There are many good reasons to consider a move to Gnu/Linux as your primary operating system in 2009.Most of them have been discussed in other blogs and forums, so I won’t go into them all here. Instead I’ll just say that if you’re tired of dealing with Windows but can’t afford a Mac, this may be the year to consider a move to a free and powerful operating system, Gnu/Linux.

There are many versions available. This is one of the freedoms that Gnu/Linux offers. You aren’t restricted to a single configuration. Are you a media nut? There’s a version for you, with the most popular and useful media software preinstalled. Just need a basic OS to surf the web and perform office work? You’re in luck. Do you spend most of your time online updating your blog, tweaking your website, conversing in Friendfeed? You can set up Gnu/Linux to perfectly meet your needs. And none of this will cost you a dime.

There is a cost involved though. You’ll need to invest some time getting familiar with the Gnu/Linux file system, learning how to add and remove software and finding quality replacements for your old Windows-only (and very expensive) software like Office, Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

This can be daunting for someone completely unfamiliar with any OS other than Windows. But then, Windows can be daunting to someone completely unfamiliar with computers.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of help available online. One complaint about Gnu/Linux support sites is that too often they’re geared toward those somewhat comfortable with command lines and the Unix underpinnings of Gnu/Linux. Sometimes the people that contribute to these sites have little patience for the total newcomer. RTFM is a common bit of unhelpful advice to those unsure where to even find the manual.

There’s a way to avoid this situation. Start with a version of Gnu/Linux that strives to make it as easy as possible to migrate from Windows to Gnu/Linux and find a friendly forum where no one will hold your inexperience against you.

(uploaded from UbuntuStudio, resized in Gimp)

For the first solution I would recommend Ubuntu Linux. It’s a full-featured, stable version with a look and feel that should be familiar to those used to Windows. It can be installed on either laptops or desktop computers (I have it installed on both). You may need a bit of advice on partitioning your hard drive if you want to set up a dual-boot environment, Windows in one partition and Ubuntu in another. I usually recommend this setup as it avoids a complete divorce from Windows. You may have games or software that only works in Windows. Dual-booting allows you to switch back and forth between Windows and Gnu/Linux with a simple reboot whenever you need to change systems. Dual-booting also allows you to test drive Ubuntu without sacrificing your Windows setup. Don’t like Ubuntu? Just boot into Windows using your Windows installation disk, rebuild your boot loader and MBR, boot into Windows and delete the Gnu/Linux partition. That may sound complex, but it can be done safely and easily in under 5 minutes.

For the second solution I’d like to recommend the Ubuntu Tech Support Forum. It’s a brand new venture, opened today by Bruce Wagner. He announced his intention to start a new Ubuntu forum on Twitter, and since I’m a recent convert to Ubuntu myself, I just had to check it out. There’s not much to be seen there just yet, but the promise is evident.  If you are thinking of checking out Ubuntu you should definitely bookmark that forum and check back often. If you’re an Ubuntu guru, I’m sure Bruce would welcome your input.

For general information on Gnu/Linux from another friendly and informative source, I’d recommend the All Things Linux forum at Scot’s Newsletter forums. (Disclaimer: I’m an administrator of Scot’s forums, but my opinions as to the usefullness and freindly atmosphere of our Linux forum have been validated by many others.) The ATL forum is great for learning about Linux in all its forms, but Bruce’s forum is specifically geared toward Ubuntu.

There are worthwhile alternatives to the expensive, bloated and crash-prone Windows OS. It may present a bit of a learning curve, but so did Windows when you first encountered it. And the rewards of switching to an open source OS are great. I have every reason to believe you won’t regret looking into Gnu/Linux and Ubuntu.