When migrating to Linux, some users find it easier if the desktop environment looked close enough to Windows. Why? Because the familiarity gives them enough comfort to click around and do something. It also gives them the feeling that it’s not going to be too different, at least when it comes to them using their computers. My mom and sister will kill me if I make them use Openbox or Ratpoison as their window managers, same thing goes if I installed Enlightenment or Windowmaker. They will end up feeling too weirded out by the …read more

If you’re planning to use Linux, you have to first start considering the hardware you have. There are certain known devices which seem to be problematic when it comes to working with Linux.
For laptop users, you could check out Linux on Laptops. They are sorted by brand. You could also look at TuxMobil so that you have other ideas when it comes to laptops. I am not sure how deep the coverage is of both sites, but there’s pretty much a lot of information in both of them. Again, the lists are grouped according …read more

Here’s an awesome tip I got today:
On the old computer, run dpkg –get-selections >> packages.list. Get the new computer online and install dselect (yeah, it’s not part of dpkg anymore). Copy the packages.list to your new computer. Then run sudo dpkg –set-selections < < packages.list. Finally, run sudo dselect and choose Install. (Oh the fun of migrating data)
Thanks, Ubuntu Linux tips and tricks! I often forget what other software I install apart from the defaults and my usual ones, this is especially true for the apps that I installed for the heck of it or for other people. I’ve …read more

My take on the topic How not to be a Linux evangelist but this one in the context of migration:

Don’t change the operating system on the computers without warning. You might incur the wrath of the users. Give them ample time to back up their data, as well as learn something about the new OS.
Don’t leave your sys ad alone in doing the migration process. What I mean here is that there should be enough coordination between the sys ad, management and human resources so that you could come up with a good migration strategy. The said …read more

If you’ve been wondering how to make the switch, you have to remember these things:

Not all operating systems and applications are the same. One dilemma of people who switch is familiarity with it. Don’t expect it to be totally the same as Windows, Mac, or whatever you’re coming from. The bundled applications on Linux distributions are not the same either. And one could say it’s a good thing because you could have a variety of experiences before sticking with one distro. Besides, the application is probably in a repository.
You have to learn new things. …read more