Recently, I went to Staples to look at the latest laptops and tablets available. What was disconcerting was that everything seemed to be geared toward Windows 8 except for the Android tablets on display. I even went to the Software section and there were no Window 7 OS's available just Windows 8 CD's.
Before, I bought any of the laptops or tablets on display, I browsed through the various reviews on Windows 8 on Youtube. All of them had one thing in common. Windows 8 sucks on the desktop but not for the tablet.
So, if you are interested in purchasing a new laptop but don't want Windows 8 for your desktop, here are some alternatives for you:
1. Buy a Mac. (But I don't want to buy something that expensive just something comparable to buying an Ultrabook or Netbook with Windows 7.)
2. Buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed. (There are some Linux vendors that cater to this niche which I've already mentioned on some of my past blogs. For Linux newbies, I recommend System76 who specialize in the Ubuntu Linux Distribution that is well supported for users. Wow! Linuxcity offers to transfer your windows files to your new laptop for you too and they also offer Linux Mint!) http://www.linucity.com/Scripts/prodList_laptop.asp?idCategory=16
3. Buy a laptop with Windows 8 installed and replace Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. (Why Ubuntu 12.04 LTS? Because "LTS" stands for "Long Term Support" in the Ubuntu world. LTS is normally 5 years, which means this OS will be supported until April 2017 since it was launched in April 2012.)
If you are more adventurous and prefer Option #3, I can show you in more detail how to explore Option #3, tweak Ubuntu 12.04 to look similar to Windows 7 and start using Ubuntu 12.04.
Exploring Option #3: Replacing Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Before you go down this route, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the look and feel of Ubuntu 12.04's user interface so that you don't get too shocked by the change in the flow of how you normally use your Windows 7 operating system. You can do this by:
1. Browsing Youtube videos on Ubuntu 12.04.
2. Getting a USB, DVD or CD with Ubuntu 12.04 installed and run it off your new Laptop with Windows 8. (See my post "Linux Newbie Tips & Tricks Post 1")
3. Running Windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.04 dual boot on your new Laptop.
After you get used to using Ubuntu 12.04 for at least 2 weeks to a month on a USB, DVD, CD or Dual Boot scenario on your new Laptop, then go ahead and follow the steps to replace Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 on your new Laptop. It's as easy as following the steps in the video above but selecting the option to replace Windows 8 instead of the dual boot option of Windows 8 and Ubuntu.
Once you've fully replaced Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 on your new Laptop, make some tweaks to the user interface so that you have the best of both worlds. On one hand, you have the Unity Launcher on the left hand side to launch in one click any applications you use most frequently. (See a later post on how to resize Unity Launcher to fit more icons on your screen)
On the other hand, install Gnome ClassicMenu Indicator to get a tree menu format to find all of your applications quickly like using the Start menu button in Windows 7. (Post will be updated to show how to install Gnome ClassicMenu Indicator.)
In my own personal experience with using Linux, I have a HP Pavilion with Windows 7 which I barely use. It sits in my room for a "just in case" scenario, if I ever need to use Window 7 for an on-line experience or a software package that I cannot adequately use in Linux. Otherwise, I spend most of my daily desktop home use experience on my Toshiba Laptop which has Linux Mint 14 and Ubuntu 12.04 dual boot on it. I removed Windows Vista back in March 2013 which I recounted in previous blogs. Feel free to check out my blogs and Youtube videos if you want to see more on my Linux experiences.
Happy Weaning off Windows!
Before, I bought any of the laptops or tablets on display, I browsed through the various reviews on Windows 8 on Youtube. All of them had one thing in common. Windows 8 sucks on the desktop but not for the tablet.
So, if you are interested in purchasing a new laptop but don't want Windows 8 for your desktop, here are some alternatives for you:
1. Buy a Mac. (But I don't want to buy something that expensive just something comparable to buying an Ultrabook or Netbook with Windows 7.)
2. Buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed. (There are some Linux vendors that cater to this niche which I've already mentioned on some of my past blogs. For Linux newbies, I recommend System76 who specialize in the Ubuntu Linux Distribution that is well supported for users. Wow! Linuxcity offers to transfer your windows files to your new laptop for you too and they also offer Linux Mint!) http://www.linucity.com/Scripts/prodList_laptop.asp?idCategory=16
3. Buy a laptop with Windows 8 installed and replace Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. (Why Ubuntu 12.04 LTS? Because "LTS" stands for "Long Term Support" in the Ubuntu world. LTS is normally 5 years, which means this OS will be supported until April 2017 since it was launched in April 2012.)
If you are more adventurous and prefer Option #3, I can show you in more detail how to explore Option #3, tweak Ubuntu 12.04 to look similar to Windows 7 and start using Ubuntu 12.04.
Exploring Option #3: Replacing Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Before you go down this route, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the look and feel of Ubuntu 12.04's user interface so that you don't get too shocked by the change in the flow of how you normally use your Windows 7 operating system. You can do this by:
1. Browsing Youtube videos on Ubuntu 12.04.
2. Getting a USB, DVD or CD with Ubuntu 12.04 installed and run it off your new Laptop with Windows 8. (See my post "Linux Newbie Tips & Tricks Post 1")
3. Running Windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.04 dual boot on your new Laptop.
After you get used to using Ubuntu 12.04 for at least 2 weeks to a month on a USB, DVD, CD or Dual Boot scenario on your new Laptop, then go ahead and follow the steps to replace Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 on your new Laptop. It's as easy as following the steps in the video above but selecting the option to replace Windows 8 instead of the dual boot option of Windows 8 and Ubuntu.
Once you've fully replaced Windows 8 with Ubuntu 12.04 on your new Laptop, make some tweaks to the user interface so that you have the best of both worlds. On one hand, you have the Unity Launcher on the left hand side to launch in one click any applications you use most frequently. (See a later post on how to resize Unity Launcher to fit more icons on your screen)
On the other hand, install Gnome ClassicMenu Indicator to get a tree menu format to find all of your applications quickly like using the Start menu button in Windows 7. (Post will be updated to show how to install Gnome ClassicMenu Indicator.)
In my own personal experience with using Linux, I have a HP Pavilion with Windows 7 which I barely use. It sits in my room for a "just in case" scenario, if I ever need to use Window 7 for an on-line experience or a software package that I cannot adequately use in Linux. Otherwise, I spend most of my daily desktop home use experience on my Toshiba Laptop which has Linux Mint 14 and Ubuntu 12.04 dual boot on it. I removed Windows Vista back in March 2013 which I recounted in previous blogs. Feel free to check out my blogs and Youtube videos if you want to see more on my Linux experiences.
Happy Weaning off Windows!
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