Can I use Linux Exclusively?
I need a new computer. I am sick of the having to learn everything new every time I upgrade. I understand that I can use Mozilla with the Linux operating system. Is it possible to buy a computer without Windows on it? Would that serve the basic needs for internet access and software, such as Open Office? How do I get started on this? Is there anybody I can pay to do it for me? If I get rid of Windows Vista can I use my old computer? Are there people out there who have decoupled their dependency on Microsoft completely? I abandoned MS Word when I saw that they changed it radically, and I have been using Open Office. My thinking was that if I had to learn something new, I might just as well learn something free. This has worked out fine. Now I am ready to abandon Windows, too. Can I do it? How hard will it be?
Alla svar (2)
You can install Linux on the primary partition where Windows is installed to replace it with Linux if you no longer want to use Windows.
When you install Linux then you can select where to install Linux and how to partition and reformat the drive.
Linux needs more partitions, usually three are created: one for the min system files and one for the home directory and a third for the swapping (page) file.
Having your personal files in a separate partition makes it easier to upgrade or reinstall Linux (you will need to reinstall all programs installed in /usr).
You can dual boot with Linux and Windows on your old computer. There are a number of good Linux distros you can use like openSUSE, Ubuntu (and the Xubuntu, Kubuntu flavours) to name a few.
They also have LiveCD option to try them on a CD or start it from a usb flash drive even to see if they will work with your hardware and to see if you like it before installing.