Free Windows to Linux desktop migration tool

[ocwong]

Hi,

I found a free Windows to Desktop migration tool at http://www.resolvo.com/moveover.

The free version supports FC2, but does not come with email support.

Has anyone tried the Standard Edition?

I tried the Freeware version and it migrated my wallpaper, all "My Documents" files, IE bookmarks and cookies automatically!

:)

[imdeemvp]

Thanks for info....it will help others Im sure....

[sej7278]

pretty basic stuff though - i mean you just copy your wallpaper and documents, export your bookmarks and import them again (or just copy them if you're using firefox on both platforms)

the only difficult thing could be emails, addressbook is easy enough (export/import again).

[ocwong]

Agree, the Freeware Edition looks simple.

I believe the email migration is included in the Standard Edition.
Has anyone used the Standard Edition before?

The Standard Edition supports migration of Outlook 2003 emails which I can't any existing tools to help me on this.

pretty basic stuff though - i mean you just copy your wallpaper and documents, export your bookmarks and import them again (or just copy them if you're using firefox on both platforms)

the only difficult thing could be emails, addressbook is easy enough (export/import again).

[brahms]

The Standard Edition supports migration of Outlook 2003 emails which I can't any existing tools to help me on this.

I found the easiest way was to install Thunderbird in windows first. This can (and does automatically) import Outlook mail and stores in standard mbox format. These can then be imported into Evolution, KMail, [insert preferred mail client here], or just copied into a linux Thunderbird directory structure.

[ocwong]

Eh......

How about newbies then? I am referring to the majority of the people out there who do not want to get their hands dirty (as they never "dirtied" their hands in Windows)

This list includes my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and my non-IT friends.

I guess it is a fair statement to make that Linux users don't rule the world yet.
(Can't wait for the day to come, though)
:-)

[sej7278]

Eh......

How about newbies then? I am referring to the majority of the people out there who do not want to get their hands dirty (as they never "dirtied" their hands in Windows)

This list includes my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and my non-IT friends.

I guess it is a fair statement to make that Linux users don't rule the world yet.
(Can't wait for the day to come, though)
:-)

yeah but come off it, if you can't figure out how to do simple stuff like that, you shouldn't be using linux.

[ocwong]

So are we going to give up pushing Desktop Linux to the masses?
Are we going to say only "qualified" people deserve to use Linux?

I am of the opinion that Desktop Linux can conquer the masses and is for everyone, provided we make it as smooth a transition as possible.

That's open source for me.
:-)

[ocwong]

Hi sej7278,

You may want to follow this thread too

http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25821

[crackers]

yeah but come off it, if you can't figure out how to do simple stuff like that, you shouldn't be using linux.
And attitudes exactly like that prevent Windows users from even wanting to try to learn anything new.

[ocwong]

Hi crackers,

I agree with you.

That's why migration tools, such as the MoveOver I mentioned, are important in the global efforts to help non-Linux folks to move towards Linux.

I know of another tool called Alacos too.

Does anyone have any experience in either of them?

[warrior code]

i have tried the MoveOver free version. It is cool ! You guys gonna try. Any plan to make it enabled on FC 3 in future? I think MoveOver will be very helpful for non tech person like myself to have another reason to try out linux desktop.

[thebigsam]

So are we going to give up pushing Desktop Linux to the masses?
Are we going to say only "qualified" people deserve to use Linux?

Its a nice concept but you have to bare in mind that Linux isnt everyones desktop. Most people i know couldnt give a toss about viruses and all that jazz, they just want to use a computer quickly and easily and so they use windows , and although using linux is quicker and probably easier whats the point in changin if you know what your doing on windows.

My argument is lame, but the fact is linux isnt for everyone and it probably wont be for ages.

[sej7278]

I don't mean to have an "attitude" about Desktop Linux for the masses, but I am of the opinion that there is no such thing, I totally agree with thebigsam.

I just don't think that it will happen for a very long time, jees I still get problems and I've been using UNIX for 8 years now!

Most ex-Windows users are more interested in getting stupid games working than being able to SSH into their webserver! And even Cedega isn't easing that too much.

I still think that if people can't even figure out how to export+import browser favourites, then I'm surprised they can even use Windows, let alone Linux!

And that's another issue - most people I know can't even use Windows properly (why they get spyware and viruses) they would have no clue how to use Linux.

For a start, software installation needs to get easier - yum/apt are pretty good, YAST2 sucks, RPM on its own is not great (dependancy hell) and compiling just isn't going to work for ex-Windows users.

[thebigsam]

here here i agree!

[crackers]

Now that thebigsam and sej7278 have finished patting themselves on the back... :D

No, Desktop Linux isn't quite there (here?) yet. But it is getting closer - and a lot faster than you'd think. Just compare the out-of-the-box experience of, say, RH 6 to FC3 - it's a radical leap. Heck, the wife barely knows what RPM means, but she'll click on the custom "Update" button I made for her every week or so on her own (she actually likes watching apt do it's thing in the terminal window). She does know exactly what' it's doing, she just didn't feel like typing it in every time. And she also knows that it is not a PITA to have to enter the root password - she's very aware of the security measures that exercise provides. It is mostly a matter of training - most Windows users are used to being spoon-fed (no offense intended) and, at this point, it does take a bit of training as well as a bit of actually having to think about what you're doing.

And other distros, specifically those targetted to desktop users, are even easier to setup and maintain. Some use apt (or a variant), then there's the BSD ports variations, YAST (as mentioned), etc. And a lot of their ease of use depends upon any GUIs or auto-updates plus the repository sets.

Will Linux ever replace Windows? Nope, not by a long shot. They've made it too seductive, too pervasive, and (as shown by the ever-present security issues) too damn easy to use. But judging ease of use should always be done with perspective towards the recent past, especially with Linux. Anyone remember installing software in Windows 3.x? It wasn't as easy as you think...

[thebigsam]

how nice pat your self on the back - i read your opinion youve read mine

[sej7278]

good point about the root password thing crackers - give yourself a pat on the back ;)

i recently built a pc for a friend (running win xp) and he was pissed as i set it up to require him to login with a password, and also not as administrator.

so now he's running as administrator, with no password required to login!

can you imagine him on linux - he'd have to login as himself with a password, then su to root with another password!

[crackers]

how nice pat your self on the back - i read your opinion youve read mine
That was a joke, amigo. Note the smiley.

good point about the root password thing crackers - give yourself a pat on the back
Ow! I think I just hurt myself... :eek:

NO password? I'm assuming that his machine's already been compromised... at least 30 times by now. Does he "believe" in updates? Er, on second thought, I don't wanna know. It's too depressing.