vista.

get em here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=856096

Note: I am not against a Dell linux machine and would consider purchasing one in the future.

A few weeks ago, I purchased an ASUS eeePC 2G Surf and enjoying this little guy more than I expected and recommend one of the eeePC (4G, 4G Surf, 8G, or 901) depending on how much money wants to spend. With the eeePC 2G Surf I do IM, web browsing (Firefox), email, watch videos, play music, Skype’ing, word processing, spreadsheets, etc. The lightness of this machine is impressive. In a couple of years, I will be purchasing a eeePC, or something similar, when my kids get a few years older.

I am looking forward to Dell’s upcoming Dell E line ($299-$499) that may be released in two or three months.

The reason I recommend linux based systems has nothing to do with price, interface design, etc. For me, the reliability and ease of maintenance (i.e., don’t have to deal with viruses, defragging, spyware) makes my life so easy, I couldn’t think of using anything else. Once the system is setup and does what you want, just use the machine day after day without hassle in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

TripleII

“Does it run The Sims?”

I find Windows laughable compared to Linux in most cases but I was in that exact situation a few months ago and that was the one request (or rather demand) she had.

So no matter how stupid I felt buying a Dell/Vista machine did I really have a choice?

Monty

There’s a whole website dedicated to running Linux on Thinkpads:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki

(should you ever need to “upgrade” the OS) Just kidding, Thinkpads have an amazing “blue button” that will allow you to restore the installed OS from an image on HDD. The only problems I can forsee, are the crudding up of the system with spyware and viruses (and the sluggishness, due to the anti-virus programs — our IT department recommends AVG, by the way)

Hope she likes it, and remember that website!

These days, all you need to do to ensure a laptop is GNU/Linux compatible is check that it’s an Intel chipset with on-board Intel graphics.