Linux Mint KDE distro

I have now had 2 good days of playing with an install on my primary SSD at a partition of 120GB. I have not had Linux on a system for a bit over 2 years now. My last bout was from frustration with Windows 8.0 and now it has come to a head with the impending release of Windows 10.

I am an avid Windows 7 user and like other enthusiasts have long fought Windows 8.0 releases and beyond for a better U/I. With that it seems it is finally time for a move. My thought is to make it a gradual one.

I have decided to my usage to Linux as much as possible. It seems 95% of the usage is browser and email. While I was in Windows a huge IE and Windows Live user now I find so far Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird take care of those chores respectively. I have 6 different pop3 accounts of which so far 4 are configured and it works well. Next will be for an office suite.

I haven't looked for one yet but I will just be looking for basic functionality. The Windows install has Office 10 so when required I can revert there. Later on I may need to research for a more Office compliant Linux suite but hopefully there will be better compliance by 2020.

One thing I miss is a great printer utility for an all in one. I love that about my Old HP L7780. Thing here too is if we had that it could go a long way to making the OS more acceptable to casual and business users alike.

Now Windows 7 will be used primarily for Abode photo software and DVD/BR backups. In other words off line functions where market share will not show. Hopefully if enough growth starts up the OEM's will take notice and get us better drivers.

So now that Microsoft has given up the OS to become an Internet service, long live Linux and a true OS!

 

Check out hplip-gui for the printer stuff.

Libreoffice or openoffice are probably your best bet for a productivity suite.

 

Yeah, I have it and it gets to the fax portion but not like the windows util that also has full access to the scanner and duplex feeder etc. Also scan to PDF like the windows utility would be awesome, even having the OCR would be great too. This has always been an issue ut I have to say it has got a lot better.

This is what I am hoping for in the next 5 years as well. If Linux market share all of a sudden jumped to even 10% it would start getting the driver respect of at least OSX. Basic printer support is already there so other than those with higher end All in ones may be good with drivers already out there.

So far as I see, other than a good system specialist setting up a system, most current casual users out there could easily convert to just a good Linux Distro. for everyday use. in 5 more years it may just be a no brainer when Windows 7 looses support.

 

This may sound stupid at first but... Have you thought to install XP on a virtual machine from Linux? It will take not much space and you will do just offline work on Windows, don't you?

I just downloaded VMware Player Free and prepared Windows XP iso. Will try this tomorrow.

 

Where I am doing off line video, and even just photo, I want the full cpu on a dedicated OS. While yes the work would get done it is just easier this way for now.