upgrading Windows - try Xubuntu instead

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Software xubuntu

This last weekend I decided to upgrade my laptop from Vista to Xubuntu. I was tired of Microsoft's ever growing system bloat. I did install Lubuntu but decided to go with Xubuntu due to some panel/toolbar issues. I use this laptop for programming, listening to podcasts, watching Hulu, Amazon Unbox, and other videos. I have multiple monitors (large monitor for videos along with the laptop screen). Here is my final laptop screen layout.

Application

Applications I need to bring over from Windows were:

  • Gimp
  • Filezilla
  • Firefox
  • Chrome (using Chromium now)
  • OpenOffice (using LibreOffice now)
  • Eclipse
  • Picasa
  • Hulu Desktop
  • Google Desktop
  • Amazon Unbox (no linux version)

Lightweight solution

I'll list Xubutun's current (11.04) requirements and then show Window's ever growing minimual requirements from Vista to Windows 7. My system is 2 @ 2 gigahertz processors, 6 gigabyte RAM, and 320 gigabyte disk space.

Xubuntu system requirements

If you want to run Xubuntu on your PC, here's what it takes:

  • 700 megahertz x86 processor
  • 192 megabyte RAM, but 256 MB RAM is strongly recommended
  • 2GB gigabyte disk space

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements

Windows XP system requirements

If you want to run Windows XP on your PC, here's what it takes:

  • 300 megahertz processor
  • 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM (128 MB is recommended)
  • 1.5 gigabytes disk space

Windows Vista system requirements

If you want to run Windows Vista on your PC, here's what it takes:

  • 1 gigahertz processor
  • 1 gigabyte RAM
  • 40 gigabyte hard drive with at least 15 gigabyte

Windows 7 system requirements

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

  • 1 gigahertz processor
  • 1 (32-bit) or 2 (64-bit) gigabyte RAM
  • 16 (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) gigabyte available hard disk space

Next post will be about the Linux applications I found and installed for screenshots, backup, tweaks, media, and video player. I'll talk about some some items I changed from the default Xubuntu instance like terminal and the file explorer to lighter alternatives.