Finding MX - the long story.

[Kester]

Hi,

Currently I am using MX-Linux version 23.3. Many years ago I started my home computing as a Windows user. My system was a Windows 98 desktop with a floppy disc drive (useful as many computer magazines of the time included a cover floppy disc containing a range of small but useful applications) and CD-ROM drive.

Initially I had no internet and no email account and used the computer for maintaining home expenses accounts, letter writing and basic graphics. The system soon showed its limitations, lack of storage space, low memory etc. so I got a second desktop running Windows XP with floppy drive and CD-R and generally very much better specifications. I now decided it was time to consider the internet so I subscribed to a pay as you go arrangement but still without email although a couple years later I dropped the pay as you go arrangement and opened an account with an Internet Service Provider. I began to experiment with live CD Linux systems. At that time I favoured various Puppy Linux options because they were lightweight and easy to set up. Another advantage of Puppy OSs was the ease of creating a folder to save all modifications and created files. I tried other Linux systems including the two 'big ones' Ubuntu (and its variants) and Linux Mint. I had yet to discover MX but was thinking "with these excellent operating systems available, do I really need to stick with Windows?".

I still had my original computer but really it with its specifications so limited it could not cope with the ever increasing demands of computing. I stripped it down for any useful components and purchased a refurbished small form desktop running Windows 7 Home edition. I continued experimenting with Linux live cds (actually I soon switched to live usb) and decided, after exploring running Ubuntu within Windows to go the whole hog and set up a dual boot arrangement wit Lubuntu. I also set up my older XP system to dual boot with one of the Puppy Linux OSs.

Eventually the refurbished Windows 7 system broke down and was not economically viable to repair so I removed its working drives and scrapped it. Its replacement came without an operating system so now would be the perfect time to go the Linux path in full you might think. I didn't though but purchased a Windows 7 Professional OEM disc and installed that operating system ( I had a few peripherals which were not compatible with Linux). However I was keen on Linux and soon set up a dual boot arrangement again with Lubuntu. Shortly after the XP system became unusable and non-viable for repair so I carried out my usual stripping down procedure and scrapped the chassis and unusable bits. I then ordered a new desktop computer with an Ubuntu operating system so I had at last fully accepted Linux.

The new computer had a few problems initially but the manufacturer/supplier behaved very responsibly changing the motherboard and SDD. The computer has been operating faultlessly ever since. I soon got fed up with Ubuntu, preferring its lighter version Lubuntu until at last, a few years ago I discovered MX-Linux 19. I am now on version 23.3 and truly love it. I still use Windows XP because my old XP computer came with a full installation disc but now it runs within the excellent VirtualBox (I kept it partly for nostalgic reasons, I believe XP was one of Microsoft's better systems, and partly because I can run a few ancient peripherals on it.

So now I have two desktop systems, one fully MX-Linux (albeit running XP as a virtual system within it) and one running MX-Linux in a dual boot arrangement with Windows 7 (I ditched Lubuntu, that was the Linux system in the dual boot arrangement, as soon as I had discovered and tested MX.

So do I have any regrets about switching to MX? Absolutely not. It is a superb system, with an excellent team of developers and provides wonderful support via this forum. Any problems I have faced have been quickly resolved when I have posted on the forum - it's almost like an extended family with many names cropping up time and time again in answering my calls for help. I would say to any new computer users or any Windows users struggling with the vagaries of Windows updates etc., you can virtually anything you can do on Windows on MX-Linux without the headaches and with the knowledge there is such excellent support within easy reach.

Cheers from a very grateful and very satisfied user.

[CharlesV]

Very nice, thank you for sharing that :-)