Switching To Linux Easy With WindowsAny one who knows or has some experience of Windows can easily move to the Linux operating system. The biggest challenge, for any new learner of Linux, is to find different tools and their applications in Linux. One can easily know about the Linux operating system by having a proper understanding of the file manager called Windows Explorer (not the same as Microsoft Internet Explorer). Also, there is a need to spend some amount of time to familiarize oneself with the Windows environment. Windows Explorer is an important tool for searching programs, files, pictures and much more. It is generally placed in the Accessories submenu. The name of the Windows Explorer is always on the main menu although the name of the window changes from flavor to flavor. In the Fedora flavor, Window Explorer is simply an icon labeled Browse File System. This is consistent with the Gnome interface. Gnome is the default desktop environment for some Linux flavors such as Fedora. One can also access Gnome with the Nautilus browser. Some other Linux flavors use an interface called KDE desktop. For KDE, one has to find the file manager named Home. It is located under the main menu. With the help of file managers of both KDE and Gnome one can perform vital function like copying files, checking file sizes and renaming a file. Changing a files accessibility is another vital function that can be carried out by the file managers. In Windows, this is rarely an issue as most files are not automatically secured from accidental erasure. Microsoft Windows has done its users a favor by placing most of the configuration related tools under a single location called Control Panel. One can do software and hardware related configuration from this control panel. This control panel also offers other choices like how to do setting in hardware or how a new hardware related devices can be added. For software associated configuration, such as changing the desktop background, both Gnome and KDE offer tools under the main menu as well. Although Windows are crucial for the smooth learning of the Linux operating system, Windows have its own advantages and disadvantages with respect to Linux. Windows make it possible for programs to keep the user's setting and files anywhere in the system. In sharp contrast to Windows, Linux keeps the user's files and settings in the home directory format and hence allows the user to switch over from one computer to another. Also, a user can upgrade from one Linux version to another without changing the user settings and files. |