From LQWiki
Contents |
Mindset
It is often observed that people with a Windows background try to find device drivers in the internet. Don't do that! With Linux, drivers are in your kernel and you will not need to download them. Also, the best way to install software is to do as described at installing software, downloading and installing will usually be too hard for a beginner.
Applications
If you know a Windows application that does what you want, but do not know the equivalent Linux application, look at Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software.
Sweet spots
What you will love about Linux:
- you can create your own pdfs without additional software - just chose in your printer dialog to print to a pdf file
- you can play your old Dos games from inside Linux using DosBox
- you can record a video from what you are doing on your desktop using xvidcap
- for more tips, see tips
Distribution
If you have not yet fallen in love with a distribution, take a look at Comparison_of_Linux_distributions to find out which one will best fit you.
How to migrate
If you want to keep your Windows while learning Linux, you have the following options:
- booting from USB
- dual booting - keep as well Windows as Linux on your hard disk. Decide when booting what you want to start.
- using e.g. vmware to have a virtual machine on your Windows running Linux
Various Tasks
Set File Associations
Windows
Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | File Types
Linux
There are no system-wide file associations. The different desktop environment each (may) have their own file association mechanisms.
KDE
Configuration | KDE | Components | File Associations
Clear Browser History
Windows IE
Internet Explorer | Tools | Internet Options | General Tab | Clear History
Linux
Linux does not have a default default browser, you can just set your personal default browser.
FireFox
You can clear Firefox's cache in the options dialog, or even install a plugin to give you a button somewhere that does it.
Konqueror
The history of the Konqueror browser is stored in ~/.kde/share/apps/konqueror/konq_history To Clear Go Konqueror | Setting Configure Conqueror | History Sidebar (9th item down on left side panel) | Clear History
Kill a crashed App
In Windows
Ctrl-Alt-Delete
In Linux
Misbehaving programs can be terminated with the kill and killall commands. Also helpful is the ps command which lists running processes.
In some desktops (like Gnome and KDE) you can do the following:
Ctrl-Esc bring up a task list, and allows the user to select and kill a process.
Ctrl=Alt-Esc invokes XKill, which changes the cursor to Skull & Crossbones - and allows the user to kill a program by positioning the cursor over the crashed program and clicking to kill it.
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