Hi everyone

[ian_r_h]

Thank you, everyone, for your warm welcome.  I've tried to thank each of you individually by clicking the "Thank" link against your reply.  Apologies if I accidentally missed anyone.

Enjoy your week.

[bitsnpcs]

Hello Ian,

Welcome to the forum

[banko]

I've been windowless    for about ten years, never looked back.
Keith.

And, as a result, your home has been far from dark ...

LOL

[m654321]

I've been windowless    for about ten years, never looked back.
Keith.

And, as a result, your home has been far from dark ...

[rijnsma]

Hi Ian! Have fun with this fine OS. 

[banko]

A warm welcome from a fellow Brit. 
I've been windowless    for about ten years, never looked back.
LL is rock solid.


Keith.

[newtusmaximus]

ian_r_h  welcome.  I changed over circa 2014 from VISTA.  Same brief SOHO.  Had been getting used to what was then Open Office and Thunderbird, Skype, GIMP etc on Windows format for some time before the change over so as there was not too much "shock".  You will find you will save a great deal of HDD space as LL is feature rich but far from bloated and rock steady.  i.e can be relied upon.  Wealth of experienced users on here so if you have questions, issues then just say so.  You will come to realise that this change over has been a sound move..

[TMG1961]

Welcome

[m654321]

It was good to read your post, Ian, and a warm welcome to you from a fellow UKer. You will certainly enjoy the forum and you'll get plenty of support though maybe you're not so new to Linux - I've been here 3 years and have learnt a lot from the ever-helpful community here.

Yes, like you, I have been put off Windows from the security & privacy aspects. At the time (2014), my move to Linux was prompted more by the official withdrawal of WinXP support, mixed with a desire for change and curiosity about free operating systems in general and the sense of adventure that goes along with that.  However, I've now become more aware of security/privacy issues as apparently Win10's telemetry has now been applied to Win7 & 8  too 

I haven't looked back since I moved to LL specifically, and Linux more generally - really glad I made the change. However, unfortunately, I still need Win7 in our house on at least one PC, for those tasks that are either too complicated or impossible to do with Linux, due mainly to a lack of Linux driver availability, e.g. for different scanner utilities, configuring a router, flashing BIOS, etc. I'd rather be in a Windows-free household but, maybe in time, such difficulties with Linux will eventually be ironed out if it becomes more popular (and hopefully it does) ...

Welcome again Ian, and enjoy the journey - I'm sure your computer help-desk skills & knowledge will be very useful here


Cheers
Mike

[J868N]

Welcome Ian and enjoy! 

[ian_r_h]

Hi,

I'm Ian, living in the UK.

I'm coming to Linux Lite from Windows 7 and 10, having also had some minor problems with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Unity.

My move to Linux is a long-term personal project, for home/office use; but beginning more with a "hobby" use while I get used to the new OS (new to me).  Having used Windows for 20 years, including as a help desk professional in the past, this represents a quite daunting, and exciting, change.  I already use mostly open source apps, most of which LL also uses.

Like many here, I suspect, it is current trends in Microsoft and Windows 10 which is prompting the change.  If I had to pick two problems with Windows 10 leading to this, they would be:  the forced monthly update cycle (which also prevents cycling between two identical PCs so I always have a nearly up-to-date fail-over unit); and the worry in regard to what data Microsoft is collecting from me, and how securely they are then storing it.

Hopefully as time goes by I can offer support in return for initial support now.  My past experience as a help desk professional may help me to help you, longer term.

I would like to thank the community and the developers for what looks to be a welcome distro of Linux; from my initial read you seem to have thought of everything I would want!

Take care, all,

Ian