Crossing the Chasm from Windows to Knoppix

[ramu_kellogg98]

I have an exciting situation for crossing the chasm from Windows to
Linux (Knoppix). In the following, when I refer to Linux, I mean Knoppix.


Context:
i) I am a business user with some technical background.
ii) I use Windows XP with the following applications on my (non-Linux)
laptop: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and Internet Explorer. My
non-Linux laptop, running Windows XP, is my primary machine.
iii) I use my Windows latpop to connect to an Exchange server via VPN.
iii) Due to sheer "bad luck", I am encounter "blue screens" all the
time. The lost time is impacting my credibility and survival (since I
use my laptop to earn a living as a consultant). I don't have the
patience for doing an RCA (root cause analysis) of why the blue screen
is happening because of the sheer complexity of the business model
around non-Linux operating systems and hardware.
iv) I have a real need to co-exist with both Windows (Plan A) and Linux
(Plan B). (Plan A: Laptop running Windows) (Plan B: Laptop running
Linux) (Details of why I need to co-exist are out of scope of this
email thread)


Here are my requirements:


a) A pre-owned (certified, recycled, used) laptop running Linux.
b) The Linux laptop will be used to perform all the things that I do in
steps (ii) and (iii) described above.
c) I am searching for a one-stop shop which will listen to my needs and
assemble all the right lego blocks as a service offering. I can then do
a "one click buy" to co-exist with Windows and Linux.


I am serious about crossing the chasm to Linux.


Thanks for any advice / pointers.

[sakiZ]

To help ease your migration:

As a highly enthusiastic user of Crossover Office, I heartily recommend you look into this method of running many Windows programs in Linux. I'm using 4.2. Version 5.0 is out with many improvements.

Open Office 2.0 is out now which is a huge improvement over the last version.

As for what kind of laptop you need, I can't help you there.

sakiZ