Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference
If you’re a Linux enthusiast like me, you’ve probably tried to convert a few people over to Linux from another operating system. Even though you succeed many times, there are always a few ‘geniuses’ out there who need some real persuading to switch over to Linux.
So here are some quick and simple things about Linux you can point out to your potential convert.
1. Linux helps you get rid of viruses, worms, and other computer infections.
Although it is possible to get infected even with Linux (malware is mainly written for Windows), its system architecture, based on a server-client relationship makes it difficult for a virus to do any damage. See this post.
2. Linux is fast and will stay fast
Vista is a huge resource hog. XP isn’t too humble either. If you use Windows for a longer time and install lots of different programs, your computer becomes bloated with trash data, consequently becoming slower. With Linux, even a major distro won’t demand more than 256 RAM to run passably with all the bling and a maximum of 2 GB of space. And it won’t get slower.
3. Linux is easier to use than Windows. Using the Terminal is not necessary in most cases.
What could be easier than opening a package manager, selecting the software you want, and letting Linux download it for you? I hate it when people complain about how Linux’ hardware support bites. They probably aren’t aware of the fact that Linux supports more devices than Vista. I should know, I had my share of problems with three different versions of Windows with lots of pieces of hardware. Ndiswrapper-gui is fool-proof and you know it! You can’t expect a new user will know how to solve every issue.
4. Linux is free as in free beer AND as in free speech. Cost does NOT define the value of Free Software!
All of the major Linux distributions are free of cost. Yes, that’s zero dollars. Ain’t it great to have a whole operating system and not be afraid you’ll get fined? You can choose from a multitude of great open source apps which come under the GPL license, too. No need to worry about the
5. Your porn collection is safe with Linux
Don’t laugh. I’m not a big fan of porn, but it has a big market share on the Internet. On Linux, (which is trojan, virus etc. free), every user gets a password, and you can see the source code so you know that FBI isn’t checking you out, like on Windows.
6. Thousands of Windows-only applications (even Photoshop CS3) and games work with Linux through WINE just as fast. You can also find good alternative open source software.
The Linux experience may be a bit different for a user who needs some Windows-only software, because there is no good equivalent for it on Linux. There’s always WINE though. It’s a compatibility layer which can install Windows programs on your Linux Box, even games like Call of Duty, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life 2…
Search open source alternatives
Search the Wine application DB
7. Linux looks better than Windows Vista or Mac OS X
It’s a simple as this: Linux has got Compiz Fusion and a very nice default theme, normally. You can imitate ANY effect other operating system boast with. If a Mac user still thinks his Mac OS X or Vista look better, don’t worry. You can make Linux look exactly like it in under 15 minutes.
8. Linux is fun
People always tell me this. And why? Linux users have the power to expand their system for free, they are free to modify the system exactly to their needs. You learn something new this way every day with Linux and if you do things right it can reward you with the desired results.
9. You can help improve Linux
There are lots of jokes made about ‘teh 1337 powerz of communityz’!!! Sadly, they exist mostly because they don’t know any good arguments against community. In open source, you can actually speak to the actual developers, help translate, develop and improve the software you are using right now while not helping others make wads of cash.
10. Linux makes you give your computer a name
It’s possible on every OS, basically, but Linux demands you do it! Sheer coolness.
Additional links:
Things you can do with Linux and can’t do on Windows
[...] Greg wrote a fantastic post today on “Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists …”Here’s ONLY a quick extractThousands of Windows-only applications (even Photoshop CS3) and games work with Linux through WINE just as fast. You can also find good alternative open source software. The Linux experience may be a bit different for a user who needs … [...]
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference [...]
Cool,keep rockinnn
Nice Post. How about Linux comes in many different “flavors” Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, etc.
Thanks for your comments
I was thinking of putting that as one of the possible answers, but distributions are both a con and a pro to Linux, because they can confuse a new user (teh wealth of choice), so I don’t deem it a 100% positive characteristic which should be pointed out
Keeping control over your work…
One important reason is that the free software uses well defined file formats. Take one example – the Open Document Format, it is easily readable – and will always be so. All you have to do is unzip the file and you can read the text, albeit in XML format.
I advocate free software to charities and voluntary organisations, some of whom will need their data in 5-20 years time. Using proprietary file formats is dangerous, as you can’t guarantee what arrangements the software vendors will have in place for reading their legacy file formats.
From my experience:
1. Linux (speaking of only Ubuntu and Fedora) is not faster than win xp.
2. Linux is not so easy to use, especially when you have to install some drivers etc.
Numbers 7 & 8 are true to my experience. Apps written for the Linux platform have noticeably more vivid graphic clarity than Vista, and that’s even using the same monitor and videocard. And best of all, even for n00bs like me, Linux is a lot of fun!
[...] So here are some quick and simple things about Linux you can point out to your potential convert. 1. Linux helps you get rid of viruses, worms, and other computer infections. Although it is possible to get infected even with Linux (malware is mainly written for Windows), its system architecture, based on a server-client relationship makes it difficult for a virus to do any damage. See this post. 2. Linux is fast and will stay fast Vista is a huge resource hog. XP isn
Windows machines must have a name too. That’s not a reason to use Linux. How does Linux support more devices than Vista? Please give us a source for that info.
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/ols_2006_keynote.html
I’ll find the newer sauce too.
[...] GNU. Promote Linux. Just like open source made your life easier, spread the gift of Free Software to your colleagues, [...]
Try to install your wireless router and a wi-fi dongle on 4 computers with Linux. It takes a few minutes with XP, weeks with Linux. I did it. Read the forums. System administrators and software engineers can’t do it. The only option is to buy different hardware that fits Linux.
Linux is for geeks who want to spend more time screwing around with their computers than using them.
Well, on my “designed for Windows XP” laptop I have to spend more time to enable sound under Windows than enabling PCMCIA wireless card in Linux.
Linux is for people who want to spend more time working with computer than fighting against it.
I second this, adnd in addition I think that Linux is for people who want their computer to work like they want it to work.
Great post
I totally agree. Look at my Ubuntu Linux. I have everything what I wanted from my computer and OS.
http://arturito.net/images/ubuntu.jpg
wow, that’s a cool desktop you got there, Arturito.
You are a liar on many points, but I’ll pick number 6. Wine works with SOME Windows programs, but it certainly isn’t trouble free. Sometimes programs run slower, take longer to open, or won’t run at all. Yes, if you spend enough time fiddling with it you can a program working, but even then in some cases it will only work to a point. Such as crashing when a particular function is used.
Then, when you install the next point release you find the hacks you used to get program working are broken again. Keep lying… one day you WILL pay for it.
Excuse me? Did I state WINE works with every piece of windows software? Did I state it is trouble-free?
Before you make such an awful comment please keep in mind what was said in the article.
I just plugged in my wireless card and had a wireless connection within a few minutes on a fresh install of Ubuntu, Mr. Roddy6667. I believe that you simply do not know how to use a computer.
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference [...]
[...] If you search the net for the answer to that question, you will find quite a bit of material. Here’s a good list that should give some interesting reasons to begin using Linux. Now, there many more [...]
[...] Linux users know why they use Linux, everyone has a reason they chose the Linux Desktop. Some of the qualities of Linux are speed (because of good, open code) [...]
Although linux has it’s strong points, mainly how fun it is to use and it’s amazing ability for customization, there are many things that turn me off from it. I spent weeks trying to get my display and sound working on my computer, and I have a relatively new sony. I gave up after searching many forums and learning that my intel chipset was very poorly supported by linux and that there were a variety of problems that occurred to those who had it. Power management is paltry at best; I can get 3.5 hours with vista in power saver mode and only about 1.25 hours in linux with teh best power settings. I’ve also found that many of the open source programs made for linux can’t hold a candle to free programs made for windows; I still haven’t found a suitable replacement for winamp (xmms won’t work for some reason, so I don’t know what that’s like) and pidgin doesn’t have nearly as many features and trillian. Because of this, I haven’t booted into linux for over a month.
Mortal Light – try using mplayer or amarok they have great support for many MP3 formats and WMA formats. And don’t give up on Linux just because one application doesn’t work with your songs there is always a choice of a different application, you can install WinAMP with Wine, or they can be converted to a Non DRM format like Ogg-Vorbis. The same with Trillian you can also use Kopete from the KDE suite, or use Trillian in Wine.
I have been using Linux for 10 years from Red Hat 6.5 to over trying 100 different distros from DistroWatch.com, now. 5 years ago I told Windows to take a hike from my computer and have testing and using many distros since then. Vector Linux is my main distro now; because it is fast, runs on at least PII 500 Mhz, with 128MB Ram, and has all the software I need to be productive. I would like to see Vista do that!
Great article, but number 10 wasn’t a reason for me to switch to Linux, having freedom like number 4 says is the main reason!
My problems with Linux have nothing to do with the operating system (which isn’t perfect, but is fine in a “different” sort of way).
My problem with Linux is the user base.
Its a group of people who are every opportunity will tout its community as an advantage over Windows (*~EVIL~* WINDOWS!), in that its interactive, and instant.
Yet install Linux, and ask those same people about the first (the VERY FIRST) problem you’ll INEVITABLY have with Linux, and see how easily you’ll get help.
You’ll see lots of people saying things like:
1: Dude, thats not my distro.
2: Dude, I told you to get a different distro.
3: Dude, it should work fine.
4: Dude, if you can’t handle Linux, try Windows!
5: Dude, why did you try that distro?
6: Dude, distro distro distro distro!
Saying “use Linux” is like saying “Buy The New 2009 Model CAR!”
While it may seem like a benefit to people who spend hours and hours of their time tweaking their computer, “Linux” is made up of countless distros, and no one can ever actually help you with your distro, because even if you find someone that happens to use your distro, they don’t share you hardware.
Its an exercise in frustration.
I’m literally so in love with the idea of open source that I keep trying Linux, but even though I’m a pretty big computer dork, its always a terribly experience.
My email address is hossrexatgmaildotcom, let me know when it isn’t bogged down by assholes, or idiots.
To Hossrex.
That is the beauty of Linux. YOU get to choose your distro and configure it as YOU like it. Not someone else who thinks that their way is the best way. I like this feeling of freedom.
Have you tried Ubuntu yet?I think it is the best one for the first try.
Hi,
I switched over to linux when i knew nothing about linux. Slowly, after using Ubuntu for a long time, i got some confidence and i have finally convinced all my family to use linux on their computers. Personally, I myself use fedora 9 now and am thinking of switching over to Debian after I figure out a little more about linux.
I’m in love with linux.
The number 1 reason for me is control. With Linux I decide what is best for me, using Windows at work I have to put up with Microsoft deciding what it thinks is best for me.
Great article. I’m one of those who love linux and ubuntu. Though I am still on Windows, my other computer is runnning in Ubuntu.
Hey you cant get CS3 in wine can you??…..but great post btw.
Linux ROCKS, everything else takes a back seat!
RT
http://www.online-anonymity.at.tc
More and more people are realizing that viruses do exist on *nix systems, and that the major reason they have been “free” of them for so long is the user base.
The more “stupid users” an OS has, the more “user error” will cause phishing sites, trojans, etc. to infect machines.
In other words, it’s not the OS, it’s the users.
That said, I disagree with a lot of these. I think most distros look like total crap out of the box. Ubuntu makes me physically ill with their orange and brown and tan default theme. Skinning is possible, but sometimes is very involved. And so far I have not seen anyone PERFECTLY emulate another nice looking OS.
Sure, Linux is free in every sense of the word, but as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. And the thing that you generally pay for with OS (including commercial versions of linux) is support. Good luck finding professional, timely support for linux distros.
(Granted there are some awesome communities out there that volunteer to help but they are usually individuals making informed guesses on their spare time, and not dedicated professionals who NEED to solve your issue).
With number 5 you seem to be endorsing kiddie-porn and illegal pornography. Awesome. Go to Linux for all your illegal images!
Number six is, hands down, one of the dumbest arguments to use linux. “Use linux instead of windows so you can run windows programs in a different OS!” No thanks, I’ll run natively and spare myself the trouble. To be honest, with VMs, dual booting, and just having lots of cheap machines, I don’t understand the need or desire to use an emulator or emulator-like program like WINE.
What linux enthusiasts like you need to understand (and I was one at one time as well) is that what works great and awesome for you is one thing, but most people don’t care. Hell, I bet most people using their machines aren’t even really aware of what an OS is and just think “non-Apple machines are Windows, Apple is OSX, and Linux is for nerds”.
And you know what? Linux is for nerds. Nerds and netbooks. Until Windows 7.
It’s people like the OP that are the reason why I stopped using Linux.
The operating system is great, but the userbase is beyond horrible. Calling them a cult doesn’t even begin to come close.
Either download FreeBSD, or buy a Mac. UNIX, without the cult.
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1. If you care so much use OSX.
2. Never really had a problem with this.
3. Much to its determent.
4. Piracylol.
5. ENJOY YOUR CP.
6. WINE is horrible. Dual boot FTW.
7. Enjoy giving your distro the AIDS.
8. Very true.
9. But most don’t.
10. …sure why not.
That being said, I love my Ubuntu box, it’s truly a wonderful thing. But there’s no reason to be such a dick about it. There’s a time and a place for both FOSS and Proprietary software, and no not in the trash.
fuck Linux. that shit’s a half-baked wannabe UNIX. i’ll stick with my Mac; there’s a real UNIX.
/flamebait
nice responses there. Makes me wana ditch my XP sooner rather than later.
Every time someone writes an article like this, I just remember what every Linux nerd I’ve met in real life looks like, how I have no desire to have sex with them, how they probably have lawn chairs in their living room, and own shit made by Alienware. Pretty soon, my brain just goes numb and tunes them out and I go back to what I was doing on my Macbook (programming in Coda while using PS3 without needing to run something as dumb as WINE).
Anyone that seriously thinks Linux looks better than Windows or Mac OS X seriously knows absolutely nothing about good typography and user interface design.
Also, your site isn’t valid XHTML Transitional, so why are you even linking that in your site footer.
My room-mate uses Linux. I tried it out, wasn’t too crazy about it. Also, the room-mate spent a good deal of time in Windows to play games.
I use Mac OS X, and, strangely enough, a good number of Apple products are open source. Apple even owns CUPS, which is the printing protocol your beloved Linux uses.
But, to each his own. I just think OS X is way better for my personal needs. And Snow Leopard is going to blow any other OS’s speed out of the water.
why dont you consider calling it GNU / Linux? FSF deserves this attribution.
Linux is a wonderful OS and many people are served very well by it – but to pretend it can be made to be just like OS X or Windows is a lie. You might be able to get skin which makes it look like one of the two but it will not act like them.
Every desktop distro – every single one – has a mish mash of conflicting different UIs. There is no consistency in common menu items, hot keys, print and save dialogs, and other such things. This reduces efficiency, increases error rates, and makes the system less productive.
With that said: if you have a need for a computer just for a few tasks or a couple programs and are not concerned about how the system works as a whole, Linux can be a pretty good desktop OS… excellent for the price!
2, 3(especially), and 7 are completely false. Gnome, the default pretty shell, is slow and bloated- crawls on a Pentium 3 with 256 mb of ram that runs Windows XP beautifully. It gets slower with each release. 10 is as true as it is with Windows. 1 represents a complete misunderstanding of secruity and viruses(they have long existed in unix). 8 is arguable and 4 is a BS argument that can fool you into wasting more time than the money is worth. 9 is only true for a few users, as most F/OSS developers do more harm than good. GO LINUX!!
EASIER to use? PLEASE what a load of crap! UNTIL basically EVERYTHING can be done through the GUI it wont be easier to use. PERIOD. XP very very very very rarely needs the console to do anything. TO get your graphics card working nicely in Ubuntu can and USUALLY takes a huge amount of effort. Sure you can enable the hardware drivers through the gui “in most cases”. The resolutions are not setup correctly and have to be manually setup in xorg.conf. Linux has years to go before it can be fully configured through the gui. sorry.
Article should be should top 10 reasons douchebags thing Linux is better, even though windows can do all of that and still actually be compatible with everything and play games without adding some slow-ass middle man called Wine.
And easier to use? HAHAHA. I’ve spent longer trying to install one app on Linux then it took me to learn Windows. Linux is such BS. Windows can be just as secure as anything else. Just becuase a lot of windows users of casual non-techy pc users that don’t do the stuff they are supposed to do, doesn’t mean Windows isn’t secure.
Just tried to install Ubuntu 8.10 tonight. “Let’s give it a try, it’s been a while. Wifi didn’t work with v5 and v6, but it should be solved by now”… No luck, even with my new hardware: 1 hour later, I’m still considering giving Ubuntu a chance, next year… The belkin USB wifi adapter is not even recognized (It did not work either with the Broadcom wifi card on the laptop).
There are huge improvements but it’s still for the tech savvy and the one who want to spend time rigging their OSes using shells, not my Grand mother (nor me, as it seems).
I hate god damn fucking liars like you! I swear to god I’d love to beat all you Linux zealots in the head with a hammer.
1.Not true on Vista, or any other machine where you are not running as admin.
2.XP uses LESS resources than even a tweaked copy of Ubuntu, and is actually faster. Installing programs that run on boot slows the computer down over time, not simply using it. This is an all too common misconception.
3.Linux is harder, and you MUST use the console if something isn’t working right, which can happen very often on Linux.
4.Both Windows and Linux have a large variety of free software available for them. There are thousands of free programs that are only available for Windows, not Linux. There have always been free programs available for the Windows platform.
6. DEAD WRONG. Many programs do not work with WINE, especially games. Many that do run have severe bugs or run very slowly. Even programs that might run at full speed take longer to open under Wine. Some games based on the Source Engine run at 17 FPS on a machine that would normally get over 75 on XP. This is where you lie the most.
7.Linux has very poor looking fonts and overall design, and in most cases the OS or the software looks like something you’d find in the software bin at the Salvation Army.
Oh another point, yes YOU may get to choose the distro and gui, HOWEVER linux chooses the hardware
. So who is the bitch now?
I’m a Linux user, and very happy with it, but I wish people would stop misrepresenting WINE.
WINE is slow, significantly slower than Windows. Common applications like uTorrent consume far more CPU time under Linux than Windows, and have sluggish interface performance in comparison (on the same machine).
WINE is buggy. Few applications work perfectly, and many don’t work at all. Program written with .NET? Forget it, and chance are it won’t run properly under MONO too. Want to play a game? It might run if it’s popular, but even then it will probably suffer from performance/stability/graphical issues.
Very few applications run just as well under WINE as they do under Windows. There are almost always caveats, some quite series. For example, WarCraft III (a very popular and by no means brand new game) runs decently… if you disable the loading videos, run it in OpenGL mode instead of the default Direct3D mode, never alt-tab away from it, and don’t play on Battle.NET. And it may well crash on you.
Some of these issues (Battle.NET issue, alt-tab issue) have had patches for an extended period of time, but the user needs to recompile WINE himself to get them, since nobody ever bothered to integrate them. Getting WarCraft III to work as well as I described above requires an entire HOWTO guide, which includes installing Microsoft DLLs (runtimes), registry tweaks (to enable OpenGL), and changing WINE settings (to make mouse scrolling work). The average user, of course, can be expected to do none of this.
Other games that I’ve tried such as Supreme Commander (works playably slowly with heavy graphical glitches) or Team Fortress 2 (unplayably slow, major issues) didn’t go so well. And even getting them running required sometimes hours of work trying to get just the right Windows DLLs and settings working.
Other applications just flat out don’t run. My favourite photo editing program, Paint.NET, doesn’t run usably either under WINE or Mono.
So please stop trying to pretend that WINE is useful to the average user. Out of all the Windows programs I used before switching to Linux, only ONE works well enough to use on a daily basis; uTorrent. And THAT only runs because the uTorrent dev wrote workarounds for WINE bugs into uTorrent.
To all potential Linux users out there: Forget about your Windows apps if you switch. They probably won’t work for you, so get ready to use Linux equivalents or don’t switch.
[...] Read the full article here [...]
linux is not good.. it doesn’t even have start menu. how are u meant to do stuff then? and it’s not the same like borders and stuff. stay away from it everyone!! waste of time
I think James is on the right track.
Linux is not a mainstream OS. It may have to settle with being a geek/nerd OS for the rest of its existence. Why? In great part because it was never meant to be for the mainstream user. It was created for a different kind of computer user than Windows or Mac. It is made for people who like to look under the hood and fiddle with what they see. Linux still forces users to know and do things with an OS that Windows and Mac don’t. I’ve worked with a number of Linux distros over the years and have yet to find one that works well enough for me to recommend it to a neophyte over Windows or Mac.
I’ve been working in technology for several decades. I’ve used every release version of Windows along with some pre-release versions and a few versions of the Mac OS along with CPM, DOS, PCDOS, DRDOS, GEM and others. One of my earlier computers was an Atari 1040Ste that could run Mac apps faster than real Macs using a mix of Magic Sac and Spectre hardware emulation while still being able to to boot into Atari OS and run DOS faster than the PC I was also using at the time. Now I use machines running single installs of XP and Vista 32/64 combined with dual-booting and VM on my mule machines. My dualie Mac runs OS X.
All of these older OS’s had their charms, so to speak, but only a couple have survived long enough to last into the present and hold a significant market share. What distinguished the ones that have lasted all this time is the clientele they were designed for. Those that catered to the geeks and nerds among us came and went even though they were sometimes superior to their Windows and Mac contemporaries. Those that accommodate the everyman/everywoman user have survived. All people really want to do is to be able to sit down at a computer whether it is Windows or Mac based and do the things they want or need to do with as little fanfare as possible. They don’t care about what’s going on under the hood nor are they interested in finding out. The fact is that Windows, warts and all, works extremely well for these people as does OS X. But the key is to leave things alone. The average Windows user leaves things alone. Apple has made sure that the Yuppie larvae who use Macs can barely get past the GUI, much less to the inner workings of the OS.
The average geek/nerd doesn’t leave things alone. We tinker and we mess things up. I’ve seen more problems with Windows and MAC OS’s than nearly everyone I’ve ever talked to over the years. It’s part of my job to try to break it and fix the problems. I’ve also run many, many test scenarios using Windows in particular and I’ve found, despite the incessant, all too often ill informed ranting and whining by Windows bashers that Windows itself is stable. The troubles start when you start adding poorly written applications. Some troubles will remain as long as MS insists on accommodating users who still want to run 15 year old applications. Apple could care less about running old apps on their machines. They simply stop supporting or running the old apps and expect users to eventually upgrade hardware. Crude but effective.
Another issue relates to how many people are using the OS. Windows and OS X dominate the OS world marketplace. The small – more like minute – portion of the rest of the world population that uses other operating system is practically microscopic compared to Windows and Mac. Until Linux gets into as many hands as Windows and Mac is already it remains debatable whether Linux is as categorically superior as Linux Crusaders insist. The more an OS is exposed to the general population the more likely it’s flaws will be revealed. I don’t see Linux, or any other OS for that matter, ever achieving the perfection that some people insist Linux already has.
Finally, the tools you use are the ones that work best for you. I use Windows for professional and personal business needs. I use a mix of my Mac and Windows machines for personal graphics and photography work. I have tried various Linux distros, for a while I used Red Hat/Fedora and currently I have Ubuntu installed on one of my test mules. While it works reasonably well it still hasn’t worked well enough to replace my PCs or Mac. I accept the situation because I know there is no such thing as a superior OS, just one that works for doing what I need it to do. I see no purpose in trying to force my choices on others.
Linux is pure internet noise.
Wanna hear why people reject Linux year after year? Because it’s a terrible desktop OS.
You don’t like Windows? Buy a Mac and save yourself the trouble.
Well, yes, ok I’m too fan of free software, but try to install Ubuntu on Compaq Armada with 128 megs of ram. Or Suse, for that matter.
1. It’s not that Linux doesn’t get its fair share of viruses – it’s just that it makes it harder for them to get a hold of your system. The security that is present in Windows Vista works much the same way that it does in SELinux – the user has to make a conscious decision (however stupid it may be) to allow a virus in.
2. This is a rather poorly worded statement. *Some* Linux distributions are (and will remain) fast – DSL, for example. Other distributions, such as Gnome- or KDE-based Ubuntu, have sacrificed some flexibility and speed for eye-candy. On the other hand, so has Vista.
3. Easier to use? Ehh… Windows is very much a “dumb it down” kind of Operating System. In order to make money, Microsoft has to make sure that *anyone* can use their OSes. Many Linux distributions, again using Ubuntu as an example, are very “common sense” – that is, almost anyone should be able to use it well. Some, however, are not user-friendly at all and will remain that way, for improvements in speed or efficiency.
As for hardware – I assure you that Linux *could* support every piece of hardware under the sun. It is not the fault of the developers that it doesn’t support something or another – many hardware companies (especially wireless card makers, for some reason) simply do not develop for Linux or release firmware sources. So we make do. We try to hack together our own solutions (which sometimes work, but sometimes do not). This change needs to be made at the hardware-manufacturer’s level.
4.*Most* Linux distributions are free. But yes, generally speaking, most Linux distributions encourage the use of open-source software.
5. Also true…I guess.
6. Yes, many Windows programs work under Linux with WINE, and many don’t. Linux is not Windows (obviously), and you cannot expect it to be. Dual-booting gets the job done.
7. Linux *can* look better than other Operating Systems. This is due to its great extensibility and flexibility. I am included to agree with one of the above posters, however – Ubuntu out-of-box is ugly as heck. Easily (no, really – very easily) changed.
8. Fun is relative. Linux is fun for those who enjoy tinkering and modifying. More and more, however, with the advent of user-friendly distributions, it is becoming an average-Joe’s OS.
9. Yes, no comment.
10. I suppose. I am not all that creative, so I am proudly posting from codyslaptop. *shrug*
All in all, I enjoy Linux, but I realize that it is not an Operating System for everyone. I may tout some of the cool things it does, but I am not going to force it on anyone (especially not the people who are ingrained into the Windows GUI).
[...] Переведено по Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference [...]
I was going to make a long post but Ted said it all and very well.
I appreciate Linux and have played with several distos but always keep Windows as my main system for work and play.
My advise is to give them all a try …its fun and you will learn more.
Keep2up,
bikinguy
Maybe if the Windows was not so aggressive toward competitors and clients due to their non transparent strategy and antitrust postition, Linux user would be less encline to paint microsoft as Evil …
Linux is a great new way to collaborate and run our society. We all build innovation on a common base. We all ( but also thks to multi billion investment from corporations ) share, improve and extend the fundation of Linux ( the kernel, drivers and desktop managers ).
It s up to users to try and decide if they like the concept and the product.
They can get liveCD to see if it works as well
Some of these posts seem like they are from rather close minded people.
Windows – an OS for the person who says “whats a computer” they will learn it, use it, then have a thousand pieces of spyware/malware killing the computer cuz they dont know any better
Mac OSX – I have used this and while I dont hate it, reminds me of the OS thats for those who “started smoking so they could join the cool crowd as a teenager”
Linux – commonly called the “geeks OS” while to a degree this is true, I think the linux community is trying to make linux more mainstream for those non-geeks.
To the IT people in my family we use Linux. I use gnome and my uncle and cousin prefer the kde desktop. However, more and more I am running into frustrated windows users who say to me “How do I check email?” whether its xp or vista. I do of course help them but then when they get frustrated I give them a linux live CD and spend 20 -30 minutes giving them a quick rundown on how it works. Since most of these people I do this with are just ordinary users, not gamers, they are suprised at the ease of linux. I have gotten more people to use linux just by doing this very thing. Its not hard.
To those who have had issues with hardware or drivers… I dont know what you all are using but I have built many computers and rarely do i have issues with things not working right out of the box when I install Ubuntu. The rare times I have had an issue, 5 minutes with google search has solved it.
As for looks I would like to see that they provide links to users in the appearance window so that it takes them to websites allowing them to choose a different UI to download and use.
Totally agree!
Ubuntu has reloaded the linux wake wave.
I do encounter some troubles during its usage. But I love it!
I enjoy the pain.
As I posted in my blog (http://is.gd/iP1m) at the end of last year, the debate about GNU/Linux on the desktop is over – it’s just that a lot of people haven’t noticed:
“Linux on the desktop will only remain an issue being argued about on discussion lists. For the majority of the users, they will come to recognise that some desktops look different, but do everything they need. As far as businesses are concerned, an increasing number of smart ones will adopt Free Software solutions to save themselves money.”
Wow. So much Linux hate all of a sudden. Sounds like this site caught wind of an anti-linux website. It all started with James, ironically.
@James
James, what you said about stupid people getting viruses is wrong. No doubt, an idiot can destroy ANY PC without the help of virus, but to assume that Linux isn’t any safer than Windows is completely wrong and speaks volumes about you, sir. To install a virus on Linux and cause maximum damage (I’ll use Ubuntu since it’s the most popular), one would need to make the program executable (right click on the program and click the box to run as executable), they would then need to run it as root. So… To run a executable as root, they’d need to open terminal, navigate to the directory where the executable is at and type sudo ./. Do you honestly think your grandmother can do that? I know my can’t! In Windows, to run a virus and cause maximum damage, you just need to double click it (with UAC enabled, click ‘Continue’ afterwards).
@Aimee
Funny you say that. The OP is actually referring to Compiz. As far as GUI design goes, you’re a little confused. Most *nix apps actually follow a strict GUI guideline — which in short says that wasted real estate is poor design. Many Windows apps have huge windows with a single button in the middle. That’s called poor GUI design. However, I wouldn’t expect you to know that, Aimee.
@missos
Apple owns CUPS because they bought it. They didn’t invent it. CUPS was originally designed for Unix. Apple’s OS series wasn’t able to use it up until they began using Unix. So, in other words, CUPS has been around for much longer than OSX has been around. Linux has been using CUPS longer than OSX… So……
@josh N
Hi, Josh. My gf runs Ubuntu and she doesn’t even know what terminal or the command line looks like. You can do just about anything you want without the terminal. The terminal is simply a tool for advanced users. You don’t HAVE to use it. As far as graphics and the issues you have, I have to say that I’ve never had such issues. The moment I run the OS, everything works. I will admit, a few years ago I had issues with wireless working, but that’s a non issue now.
@zed
You probably had issues installing one app because you were trying to use it as if it were Windows. You probably did a search on Google and found an app on a website (most likely a tar ball). You tried compiling it and that’s probably where your issues began. You could’ve avoided all that by using a package manager. Ubuntu makes it easy with Add/Remove. It gives you ratings on the different programs you want to install. If you can’t find your program there, you can use the default Synaptic Package Mananger. Its as easy as clicking a box and then clicking apply. Installing software on a Mac is also different than Windows. You extract the package and copy and paste the folder in the applications folder. No Wizard is involved unlike Windows. You’re argument here is pretty moot.
Windows as secure as everything else? I honestly wish this were true. There are still a ton of vulnerabilities on Windows that Microsoft has yet to patch because they believe they’re not “important enough”. Meanwhile, I just ran an update for a kernel fix that was found a few hours ago that fixed a local user vulnerability. That’s something people would consider petty and it still got high priority.
@Qchan:
Yes, Windows has a shitty UI. Worse than Linux in fact. Not every OS steamrolls Linux. Just because something doesn’t lose a comparison test doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck. Compiz sucks. Do you really need to rotate your screens around on some stupid-looking 3D cube? Retarded animations don’t make a UI good. The kind of people that are impressed by that shit are the kind of people that still like Flash animations.
bollocks, linux fan boy knows his os is shit so he has to write a post about it. all of tehse points are shit
@Aimee
Hello, Aimee. Wasn’t expecting a reply so quickly. Anyway, I currently use the rotating cube (rotating sphere, actually) and it has definitely increased my productivity. Instead of fiddling with windows on a single desktop, I have 6. So, I rotate my sphere to quickly manage my workload. It’s also good to get a good overall view of what you have open. I typically open many many windows and I hate it when they’re all cluttered (especially on a single desktop/workspace).
Aimee, I assume you don’t use Linux. Perhaps you should give Ubuntu a shot before you pass judgment. If you have more questions about Linux and what it can do for you, you can visit my website ultraedge.net:88 (Ultra Edge).
@Qchan
LOL, fuck you. I love how you keep making blind assumptions about me. I used Linux for 3 years as a computer programmer. Gentoo, Debian, and finally Ubuntu. They were all fucking miserable distributions fronting the same miserable operating system.
I’ll stick with Mac OSX which has the Unix underpinnings (which is nice) but without all the dumb shit.
P.S. I know how spaces work. I use them every day. I just don’t need to see them on a stupid cube to be productive with them.
[...] les traemos las 10 respuesta del por que uso Linux que en el sitio de Internetling han dado a conocer, sin dudas algo que podria convencer a mas de uno de cambiarse a [...]
Not to bash linux, I have ubuntu 8.1 running in VMware. This article is full of shit though.
1. Linux helps you get rid of viruses, worms, and other computer infections.
I have been using XP since 2000 on 3 pcs and never had a single virus, and I never used any anti virus software. Tip: don’t visit porn sites and don’t use limewire.
2. Linux is fast and will stay fast
Who today still have a computer with 256mb ram and a P3 processor? XP runs quick any average specs since 2004.
3. Linux is easier to use than Windows. Using the Terminal is not necessary in most cases.
Pure BS. if you are an average linux user, you have used terminal more than enough times. More than any windows user use cmd.
4. Linux is free as in free beer AND as in free speech. Cost does NOT define the value of Free Software!
Torrent XP, is 100% free too.
5. Your porn collection is safe with Linux
and you will be single for the rest of your life
6. Thousands of Windows-only applications (even Photoshop CS3) and games work with Linux through WINE just as fast. You can also find good alternative open source software.
If you want to use windows software why not use windows???? 100% Native
7. Linux looks better than Windows Vista or Mac OS X
You can theme linux to vista or mac look? WOW, why not just get vista or mac osx?
8. Linux is fun
FUCK, everytime I tried to do shit in linux, I find myself on the endless loop of forums reading random people’s advices, trial and error is not my thing. If reading forum is fun for you, u should get linux.
9. You can help improve Linux
I don’t know how to read source codes, I can’t help for shit.
10. Linux makes you give your computer a name
I bet you named it shit hole.
@Aimee
So I see. What languages do you program in? I find it interesting that you use a Mac which is based from the same foundation as Linux. Its kinda like hating your sister because her eyes are green and not blue like yours.
1) I’m not an idiot, so I’m not having issues with viruses, worms, and other infections to begin with.
2) I have a good computer and Windows 7 runs plenty fast on it.
3) Linux isn’t easier to use than Windows because *I already know how to use Windows* and *I don’t know how to use Linux.*
4) Windows is already a sunk cost. Sticking with it costs me nothing. Switching to Linux costs me time re-setting up my computer, time trying to find all the software I need to work, and re-learning how to do everything. Switching to Linux is not, for me, free as in beer.
5) This point is written in a manner that makes no sense whatsoever. It’s an illogically-slammed-together mishmash of 1 and 4.
6) So you’re telling me I can spend hours setting up a compatibility layer to make Linux do some (but not all) of the things my computer already does.
7) I can make Windows look like Mac OS X or Linux in under 15 minutes, too. This is not a unique feature to Linux.
9) Joining the Linux community is like spitting in the ocean. It’s so fractured, fragmented, and directionless, I genuinely CAN’T help improve Linux at large, even if I wanted to. Hell, even Linus Torvalds trying to help the Linux community devolves into flamewars these days–what hope would I have?
10) My Windows install demanded I give my computer a name.
Thanks for ten responses to the question “Why should I use Linux?” Unfortunately, none of the responses were helpful or, for that matter, valid.
@Qchan
C, Python, and bits and pieces of OO PHP professionally. Ruby as a hobby.
And no, it’s not the same thing as not liking your own sister. It’s like having a crush on a girl but not her sister even though they come from the same parents when one girl is like 25 and the other girl is like 35 and they look and act totally different.
This is my last response on here but this conversation is not going anywhere. Peace.
It just works….
If I need Windows, I can use VMWare…
Great Post man. I love that you could say anything you want because this from a “evangelist” point of view. Instead of babying out you said what you wanted.
@Tomek I can update the operating system, have 6 firefox windows open, listen to music, play a game, and be on a ftp client all of the same time.
And even then Ubuntu does not stagger at all, I am sure XP would
I love Linux, but Windows apps running with WINE are not always just as fast. Half-Life 2 runs at less than half the speed with WINE than it does with Windows XP. I have tried running it with various Linux distros as well as various version of WINE, including the latest beta with similar results every time.
This article overstates a lot of things. Wine is good and getting better but not great. I generally use XP in a virtual machine rather than Wine these days if I absolutely must use on XP program for work or something.
There are other way better things I would add to the
list is: I just got so sick of having to buy software and getting nickel and dimed for every damn thing in the proprietary worlds of MS and Mac. I got sick of having to store a 20 digit serial number for my Windows, Photoshop, Office, Quicken, Adobe Premiere Elements, CorelDraw, ACDSee . . . basically ever damn piece of software I needed. I got sick of buying a $200 upgrade for each of these damn things every 3 years or so. AND carefully keep the original software CD’s around. And keep the driver CD’s to ever piece of hardware. And read through and ‘sign’ long bullshit end user license agreements. And call MS when I changed a hard drive or a RAM stick or a video card because XP no longer worked because I changed my hardware config too much. And call Adobe and beg them to transfer my ‘authorization’ over to my new computer and have to wheedle it out of them when I paid them a small fortune for this software package.
I don’t have to deal with ANY of this crap on Ubuntu. I would so rather buy a new $15 wireless card if the existing one didn’t work with Ubuntu, than have to go back and deal with all of the above crap. Way way less hassle.
Next is the Ubuntu (fill in distro here) community. When I google a problem in XP or Vista, much of the time the answer is behind a PAY FOR THIS ANSWER commercial service where they want you to join. In Ubuntu, I guarantee you will find the answer in the forums and it will always – always – be free. People will answer your posts and help you. For free. Quickly.
Those are just a couple big ones. You will pry Ubuntu out of my cold dead hands.
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference » Linux, open source… (tags: blog business Life opensource windows linux design PC) [...]
I read many linux related blog, I’ve not seen anybody mention about MEPIS linux which in my opinion is much much better than ubuntu in
term of stable (SimplyMEPIS is super stable, you can run multiple task without any sign of performance suffered, but Ubuntu not) and compatible with many more computers. They both are Debian inside, but Ubuntu get freeze up too much and can not be installed on some computer when MEPIS does. Ubuntu development teams should take a look at source code of MEPIS and use it for the improvement of next version Ubuntu. I don’t mind to pay $5 to support the work of people or company that makes good stable linux.
Clearly written by a true Linux Fanboy!
1. Simply because there are billions more windows users. If they all convert to linux, so will the virus writers.
2. The exact statement remains to be seen, but it is faster than windows at least.
3. This is just absolute BS. This is exactly the reason why most people choose Windows. Because it’s more user friendly.
4. True. It’s free. But as with free beer (which would probably be terrible), you have to use it too.
5. That’s just a conspiricy theory.
6. But those apps were still written FOR Windows. If linux was so popular, they would have been written for Linux.
7. Again, BS. This is just the fanboy talking.
8. Wait, what? It’s only “Fun” to geeks who have no life outside of computers.
The normal user who has no clue about computers won’t be having fun with the OS.
9. How does this apply to normal users??? probably 0.01% of PC users can code. Let alone good enough to do anything to Linux.
10. Oh for Gods sake! This is a feature????
The author should get off his fanboy high-horse!
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists’ Reference [...]
Are you zealot or what? I can counter every your arguments because they all are total bullshit!
Why does Ubuntu get slower to me. My desktop used to hang when installing packages.
Wow… talk about haters…. All three OS’s are good. Each has a use and a user base.
-OSX is for Elitist A-holes, musicians, and artists (and people who have enough money to blow on an overpriced computer).
-Windows is for the masses. And I do mean the stupid people who have trouble figuring out how to do new things. It is also for gamers (who are not usually part of the stupid people group).
-Linux is for geeks. A geek is someone who has a desire to obtain more knowledge in one or more areas of expertise to add to their current knowledge. Linux is for the people who like to tinker and mod things. Linux is NOT for someone who has trouble using a computer.
All three “brands” of OS’s have A-holes standing out front yelling that their OS is better than the other two. These people are A-holes. Don’t listen to what they say. Make your own mind up. All three have their pros and cons. Is Linux hard to install if you don’t know what you’re doing? Yes, it is. But you can find help on how to do it. Is Windows full of security issues? You know it is, but it can be secured and ran problem free if administered properly. Is OSX (and the machine it comes on) way overpriced? Yes, but that’s why they made credit cards and second mortgages for (or you could go without eating for a month).
My Take on the 10 reasons?
1)Linux users don’t have admin rights unless they are given to them. Windows gives admin rights to the user right off the bat (in a home use setting, not in a networked setting). User popularity also has something to do with it. Most people use windows. Most Maleware is written for Windows. The next 5 years is going to be tough for mac users. Grats on continuing your increase in market share btw.
2)All 3 OS’s are fast out of the gate when installed on the right hardware. Windows gets bogged down after awhile unless you know how to maintain your pc.
3)*IF you did not grow up using Windows. I still would like to try an experiment: Put 3 computers into an elementary school classroom. One with OSX, one with Windows, and one with Ubuntu. I’d like to see which one the kids start to use more, or if they begin to use whichever one is available to be used without any bias.
4)Yes Linux is free, but to some people time=money.
5)The internet is for porn. No other industry has pushed the technical envelope further. Linux doesn’t having reporting services. Vista has about 40 different services that report back to MS at any given time.
6)WINE has bugs, and not everything works with it. A lot of programs do work with it. People are afraid of change. If your parents drive Fords and your friends drive Fords, then you probably drive a Ford. If your teachers and peers use Photoshop then you use… Exactly. There are other programs out there to try, but you won’t try to learn them.
7)It only looks better because you can make it look how you want it to look without being constrained by what the other OS’s will allow you to do. Ubuntu out of the box is gross (I love how someone said it made them physically ill).
9)This is where the “community” comes in. If you solve a problem, design something new, or improve on a design, you share it with everyone. I love being able to help others out with a problem that I solved with help from others. If you ask “how can I do this” in a Linux community you’ll get responses like “try this” or “have you tried that” or “read this article, it will probably help you”. Try posting a “how do I do this” on a Mac community and the number one response will be “why would you want to do that?” (it’s weird, I know. I love Macs, but I hate Mac users…).
10)This is a double sided statement. You literally have to name the computer when setting up Linux. You can skip it when setting up windows. You are more likely to give your Linux computer an actual name than if it was a Windows or OSX machine. You also then refer to your Linux machine by name to your friends and peers. This is because Linux users take pride in their machines. It’s their box and it’s set up the way they want it to be.
Overall a good article, but please don’t try too hard to convert people. Linux is not for everyone, but is available to anyone. There’s no need to dish out reasons. Just tell people to try it. If they try it and like it, good. Welcome to the Linux community. If they try it and don’t like it, hey thanks for trying it. If they don’t want to try it, oh well. The open source community wasn’t built by closed minded people.
Cool debate going on here.
I’d just like to point out that this is a pretty old article and that I’m no professional writer, but I hope I’ve gotten better since March 2008
I dunno why this particular post got dugg though -> Be sure to check my newer posts
what about…. linux has a good command line.
also i think the last point was as lame as can be. some people have no reason to give a computer a name
Unfortunately, I have written similar articles a couple of times. Ok, let me play the Windows troll here:
(a) You will have to waste hours learning a new OS and applications.
(b) I like Windows, it works for me.
(c) You can’t play any games on Linux.
(d) You’re pathetic, Linux has a 0.00001% marketshare. If it really were this good, there would be more.
(e) Amateur applications, there is nothing like Photoshop, Premiere etc. etc.
(f) All Windows problems are due to bad hardware, bad drivers, bad users.
(g) I’m a Windows user so I’m too dumb to come with any real arguments; I’d rather repeat SOFUD and put my fingers in my ears when somebody makes a point.
Sorry, good article, but it won’t change a bit.
Wow…this is a switch up for me. Usually, I find myself trying to explain to some ubergeek how completely and utter disconnected he is from reality.
This guys is just ignorant. Point 1 is so idiotic it earns the FAIL right there. There is a point to be made on this front (aside from user base size) but this apparently is not the place.
Which brings me to my other point of confusion. Up to now, it has seemed that most of the Cultists make claims like, “You can modify registry contents! Try that on Windows” like that is some kind of compelling arugment. It is not. But it is terribly interesting on a geek level (which the geeks will never get has nothing to do with anything really important beyond our labs). This article, however, is very, very weird.
Attractiveness.
Yah. He put aesthetics as a major selling point. This seems to put it in the “Epic Fail” category. I thought it pretty much went like this:
- The guys that want to seem really uber slick use *Nix.
- The guys that want to seem really uber slick, but still want to believe they are appealing to the opposite sex (e.g. “aesthetics”) use OX.
- Those of us that have work to do boot up our Windows box and get to it.
To round off the critiques…ease of use. Yah. Right. I have a *Nix fan right next to me who is telnetting into some box at his house reading over my shoulder going, “Ease of use??!? WTF!” That still remains to be one of the stumbling blocks of Linux. Again, the viruses thing…wow, I just have to hope this was poorly written. It is easier accept that the author stumbled a bit on grammer as opposed to really believing that Linux has some majik anti-virus voodoo going on.
Porn protection. Wow…because we can look at the source.
Yah, I always thought that the first thing this debate needed was to be taken out of the hands of the geeks. I stand corrected. If the author fancies himeself a geek, sorry but based on this article, I feel that my assessment is not unreasonable.
11. Linux makes you feel cool.
You can’t deny it. If you are booting into Linux each day, you will feel superior to all Windows users.
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Thanks to my crap Windows Xp and my neighbour frustrations with his Vista, i’ve now used now Ubuntu 30 weeks and experience has been 99% positive. Perhaps i was also lucky with my HP-Pavilion computer, 1 Gigabytes RAM, Nvidia GeForce 6600, AMD64 +3200 and ALSA 4000 but i have to say – installation was terrible simply, OS stabile, using it simple, no problems with devices and graphics, even my Canon printer works fine.
Normally in this stage Windows (after ½ year) is becoming slower and slower, and slower and slower…
Ubuntu is actually little bit faster than Windows 7 and one must remember that final version of Windows 7 will be heavier. In normal use there is also so called anti-virus software which will make them working more slower. Besides Ubuntu is much slower that e.g Debian.
Personally i see anti-virus software nothing but malware – however in these days you have to use it in Windows OS. But generally – they are malware. If one have to use anti-virus programs that OS must be pretty blunder.
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You have probably never seen Mac OS X more than on a few screenshots. Not only that the power of Mac is not in its look, but your emphasized claim that one can make Linux look exactly like Mac OS X makes me as an actual Linux AND Mac OS X user laugh very very loudly…
Daniel, I own a Macbook and have used OS X for almost a year and a half.
Find me a decent free file manager, for starters
Well, Greg, then how come you are writing such BS here? You must have already found out, after a year and a half, that the desktop experience with Mac is far superior to any current Linux distro out there and that applying a wannabe OS X theme to GTK+ or Qt doesn’t make it Mac — unles you are one of those geeks who tried switching to the Mac, they found out that they don’t understand the platform and now you are kicking around yourself and making noise… I know a few.
File manager? Finder is enough for me, muCommander does a good job but I use it only occasionally… MC perhaps is for you?
Just cool …
@Daniel: Such a theme and Compiz will get you pretty close to the OS X eye candy.
The problem? You’ll still suffer from poor adherence to any sort of design standard (one of Apple’s strongest points is a strong emphasis on UI standards), and Compiz is horribly buggy/glitchy/unstable/quirky (possibly due to generally poor Linux drivers from AMD/nVidia).
There’s one category that Linux beats OS X hands down though, media players. There is a far smaller selection of media players on OS X than Linux. QuickTime is ill-suited for modern media playback, so you’re not left with much more than ports of mplayer/VLC. There’s only one mplayer front-end that I’ve ever seen that’s worth anything, smplayer, and it doesn’t quite work on OS X yet (people have managed to compile it, but it’s not stable).
Of course, for media playback, I’d argue that Windows beats Linux and OS X hands down (and I’m a Linux user). That’s one of the things I miss, the combination of Media Player Classic HomeCinema, ffdshow tryouts, and Haali’s Splitter/Renderer (and CoreAVC for those high-res h.264 vids). It was crazy tweakable, rock-solid, and way faster than video playback on Linux (CPU-usage wise).
Of course, I’m not going to boot into Windows just to watch videos; smplayer is good enough for me to not bother rebooting.
I should note that, while using the default Ubuntu 8.10 theme, people keep asking me if I’m running OS X (on my 17″ Dell i9400). Apparently people see the GNOME menu bar on top and think Apple. Most are surprised that it’s not.
When they ask about it, I usually give my standard line, something like: “Well, it’s free, which is nice. And it’s relatively easy to use if you’re really just into the very basic stuff, word processor, email, web browser. But if you do anything more than that, it’s probably not for you since it tends to be for more advanced users then.”
This is a very interesting discussion but I think I’ve heard this song before
Not everything stated in the post is absolutely correct, I must say.
I guess I am some kind of geek. I cannot own a car or a computer, sit behind the dashboard and rely on the controls that the manufacturer has prepared for me, because these controls become ever simplified. I like to think of cars and computers as an extension of my body and for some reason – you can call it a flaw
– I want to know exactly what goes on in there. It’s a need for control. Some people don’t have that need and they will never understand why others have. Others like me don’t understand how other people can be what they call passive.
It doesn’t make me feel a superior car driver or computer user. I’m not a safer driver because I want to hack the engine of my car, although I hear about people dying all the time because their car did not behave the way they expected in certain circumstances. I always like to think that the more you know about the machine you are steering, the better. I think this makes me a safer and more productive computer user, but I may be totally wrong.
My path to using Linux has been an almost natural one. I have used Windows and OS X for years and they are good operating systems. But they are designed to limit the user. The intention of Microsoft and Apple is to sell machines that you have to bring to a garage every time there is something wrong with it. You see this happening release after release. There is nothing wrong with that, and for most people that is exactly how they want things. If there is something wrong with my freezer or my washing machine, I’m gonna call someone because I can’t be bothered with them. Because, they are not extensions of my body
Especially Apple likes to sell this idea of a perfect harmony between hardware and software and that is simply far from reality. If you use Mac, your options are fairly limited if you want to upgrade your system. Most Mac users just buy a new Mac whenever they feel the newer model of the one they have has more capabilities. That is fine. Everybody spends their money the way they want. I remember buying an iMac and 2 months later, a new model was launched. I immediately thought of trading it in, even though I was relatively satisfied with it. That made me think.
Eventually I did sell the bloody thing and I replaced it with a Linux box. That I am now using for 3 years and I think it’s okay for another few years. I’ve been playing with Linux since about 10 years but honestly I had to wait for Ubuntu before I really made the switch and I never looked back. Actually, I got frustrated with Ubuntu also because it becomes more and more gui-fied and less flexible with every release. And so I moved on and for the first time in my life I have now computers I can totally rely upon.
You have to be careful though with this urge to try to convert other people to what you personally think is the superior OS. I think, a good OS is the OS that works best for you. A few years ago I saw people work with VIM and I thought: “Who wants to do this on a voluntary basis?” Now I find myself working in VIM constantly and it’s really great.
That is why the discussion about which OS is superior is a bit silly. Because for most computer users, Linux is alien and strange and it would take years before they understood and eventually appreciate how it really works. It’s not just the technology. It’s, more than anything, the philosophy.
Even though a lot of Windows users I know are really frustrated about it, they don’t want to change. Most people don’t have that time. And they don’t have that need to make the investment. Totally understandable.
Daniel, there’s no need to be offensive.
point #5 is an interesting one that i haven’t seen before…
I made decision after installing Ubuntu Hardy Heron that i’m not gonna upgrade it to Ibex or Jaunty. It has became more stabile since august 08. I got 5 month period without no harmful OS “gelation” until yeaster firefox 3.06 did it again (i blame Kaffeine played copy-past videolink though it could be something else). Anyway the first harmfull ALT+Ctrl+Del since august 08.
Many have faced problems after upgradin Hardy to Ibex. If you OS is stabile why to jump immediately to unsure? Especially if you have only one computer and one reliable OS on it.
BTW. Ubuntu has been so positive “surprise” to me that i’m not gonna come back to Windows anymore. Next pc of mine will be some of those “Vista don’t run here and i dunno what to do now”-computers, price something like 100-150 €. Or perhaps Netbook ASUS with CrunchEEE.
I’m very interesting in how scary most of people are when they hear about Linux. I’ve learnt a lot psychology of human being.
3. Linux is easier to use than Windows.
This isn’t completely true at all. You give Linux to any newbie computer user and they’ll never figure it unless you are running X or some type of GUI. Windows has a better looking GUI than most window managers.
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? Currently 12/3 Submitted February 02, 2009 by jsuggs Tags: linux! If you’re a Linux enthusiast like me, you’ve probably tried to convert a few people over to Linux from another operating system. Even though you succeed many times, there are always a few ‘geniuses’ out there who need some real persuading to switch over to Linux. [...]
I’m using Windows Xp at the moment, but all the Linux Haters here have convinced me to go to Linux. I’m probably going to take a look at some of the more widely used Distros and make my decision from those. Thankyou Gregg for a great post, still being read a year later! :O)
I think ubuntu linux is good for all
Thank you Darren, much appreciated.
Despite linux being pretty awesome, my time saving windows software does not work in linux.
Saving 20+ hours a week using my windows software is worth more to me than saving $150 on an OS.
I would like to use linux full-time but it just doesn’t support many applications yet.
Linux is most definitely NOT fun. Any normal person who has tried it can vouch for this.
Keep on drinkin’ the Kool-Aid, freetards.
[...] of the arguments I use often when talking about the advantages of using Linux is the fact that you do not have to reboot when installing or upgrading software. Most of the time. [...]
[...] Top 10 Responses to Why Should I Use Linux? – A Linux Evangelists … Share and Enjoy: [...]
I must agree that windows is by far the most user friendly OS. With that being said it does use up much of the memory needed for speed and performance. What is unfortunate is how people purchase computers and 6 years later they cannot run the most up to date version of Windows because of the lack of memory when they could easily handle the low requirements that Linux offers and run efficiently. On the other hand Linux OS’s are a little more difficult to understand for first time users. This problem is currently being addressed with every new version that is released, Ubuntu is a perfect example of an Linux based OS that is becoming more and more user friendly with similar desktop environments to that of Windows.
Listen, all you Linux full of it types,
All y’all can boast about how Linux is fast, never slows down, Linux is easier, blah blah blah. How silly it is to think this really means something to a user. You overlook the simple SIMPLE shit.
You mofos piss me off every time I try to do something. I just tried to install VLC 1.0 on Jaunty and this is fine and dandy but VLC points to Launchpad about how to install from PPA. The piece of shit web site Launchpad shows a page for DEVELOPERS!!!! WTF? Isn’t Linux FOR the users, why not show a PPA page on how to consume something instead of showing info on how to publish to a PPA. Launchpad doesn’t have an easy form to allow for feedback. They make me, a normal user, go to an IRC page or whatever. Just show me a muther effing web form dammit. I just wanted to tell you how confusing your page really is. Not all of us are linux developers, most of the base group will be USERS!!!!!! Make information easy for end users, dammit. WTF is hard about this? Don’t tell me Linux/Ubuntu/VLC is developed for the developers. Make it about the end user and you can blow away apple, microsoft, etc etc
Okay Back to VLC I’m not done with you yet. Right on the front of muther effing VLC page is saying VLC 1.0 is available for Jaunty. Just do this and everything will be fine? Well VLC points to a fricken page for DEVELOPERS! WTF VLC again?? Do you only want developers to use your shit?
Linux and all the linux people are missing the entire damn point.
You put all these arrogant bastard developers (ABD) doing Linux and the only people that will user linux are ….. arrogant bastard developers.
You ABDs make is so hard for the common user to provide valuable feedback that I have to rant on some shitty ass blog about this.
Okay back to my main point about really SIMPLE shit:
Windows 7 mouse works great. The action is fine. I can adjust the mouse/trackpad setting to reflect my preferred settings.
MacOSX Preferred settings. Trackpad behavior works like a charm, this is my main OS.
Triple boot Jaunty on macbookpro:
Now here is the shit that just kills me. I do a fine job at triple booting my mac laptop. When I drop into Jaunty, the mouse/trackpad settings make for a NON USABLE trackpad. It’s either too sensitive or too difficult to move.
These three OSs are all running on the same hardware so nothing’s wrong there. The trackpad action in OSX is smooth, same in Windows 7. But with Ubuntu? WTF ubuntu, a flashy new OS and still I can’t have a trackpad setting similar to the competitors.
To all the linux evangelists of the world:
Make It About The End Users! They will follow.
I know I rambled but I needed to vent thanks.
Linux people, you still have a long way to go as far as the end user is concerned.
END USERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
and just so you know I’ve spent some time on getting the trackpad action just right in Jaunty – NO GO. Cursor behavior makes me not want to use jaunty at all.
Mickey Mouse:
Regarding VLC and PPA: VLC is available from Ubuntu’s own repositories, and can be installed simply via “Add/Remove”. You don’t need to do any of the shit you’re talking about. If you want the latest-and-greatest version, too bad; just because a new version of a software has been released doesn’t mean that it’s ready for mass adoption. Besides, VLC 1.0 will be included in Ubuntu 9.10, which is due to be released next month.
Regarding trackpad: You’re right, Ubuntu (and Linux in general) has pathetically crappy mouse support. I don’t even think you can adjust the mouse speed in Ubuntu through the UI. Fail.
Well, you’re 1 for 2, could be worse.
Well I thought I’d pop back to see how things were progressing on this post. Interesting to see that some Linux Haters still frequent the site. I’ve got Debian 5 installed now, have moved on from Linux Mint/Ubuntu, mainly because I was finding I wanted a more stable system, and don’t need bleeding edge stuff. But I’m also looking to start programming now I have some time on my hands.
Very happy with Linux and the community is great.
Just like Obama, it sounds good, but nuthin but lies.
“If you are booting into Linux each day, you will feel superior to all Windows users. ”
Typical Democrat. Gotta make up for the small penis.
[...] reading through “Top 10 Responses to Why I Should Use Linux? A Linux Evangelists’ Reference,” I couldn’t help but think that Linux needs better evangelists for its desktop [...]
I think that all Operating Systems have there good and bad points but the only good things about linux is that it’s free, you won’t get viruses and if you just use it for everyday stuff you can satisfy 99 percent of your needs….
…however…
If you want to play games…forget it. You want good video drivers…forget it, You like using commercial software…forget wine. Sure there are some that develop commercial linux software but for god sake, make it easier to find! And forget about all the main distros that everyone raves about.
Ubuntu: Easy to install, has the most software, but most likely will break something you need every release (wireless, video, sound or in my case usb drives in 10.04 (it won’t even recognize that they are plugged in))
Any Derivative of Ubuntu: Mint, Ultimate Edition, Various other buntus (pretty much 50% of Distrowatch), etc…Same problems as ubuntu but they have different wallpapers and icons and they want donations for including these things.
OpenSuse; Yast is cool, kde 4 (which, by the way, is just stock kde with very SLIGHT tweaks), wireless doesn’t work out of the box. And it eats memory like hell.
Fedora: If you like fixing ish every other day
PCLinuxOS/Mandriva: Cool if you don’t mind your laptop getting hot as hell thanks to there poor vid drivers and their custom kernel (and this is a distro I want to like because you have a great repo selection, professional theme and layout and wireless is great..sigh)
Any other distro is going to suck because: too hard to install, wireless doesn’t work, video/sound issues, based on one of the aforementioned distros (with there problems…) help will be lacking or you’re going to have to babysit it (Gentoo, Arch, Slackware,etc.)
And before I get that response about Gentoo, Arch and whatever being customizable, super fast, rolling release and up-to-date always…let me ask you something…what kind of lazy OS wants you to have to know every command line code to get the most basic things done…like install software? The command is powerful you will say. I say that’s great…if you want to go back to DOS. Not in 2010. At this point, Linux just needs to consolidate the following:
Package manager, sound system, video system, kernel version and drivers for things like vid cards, sound cards, wireless, printers, etc. Keep the various desktops and each distro can add there own touches.
Well I used to use Linux, many flavours, settled on Debian, then tried Ubuntu, which is really nice. Problem is that you WILL need to use the terminal to get stuff done. apt-get isn’t that hard, but when the program you need hasn’t been supplied with all the required files, you’ll spend ages going through the thing trying to figure out just what the programmer wanted to use.
I’m back on Windows XP now, mainly because it always worked for me, never had a virus, never had the BSOD, and I was able to alter it to how I want it to run and look. Classic look FTW
)
I’m seeing a decline in Linux use so far on the desktop, and that’s probably due to people finding out that the Linux bandwagon is not something to be part of anymore. Most people will persevere, but eventually I can see Linux on the desktop being a very small hobbiest OS, and not really making the dent others thought it would. How many times has ‘this year will be the year of the Linux Desktop?’
I’ve also chosen to stop supporting Linux with my programming efforts. I’ve had more headaches than happy times, and that’s mainly like others have said due to the very unhelpful or abusive Linux community.
So although companies like Canonical are hoping to become the new Microsoft, I think you’ll find that eventually Shuttleworth will probably jump ship and let Ubuntu and Linux die a very slow death.
Will I go back to Linux at all? No. It’s a huge waste of my time, I get more programming jobs for Windows and Mac machines than Linux, and any Linux stuff is usually just fixing some server error, so again it is a waste of my time to use it.
Well, I’m sorry if this post isn’t what most people wished to hear, but after having a few years with Linux I am having to say goodbye.