Windows -> Linux

Windows to Linux

● How an ex-Microsoftie made the switch● After 11 years programming● I forgot more about Windows than most ever

learn

● Now uses Linux 100%● Do you realize the benefits?

Keith Curtishttp://keithcu.com

Why not Mac?

● Lenovo is a better deal and better machine● Apple laptop keyboards suck and mice

have one button● Keystrokes are unlike Lin/Win● The Mac OS is proprietary

● Depend on a free kernel now● Yet they don't understand it

● DRM, appstore policies, etc.

Experimenting

● If you made it to instructables.com, you can install Linux

● Start anywhere...● Use Firefox, OpenOffice, GIMP, Audacity,

Python, etc. on current OS● I started with dual-boot● I've reinstalled many times till I found

what I liked

Ubuntu

● Download an Ubuntu Live CD and install it

●

Partitions

● If you have tons of space, no problem● Otherwise, do some planning● Create a Linux partition big enough to hold your

data● You will move it over eventually

● Put system and home directory on separate partitions● Let's you easily wipe the OS

● Can dual boot or use VirtualBox-type VMs● Faster / more reliable to dual-boot

Biggest Linux benefit:

Free Software

● 1,000s of applications● Apple / Microsoft will never have this

● Built by a million-man army● Army grows one person at a time

● Each project is gaining steam● Linux is a Ferrari: Incredible power but

still missing cupholders

Blender

Blender issues

● The UI is considered time-consuming to learn

● But the power is amazing

● In a program as complicated as Blender, learning the UI will not hold you up● Look at the complexity of the UI for a Boeing cockpit

● Several great tutorials

● Blender uses the free language Python, the free physics engine Bullet, etc.

● Use free software so you can join the community

Python

Python

● Python has the richest set of class libraries for all aspects of computing

● There are multiple workaround for the perf issues

What can you do?

● Donate $ or time for faster progress● Every group needs programmers● Don't need to join Microsoft to learn

about your computer

The Future

● The key to cars that drive us around is more free software

● There are enough programmers today, but they are not working together

● About to enter a 21st century renaissance● Read my (free!) book to learn more:

http://keithcu.com/SoftwareWars