Switch to Linux

It may be a small step for a Geek, but for me it was a giant leap: yesterday I switched to Linux. Not that I have entirely banned Windows yet: I have to admit that world’s most popular OS up to now has satisfied all my needs, and especially Windows XP was a reliable OS for all my audio-software.

But I have to move on: In the Beginning was the Command Line and I want to find out how things work – the Metaphysics of Computing. So, I thought about it, talked about it and read about it. Most people advised me to switch to Mac. Why should I? Apple is incredibly expensive and – not for the money but I like the idea of Open Source. So I tried Linux out with Live CD’s of popular distro’s: Ubuntu (not a very inspiring desktop), ZenWalk (beautiful, but not enough applications) and finally I chose to install openSUSE 10.3 – Linux Intern – “Europas großes Magazin für Linux” guaranteed me that it was all very easy and completely safe. All the same, I carefully made a back-up of my data, and followed the installation procedure meticulously. I didn’t understand anything about the partitioning thing (with primary and logical partitions and whatever), but I accepted Yast’s (SUSE’s installation manager) suggestions, hold my breath and hit the enter-button! One hour later I had a dual boot system and I could start exploring Linux.

Now, at the end of the first day after the night before I can only say: I think I have to adjust to the poor design of the desktop and the large icons. I think the programs work fine, but for writing this entry on my blog, I switched back to Windows, it still feels familiar.

So let’s wait and see. Work with Linux as much as possible and find out if Linux can offer me the music notation and audio software that I need.