So..........fuck Microsoft

[The Artist]

What are my options if I want to not use Windows?

Is there some version of Linux that I can run a VM with windows in so I can still use certain programs?

[Rogerborg]

Sure you can run it in a VM, but then you're still running it. Which 'certain programs'?

If you don't know which Lunix distro that you want, then you probably want Mint.

https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Cinnamon, 64-bit most likely, with codecs.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Andy_Pagin]

Any major Linux distro can run a virtual windows instance via virtualbox, or run most Windows applications directly via WINE.
Apart from games and some very specialised commercial Windows applications there's a free Linux equivalent to practically everything.

Why not install VirtualBox on your Windows machine, virtualise a few Linux Dsistros and have a play with them before deciding which way to go?
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[The Artist]

[c_dug]

I'm not a massive tech head or anything, I've tried Linux twice in the past (two different iterations of Mint), plus Ubuntu at some stage too.

My experience would suggest that:

- At some point even the most GUI'd up versions of linux will require inputting a dozen lines of code to get something to work properly.

- The equivalent programs to Office aren't quite as slick as you'll have come to expect from microsoft.

- Despite the long list of supported hardware you'll still find things that just will not work!

If you can accept those foibles it's great. I went to Windows 7 in the end as I got too frustrated with the little niggles, I've toyed with the idea of Mint again a few times since then but haven't had another serious play for maybe 2 years.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[P.addy]

[Andy_Pagin]

Speaking as someone who uses and develops with Linux for a living...

[Rogerborg]

[J.M.]

Wine sometimes works for running Windows applications under Linux.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Pigeon]

[Going]

[Rogerborg]

It's free (in every sense) to try Lunix though, and you can even just put the tip in. Modern Lunix "installers" will ask you whether you want to install the OS, or just have a play with it.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[dan_flash]

Another Linux bummer here.

Just download a couple of the distros people have suggested - Mint, Ubuntu or Fedora or something - and boot them up and just try it for a bit without installing it. As Roger just mentioned, in the installer it will give you the necessary options in an easy-to-understand way.

For general use, Linux can and should do just fine without any issues. You might need to use different software to those which you are used to (LibreOffice instead of MS Office, VLC instead of WMP, etc etc) but that's all small fish isn't it.

https://distrowatch.com/
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Yamaha XJ600S, Volvo v40.

[The Artist]

Most programs I use do have alternatives.

One that doesn't is Winamp. I think Winamp is all a desktop music player needs to be and does the job great. The best feature is you can minimise to a thin control panel so you always have the basic controls visible, even if you are using another application.

https://media.mahalo.com/upload/9/9c/f247b04d5e4842188b64e6ed8d653281_20110708.JPEG?1310151293766

Does anyone know a Linux media player that has a decent library/playlist functions but also minimises in the same sort of way.

[nowhere.elysium]