I have been using Linux as my primary OS on my laptop for 5-6 years and agree with teething pains but alot has changed.
As with anything, with change comes change sound obvious but it is often forgotten. Linux is not windows and windows is not linux and the choice of linux distro and desktop to meet your needs is important.
I am running Ubuntu (Debian derivative) on a Lenovo ThinkPad W510 and previously a R61. My Nvidia drivers work well My battery life is long than my Windows 7 dual-boot partition Trackpad, Thinklight, thumb-track, finger scanner etc all work Wireless, ether, Broadband adapter all work 100% (and in some cases better than windows) So from a hardware perspective I am better off using Linux.
From a productivity perspective, the only difficulty I am currently experiencing is * websites who foolishly and selfishly force their patrons to use Internet Explorer - these I boycott so no real loss for me. * MS Office 2010 compatibility. Libre Office has come along way and IMHO a great office suite but its 2010 compatibility is not always great although it handle most things beautifully. * Corporate Email on MS Exchange 2010 is a challenge and I am relegated to using its web interface.
Given the choice, I would remain with Linux and simply work around the challenges.
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I have been using Linux as my primary OS on my laptop for 5-6 years and agree with teething pains but alot has changed.
As with anything, with change comes change sound obvious but it is often forgotten. Linux is not windows and windows is not linux and the choice of linux distro and desktop to meet your needs is important.
I am running Ubuntu (Debian derivative) on a Lenovo ThinkPad W510 and previously a R61.
My Nvidia drivers work well
My battery life is long than my Windows 7 dual-boot partition
Trackpad, Thinklight, thumb-track, finger scanner etc all work
Wireless, ether, Broadband adapter all work 100% (and in some cases better than windows)
So from a hardware perspective I am better off using Linux.
From a productivity perspective, the only difficulty I am currently experiencing is
* websites who foolishly and selfishly force their patrons to use Internet Explorer - these I boycott so no real loss for me.
* MS Office 2010 compatibility. Libre Office has come along way and IMHO a great office suite but its 2010 compatibility is not always great although it handle most things beautifully.
* Corporate Email on MS Exchange 2010 is a challenge and I am relegated to using its web interface.
Given the choice, I would remain with Linux and simply work around the challenges.