From Windows to GNU/Linux

This is what everyday users usually find better, mostly the same, or not as good, when switching from Windows to GNU/Linux.

What is better in GNU/Linux

Είναι δωρεάν

Unlike Windows, GNU/Linux is free software – free as in freedom. Install it on all computers and make copies for your friends! You can even study it, transform it as you please, or build and sell your own distribution.

Προγράμματα

There are a wealth of free applications available at no cost under GNU/Linux. To edit professional documents, burn music CDs, rework photos, design a website, or organise music; there's no need for $200 software with restrictive licenses.

Το πρόγραμμα εσωτερικής εγκατάστασης καθιστά εξαιρετικά εύκολο να βρείτε, εγκατάσταση και κατάργηση προγραμμάτων.

Είναι επίσης ασφαλές: να μπορείτε ξεχάσετε το δοκιμαστικό λογισμικό ή το επιβλαβές ελεύθερο λογισμικό που ρυπαίνει τον ιστό.

Δεν αγωνίζονται

Κρατήστε τον υπολογιστή σας ενημερωμένο κάθε στιγμή για να μην χρειάζεται αυτό να είναι ένας αγώνας. Ένας χρόνος με, GNU/Linux και θα τρέχει τόσο γρήγορα όσο την πρώτη στιγμή. Και μπορεί να σας επαναφέρει στην ζωή τον παλιό σας υπολογιστή.

Also, GNU/Linux lets you choose what you want and what you don't. If you had a hard time getting rid of Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, or adware and web browser toolbars, you'll find it refreshing.

Ασφάλεια

Forget expensive and restrictive anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-anything and anti-everything. GNU/Linux is very, very secure.

It is often difficult for Windows users to believe that there are no spyware nor viruses under GNU/Linux — but it's true. Malicious programs have a hard time doing anything at all in a well-built system.

Τακτικές και εύκολες ενημερώσεις λογισμικού θα σας κρατήσουν όλους απολύτως ασφαλή.

Υποστήριξη

GNU/Linux benefits from a great sense of community whose friendliness will surprise you. If you try to do something complicated but can't succeed, there are a lot of people around to help you out. Our "Περισσότερα " page gives a few pointers.

The companies behind the main GNU/Linux distributions, such as Canonical and Red Hat, also provide expert commercial support.

What is mostly the same in GNU/Linux

Fundamentally, everyday users will find GNU/Linux similar in use to Windows or macOS.

Γενική οργάνωση

If you still believe GNU/Linux is controlled with code and command-line, you should update your views!

Just like Windows, GNU/Linux has to boot when you switch your computer on, and then you use programs in it to do different things. The taskbar and layout of applications will feel familiar to Windows or macOS users.

Περιήγηση ιστού και κοινές εργασίες

The Web looks just the same when viewed with GNU/Linux (in fact you can browse the Web with the same program if you already use Firefox or Google Chrome). And of course, you can go through your picture and music collection all the same. Files and folders are navigated with a file manager like Windows Explorer.

What is not as good in GNU/Linux

Οδηγός υποστήριξης

Manufacturers of computer hardware don't always (yet) release drivers for GNU/Linux or publicize full specifications.

Επομένως, μερικές φορές δεν υπάρχουν διαθέσιμοι οδηγοί για τις πιο σύγχρονες κάρτες γραφικών — Μερικοί είναι αντιστρόφως κατασκευασμένοι από εθελοντές από αντίστοιχους οδηγούς των Windows. Κάποιοι διατίθενται δωρεάν αλλά υπό αυστηρούς περιορισμούς.

Δυστυχώς, το ίδιο πρόβλημα παρουσιάζεται με πολλές low-end κάρτες Wi-Fi.

However, the vast majority of computers with standard hardware work out of the box with main GNU/Linux distributions. Common hardware such as USB keys or photo cameras never are a problem.

Περιορισμένες μορφές DVDs

Many multimedia formats in use are proprietary and not openly specified; this means, broadly speaking, that GNU/Linux programmers have to find out how to read them without any help from the format designers.

This might lead you to circumvent the restrictions in some DVDs and the DRM in some music files, even if you purchased them in full legality, to be make them work under GNU/Linux. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, such circumvention processes may be illegal even if you purchased your media entirely legally.

Παιχνίδια

Hard-core computer gamers, you might find that the GNU/Linux gaming world is less professional and out-of-the-box than under Windows: the large game developing companies are only slowly getting interested in the free software world, which means that many well-known titles do not work on GNU/Linux, or need special restrictive emulators to work.

There is a very active free software game development community though, and they have produced quite a few high-quality games, both 2D and 3D, that are free software. You can head to the Ubuntu gaming forum to find more information. And with the release of the popular Steam platform to GNU/Linux, the number of GNU/Linux supported games on Steam has been growing rapidly.

Χειμερία νάρκη

Because of the driver issues above, hibernating is not always reliable. The most common occurrence is the loss of WiFi connection after hibernating on laptops whose hardware drivers are not free.

Συμπέρασμα

Whether you are going to enjoy GNU/Linux depends mostly on what you expect from it.

If you wish GNU/Linux to be just exactly like Windows, you will probably be disappointed. GNU/Linux is built by people who simply wish it to be different. In the free software community, members have different visions of what makes an ideal operating system. These differences lead to variety, which is what makes GNU/Linux so special and interesting.
Your freedom matters. Thousands in communities and companies work to build software on which you may exert this freedom. Using GNU/Linux is the easiest way to do so fully.
It's fun! Not having to worry about spyware, viruses, program registrations, demos that expire, or finding software that is really free as in freedom, makes using a computer suddenly very enjoyable.

We hope you'll switch soon. There's a large community waiting, and no one in it asking you to "sign up, purchase and register".