Windows XP dead. Long live Linux?

In April this year, Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP. This is the final whistle, which signals to us that it is time to try Linux.

So, in April of this year, that is, very soon, the legendary Windows XP will cease to receive support from Microsoft. This means that the already quite vulnerable operating system is left alone with his sores. This means that now no one will release a patch for another vulnerability, not introduce support for new technologies and ensure compatibility with today's software. This means that it's time, it's time to collect all the same things and move to another OS.

However, this question can not be as simple as it seems. Most of the computers that still lingered Windows XP, is not shine specifications. Often they belong to an educational or budgetary organizations, which simply can not afford to upgrade to Windows 7, or 8. So it's time to look towards free systems based on Linux, which is completely free and features are not inferior to the old lady deserved XP.

What stands in the first place to consider when switching to Linux?

Technical requirements

There are lots of different distributions on the Linux kernel. Among them, it is easy to pick one that will afford your computer. If he is not too old, but the latest version of the Windows, alas, does not pull, then a great option would be to establish a Ubuntu c lightweight shell XFCE or LXDE.

Note also gaining momentum linux Mint the working environment MATE. All of these operating systems have good compatibility with equipment that is regularly updated and have a huge army of users, with which you can solve any problem.

The interface of these systems to many Windows users will find very familiar and will not require a long re-education.

If your machine is entirely of the last century and will not be an upgrade, you should pay attention to the special lightweight Linux distributions. One of the most common of these is Puppy Linux, successfully works on Pentium I processor with 32 megabytes of RAM. There is also a PuppyRus Linux - Russian-language system based on it, which, in addition to localization and Russification, contains additional tools and programs.

Software

There are analogues of the majority you need to serve for free operating systems. If you surf the Internet, the availability of Firefox, Chrome and Opera do not allow you notice any inconvenience when changing the operating system. To play the media here, as well as on Windows, there is a great the VLC, and for office work have Libre Office. Editing software Gimp, although it requires some development, but it is quite suitable for most graphics operations. For virtually any task has its own tools, often different from the windows-programs.

Yes, some specialized or vocational programs are unique. In this case, can help out the launch of such programs in the environment of Wine or Windows virtualization VirtualBox. Such a decision can not be called perfect, but sometimes it helps.

Interface

The habit, as we know, is second nature, and how not to persuade users to Linux functionality and security, they will still protest. Because there is a different color windows and buttons are not on the ground. Especially when you have to turn over the system free of tired bookkeeper in knitted sweaters or secretaries in manicure.

In that case, there is a sufficient number of utilities, themes and even a special assembly, which are so successfully imitate the look of Windows XP, which can be easily confused. Here is an example of one of these packages called WinXP4Life.

Yes, Windows XP system was great for its time. But the time it was over, no matter how we tried to pull it. It is time to demolish this old junk and give your old computer a new life. For this ideal is Linux, you in fact agree with me?