I’ve been debating moving my home PC to Linux for some time now. In theory the process is pretty simple.
- Back up all my files to a USB hard drive.
- Install Ubuntu from CD
- Install VMware Server so I can boot up Windows under VM for legacy applications. I expect issues with activation when I do this.
- Restore my files into Ubuntu
- Never pay for software again.
Of course, it’s a little more involved than that, because I have a number of applications I need to transfer over.
- Email – well I use Thunderbird, so no change there.
- Web Browsing – there’s a few sites I use that really need IE. IEs4Linux looks like a solution here. For everything else, it’s still Firefox.
- Word Processing etc – can all be done with Open Office.
- Image Editing and uploading images from my camera – GIMPshop is a good start.
- Rip CDs and DVDs to my MP3/Video player
- Edit Video (occasionally)
- Edit HTML. Bye bye, Dreamweaver. Hello Nvu.
- Keep track of my finances. Currently using MS Money. GNU Cash looks like the option here.
- I need an alternative for AutoRoute for route planning. Moving Autoroute onto the laptop could be one approach.
- Scanning documents to PDFs using my HP All in one printer/scanner.
- I can use Pidgin (formerly GAIM) for Instant Messaging.
- Synchronise contacts and calender to my Pocket PC. Hmmm….
Things I need to test (using the “Live” Ubuntu installation)
- How do I get DVDs from DVD to the Creative Zen player?
- Can I easily grab images off my camera?
- What’s a good video editor for Linux?
- How much of my existing hardware will work under Ubuntu?
- Can I get a second monitor?
- What else have I got installed that I need to take over?
- Does the printer and scanner work under Ubuntu?
- What’s the solution for Pocket PC? Do I still need to go back to
This site has more on the transition to Linux.