Sick of Microsoft!!!

[STaylor]

Hey this is Sherri. I've been threatening to dump Windows for a while now. I'm fed up with Microsoft and I'm finally here. Learning a new OS is scary. But like everything else, it's probably more intimidating than it is hard!

BTW...
Right now I can't commit to a monthly membership upgrade. Can I make a one time contribution somewhere?

 

[captain-sensible]

Hey this is Sherri. I've been threatening to dump Windows for a while now. I'm fed up with Microsoft and I'm finally here. Learning a new OS is scary. But like everything else, it's probably more intimidating than it is hard!

Welcome to the forum Sherri - plenty of friendly people here to help you out. The approach can have quite some bearing on how hard or not the process can be. For questions just start a thread

 

[Brickwizard]

@STaylor
I dumped M$ many years ago, so have many others across the world, Word of advice, Linux is not a replacement for windows, so don't expect it to work in the same ungodly fashion, It is not a single system [there are over 500 flavors around the world] and there are many per-compiled distributions that for a newby offer a virtual out of the box experience.
so welcome to the forums, find a seat, sit back, and enjoy the ride

 

[STaylor]

@STaylor

Linux is not a replacement for windows, so don't expect it to work in the same ungodly fashion

This is the part that has kept me from jumping in. I rely heavily on design software, AutoCad and Photoshop specifically. I know there are good opensource photo editing apps out there, but I haven't found anything like AutoCad

 

[Brickwizard]

I haven't found anything like AutoCad

not my area of expertise, but I do know there are several good cad programs available I understand QCad and Freecad are both quite popular, then there is always a chance that if you chose a distribution that is WINE friendly you may be able to run Your windows Autocad [not all windows programs are WINE friendly though]

Bwiz

 

[STaylor]

not my area of expertise, but I do know there are several good cad programs available I understand QCad and Freecad are both quite popular, then there is always a chance that if you chose a distribution that is WINE friendly you may be able to run Your windows Autocad [not all windows programs are WINE friendly though]

Bwiz

I had heard that it might be possible to run AutoCad on Linux. That would be nice because I wouldn't have to learn a new OS plus two design programs at the same time. If necessary I think I'm up to the task. I check out those cad programs though. Thanks!

 

[Brickwizard]

I check out those cad programs though. Thanks!

Also check out some of the specialist scientific distibutions of linux that are designed around using a cad applications

 

[captain-sensible]

This is the part that has kept me from jumping in. I rely heavily on design software, AutoCad and Photoshop specifically. I know there are good opensource photo editing apps out there, but I haven't found anything like AutoCad

Saying Goodbye to AutoCAD: 15 CAD Gems for Linux Enthusiasts!

You might be looking for a best AutoCAD Alternative for Linux, then you are in luck today. Here you get 15 best free CAD Software for Linux.

www.ubuntupit.com

 

[STaylor]

Saying Goodbye to AutoCAD: 15 CAD Gems for Linux Enthusiasts!

You might be looking for a best AutoCAD Alternative for Linux, then you are in luck today. Here you get 15 best free CAD Software for Linux.

www.ubuntupit.com

Anything I do would have to be able to be opened in AutoCad as DWG file. I won't always be the only one opening up the file. Sometimes my work will be opened on someone else's PC. They will most likely be using AutoCad.

 

[Brickwizard]

Qcad is compatible with DWG files

 

[STaylor]

Qcad is compatible with DWG files

This is FANTASTIC! Thank you!
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed just now! How much am I going to be relying on the command line? I think that's the scariest part. I remember a long time ago when everything was DOS based. I was always scared I would forget the name of my file, how would I get back? All those commands to remember. I didn't really learn how to use a computer until XP came along!

Okay calm down Sherri! Take a deep breath!

Well, when I first started using a PC, I didn't have any idea what the 'Start' button was. I kept looking on the tower, telling my friend on the phone that the PC was already turned on. But a year later it was the other way around. I was fixing their computers and explaining things to them.

I'm gonna' be okay, right???

 

[Hillbilly H]

Welcome! i am new to Linux using Linux Mint 20.1 and finding it quite easy to pickup.

 

[KGIII]

I did some reading about this several months ago (researching an answer on AU). OpenSCAD outputs a file format that can trivially be changed to DWG. It does require a different application (when I researched this), but it's definitely doable.

 

[wizardfromoz]

G'day Sherri and welcome to linux.org

Demonstrating the power of search engines such as Google, simply take your requirements and key word them as a question format as follows

linux autocad alternative dwg support

and one of the first entries you find is

https://www.geckoandfly.com/27558/free-autocad-alternatives/

Which says, in part

6 Free CAD Drafting Software With AutoCAD .DWG Format Compatibility
Updated: January 1, 2021

There, focus on the ones that run cross-platform (Windows, MacOSX and Linux) that narrows it to 4 of those.

You can then install those on Windows and test them to see if they are OK for when you move to Linux.

OpenSCAD mentioned above also fits into that category.

I would suggest though, at this point, if you have further questions on the CAD side - open a separate Thread in the appropriate subforum, to give this subject more airplay. David @KGIII or I can always move the Posts above to that Thread.

Cheers, and morning David

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[wizardfromoz]

BTW when testing, use "Save As" for your DWG files, to protect the originals.

 

[STaylor]

G'day Sherri and welcome to linux.org

Demonstrating the power of search engines such as Google...

I was just mentioning why I've taken so long to move over to Linux (Software compatibility). I'm still working on getting Linux on my PC!

Not worried about finding CAD software yet. But thanx!

 

[Condobloke]

G'Sherri, Welcome to linux.org

You have already achieved a great deal....and all of it in the space of 4 hours.

Becoming conversant etc with Linux is a mindset thing.

Don't worry about membership upgrades etc etc, they are not required, but if you wish to you can do that at a later date that suits you.

I cannot see that you have spoken of any preference in the linux stable.......so may I suggest you start with the one which has the most support and is arguably the best known

Linux Mint (cinnamon desktop) 20.1 .....(supported until 2025)

You can always look over places like DistroWatch and become perhaps seriously confused, but I will leave that decision to you.

In a nutshell....download the .iso file ....use a program like Balena Etcher (on windows or on Linux) to 'burn' the .iso file to a usb stick (8gb is good, 4GB will do) and then boot the pc to that usb stick.

You will need to change the boot order to do that.

(May I suggest you do that on a "spare" pc or laptop?.....just so that it will not tie up a pc that is running autocad and take you away from your work.)

When Linux boots, it will be running in LIVE mode....that means it will not be running on the Hard Drive....it will be running in ram, memory.

AS such you can do no harm.

Take it for a run...do whatever you like with it....it will be a touch slower than a full install, but it will give you a good idea.

If you dont like Linux Mint, try Ubuntu (choose a distribution (distro) that is supported for at least a few years before you need to upgrade)

Just a thought....in Linux, after you have it installed etc etc...you can always try running windows 10 in a VM (virtual machine)...especially if you have a lot of RAM).....
That way you avoid the crap of windows, but also have the bonus of continuing with the genuine auto cad.....maybe ??

If you need a helping hand, just yell out. We are here to help.

(Edited many times for typos!)

 

[wizardfromoz]

Sherri has a Thread here

https://linux.org/threads/rufus-3-14-or-rufus-3-14-portable.34448/

in which she is looking to try Rufus initially.

Cheers

Wiz

 

[Condobloke]

If you don't want google constantly in your business, use DUCKDUCKGO

Android operating system
Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance and commercially sponsored by Google.

 

[Deleted member 111282]

@Condobloke All of those things are true, but A) Aside from Google data-mining me, I never had a problem with Android back when I was still using a smartphone, and B) There exist non-Googled versions of Android, such as /e/