Why I switched to Linux is complicated. It’s honestly not something I can explain right now. Not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t find the words to express the satisfaction I have since making the switch. I feel … liberated. That’s really the only word I can think of.
I want to write about my first 12 hours on Ubuntu Linux. I’m not what you might consider a “power user.” I don’t run my own server, I’m not at all good with running command lines or terminals. I grew up Windows, I know Windows and switching to Linux has pushed my brain farther than I thought it would ever have to go. It has been a great experience. Here are some things that I’ve noted are significantly different and, in my humble opinion better, than Windows.
Installing programs
Installing programs isn’t necessarily more complicated in Ubuntu, it’s just a COMPLETELY different process from Windows. You use a thingy called “Synaptic Package Manager” to install almost anything on Ubuntu. It feels very foreign to me. You search for the software you want to install and then you tell Synaptic to “install” and it does the rest. It’s odd because Linux does all the leg work for you. In Windows you’ve got a lot of confirmation screens, and you sometimes have your own special installation screen (you know, that bluish/grayish screen?) But with Linux there’s none of that. And it’s lightning fast.
Fonts
Ubuntu doesn’t come with the standard fonts we all know and love. You have to install them yourself. Fortunately this is JUST AS EASY to do as with Windows.
“Everything looks prettier in Ubuntu than Windows. The fonts, the colors, everything. It’s just … pretty.”
Remember, I’m absolutely worthless with a Command Line. After literally hours of looking I found the complete MS core font set. Unfortunately I can’t remember where I got it from. If you need it email me and I’ll send it to you. You just then extract the file and put the fonts in your usr/share/fonts/truetype directory. It took me a long time to figure out where to even put the stinkin’ ttf files. But now that I’ve figured it out it’s all good.
Everything else
Everything else that I’ve experienced so far, while a little different from Windows has felt very familiar. An interesting option that’s available is that I have two workspaces which functions somewhat like having two monitors. I can switch back and forth between the workspaces by clicking on them in the lower right hand portion of my screen.
The desktop is clean; and that’s odd. Windows puts a lot of crap on your desktop but Ubuntu does none of that. It’s clean, clear and tidy. Feels good.
Ubuntu does automatic updates just like Windows and it’s just as easy to install them too. Very nice.
I feel like the past 12 hours on my computer (not consecutive) has been time spent in a foreign country where everyone speaks another language. Fortunately I’ve gone for “total immersion” and went “whole hog” into Linux. It was scary at first but it’s turned out to be a blast. I feel like I’m using my computer now and it has stopped using me.
