how did you learn about linux? and why did you choose it?

**halo200** · 03-07-2006

I had a windows 98 computer which full of bugs and wasn't worth the trouble so I asked for a laptop for my birthday, so my parents got me a laptop when I was 13 but it didn't come with an operating system and I couldn't afford windows at such a large price, so I looked around at alternative systems and bought Mandrake Linux 10.1 Official for $8 at the local computer shop, so I have taught myself how to use linux. Im 14 going to 15 so this year will be my 3rd year using Linux. I just loved the plug and play compatibility with everything on linux, for once I could plug in what ever I wanted and Linux would install the software for it itself, now I don't need to install any drivers when I want to use a friends printer or MP3 players!

**cuiq** · 03-07-2006

Got my first computer in 2000, one day I walked into Staples looking for some software (nothing particular) and came across Mandrake 7.1 sitting next to Windows 98 Plus. I thought to myself (as I read the description) this looks quite interesting. And you know what, I'm still interested.

**ImNeat** · 03-07-2006

New years resolution to get off MS.

**ticklu2deth** · 03-09-2006

Curiosity and money. I first heard about and tried Linux about 5 yrs ago out of curiosity. I have continued to explore Linux and watch it evolve into an increasingly viable desktop syystem.

Now, I have no problem paying a reasonable price for an OS or software, expecially if it is good. But $200 - $300 for Windows is ridiculous. A good OS should not cost more than $100 at most. Linux is increasingly offering reasonable priced OSs, that are getting the job done; at least, basic computing (there are still Windows-centric apps and hardware out there that have yet to be ported/duplicated for Linux). Most distros are free of cost, but I do think if you try a distro, like it, and use it; you should donate (if you can) at least something to the developers for their efforts. There are many young folks that don't have excess cash for whatever reason and it is a testament to the developers to offer up their work free of charge so that even those who cannot afford to buy an OS, can still have access to computing; it may lead someone to a life changing career.

Ultimately, I think Linux will make it's mark on the bottomline; at least for the average consumer. Even for arguments sake, let say that when Linux evolves to the point where it is compatable in every way with the Windows world, would you choose from several Linux OSs priced between $89 - $100 or one MS OS priced between $200 - $300? I don't know about you, but in today's economy, I look for the best bang for the least buck.

**josolanes** · 03-09-2006

i got bored over a summer and started messing with it. i then made sure i only had linux on my machine before school starts (to force me to learn) and sure enough that worked...but i had a couple of difficult months at the beginning, learning/figuring out all the new things and idea...such as config files). now, nearly a year later, i'm doing very well with linux and don't intend on ever going back to windows

i use(d) it mainly because i was interested in an alternate OS...i had originally tried BeOS but it seemed a lot like a toy and i felt very restricted (at the time it had a 500MB partition limit), then i tried FreeBSD and had a lot of trouble getting it to work so i went on to try various linux distros...starting with Fedora Core 3. Fedora Core 3 gave me the ease of use i needed at first and i used it alone for about 3 months before i tried gentoo...and spent a weekend trying to get the install to work (around 7 installs...using Gentoo 2005.0). i eventually got it working and was really impressed and stuck to it for around 8 months. now i'm using Arch and get the quickness of installing packages like was from Fedora Core 3, but the flexibility I wanted like from Gentoo.

I use linux mostly because i'm very interested in it and enjoy the work i have to do to get my system working exactly what i want....and becasue it's free!!

**shark_atlantis** · 03-12-2006

I learn about linux at college, and imediatly I've adopte it

And because I don't like the way microsoft see the data processing futur (drm,..

)

**Oxygen** · 03-12-2006

My friend told me about it, I decided to try it out just to see if it was any good.

**pupdaleon** · 03-12-2006

I was over a friends house and he was using redhat 7
I asked him about it our other friend calls out "DON'T show him that or h will want it"

it's like anything once your told you can't have it you want it even more

**Chex** · 03-12-2006

I'd been curious about Linux, FOSS, and similar subjects for a little while -- I hadn't made a move yet, but was looking into things. Windows XP was "good enough," though spyware was annoying -- I considered myself "pretty good" at using computers, or at least at keeping my computer free of virii and spyware and the like. I was slowly but surely using more and more FOSS software on my Windows box, for cost and ethics reasons. I wanted fully functional software, didn't (still don't!) have tons of money to blow on some of the Windows apps out there, but still wanted to be able to get things done. So, FOSS seemed like the answer -- I used OpenOffice, a few open source art programs, and so on.

I had a friend who was trying to convince me to switch to Linux, and I kept saying "I'll think about it" -- he's a bit of a zealot, but a nice guy, and he had convincing reasons... considering that I was already using so much free software and all.

Then ... disaster struck, in the form of a CD from Sony. To this day, I'm not entirely sure what happened (even though it wasn't that long ago) -- but my computer got progressively more and more ****ed up, and I managed to break a few more things in my attempt to "fix" it and get rid of that damned DRM!

Eventually, I had to basically hose my system. I tried to reinstall Windows ... only to find that I'd lost the install key! Aaaahhh! So I called tech support, and talked to a few incomprehensible Indians who only occasionally understood me, and even when I finally managed to get my problem across and they gave me a new install key, it simply didn't work. And I had a (typed) paper due, with all my data on a backup drive in that dead box ...

I tried to install Fedora Core 4, which refused to work, and used Ubuntu for a few days (just to get that paper done!) before finally installing SUSE 10.0 on my system ... I've been in love ever since. It's only been a matter of months since then, but I've thrown myself into learning wholeheartedly.

I was really lucky I already had the knowledge of Linux's existence at that point, because otherwise I would have been forced to shell out $200-some dollars for a new copy of Windows XP -- impractical and annoying as hell, seeing as I already had the OS and did NOT have that money to spare at the time.

Thus, Linux has helped save my education and my cash!

Plus it's a great learning experience; I feel so much more in control of my computer and what's on it ...

Anyway, that is how I switched to Linux.

(I know, it's a long story... but it's still fresh in my mind, because I"m such a new user! Haha.)

**wolf510** · 03-13-2006

As for me, I got tired of all the errors I was getting on my windos xp box. Every time I turned around another driver was lost. Finally my computerr was so screwed up it took a ful 10 mins to turn on and this is with a 3.4 ghz pentium 4 processor a gig of ram and a 256 mb radeon 9800 graphics card! I was furious. After tying to reinstall windows and learning that my original copy was outdated and would not install over my newer copy I finally decided windows had to go. My friend has been into Linux for a long time and recommended it to me so I thought I would give it a try.

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