Linux goes seriously mainstream

I've found two linux distros that windows xp users would find very intuitive and easy to migrate to. They are :

1.  Linux Mint  17 Qiana (built on Ubuntu or Debian, released May 2014, and 5 years of support)


2.  LXLE  (built on lubuntu, a light version of Ubuntu)


Mint
has by far the cleanest and most intuitive interface and setup I've seen in testing 6 distros recently. I am really impressed. I have been using Windows XPP since 2002, and am very much at home with its setup. Mint emulates it very very well.

I've only been running it for 30 minutes on UFD (usb flash drive), and no task has bogged me down...very intuitive.

- Internet...with new distros, I first try to establish a mobile broadband connection -> up and running in 30 seconds.

- play songs, dvd movies, mp4, avi, flv  ->  all working straight out of the box.

- customize the desktop -> no surprises.

- search other partitions, and set auto-mount at start -> remains to be tested with reboot.

- edit the panel and launch bar (windows quick launch)  -> best I've tested, but could have XP's drag and drop.

By far, the most enjoyable and painless Linux install experience I've had. I am really really impressed!


LXLE
as mentioned previously, LXLE has a similar look and feel to XP, but trying to adjust settings is not tightly integrated. There's too many separate apps which I don't know what changes what, and what overrides what.

Of course, there's other tests I need to complete
- Linux's weak rep connecting to printers.
- wifi network with another computer.
- share my broadband wireless connection with networked puters.

- backup home folder (but this is pretty simple in linux).
- explore ability to do live OS partition images.

From my reading, it is generally accepted Microsoft's days are numbered. Everything is moving to the cloud, data...AND OS's.  It looks very much like Back to the Future, when the computer sitting on your desk/pad/phone is just a dumb terminal that connects to a mainframe which runs all your apps and keeps your data secure (apparently). 

In the mean time, I am looking like never buying another Microsoft product again. And that makes me very happy!

The only product I have significant time and skill invested in is MS excel. But that won't be enough to launch me into Windows 8.xx.

Happy am I...mmm!


The other distros tested:

- Slacko Puppy. After seeing Mint and LXLE, I still like Puppy, but not as much.
- Lubuntu. couldn't get wireless broadband working within 30 minutes.
- Elementary. Another very cool and intuitive piece of design, but very much as its name says. The most rudimentary of apps.
- Ubuntu. Don't like the new desktop one bit (the left hand side panel).