[hazel]

I use Linux because I'm addicted to it (aren't we all!)

But seriously, I was attracted to Linux at first because I never felt safe in the Internet using Windows even with anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall. The very fact that I had to use all these things and continually update them made me feel nervous. I think this is fairly characteristic of my generation (see Cousin Lucky's post above).

Also I found that I could understand how Linux is put together and how it works. That was another thing that made me feel more secure.

I actually rather liked Windows 98. I still do. But you can't get an anti-virus for it any more and every subsequent version of Windows has been more complex, more bossy and controlling, and more demanding of hardware. So I mostly use Linux now but keep an old Windows machine upstairs which I use occasionally.

[SagaciousKJB]

When I first tried Linux in 1997, it had a lot to do with curiosity because I'd never used anything like it, and also a little to do with hacking because I was kind of into that whole scene at the time.

I was young then, however, didn't really like to type "startx" to get Red Hat 7 to boot its GUI, and knew pretty much little to zip about how to configure the system to my liking. It was easy enough to bumble around and get things done, but I never had that feeling of knowing it like the back of my hand like I did with Windows.

Then about a year ago I started getting blue screens. I figured I'd reinstall Windows, but then I find out that the activation key had been used too many times. I was without an OS, and since I was on dialup, I couldn't really use less-than-legal methods. I ordered Ubuntu off distrowatch.org, and started using it. It was easy enough to manage things through a GUI, and when I had to get closer to the system it wasn't a hard thing to do either.

I finally had managed to get ahold of another copy of Windows, and reinstalled it one day. To my dismay, my Ubuntu installation disappeared off of my boot menu. I knew it was still there, so I didn't really fret, but after a while I was displeased with the lack of functionality Windows had. A lot of programs I needed to use were not free, and I did not want to pirate them or download them, I thought to myself, "I wish this had apt-get". So, at that point, I decided I would just install Ubuntu again to get the boot screen working correctly. Well, something didn't work out right, probably a noobish mistake on my part, and I wound up formatting the fresh install of Windows. "Oh well, I thought, I'll just reinstall", until I found out that the copy of Windows I had only came with one activation. I swore off Microsoft and it shoddy ******** from that point on. I thought to myself, "I don't want to have to install an OS I know I'll just have to reinstall later, and I don't want to have to break the law to do so or pay outrageous amounts of money."


However, as I used Linux more and more, it became less and less about finding an alternative to WIndows. To be honest, Windows feels utterly complicated, dreadfully lacking in software and ability, and just a pain in the neck now days. A lot of people will complain that you have to configure text files for certain applications to work on a Linux OS; well, try to get the same applications to work on Windows, and then tell me how much of a pain it is for you to edit the files there. No man files, no plethora of support available to your fingertips on Google, just a vauge readme file if you're capable of finding it.

It's just exceedingly simple to learn how to do the most complicated things on Linux, and it's exceedingly complicated to learn how to do the most simple things on Windows.

The other thing about Linux I came to love that I've only seen one other mention, is the command line support. Because Linux is mostly a command-line based system with a Desktop Manager and GUI laid over it, there's pretty much nothing on the system you can't do with the command line. When you then add in scripting with bash or other shells into that equation, you have a nearly limitless amounts of things that you can do for yourself, that on Windows, you would need to find some obscure program for, no matter how simple the task. If you then factor in things like DCOP, with the ability to talk to GUI programs and give them instructions via the command line, I can't really use Windows without feeling like it's some kind of OS for toddlers, or a lame Kiosk at the mall.


I don't really like to beat the drum of the open source principle, but that is also a big factor. There are so many wonderful benefits of open source from security, to documentation, to customization. You don't really need to be a programmer or a developer to enjoy the open source nature of Linux, but if you are it's even a greater plus. With Windows, everything is kind of, exclusive information, not everyone can really easily figure out just how the system works, and what does what thing and the next. Windows doesn't even have simple debugging tools like strace or lsof that make troubleshooting a Linux system a dream for even a newbie.


To me, the idea behind why use Linux just makes me pose my own question. Would you buy a Dodge, or take a BMW for free?

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by SagaciousKJB

I don't want to have to install an OS I know I'll just have to reinstall later, and I don't want to have to break the law to do so or pay outrageous amounts of money.

It's amazing how much of the discussion around Windows is about the law. I sometimes peruse Windows forumns and I find a noticeable amount of the chatter is what you can and can't do because of the laws concerning licensing. Most ironic is how it sometimes becomes illegal to use a product you've paid for.

It reminds me of the financial services company that lost 1000 Windows servers in the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. They asked Microsoft to allow them to use their existing licenses to bulk install Windows on new hardware. That seems like a very reasonable request. The license is intangible--it can't burn up. But NO. Microsoft said new hardware requires new licenses! (At least that story had a happy ending--they switched to Linux.)

So, at that point, I decided I would just install Ubuntu again to get the boot screen working correctly. ... I found out that the copy of Windows I had only came with one activation.

It sure is nice that Ubuntu never makes you buy a new license in the middle of your struggles.

To be honest, Windows feels utterly complicated, dreadfully lacking in software and ability, and just a pain in the neck now days.

That's exactly how I feel. Yet when I mention it to my Window-only friends, some of them just look at me with contempt as if I'm bragging or blowing smoke in their faces. (OK, I do brag a little.)

[ls354]

For me Linux is the first option when it comes to businesses because of cost and reliability.

On the personal side Linux can do everything better than Windows except that I still dual boot to access my games. I have options.

Linux 95%, Windows 5%

[bellaire]

Linux, it is so good, it is faster more robust and avoids using products from Bill Gates factory that are over priced and under supported.

Finally I yielded, bought an Asus eee pc for traveling. It is a brilliant machine and if you are a Linux guru it is must be even better but oh dear if not, what a let down the operating system is.

Superficially it looks like a nice tidy graphical front end but if you want to copy move or install programs it is like stepping back into the dark ages and it is worse than MSDOS as files disappear and the filing systems defies natural logic and to install a program is an art. "sudo apt-get install thunderbird." But then sometimes you do not use "sudo".

What merit is there in having 300 plus commands and even some of the mnemonics stretch the imagination.

Come on someone write a Linux simple no frills front end that has a dozen commands and filing system that does not require you to know where a file is before you can find it.

If it must be command line driven what is wrong with "Install thunderbird" why do I have to type "sudo apt-get install"?

I will tell you what I wanted to do. I decided to move Thunderbird and Firefox to an SD card. 3 hours later I rebooted the machine as somehow I had corrupted the OS and then started again. I gave up moving the programs but then wanted to install java so that I could run logmein. It took 2 hours to work our what version and where to get it from and then a further half hour search on the web to find out how to install it. Success yes but what a price.

If you Linux guys want to propagate Linux amongst the masses you will fail. It is rubbish unless you are a programmer, a geek, retired or have lots of time on your hands to get to grips with it and then for people like me it is just an intellectual challenge I can do without as Windows works is easy to use and fairly logical. Life is too short. I'm out. Bye.

[Kieren]

I first started to use Linux at work. I had used it a little before but not as a main desktop computer. After a week or so I realised that it wasn't as hard to use as I thought and made a dual boot at home with XP. The plan was to use Linux every now and again but I ended up never going back to XP.

I never realised how much of a pain Windows was. Every 3 pieces of hardware I changed meant I had to walk to the phone box to call Microsoft and ask them to reactivate my copy. All the copyright protection in Windows and the programs is incredibly frustrating. I get really annoyed when I have to input 20 digit codes every time I install something in Windows now.

[elija]

Originally Posted by bellaire

Linux, it is so good, it is faster more robust and avoids using products from Bill Gates factory that are over priced and under supported.

Finally I yielded, bought an Asus eee pc for traveling. It is a brilliant machine and if you are a Linux guru it is must be even better but oh dear if not, what a let down the operating system is.

Superficially it looks like a nice tidy graphical front end but if you want to copy move or install programs it is like stepping back into the dark ages and it is worse than MSDOS as files disappear and the filing systems defies natural logic and to install a program is an art. "sudo apt-get install thunderbird." But then sometimes you do not use "sudo".

What merit is there in having 300 plus commands and even some of the mnemonics stretch the imagination.

Come on someone write a Linux simple no frills front end that has a dozen commands and filing system that does not require you to know where a file is before you can find it.

If it must be command line driven what is wrong with "Install thunderbird" why do I have to type "sudo apt-get install"?

I will tell you what I wanted to do. I decided to move Thunderbird and Firefox to an SD card. 3 hours later I rebooted the machine as somehow I had corrupted the OS and then started again. I gave up moving the programs but then wanted to install java so that I could run logmein. It took 2 hours to work our what version and where to get it from and then a further half hour search on the web to find out how to install it. Success yes but what a price.

If you Linux guys want to propagate Linux amongst the masses you will fail. It is rubbish unless you are a programmer, a geek, retired or have lots of time on your hands to get to grips with it and then for people like me it is just an intellectual challenge I can do without as Windows works is easy to use and fairly logical. Life is too short. I'm out. Bye.

I didn't like it's default operating system either. I formatted it and installed
XUbuntu and now I love it

There is a graphical front end to apt-get called Synaptic which I believe
should be installed on your eeepc, although one of the things I really hated
about the Xandros install was the fact that the repositories were empty!

I would hope that had changed by now though.

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by bellaire

It is rubbish unless you are a programmer, a geek, retired or have lots of time on your hands to get to grips with it and then for people like me it is just an intellectual challenge I can do without as Windows works is easy to use and fairly logical. Life is too short. I'm out. Bye.

I've never used or even seen an Asus eee PC, so I have to defer to your opinion of it.

But OTOH, I grew very weary of people proudly declaring their inability to learn to tame the power of the command line. I just don't believe it's nearly as challenging as most such people claim. If it's just your preference--fine. To each his own.

If the OLPC initiative can manage to get the bash shell trained into the fingers of the world's youngins, we will have won a huge victory, however you define we.

[smolloy]

Originally Posted by bellaire

to install a program is an art. "sudo apt-get install thunderbird."

Yeah. You really convinced me. Having to type four words to install a program is "a real art".

Originally Posted by bellaire

What merit is there in having 300 plus commands

I know what you mean. I hate it when my computer gives me too much control

Originally Posted by bellaire

If it must be command line driven what is wrong with "Install thunderbird" why do I have to type "sudo apt-get install"?

Because you need a program to do the installing (apt-get), and you need to tell it to install (since it can do a *lot* more), and you need to give it root permissions (sudo) to do so, which is substantially safer than the Windows "everyone-run-as-admin" philosophy.

Originally Posted by bellaire

If you Linux guys want to propagate Linux amongst the masses you will fail. It is rubbish unless you are a programmer, a geek, retired or have lots of time on your hands to get to grips with it and then for people like me it is just an intellectual challenge I can do without as Windows works is easy to use and fairly logical.

I strongly disagree.

For "the masses", there is Ubuntu. Stick the CD in your drive, reboot, click OK half a dozen times, choose your time zone, and 20 minutes later you have a working linux installation. Not exactly an "intellectual challenge".

If you prefer windows, then that is what you should use, but to state "linux is rubbish unless you are a programmer, geek, or retired", is a lot of crap.

Originally Posted by bellaire

Life is too short. I'm out. Bye.

Cya. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Dapper Dan]

My wife has an Asus EEEPC and has no problems whatsoever doing what she wants to do with it, and she has NO interest in how computers work, let alone what operating systems they use. It is interesting bellaire that you should have such monumental problems with a machine that is so mind numbingly simple to use.