Old XP laptop

Terry98

I tried Linux about ten years ago and quickly went back to Windows because most of the mainstream software did not run on it.

Firefox was the only browser you could use and that was a very old version!

Apparently Mint is now the easiest to install and get used to. Have things changed in ten years and would I still have to use alternative software?

henm2

There are quite a lot of Linux based operating systems that are easy to use (as easy as Windows 7 and definitely easier than Windows 8/ 8.1). Good ones include Linux Mint, LXLE, PCLinuxos, Xubuntu. It is possible to use Windows programs on a linux system using the 'Wine' emulator but you are normally using 'alternative' programs e.g Libre Office for Microsoft Office. I do run Firefox, Chrome browsers, Skype, Videostream for Google chromecast on various linux based systems.
For a good comprehensive guide to the 'alternative' software available see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/new-cool-list-linux.html
For games see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computer_games.html#linux

henm2

For someone moving from the likes of Windows XP or any other Windows system to Linux there is also a very good 'ultimate' guide, see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ultimate-linux-guide-for-windows-users.html.
Another good source is www.distrowatch.com
I agree about Live CDs or ones run off USB flash drives. They are useful but only for testing purposes. An installed system will work much faster.

smudger1964

henm2 wrote: »

For someone moving from the likes of Windows XP or any other Windows system to Linux there is also a very good 'ultimate' guide, see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ultimate-linux-guide-for-windows-users.html.
Another good source is www.distrowatch.com
I agree about Live CDs or ones run off USB flash drives. They are useful but only for testing purposes. An installed system will work much faster.

Im already a Linux user that is a great resouce site for Linux thanks

Terry98

henm2 wrote: »

There are quite a lot of Linux based operating systems that are easy to use (as easy as Windows 7 and definitely easier than Windows 8/ 8.1). Good ones include Linux Mint, LXLE, PCLinuxos, Xubuntu. It is possible to use Windows programs on a linux system using the 'Wine' emulator but you are normally using 'alternative' programs e.g Libre Office for Microsoft Office. I do run Firefox, Chrome browsers, Skype, Videostream for Google chromecast on various linux based systems.
For a good comprehensive guide to the 'alternative' software available see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/new-cool-list-linux.html
For games see this http://www.dedoimedo.com/computer_games.html#linux

Thank you for the links. I have bookmarked for future reference.

I see my default browser Opera was shown on your in your first link but omitted from the updated link http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/linux-best-software-2012.html#mozTocId541771. Looking on Opera website they do offer a download for version 26 in Linux but perhaps Dedoimedo do not recommend because of all the teething problems in version 26.

henm2

Whichever linux system I use I tend to download software using the 'synaptic package manager' (it's a safe fast software download manager). I have just checked using synaptic and the latest Opera browser v 12.16 is available for download. This version of Opera is apparently based on a Google Chrome code base and nothing to do with old versions of Opera hence the confusion with version numbers. http://superuser.com/questions/785310/why-is-opera-browser-in-version-12-16-for-linux-and-version-22-for-windows
Has a good reputation and should run well on an old toshiba laptop as used by OP.

esuhl

Terry98 wrote: »

Looking on Opera website they do offer a download for version 26 in Linux but perhaps Dedoimedo do not recommend because of all the teething problems in version 26.

Don't manually download and compile software, like you would in Windows. Linux distributions tend to use package managers that should generally be used to install the programs you want.

Package managers usually take care of dependencies automatically, and mean that (unlike Windows) you can update your whole system with one command.

The Arch Linux wiki says this about the availability of Opera in Linux:

In early December 2014, Opera version 26 was released, but only for 64-bit systems... The previous 12.16 version is still supported for 32-bit systems.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/opera

henm2 wrote: »

Whichever linux system I use I tend to download software using the 'synaptic package manager'...

It's usually best to stick with the package manager provided by your distribution. There are often GUI wrappers you can use if you don't want to use the command line.

Terry98

Some very useful advice thanks.

I see there are not many software recommendations under Security.
Is Linux still relatively virus free?

Like the OP I have an old laptop which I might upgrade.

I had not noticed that the 12.16 32 bit version of Opera was still supported. Because I am using a 64-bit version of Win7 it automatically upgraded me to version 26!!

gjchester

Terry98 wrote: »

I see there are not many software recommendations under Security.
Is Linux still relatively virus free?

Sort of, its more secure by design, but theres also a lot fewer Linux systems out there so its less of a target. Bit like Macs really. If either overtook windows in terms of market share then they'd suddenly be the targets for malware.
Linux users also tend to be more technical, so have already hardened the operating system to attack in a way windows (and mac) users tend not to bother.

esuhl

Terry98 wrote: »

I see there are not many software recommendations under Security.
Is Linux still relatively virus free?

Relatively, yes!

Windows was designed (originally) as a single-user system without any security -- the security was added as an afterthought. Linux was designed as a secure multi-user system from scratch.

So there are fewer inherent security vulnerabilities in Linux, and it's harder for software to run with undeserved elevated priviledges.

Also, the use of package managers in Linux makes it easy to keep the system safely updated. Windows expects users to manually check every program is up-to-date individually, clicking through program-specific updaters or navigating to a website to download the latest version. It's tedious and easy for users to overlook outdated software.

In Linux, all your software (should) come from official repositories -- centrally approved and digitally signed for security. You update every program on your machine with one easy command. And you never need to visit third-party (dodgy) sites searching for downloads -- everything is available via your package manager.

Oh -- and different Linux distributions package software using different formats -- RPM files in Red Hat, DEB files in Debian, etc. An RPM file won't simply install in, say Arch Linux, like it would in Debian, so malware writers have another problem to overcome.

As mentioned above, it's also a smaller target -- most malware targets the mass-market of unpatched Windows machines.

So, personally, I don't use an antivirus in Linux. The vast majority of home users don't.

A random article here (ignore the first paragraph!):
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/linux-security.html