Getting a friend that loves Win7 onto Linux?

[VirtualLarry]

Just wondering how I would do this, or if it should be done.

He doesn't play any PC games that I know of, he has a console for that.

I would like to move him onto Linux, for ease of updating and lack of Windows' viruses.

I'm probably most familiar with Mint, and secondarily Ubuntu.

His current PC is an Athlon II X4 rig, with a low-end (I think Fermi) NV discrete card, and an SSD and HDD.

He watches a lot of Twitch.tv, and uses the DivX plugin for Firefox to watch movies online. (I think last time I checked, Mint included that plugin.)

Oh, he's got an HP printer that he uses, too. I know that my Brother printer is supported under Linux, but does HP support Linux?

 

[lxskllr]

Imo, it would be best to take a handful of live cds over, and let him try out different desktop environments. Tell him why it's a good idea, and see what he thinks. He can test run it, and see if everything works as expected.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Oh, he's got an HP printer that he uses, too. I know that my Brother printer is supported under Linux, but does HP support Linux?

Pop in a live CD and try it?

I use two HP printers at work, and both work fine from ubuntu 14.04 and elementaryOS.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Now I remember why I haven't done this yet. Both of us have a MagicJack, and the USB dongle version doesn't work on Linux.

I tried to convert my HTPC that runs my MJ, but I wasn't able to get VirtualBox's USB Passthrough to work, as it apparently doesn't do it "raw", but requires a Linux driver for the device, in order to pass it through.

I haven't tried VMWare, I've read that that might do USB raw passthrough.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I think you should leave the poor guy alone and if he wants tech support, he can pay you for it.

edit: sorry - in hindsight that sounds mean. I don't mean to imply you're doing anything wrong, just that, well, you can lead a horse to water, right?

Some of the difficulties you have with your friends tell me they need the full Geek Squad experience a few times so they appreciate you more.

 

[replica9000]

In my experience, it's easy only when that person wants something other than Windows.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think you should leave the poor guy alone and if he wants tech support, he can pay you for it.

Some of the difficulties you have with your friends tell me they need the full Geek Squad experience a few times so they appreciate you more.

Insightful as always, Dave, thanks.

Yeah. Maybe next time he gets a virus and needs a reformat, I'll offer him Linux. Until then, he's on his own.

Edit: I think that he actually "paid" me last time he needed a reformat. I think that he bought me a sub for lunch.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

What exactly does your friend love about Windows? It is something native to the operating system, something about an application, etc.?

I can say that while I have used LibreOffice and M$ Office I am more comfortable in M$ Office by shear experience. That alone would tend for me to lean on M$ Windows. So, I have to wonder if it is one or more applications your friend likes to use in Windows that cannot be used in Linux.

BTW, how about Mint with Virtualbox running Windows ...

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think it's that he's just used to the UI. He's someone that has difficulty dragging and dropping files, and burning CD/DVD media. To burn videos to a disc, he opens the file in WMP, and clicks "Burn". Even after I've shown him how to burn files using ImgBurn. Either that, or he's just really lazy. One of the two.

Seems like he calls me every week, whenever he has a Firefox or Flash Player update to do, because he can't handle that on his own.

 

[ArisVer]

Seems like he calls me every week, whenever he has a Firefox or Flash Player update to do, because he can't handle that on his own.

I think you should keep him away from Linux if he can't even do any Windows updates. In my experience Linux has a learning curve which your friend does not seem able to handle. Though keep in mind that I was using Debian for 2 years. I don't know how much automatic Mint or Ubuntu have become.

 

[TheRyuu]

Seems like he calls me every week, whenever he has a Firefox or Flash Player update to do, because he can't handle that on his own.

Just use Chrome, it'll do it on its own and he won't have to do anything. It'll also be more secure than other browsers as well and may even protect from some malware. At that point safety and security is far more important than anything else.

Linux Mint with Cinnamon is probably the closest you're gonna get to a sane linux desktop environment which is sort of like Windows. I also suggest using Chrome with that as well.

Otherwise you're better off with just upgrading to Windows 10 and setting it up properly (non-admin account, SRP, etc).

 

[KeithP]

BTW, how about Mint with Virtualbox running Windows ...

That is what I was going to suggest. Maybe you can just get him to do his web browsing and email through a VM. How much RAM does his system have?

-KeithP

 

[sweenish]

Guy can't even update Firefox, and people want to suggest a VM? Rich.

 

[mvbighead]

For me, it comes down to what a person uses their machine for. Games? Probably need Windows. RD Gateway with a connection broker? Have not yet found a way for Ubuntu, so need either Windows or Mac. Other software packages such as the vSphere client... gotta have Windows (web client only works when you're running vSphere).

For his needs, I would think Linux is worth a shot. I forced Linux on my brother because he wasn't buying a Windows license. Not sure how much he uses the machine anymore. I'd use Linux myself, but I have too many tools that it won't suffice as my primary OS. All of my laptops and my main desktop have (or were purchased with) Windows 7/8. All are now upgraded to 10. I have a few Kodi PCs that are running Ubuntu (currently), but that is about the only place I can do that right now.

 

[DigDog]

Linux should be a choice one makes voluntarily. W7 is so much superior, just because of the numbers; many people using the same OS, means whatever issue you are having, the solution is one google away.
I don't know WHY you want him on Linux, but it sounds like a bad idea, to me.

 

[Charlie98]

What exactly does your friend love about Windows? It is something native to the operating system, something about an application, etc.?

I can say that while I have used LibreOffice and M$ Office I am more comfortable in M$ Office by shear experience. That alone would tend for me to lean on M$ Windows. So, I have to wonder if it is one or more applications your friend likes to use in Windows that cannot be used in Linux.

BTW, how about Mint with Virtualbox running Windows ...

Familiarity, even within Windows (the current XP>7>8>10 squabble is a good example.) Windows just works, and works with relatively low effort and learning, Linux not so much.

I'm working on weaning myself away from MS as well... I've already switched to Thunderbird, experimenting with FF, and started converting my Word and Excel to LibreOffice. The big change will be in 2020 when I try to cut the umbilical cord with Windows 7... but we'll see. I am motivated to make the changeover, but am not as technically advanced as some here... and I'm struggling a bit; Larry's friend might just need to get to That Point where he's motivated to want to change.

 

[ronbo613]

Mainly I use Win 7 because I do a lot of photo and video editing, Linux is not strong enough in those areas for my needs. I use Ubuntu on another computer(dual boot with XP). If your friend is mainly on the internet, point out that it's pretty much the same, especially if he's already using Firefox. Easing into it is good advice. Keep in mind that most computer users today have known nothing but Windows.

I don't look at Windows vs Linux, I see Windows and Linux. I'd take Windows, Linux and Mac if I could.