People want to upgrade their computer systems - for many reasons, from software to perceived hardware shortcomings. But when they look around at current options they find these problems: Windows Vista needs hardware far in excess of what people really currently have - so no real option to upgrade short of buying a new computer. Apple’s continued high priced hardware/software package (a bit of elitist market pricing - well done brand management) also prices many people out of the market. With less change in people’s pockets due to the home mortgage issues, economy fears, and concerning stock market returns, people wonder what they should do. They are looking for alternatives.

Eventually, they come across a friend or business associate talking about this new fangled “Linux” thing. And they pause when they find out that Linux won’t run their favorite (Windows) software … Many main stream computer users are not hugely technical and feel somewhat daunted by the prospects of a new system. Then they look at Windows Vista or a switch to a Mac and they see the same learning curve. So out of curiosity and perhaps need they start reading forums and blogs and try to find out if this new “Linux” thing is for them.

Here are the steps I followed, and suggest others to follow, in getting into Linux - there is nothing like trying it out for yourself with your own hardware and your own software needs.I have an engineering and project management consulting business supporting Automotive OEM and Tier1 corporations. All my business use is Linux based. Primarily Kubuntu (which is more like Windows for those thinking of switching and faster than base Ubuntu which many like because it’s more Mac-like) and Xubuntu (faster than Kubuntu for older machines - runs well on 500-700Mhz or newer CPUs, you read that right - ok on half a Ghz!). I use Open Office and trade documents with my clients using MS Office all day long and never a problem. For producing final documents - Open Office has a direct “export to pdf” option on its menu that many people find extremely useful (I know people who installed OO just to get the pdf output).

For those starting out and wanting to test the Linux waters, here are the steps:
1. Install Open Office (www.openoffice.org), Firefox web browser (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/), GIMP (www.gimp.org), and possibly Thunderbird email (on the mozilla web site) on your Windows machine.
2. Download an .iso image and burn a Live-CD of: Kubuntu and/or Xubuntu and/or PCLinuxOS. Make sure your pc boots to the CD/DVD-ROM drive before the hard disk drive and boot them up. They will run slower than a native installation because they run from the CD and are uncompressing files on the fly. When done testing remove the CD and reboot back to Windows - which never knew you were being unfaithful.
3. Do an installation on an old PC (your last generation windows box the kids are using “that was too slow for real work” or that is moldering in the garage/basement), or get a spare hard disk drive to swap in your favorite computer, or do the “dual boot” option on your favorite computer.
4. Go native Linux.

I hear a lot about GIMP being ‘hard to use’ -it’s only hard for those with extensive Photoshop experience that need to ‘unlearn’ where they thought everything should be. If you’re a newer dog you won’t have any bad habits to unlearn.

While many reviewers of Open Office state that OO lacks this or that that “I gotta have to switch” they rarely point out that Open Office actually has some features and base options that MSOffice lacks such as some spreadsheet charts in addition to the direct pdf exporter. The key is to install a copy of OO and see if it does what you have to have done - if it doesn’t then you have options to install MS Office: virtualbox (run winXP and MSOffice inside Linux), WINE, Crossover or other related emulators, or just dual boot.For the adventurous.. go to www.distrowatch.com and look at the popularity ranking list on the middle of the right hand side of the web page. These are alternatives you have to choose from when considering Linux.Oh, one last thing… A frequently expressed concern is that “there isn’t any software for Linux” which they really mean is they don’t see any programs they recognize. The ‘ubuntu’s and PCLinuxOS have a software package installer that, if you open up the source sites they draw from, can get you somewhere in excess of 20,000+ programs with only a click or two to install. To best ease the concern about what software does what you do today or want to do tomorrow, go to your favorite search engine and search with “windows linux equivalent” (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= windows+linux+equivalent&btnG=Search) to find equivalent programs in Linux to those you use in Windows today.

Cheers!