7 Linux Questions

[aliov]

Hi All , please answer these questions and share your experience/suggestion with me .

1) - Why you like Linux (or why not) What do you think about it's simplicity/complexity.

2) - Wish Distro you prefer and why, what do you think of the existence of more than 300 Distro is it good or bad , for the improvements of Linux.

3) - What still missing to have more people using Linux instead of other operating system in their desktop computers .

4) - Do you think that the free software foundation will dead one day ,because of the commercialization or whatever, what do you think about the future of Linux.

5) - If you are only a Linux user , Are you able to do everything you want under Linux , and do you fell that you don't have to use another operating system for some tasks!

6) - Have you ever made a donation for some Linux project or bought a free Distro or application .

7) - Have you ever had a virus in your Linux partition or lost important data

Best Regards to all.

[Juan Pablo]

1.- I feel it's more stable and tweakable at the same time, I like it being open and the ability to choose something very simple or something very complex.

2.- Distros compete between them where every distro want to be the best creating a healthy competetion, just like a free market.

3.- I don't care how many users use Linux as long as the developers continue developing Linux. Linux and Windows have different way of doing things and it's perfectly fine for me

4.- No, the FSF is what make GNU survive and actually most of the open source comunity depends on a lot of GNU projects (e.g GCC)

5.- I play a lot with Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, and Cinema4D. It's nothing professional but I like the programs. That's why I have a Windows partition.

6.- Not really, I don't have a credit card or anything myself to make online donations, and my parents don't let me use their credit cards in the Internet

7.- No, never. Just a couple of Windows viruses installed on my Wine drive_c once

[oz]

1) - I like it because it's a great alternative to MS operating systems, and it free for the most part. It's neither too easy, nor overly difficult to use.

2) - Arch is my favorite. I like it because it's easy to use and it runs fast on my system, and the pacman package manager is awesome. I'm glad that we have lots of distros to choose from. Choice is good.

3) - Some things like certain drivers, wireless connections, and printing could use further improvement.

4) - Linux will remain free and it's here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

5) - I can do everything I need under Linux. However, I'm forced by other companies to use Windows at work, and that's out of my control, at least thus far.

6) - I've contributed cash donations to various Linux projects and given lots of personal time to various projects. In the past, I've bought boxed sets of Red Hat, Mandrake, Suse, and Slackware.

7) - Out of the 7 years I've been using Linux, my systems have never been cracked, nor had any viral infections. I don't run any firewalls, or any antivirus programs.

[danbuter]

1) - Why you like Linux (or why not) What do you think about it's simplicity/complexity.
I like it because of all the default apps for programming. And it's really secure.

2) - Wish Distro you prefer and why, what do you think of the existence of more than 300 Distro is it good or bad , for the improvements of Linux.
I prefer Ubuntu, though I would like to mess around with a tougher distro. However, I don't know anyone offhand who could help me out locally. And I agree there are way too many distros. It's extremely confusing for new users.

3) - What still missing to have more people using Linux instead of other operating system in their desktop computers .
If Linux could play Halo 3 when it comes out I think a lot more people would switch over. Because I bet more copies of that game are sold than there are Linux desktop users in the US.

4) - Do you think that the free software foundation will dead one day ,because of the commercialization or whatever, what do you think about the future of Linux.
I think Linux will always be around.

5) - If you are only a Linux user , Are you able to do everything you want under Linux , and do you fell that you don't have to use another operating system for some tasks!
N/A

6) - Have you ever made a donation for some Linux project or bought a free Distro or application .
I bought a couple Ubuntu books and some Linux/bash books. Does that count?

7) - Have you ever had a virus in your Linux partition or lost important data
No

[Farmer Mike]

From a fairly new user's prospective

1. I like Linux because it's stable and secure (as the others said), plus it supports older systems and doesn't require buying all new stuff every few years. (and it's inexpensive at most)

2. Fedora - I got it with the book so I could learn. Having many distributions is good. The competition drives improvement, plus varying approaches and objectives means there is one that suits every user and system.

3. If hardware and game vendors supported and pushed Linux like they did Windows, Linux would do very well.

4. I think FSF and Linux will exist for a long time.

5. Yes

6. I've bought some distros

7. No

[likwid]

Hi All , please answer these questions and share your experience/suggestion with me .

1) - Why you like Linux (or why not) What do you think about it's simplicity/complexity.

Because it's easy for me to use.

2) - Wish Distro you prefer and why, what do you think of the existence of more than 300 Distro is it good or bad , for the improvements of Linux.

RHEL because it's reliable and I am comfortable on it. Slack because it has a pretty simple layout. The huge amount of distros is for the most part a waste of time. Only five or so have specific strengths that justify their existence.

3) - What still missing to have more people using Linux instead of other operating system in their desktop computers .

Who cares? Why is everyone obsessed with spreading Linux to the desktop? People should use what they like, after being properly educated.

4) - Do you think that the free software foundation will dead one day ,because of the commercialization or whatever, what do you think about the future of Linux.

It will continue to dominate in the data center, maybe a little bit more on the desktop but nothing significant in terms of market share.

5) - If you are only a Linux user , Are you able to do everything you want under Linux , and do you fell that you don't have to use another operating system for some tasks!

I have a Windows machine in my living room for use as a dvd and music player. Other than that, I use Linux, soon to be a little bit of OSX.

6) - Have you ever made a donation for some Linux project or bought a free Distro or application .

My mom bought me the Red Hat 6.1 Box Set for Christmas when I was 16 or so.

7) - Have you ever had a virus in your Linux partition or lost important data.

rofl, No. The question doesn't really make sense. The only "important" data I ever lost wasn't due to software, but the IBM Deathstar.

[Freston]

>> Hi All , please answer these questions and share your experience/suggestion with me .
May I ask in return what you intent to do with this? Or just curiosity?

>> 1) - Why you like Linux (or why not) What do you think about it's
>> implicity/complexity.
These are two questions
I like Linux for several reasons. Stability, security, flexibility and speed are very important factors. I have sub par hardware that took forever to boot WinXP.
Then, Linux doesn't just give you an OS (like some other companies), no it includes applications so you can actually do something with your machine. And, still not satisfied just search the web and add onto your machine until you truely are satisfied.
And I like the movement and philosophy that makes this all possible. I believe in openness, freedom and choice.

About it's simplicity/complexity, I guess it's a non-issue nowadays. Several distro's walk the path of friendliness towards novice users. A very good thing that is. Some distro's try to cater the expert users with specific demands. Also a good thing.

>> 2) - Wish Distro you prefer and why, what do you think of the existence of more than
>> 300 Distro is it good or bad , for the improvements of Linux.
I like Slackware first and foremost. But that's also a bit of sentiment on my part. Slack was the first distro that I got running on my machine. Once you understand it's logic it becomes a very powerful yet transparent distro.
Having more than 300 distro's is inevitable. It's inherent to the system. It may be overwhelming to someone new to Linux, but I don't think that should be a reason to get rid of the diversity. To each his own.


>> 3) - What still missing to have more people using Linux instead of other operating
>> system in their desktop computers .
MARKETING
To often I hear "what's Linux? Where does in run on?". People just don't know, just don't care. They have no concept of what an OS is, don't understand how it differs from a GUI. And nobody has read the license agreement ever.
Oh, and hardware support... but that's the chicken and the egg question. Once Linux gets more users, hardware vendors will smell market.

>> 4) - Do you think that the free software foundation will dead one day ,because of the
>> commercialization or whatever, what do you think about the future of Linux.
Ah, nothing lasts forever. Let's hope the FSF will one day no longer be necessary. Their message common, children know it by heart and it resonates in every institution, be it private or public. The source of power, power to the source! The church of emacs will never fall!!!!!!! *ahum* nevermind. I don't even use emacs.

>> 5) - If you are only a Linux user , Are you able to do everything you want under
>> Linux , and do you fell that you don't have to use another operating system for
>> some tasks!
Linux only for 9 months. I never looked back. I do need a OS capable of executing .exe files to get my Slax USB to work (don't trust Wine to do this).

>> 6) - Have you ever made a donation for some Linux project or bought a free Distro or
>> application .
Yep. Free software is not about money. I've bought a couple of distro's and some books. And I sometimes help out on fora. I may not be as knowledgeable as I may wish, but then, not all questions are hard to answer.

>> 7) - Have you ever had a virus in your Linux partition or lost important data
Oh yeah! It's called the root-account. I made some mistakes, but I did it myself.

[aliov]

>> Hi All , please answer these questions and share your experience/suggestion with me .
May I ask in return what you intent to do with this? Or just curiosity?

Yes , i'm asking just for Curiosity . There is a philosophy behind Linux , Linux users are always special in many ways . so i want to hear as much as possible opinions from our colleagues in this Forum.

Also i know you Freston that you are one of the Slackers

Regards

[kakariko81280]

1) I like it because it will do exactly and only what I tell it to. I don't think Linux is complicated; I think computers are complicated and Linux doesn't try to hide it.

2) At the moment I use Kubuntu, because of apt. When I see something I like the look of, I'm usually a single command away from being able to play with it. I think the fact that it is possible to have 300 different distributions is fantastic, so I'm not going to complain that they actually exist.

3) Being sure that the Next Big Thing will work with Linux.

4) Not a clue about either, I hope they both stick around though.

5) I've never needed anything else since I switched, except my gamecube.

6) I've never made a simple donation but I have bought a couple of distributions and a few games simply because they have a native client.

7) Technically yes. I was testing IE under wine and I got hit with a drive by download. The virus didn't run under wine though. My only data losses have been hardware failures or my own fault.

[aliov]

First of all thanks to everyone who spend time writing a reply. and let me answer and share my experience with yours.

1) - I like the philosophy of Linux .

2) - Having more than 300 distro seems to be a rich point , but it contains a lot of disadvantage , for example a lot of people who came from a windows background read from the internet that Slackware is a powerful Linux Distro , so trying out Slack lead these guys to don't try Linux anymore, since editing text file for a windows user is complicated . and many other examples .

3) - To improve Linux: i Think Linux contains two much software for many purpose so here there is no problem ,the user even get lost facing more than 50 text editor, 6 web browsers , 30 movie player and so on ......
But for me what is still incomplete is the device driver . the installation of Linux is easy ones the Hardwares are compatible , but when you have a piece of **** doesn't have a driver for Linux you'll be in a big problem facing ndiswrapper for exmaple , compiling a driver written by a hobbies and so on , but in other hand i can't see that the device driver inside the Kernel contains all the driver in the World , so it's a dream to me to start seeing a box has the Tux logo (some of them have) and the driver CD contains the installer of the driver for Linux wish make the life easy. (you can search the number of people having a problem related to their hardware in this Forum )
ACPI : yes this is still a incomplete code ,and still a disaster specially for Laptop users . also by a simple search we can see how many users use the acpi=off even in the Laptops , and the suspend/hibernate it still not completely stable , blank screen after resume from suspend, a piece of hardware is refuse to suspend and so on .
Yes we can blame these to the manufactures wish even doesn't produce a documentation of a new technologies . for example my case ! a vaio VGN-FE41M wish i'm trying to get a refund for vista in it, and know i manage to get this Laptop working very well under Linux. (i'll write how).

4) - no for sure.

5) - yes , even if i can't do everything i want under Linux, i can't use MS softwares and also i can do nothing useful i want under their OS.

6) - Yes ,many time, donations and buying Distros and journals.

7) - when i was still have a dual boot with windows, and i was still use windows without a anti virus (because they consume a lot of the computer resources) . my windows resist only for some time because breaking the "security" of windows is very easy (by the way i never used XP, i had only 98 ). under Linux some times i download virus with the source code using another user wish i don't care about the home directory of it and umounting my own home directory and the very important data partition (i don't think i need all this , but just to be safe) , so i have a lot of viruses with the source code to read , For only educational purpose.

Wine is great , i'm using it for some programs and they run perfect.

Thanks a lot again for the replies, i would like to say at the end, that a big step of improving Linux have been made this year , this year was an important year for Linux, Dell has Ubuntu, Acre also , and Lenovo, for servers 90% of them run Linux
.

Best Regards to all in this wonderful forum.