When will the time come when people realize that Linux is a viable alternative to windoze / mac?

Question

Afterall its no longer hard to use, so they can't use that as an excuse.

It finds drivers
Its more secure
Its superior graphics wise
and there are no blue screens.

anonymous

seems to be under the impression that ive been abducted by aliens.

globeweasel

Good point, however compatability with third party software has vastly improved.

linux_up

Perhaps we should just leave them to suffer.

Answer 1

Here is a list of the most common excuses Windows/Mac users use to stick with their current OS:
1. It's too hard
2. Linux has crappy hardware detection
3. There's little software/games for it

1. Modern Linux distributions are user-friendly and easy to use. Yes, they're different than Windows/OS X, but that doesn't make them any harder. People who have spoken Spanish all their life say that they found English a lot harder to learn. And I (An English speaker) find Spanish a lot harder to learn. Same thing goes for an OS, it can be difficult to learn something you're not used to.

2. Linux's hardware detection is great, perhaps even better than Windows. Let's compare installing Windows on my computer to installing Linux. When installing Windows (Vista), I had to install the sound driver, the graphics driver, the chipset, etc. When installing Linux (Ubuntu), I only had to install the graphics driver, which the restricted drivers manager already found for me.

3. Just because most big software developers don't sell Linux products, doesn't mean there isn't a lot of software for it. There are programs like Wine and Crossover that allow you to run many Windows programs in Linux. And for everything else, there is an open source alternative that's just as good, if not better. There's open source CD burning apps that are better than Nero, there's GIMP which is almost as good as photoshop, there are plenty of good video editing apps, screen recorder apps, media players, instant messengers, cd rippers, dvd rippers, etc. And there's plenty of games. Most windows directX9 games will run in cedega, and there are tons of games that are more fun than most games the big developers are making.

But oh well, if they want to deprive their computers of such a great OS let them.

Answer 2

The inertia of the corporate world is what is stopping Linux.

If you were a CEO, relatively IT illiterate with a large investment in MS seats would you want to move your entire business onto Linux?

Think of the average cubicle farm occupant who has just got their head around tabbed browsing in IE7. Are they going to relish Linux?

I know OpenOffice "is just like word" but what about the IT dept?

Are they going to wake up with Unix skills one morning so they can answer the barrage of questions they will receive from users who can't find their contacts?

Think about the huge amount of MS software out there, written for all the special purpose niche companies.

There is a huge cost in training and lost productivity to be adsorbed before Linux makes it's mark in corporate land.

I know there are forward thinking companies already there, and that Linux is established in CG and animation houses but this is the realm of the tech geek.

Corporate land just wants it's IT to work. It doesn't want to spend any more time or resources on it than it has to.

For the large part MS works and the IT dept. knows the work around when it doesn't.

The accountants who hold the purse strings are the reason corporate land will be Linux free for a long time to come.

Answer 3

Many don't know what to do with the freedom that Linux offers. So they remain slaves to Windows/macs.

Anyway, world domination is only a fun goal for Linux. If it is reached, great. Otherwise, no problems. For Windows, world domination looks like a serious goal.

Another interpretation of that world domination could be, Linux dominates the world of its users. That is what it aims to, if not already doing so.. Windows/Microsoft aims to dominate the users all over the world. That is a bit arrogant and a bit Utopian.

Answer 4

Historically it has always been harder to get up and running, and get hardware drivers. Whether that is the perception or the reality now , reputations take time to change and there needs to be evidence , word of mouth etc.

The marketing clout of Microsoft ensuring it does everything it can to keep its market share from eroding cannot help.

For all its faults Windows in general has always been relatively easy to use, and that is what most people want.

Answer 5

the crazy thing is people are asking for help on the one thing that linux does best NOT GETTING VIRUSES they dont seem to want to hear it I say screew it let them suffer like I did for years. I mean realy like that crazy chic that was all over me earlier today. I was only trying to help these people out. Forget it if linux does in fact go mainstream then maybe we may start to become affected by viruses with that in mind I say let the dumb people do dumb stuff to there inferior OSs and suffer LOL

Answer 6

It's already begun. Dell Computer now offers it's computers with factory installed Linux Ubuntu.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Answer 7

32-bit abode windows Vista abode top classification SP1 [well-known OS] sixty 4-bit Linux Mint 6 [Secondary OS][twin-boot] abode windows 7 build.7077 [working in simple terms approximately on Vista] abode windows XP SP3 [working in simple terms approximately on Vista]

Answer 8

home users will switch when their IT dept switches the cpus at work. thats not gonna happen til OpenOffice dominates MSOfiice. since Office 2007 sux...now is the time.

Answer 9

you forgot software. 90% of the pc in the world are windows.

Answer 10

i use xp.vista.tiger,ubuntu and xandros all without problems