In this blog there is little talk about Linux because the undersigned cannot be considered an expert on this operating system, however, in a very generic line, in the articles concerning Linux, I have found several solutions to try it, without ever giving up Windows. Then try it painlessly, without having to do who knows what technical-IT operation and even without being an expert. Those who develop various Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, in recent years, to try to promote themselves and to please as many users as possible, has become increasingly simple to use and more and more similar to Windows, at least in its concept of graphical interface.
Recently, with a friend of mine, I was thinking that new Linux users, those who want to use or try this free and open source operating system, make at least one of the following 12 conceptual errors .
Knowing what these errors are and avoiding them from the beginning helps to prevent many frustrations that can be encountered when switching from Windows to another system such as Linux (or even a Mac). I will not talk about technical errors that expert people do but precisely what most new users erroneously think, including those who do not know Linux but speak the same and, perhaps, use it because they bought a rare but cheap pc with Linux pre-installed.
1) Assume that you are using Windows
While this may seem too obvious, it is not. The average computer user does not know that different operating systems exist (see also the list of operating systems that are not Linux, Windows or Mac). In fact, I have to be honest, so many people can't even tell Windows 10 apart from Windows 7. Because of this, new users may believe that everything works (or doesn't work) as it does in Windows.
2) Try to start the .exe files
It often happens that users of Linux or a Mac go to download programs intended for Windows, files ending with .exe as an extension.
Unless you have prepared and installed WINE, the .exe files on Linux do not work and do nothing. It must be understood that each operating system is different from another, Windows, Linux and Mac are 3 different realities with their own programs and instructions.
Through a program called Wine it is possible to use Windows programs on Linux and start executable .exe files but, presumably, new users do not use WINE or do not know it exists.
3) Choose the wrong distribution
One of the biggest problems for users approaching Linux is choosing the wrong distribution. I can imagine, as it happened to me long ago, one who has never seen Linux go and install distributions like Slackware or Gentoo or Fedora!
Systems masterpieces would say an expert but there is no better way to scare a new user. The list of the best Linux distributions and their differences I wrote in another article. In choosing the most suitable distribution one must consider the user's capacity, needs, and the computer available. Many start with Ubuntu but it's not the only good distribution for learning and trying Linux.
4) Don't waste time searching for new programs
Clearly, new Linux users from Windows think that programs should be searched on the internet as they are done with Windows. Instead, the important thing is to become familiar with the installation package management tools found within the operating system. Basically, on Linux, there is a program finder that contains practically all the applications a user needs. Since they are all open source software, they are cataloged by a Software Center which makes them downloadable and installable.
5) Sending OpenOffice documents to users who use Microsoft Office, in default format
This is a gross mistake that not only new users but also the most fixed and proud ones make. If you work with a Linux PC, on one of the Open Office programs (the open source suite is free with Word, Powerpoint, Excel), you must keep in mind that all the rest of the world uses Windows and that it is not the world that has to adapt. If you write documents to Email or share, always save them in the standard format accepted by Microsoft Office.
6) Avoid the command line
This is not exactly a mistake but it is one of those things I had to face when working on Linux computers. The fact is that seeing a cursor flashing on a black screen is scary and seems the most complex thing in the world. New users do not have to shirk from the command line to become skilled and capable, although today, on new Linux distributions, the command line can also no longer be used.
7) Give up too quickly
After a few hours (or a couple of days) working with Linux, new users give up for one reason or another. I understand giving up when you realize that something is not working (like when you need to use a program or a file that can only be used on Windows) but, in general I can assure you with Linux you can do everything and if you can't, you have to just insist a little and be patient in learning.
8) Think that Windows folders are similar to directories in Linux
One of the biggest differences between Windows and other operating systems is the presence of what is called backslash or the character \ that does not exist on Linux. In an old article I wrote a little discussion on how to associate the paths of the Windows folders with the Linux filesystem but, conceptually, it is absolutely a wrong idea.
9) Skip the updates
As with Windows, operating system updates also bring security patches and new features on Linux.
10) Log in to the computer as root
The root user would be the system administrator. If on Windows the administrator is a limited user, on Linux the root user (Ubuntu's sudo) can do everything, even delete the whole system with a single command.
11) Losing windows on the screen
Because on Linux there are so-called virtual desktops, so if you switch from one desktop to another, the windows open in one are not visible in the other.
Virtual desktops on Windows can be obtained with the help of external programs.
12) Ignore security and think that Linux cannot be affected by viruses
Many experienced users also make this mistake, thinking that Linux is invulnerable to viruses and external intrusions. The effects of a rootkit on a Linux machine can lead to complete data loss and an unprotected computer can be used, secretly, from the outside, be it Windows, Mac or Linux.
Now I await the opinion of Linux experts who can surely add something or correct this article and tell their experiences to make sure that new Linux users can avoid certain errors.
