Do you ever get annoyed by people promoting Linux o/s?

Question

Don't get me wrong, I realize the true computer geeks of the world swear by Linux and it's probably a superior product to Windows in many ways. Except for those that really matter. Windows is the standard for about 95% of the computers in the world. For the average computer user, Windows is by far the best solution because it's what they already know and what they are most likely to encounter.

Furthermore, there simply are not enough people using Linux for the average person to find a friend who can help them if something goes wrong.

And Linux simply does not have the popular applications that most people are using. Don't get me wrong, I realize Linux has applications for many of the common tasks people do on a computer (word processing, browsing the internet, spreadsheets, etc). But the average person can't take work they've done on a Linux computer and continue on a work or school computer.

For those who have used and love Linux, my question isn't knocking the o/s. Guy C pretty much hit right the point of my question. When someone asks a computer question, there is always someone answering with something like "try Linux, it's better and free". While that may be true, it does nothing to address the person's question.

Also, I am well versed in the "try it you'll like it" argument because I started using Firefox as my main browser about 2 years ago after being reluctant to try it. I would never go back to using IE or even Netscape as my primary again. But this brings up another point. For as good as Firefox is, it does have problems - especially handling certain types of media and there are not always extensions to address these issues. Plus some web sites just don't work in Firefox - often web sites for things like paying bills and banking.

Answer 1

Yes, they are just like Christians always preaching to you!

Answer 2

I think it'a a pity more people don't promote linux.

Your question has a number of misconceptions, although you are right about linux being a better product & about 95% of people using windows.

I'm speaking from experience, I'm not a computer geek, am getting on a bit and only been using computers for about 7 years, I haven't even got windows installed on my laptop which I use all the time for work & home use.

Just because windows is preinstalled on nearly all computers it doesn't mean it's a better solution just that Bill Gates and his team are good businessmen & that people will put up with anything if they don't understand it, ie when you first use a computer windows is there so you don't change it.

If you use linux & hit a problem there are forums on the web & software developers you can contact, who are only too pleased to help. Which is much better than a friend who's non tech.

Linux has programmes for more than just the common tasks, I can't think of anything you can do on a windows machine that you can't do on a linux machine.
Many things with linux are much better than windows: You haven't got a restrictive end user licence agreement, so you can alter linux as you wish and give it away legally to anyone you want. There's no need to defrag your machine. No need to reboot after you install software. No need to run anti virus software. You can configure linux any way you want even at the core of the OS. The best bit is that linux is free, if you want to upgrade to vista would I be correct in saying the cost is about £130 just for the home edition and about £50 on the price of a computer for a preinstalled OEM (windows tax).
Depending on the work you are doing, it is easy to take stuff from a linux computer & use it at work or school. The only thing that I think windows does better than linux is play the windows specific games.

Why not try linux (opensuse 10.2) for 6 months and see how you get on.

Hope you don't get annoyed at people promoting linux because it looks like I've just done that.

Answer 3

I am a Linux only user (Windows free for about 4 years now I think) so don't get annoyed :)

I would like to express my humble opinion if I may: your statement is more accurate than most. I personally believe that Linux is easier to use etc etc blah blah BUT you are spot on (with a slight modification) when you say: "Windows is the standard for about 95% of the [desktop] computers in the world. For the average computer user, Windows is by far the best solution [for them to learn] because it's what they already know and what they are most likely to encounter."

Lastly I'd like to plead: when we get all zealot like on occasion it's usually because we're so pleased by our experience. No different than harping on about a really good movie!

One fact: Linux IS becoming more popular. More and more companies are changing to Linux so one day your statement (I hope) may not hold true any longer.

Answer 4

I think the root of the problem is this: Linux users are people who love computers and understand them. I've been using various types of Unix for almost 20 years, and I love it. I find it pretty easy and user friendly. It's hard for people like me to wrap our heads around how little the typical user knows about computers. I work in IT, and I'm constantly floored by the ignorance of some of my users. They can't tell me the names of applications that are causing them problems, only that 'it's a blue thingy I click on the screen'. And these are young people too, the ones who supposedly grew up with computers and technology. I look at a distro like Ubuntu and am impressed with how friendly and easy it is, but it would be impossible for about 95% of the users I support, who can't even grasp the basics of Windows. They memorize how to do certain tasks, but there's not even the vaguest understanding of why they do it or what the underlying mechanisms are. I find their willful (and it usually is willful) ignorance frustrating and impossible to understand.

At the same time, I do think that learning to use Linux is a good opportunity for all the people who want everything free. I do believe in Open Source, and I find it frustrating that people pirate commercial software instead of using the open source equivalents. If people used the open source software instead of stealing commercial software, I think everyone would benefit. It would encourage more development of open source software (which would lead to improvements and more people using it), and the commercial software companies would be able to pay their programmers a decent salary instead of offshoring their jobs or going under. I've known many programmers who are successful commercial programmers and do open source programming in their free time - their salaries essentially subsidize the volunteer work.

Answer 5

No. Yes we do, and yes it is. It's responsible DIRECTLY for you being able to post this question in the first place. Yeah the server we are communicating on now uses? Guess? Linux.

Just because an item is more popular with "the people of the world" does not make it "better".

Linux won't be leaving the scene anytime soon.

Nor will Windows.

For that matter Microsoft owns over half of Mac, so Mac won't be leaving either.

Use what you like. It's part of what makes each of us unique.

Answer 6

Hell yes I know exactly what you mean.

When you ask a specific question about Windows,you always get an irritating person changing the subject and going on about how good linux is .

Ive tried one of the freebies out of curiosity its just plain NASTY with Windows 95 graphics !

Its true that its not as open to viruses, as such a small percentage of the worlds population use it,and no small wonder.

I realise this answer will probably stir up some controversy but this is an honest response to your question, and make no apology for my opinions on this matter.

PS. Mac users can be just as irritating as well, however at least its a decent platform, whereas linux is not !

Answer 7

I tell you what. Put as much effort into learning Linux as you have put into learning Windows. After all that's the fair thing to do before you judge. Although not widely known, there are now several tools and programs that make Linux so easy to use.

My Work, home and laptop computers all dual boot Linux/Windows and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Did you know that 80% of the world's web servers run Apache web server on Linux / Unix / BSD?

Answer 8

I don't get annoyed. I have used Linux off and on since Redhat 6.2. Linux really has grown up in such a short time and I expect that it really will be a contender in the OS marketplace sometime real soon! I love linux for server applications mostly. Just wait.... linux isn't going away.

Answer 9

Yours is the first question about linux that speaks to the practicality of it's use. I considered it for my second (old XP running PC) just to try it out but simply haven't had the time. You're spot on about it needs to be an OS that most of the computer using world knows and is familiar with. I suspect Windows is far too entrenched to be supplanted.

Answer 10

No, in fact Im dying to try it myself. Unfortunately, i live in the Philippines, There's no store selling Ubuntu when in fact, you can get a Pirated XP SP2 for P250.00 or just around $5. I like to try Linux coz I can develop my computer knowledge on it and its free. As to download Ubuntu, I cant do that because I don't have broadband. I just hope Linux people would help me on this.

Answer 11

actually, with the right tools linux is every bit as usable as windows. first off, there are emulators such as Wine, that allow you to run windows programs on your linux pc, including ones that use Dx. secondly, there may not be many people using linux, but its not hard to find help. there are entire forums dedicated to anything you can imagine on linux. i used to get annoyed, untill i tried it myself. its still not for me, but ive found that its every bit as easy, and powerful as windows. as for taking the work, as far as i know microsoft products work fine on linux pcs, with the emulator. as for anything else, i myself simply used VM ware to intall a virtual windows, so that anything else that was left over, i could just load up the vm ware