How many people do you know that use Linux as their main or only OS?

Question

I have used Linux since 1995 when Slackware was much smaller and was only on floppy disk or tape image (yes it was installable by tape drive!). I have known some people that use it besides me, but not any, personally, that use it as their regular home OS. Am I alone here?
Microsoft has its pros and cons, but I've had less problems with Linux overall. Less crashes (YES less, Linux does have the occasional oops or panic or report that the printer is on fire, just no where near as often as Windows), NO viruses, NO browser hijacks. Just looking around online with Windows can be harmful to your computer.

Thus my preference of Linux.

Answer 1

Ive used linux, windows, mac since they were born. Personally I would not consider anything else for my internet servers, but I use windows for my desktop, and mac for portables. (I do things like read my mail on linux for the security)

Im in the california silicon valley area and even with the local linux users group I dont think they all use Linux only. It has come a long way but I dont think its ready to replace windows for toys and games. Serious computing, programming, internet servers.. all of those are becoming linux territory but not really toys.

Personally, I think that the wealth of toys created by everyone being able to progam and distribute to windows is part of its problem. Versions of Linux that tried to add toys fast (like redhat) run into the same problems as windows. So Im not sure if I WANT linux to try and snag that market.

Answer 2

Hey, I remember Slackware on floppy! I think that might have been my first Linux distro. I actually had an Amiga with AmigaBSD, how's that for old school? I migrated to Red Hat later, though.

I used to use Linux primarily, but these days I'm playing with video editing, which means Windows (and the Mac occasionally, but our Mac is a laptop and awkward to work with). I mostly use my Linux box as a mail and file server, although that's partially due to the fact that it's just a PIII. I would like to upgrade it and play with some of the Ubuntu distros, especially those aimed at graphics and video editing, but I'm waiting for the time and money to get around to doing that. I'd like to use Linux exclusively (well, except for gaming), but right now I have more horsepower in the Windows boxes due to the video editing software.

But there are Linux viruses and trojans out there. Not many, but they exist. You might look into ClamAV for Linux just to be safe.

Answer 3

Most of the people I know are doing dual-boot. But I think there is one or two who are Linux only/primarily people. The most avid Linux users I know are active in LUGs. Here in Ha Noi there is a French-supported computer training facility that is almost exclusively Linux-based and the people I know here who are heavy duty Linux-users are with AUF and the HanoiLUG.

Answer 4

I've had the opposite experiences with Linux. Mainly problems related to drivers not existing for hardware i have, system settings not saving and yes (in my experience) applications crashing more than they do in windows.

I guess it's all about which OS you know more about. Windows is safe if you know what you're doing in protecting your system. My XP system maybe crashes once a month or less and my 98 system crashes maybe once or twice every couple weeks. All Operating Systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

Answer 5

Linux is better than anything. I think in a 5-10 years its going to be in every computer. No worms, no spyware, no viruses. Best protection ever. The only problem - no good photoshop. Just waiting for Adobe...