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85 Comments
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Ummm. This is a tech story, so it actually belongs here, and furthermore, it's listed in the correct category. It seems the "fanboys" (or at least the MCSE's afraid for their jobs) are the ones who are making derogatory statements. If Linux offends you, don't read articles in the Linux/Unix section.
- usergentoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Actually being a unix user since the 80's and trying winxp for my first time Id have to say that Linux is easier then windows with their point and click hell. Having to search for drivers is another hassle. Im finding out that alot of programs and games that predate winxp just dont work.
Since I work for the us gov and see how they are slowly converting to linux and the schools, companies and governments from other parts of the world are following the same route. It just makes since to use something that works.
Why would you want all that bug riddled, virus infected, spyware ***** on your pc is beyond me. - valis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2*shakes head*
Welcome to your new religion.
I have Linux dedicated to one machine, and several VMWare machines. I use windows on my workstation and on my media PC. I have Mac OSX on the Mac.
Sorry, but no matter how hard anyone tries, only the windows PC (currently) has the tool-set of applications and general application availability acceptable to the work I need to do, and the play I like to play. Don't get me wrong. I like Linux considering I came from a Unix dominant industry: Telecommunications. I’d love to switch to Linux entirely, or at least some variant. I like the architecture and implementation over that of Windows on balance (but not entirely). It simply isn’t possible for me to get a return on my considerable investment in the quality development tools and applications I am accustomed to using for so long.
Nothing is free. Somebody pays somewhere along the line (think Laws of Thermodynamics here.) Open is only open if you look under the hood and dedicate a lot of time to looking around. Quality documentation is paramount, and tools developed by companies and organizations who dedicate themselves to quality and usefulness are essential. Linux is a bit like Christianity with denominations, variations in implementation and functional detail. I’ve seen people argue over witch distro is better than the others. But I suppose that can be equated to different versions of Windows implemented for different industry needs.
No ready to completely convert to the new religion, but keeping my eyes open. - MindTrigger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2
You guys will get a laugh out of this, and I swear to god it's a true story. A few years back I talked my company into looking at Linux as the OS for their telephony system, because I explained to them that theu could customize the source and remove anything they didn't need to perform the required functions. My boss went out, without talking to me, and picked up a copy of Red Hat he saw at CompUSA, clearly confused about what I had in mind. He then forced me to install it (cause he was stupid enough to pay for it) so he could see what Linus was.
I kept running into a hardware error during the install. We could not figure out what the hell was going on no matter what. No amount of troubleshooting was helping. Finally I decided "well, this is Red Hat, and they have real support people". I called the number, went through the whole thing with 3 different support people until finally the last one said.......
"Install Windows and find out what hardware is causing the problem."
I said: "ha ha... very funny".
He replied: "I'm not trying to be funny."
I set down the phone, called my best friend who worked with me (another MCSE) to come in, then asked the Red Hat support guy to repeat his last instruction on speaker phone. We busted up laughing out loud and hung up on him.
I've installed other flavors of Linux, such as Debian, without much hassle, but then again I'm a tech. I wouldn't ask just anyone to do it, expect them to do it right, and grasp the concept of apt-get. - chamblah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I didn't see the reason stating how many awesome games are released each year for *nix.
Till I grow out of gaming or till more developers release (stable) games for *nix, it will remain as a hobby OS for me. - FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Reason #20 alone is enough for serious computer enthusiasts.
(20) Linux is a superior choice for use in academic institutions for a number of reasons. Among them is the fact that there are no secrets (in sharp contrast to proprietary software), thereby providing students the opportunity to study how computers really work rather than to just learn how to use them. Many educators are convinced that it is far more important for students to study computer science fundamentals than to practice specific applications (such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint). One reason is that computer science fundamentals will still be valid many years from now, whereas the specific application programs, especially the proprietary ones that do not conform to industry-wide standards, are constantly changing and those currently in use will likely become obsolete in a few years. - shakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"You say that you're not a Linux user, but have you _used_ Linux? Linux can often transform the simplest task into an almost impossible problem for the average user."
How can you say "Linux" does this when it's very different from distro to distro. Sure, some things will be difficult when using LFS, but on Suse or Ubuntu very few things are difficult. Certainly no day to day tasks are difficult.
"OS X and Windows are both fairly simple to pick up and any problems that arise can be fixed by calling tech support (there's a difference between having a tech support number and being told that "the information is out there on the web, now go find it") or at least without having to go into the terminal to change things by hand."
I'm not sure I've even met someone who has called MS tech support. People who buy a computer call the PC manufacturer's support line, not Microsoft's. For what it's worth, all big name Linux vendors have tech support that come with the paid-for distributions. As Linux gets on more OEM desktops you'll see PC manufacturers support it as well.
"For whatever reason, a lot of long-time Linux users just won't accept that Linux is a difficult thing for the average human being to use."
No, Linux is difficult for Windows power users who can't accept the fact that they will have to be newbies again on Linux because many things are done very differently on Linux. Beginner computer users take to Linux better than they do Windows. My mom's first ever computer this past summer is a Linux rig I built for her and she uses it without any problems. She had zero computer knowledge beforehand. She had to learn how to use the mouse. Now she's watching videos, sending email and browsing the web and I've spent a total of under an hour training her on the computer. - thund3rstruck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2People... please stop bickering. There is no reason why Linux and Windows cannot live harmoneously. Linux is the superior choice for File servers, samba, and ftp, etc, and windows in the superior choice for desktop platforms and gaming. Sure both can do either, but one must weigh each's strengths and weaknesses when deciding. If you can't decide, such as myself then you can dual boot and have both!
- MoeB, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1it really comes down to what u want to do with you pc. dont force your ideas on others.
- SODA8297, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1well "sadly" I'm a windows xp user because I "paid" for my license LOL tell me when LINUX is 100% compatible with all PC games and any application I would become a LINUX user in a nanosecond........ :)
- _jinx_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As you can see, I am a Linux user and Windows user. Those reasons are not reasons to switch. Does the average user care if the source code is open source so they can write for it? No, as important as it is.. converting to linux is a decision mainly based on desire the desire to learn!
- Dogmatix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1FuManChu,
with respect to your comment:
"I will add, however, that Windows fanatics who DO NOT GET the idea that 'security' for the average user means "not subjected to constant spyware, trojans and viruses. It does not mean that the Mission Impossible team is not going to be able to 0wn your machine if they want to take you down. Get real."
perhaps the average user may want to run their machine with an authentication less than "Administrator" and the problems will magically disappear in 99.99% of cases.
It seems that most of the Unix/Linux zealots seem to think that a fair comparison of securitization would be to compare a fully secured user privileges login versus a Windows box running with full Administrator privileges. It's like comparison professional men's tennis with the local hit and giggle women’s social card/tennis club standard (and sounds about the same).
What are you fella's going to do for excuses when you actually examine the securitization in the latest versions of XP that realize (for arguments sake) that buffer overruns a physical impossibility? Or am I just a paid MS storm trooper (for if so the cheque is very, very late). - valis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"No, Linux is difficult for Windows power users who can't accept the fact that they will have to be newbies again on Linux because many things are done very differently on Linux."
I'm sorry, old boy, but that's pompous and more than a little bit ignorant. Why would *any* power user move to another platform when everything he/she needs to do is at their finger tips without a compelling reason? Do you advocate change for change sake, and then belittle and insult the intelligence of people who can be called power users? Are you also a fascist by any chance?
Some people just don't get the practical issues at work, here. Maybe get over your self serving hubris enough to see that people who get the job done with the tools they have taken years to learn are, in fact, neither lazy nor stupid. - Zoplax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well I would be in favor of a move for one big reason, at least with Linux you are much more likely to be able to examine all the code that is compiled into the OS and if necessary add or remove functionality at the kernel level and beyond.
I'm paranoid about building "questionable" tools with Microsoft development tools because I'm afraid that something I don't want (like some GUID or unique identifier specific to my computer or my network address or something) is embedded in the compiled application.
For example, who can say whether Microsoft has some built-in "super cipher" which allows government agencies the ability to decrypt anything encrypted using some of the built-in Windows XP file encryption or other Windows-specific encoding techniques? Only Microsoft can say, and I can't see their source code.
But in an Enterprise environment, for purposes of running an ethical and legal business, I'd have to go with Microsoft definitely for workstations and enterprise-level email and database stuff. Maybe Linux for some of the backend stuff that I can't afford to BSOD, however. - harshbarj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"None of those reason will get me to move. Especially in an enterprise environment. Sorry."
Sure got me the #1 reason listed sounds like a good reason to me. - hotwaterham, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"It's amazing to me that each and every reason not to use it listed here shows just how lazy Windows computer users are."
You say that you're not a Linux user, but have you _used_ Linux? Linux can often transform the simplest task into an almost impossible problem for the average user.
OS X and Windows are both fairly simple to pick up and any problems that arise can be fixed by calling tech support (there's a difference between having a tech support number and being told that "the information is out there on the web, now go find it") or at least without having to go into the terminal to change things by hand.
For whatever reason, a lot of long-time Linux users just won't accept that Linux is a difficult thing for the average human being to use. - halikar, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It's amazing to me that each and every reason not to use it listed here shows just how lazy Windows computer users are. Enough enterprise environments already use it that the computer manufacturers include Linux as an option at purchased, there are several add-ons to allow all those Windows games to be played, and there are distributions that are plenty easy for the non-hardcore user with simple learning curves.
I'm not even a Linux user, and I've done my homework. - gilbes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1(3) High quality support for Linux is available for free on the Internet, including in newsgroups and other forums.
Yeah right, that is not high quality support. High quality means that someone is accountable for your issue.
(4) There is little possibility that support for Linux will be discontinued at some future date due to planned obsolescence or for any other reason.
What support, you have to support it yourself, with random Internet uses rememeber. Linux is also not accountable to its users so you only know something is obsolute after and update has broken it. (5) and (6) does nothing to refute that.
(7) Should a user decide to upgrade to a newer version of Linux, there are no licensing fees or other software costs if the user selects a free distribution (i.e., version).
Covered in (1) and (2).
(8) Linux has no onerous requirements for keeping track of licenses.
Except for non free software on Linux. Way to pick on MS in that noe too, even though it is not an MS specific problem.
(9) Linux features superior security, including a very low rate of infection by viruses, trojans, worms, spyware and other malware.
Hardly superior. Linux systems are just as easy to get in to as windows systems.
(11) ... Many of them have features and performance equal or superior to those of comparable applications for use with Microsoft Windows.
Where is the proof. I don't think that random apps at radom stages of maturity that don't adhear to any set of standards is "high quality"
(12) There is a choice of numerous distributions (several hundred) of Linux
This is not a good thing. It keeps linux fragmented and standards free.
(14) Linux and other free software uses open format file formats.
That's great, but Windows and Mac apps do too.
(16) Linux features a high degree of compatibility with other operating systems. For example, it can read, write, copy, erase and otherwise manipulate data that resides on Microsoft Windows partitions on the same hard disk drive (HDD), act as a Windows server for a network containing ...
This is not a function of the operating system, just components writeen for it, and there are components written for windows to do this stuff too.
(17) Very high ethical standards are maintained for Linux and other free software, in large part due to the very openness of their development process and the free availability of the source code.
Is using the word ***** in your code hundreds of times unethical? MSes anti-trust suit does not mean Windows is any less because of it.
(18) Linux reduces the need to upgrade or replace hardware when upgrading to newer versions. This is because its code is very efficient and compact, thus allowing it to work effectively on older computers that are not suitable for the newest versions of Microsoft Windows.
This theme has been repeated over and over again. Windows comes with all features, and will run slower on older machines, given. But a Linux distro with all features shows the same behaviours.
(19) Linux is capable of operating on a wide variety of platforms (i.e., processor and system types), rather than just being limited to Intel-compatible processors and computers.
Windows used to too, until they realized just like Apple did that consumer desktop PCs are best on a certain platform.
(20) ...
What? For what audience is this speaking to. Certainly not everyone.
(21) For governmental agencies, Linux and other free software allows for transparency of data because it stores the data in formats consistent with industry-wide standards.
Many OSes read and write proprietery and open formats. MS does not force you to.
(22) With Linux and other free software there is little reason to fear the existence of backdoors, in large part because all of the source code is available for inspection.
Yet they exist in Linux. Whoops.
(23) Using and advocating Linux helps foster a healthy diversity and increased competition throughout the software industry.
Yet Linux seems to always be adding features of the Mac and Windows OSes. Its a good idea, but not real in practice.
(25) Linux and other free software provide the opportunity for users to contribute to the advance of software technology because the source code is
This was covered maybe a dozen times throughout.
Really this only gives one reason and that is Lunix is free. That is not always the best reason for everyone. - skellener, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Remind me to get Linux on my grandma's computer. She'll love busting out the CLI and compiling her own apps. Free does not equate accessibility for everyone.
- MindTrigger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1
Yeah, and I'm pretty tired of hearing all this crap about "free". Free doesn't mean it's better. There are lots of situations here at work wheer I prefer to use a software vendor I can rely on for support, than take a leap of faith in some open source project where the fanboys on the site's forum will call me a "noob" for asking questions. - toasterwaffle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0*warms up... rubs hands close to the flaming*
- AttroPheed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm not sure the cost:benefit ratio is there for many companies but I think being able to game on it would switch a hell of a lot of home users over.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0im not a xp fanboy or an osx fanboy a i have ubuntu as a dual boot option and i have to say it sucks, i origanaliy insalled it because i did not have the office suite so i downloaded ubnutu and it sucks takes a long time to boot when i shut the lid of my laptop it does not go on standby watsteing battey and also those reasons suck
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http://www.frontlinetech.blogspot.com - dmannes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Are there any .NET/SQL Server developers out there? Can you imagine writing with PHP and MySQL instead? Especially with .NET 2.0 and SQL2005. As long as my company is buying the licenses, I'm good.
- Zippo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Linux is great and I'd like to know how to use it inside and out, but I'm just going to stick with OS X and XP.
- diggdeeznutz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0zzzzzzzzzzzzz...another re-hash of why to switch to Linux. No Digg.
There is no one OS that is complete..that's why I have a PC, MAC, & LINUX machine. - jpyun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ubuntu is, without contest, easier to use than Windows. I defy you to name a single example where Windows is easier to use as far as desktop usage goes. You won't be able to.r
- discobean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Been using linux full-time for two years now, I will never move back full-time to windows, but I keep a windows computer around so I can use things like picasa, printing, photoshop, and some multimedia things I can't do hassle free without linux.. MS Money and internet banking too..
Other than that linux is great, i'm using it as a www server, mythtv server, mythtv clients, wireless rah rah everything works.. I also have crossover office which works really well too..
Sometimes its nice to be able to boot into windows and dumb things down a bit.. But I wouldn't miss it if MS ever went bust..
Although I probably would miss MS Money, I just like it when the app talks to you - Dogmatix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This could have just as easily read:
25 reasons to convert to the Kyoto protocol.
It is all non-evidence based semi-mass delusion from those without girlfriends; and yet another example of self regulation gone wrong.
All of this if from the school of philosophy that says that most things that are designed by committee are good! Is Linux just another example of "Intelligent" design? - FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That should read : "Agreed-upon industry standards exist in most industries FOR good reason..."
Sorry! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0At least when I need to upgrade or obtain a copy of Windows, I don't have 100 versions to pick from, like Linux distros.
- ic3box, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0you know what i've noticed... every website that tries to get you to convert to linux or is hardcore linux like this has no design.... hrmmm gets you thinking what kind of people use linux; not a designer or at least not me.
- FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Some excellent comments on both sides. . . and some, well, let's not dwell on the brain-dead. . .
I'm a fairly new Linux user [as of mid 2005] and currently take care of 2 dual boot Linux/ windows desktops, an [Ubuntu] Linux-only desktop, an Ubuntu-only laptop and a XP-Home OEM-installed laptop that's getting reformatted to some Linux soon --probably Ubuntu, but I'm waiting for the new v. of Mepis to come out ANY DAY NOW. . .
The point: I agree with the rational comments that each OS has it's place. This is not a football game. There is not only 1 winner.
MANY THANKS to MindTrigger for the great story!
I will add, however, that Windows fanatics who DO NOT GET the idea that "security" for the average user means "not subjected to constant spyware, trojans and viruses." It does not mean that the Mission Impossible team is not going to be able to 0wn your machine if they want to take you down. Get real. - Anchoret, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yet another stupid, trite, dishonest advocacy piece trying to pass itself off as useful information from an honest broker. No digg, and please just drop dead.
Why is it you NEVER see an honest article on Linux? There are a few great things about Linux and there are a few really _horrible_ things about Linux, but you'll never, ever see a Linux psycho cop to the latter. Maybe that's why they take so long to be rectified, y'think? - hiro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0For a server yes, but not for anything else
- FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Dogmatix:
Good comment. You are right, security-wise, it is not fair to compare the vulnerability of a non-root Linux user with a XP user running as Administrator.
However, unless you are in a situation where, as Sys Admin, you are able to enforce the discipline of having users ONLY log in with limited privileges, everyone will be dumping their limited user logins and running as Admin within a couple weeks. Many programmes --even GAMES, fergowdsake, simply won't install & run without login in as Admin. Same with some hardware peripherals.
I don't really understand your point about XP "securitization" and buffer overruns. Can you fill me in? - pHr34kY, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That was a pretty good read. I especially agree with #20 because without linux I wouldn't have a comprehensive understanding how how my OS works, and all of the applications that I learned to use in Uni (last year) are already becoming obsolete, along with my ability to use them.
And as for gaming, I just stumbled across Mupen64 last night (I was impressed), that should keep me entertained for a while (it's an N64 emulator for those who don't know).
...and also hand you don't hear about people moving from Linux to Windows very often. Once MS has lost its ground, it's usually for good. - DoctorShim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You're all racists!
- DewayneSmith, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Once my rich Uncle dies, I'm buying a MacBook Pro.
- FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Just want to note, I saw down bottom that they had listed an example of CSS taking off was Firefox and Opera vs. IE. Unless I missed something, Opera (while great) is not OSS. Or at least it wasn't last time I used it."
Very true, as far as I know. . Opera is proprietary software. BUT they do make Linux versions, and the browser IS HTML, XHTML, & CSS standards-compliant. Not 100%, but no browser is. Still, it's at least as close as Firefox is to being standards-compliant.
While it is free-of charge now, like Firefox & MSIE, it is not like IE in that it IS a standard browser and ISN'T full of security holes.
Additionally, it is to some degree customizable, and they authorize people's customized versions of the browser to be distributed. So while it is strictly speaking NOT open-source in the same sense Linux & Firefox are, it is closer to the spirit of open-source than to the MS "black box" style of software design. - Killerah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If I didn't game so much I would switch to using primarily Linux in a heartbeat. Sadly however, there just isn't enough support for games on Linux (though wine is quite an impressive project). Ah well, maybe developers will make games for Linux in the future or I'll just get tired of gaming. Dugg anyway.
- launchpadtt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"you know what i've noticed... every website that tries to get you to convert to linux or is hardcore linux like this has no design.... hrmmm gets you thinking what kind of people use linux; not a designer or at least not me."
That doesn't mean you can't be a designer using linux. Nothing stopping you. If you think it's ugly maybe you're the person whose services they really need at this point. - carguy84, on 10/12/2007, -0/+01 reason not to:
.exe - noghead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0why are these "reasons to convert" articles always being homepaged....we know already!@!!!@!!
- TrueVox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Just want to note, I saw down bottom that they had listed an example of OSS taking off was Firefox and Opera vs. IE. Unless I missed something, Opera (while great) is not OSS. Or at least it wasn't last time I used it.
- kherrick, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't need to "convert." I already run it on two of my desktop pcs. I love it, to an extent. And I love Windows on my laptop also within reason.
They both have limitations. And I can see why someone would choose it over and above OS X and Windows... if they feel like it. It is so stinking easy to use these days, why not? - kris2pe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The reasons why I'm not converting to Linux is becoz the drivers that I have can't seemed to connect the net. 2nd there so many prompt codes that I feel like I went back to DOS mode & the codes are no way near similar to DOS.
I remember when osx86 came out & I always wanted to try it out. But one of the requirements to do a dual boot is to use ubunto & have to enter some codes! But the codes to make it work doesn't seem to work, the forum help isn't helping @ all! He gave about 3 codes to make work but not even 1 of the codes work! So I said to myself screw this! I have so many problems in life itself that I don't wanna waste it further trying to figure out how am I going to make this work!
3rd is that none of the Linux users don't like ppl to move to Linux bcoz if ppl are going to increase in population using Linux! Their OS will vulnerable to hacks or cracks! All lot fo ppl will not admit this but behind their smarty little heads its there!
4th Forum help dont help at all!!!
B4 I was an avid user of edonkey2000 but alot of ppl r using emule & their counterparts! So I tried using and made sure that my connection & share settings were r8! But it ended up like crap. It was slow painful & hard to work with! I ask help & they kept giving the same faq site of emule! But what they didn't realize is that my problem was different! Coz I was able to fix it by disbaling "Enable rare share option" or something like that!
In short alot of Linux help tackle problems in a generic sense they don't understand that some problems are unique & may need another way of doing things!!!
Finally if u don't use remote desktop control, not making a site, not makind a database, not making a server or not programming anything! Just stick w/ Xp trust me XP might b a pile of Sh!t. But it surely gets my day going! Even though it is the most crappies OS in world! If your not interested in XP anymore try a Mac b4 really condeming yourself to Linux! - mjoyce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Which Linux distro is trying to get popular this month and is getting people to jump on the trend bandwagon this month? Get over yourself and quit tooting on the Linux horn, it's so 1996.
Linux is like UNIX... only it doesn't work. Use a real OS for a change, ANYTHING but Linux - the two bit Norwegian hack that has elevenidy billion developers working on it. The whole "my first sourceforge app" that gets committed to DistroX is a definite downward spiral. The quality control of BSD and other Unixes far outweighs any sort of "neatness" that makes your Linux laptop run a toaster. UNIX is good for what it does, simple things. Serving as a base for apps that do simple things, like serving web pages, databases, and applications. NOT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GAMING. Comparing pthread / linuxthreads scheduling with a modern Windows scheduler is like comparing a biplane with a b2 bomber, same goes for gcc compared to every compiler in the world.
If Linux would get over itself, realize there is no chance in hell that dirty hackers are going to be able to get a piece of the desktop pie, they might have a semi-decent SIMPLE BUT STABLE OS. Yet instead there are countless distributions and literally kernel patches weekly.
Choose your infection wisely, for me - it won't be Linux. - hotwaterham, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"How can you say "Linux" does this when it's very different from distro to distro."
How can I say that? Because it's a fact that problems in Linux are almost always solved from the terminal (for obvious reasons). Believe it or not, this is too much for most people to handle.
"I'm not sure I've even met someone who has called MS tech support."
That's some nice anecdotal evidence. Touche?!
"For what it's worth, all big name Linux vendors have tech support that come with the paid-for distributions. As Linux gets on more OEM desktops you'll see PC manufacturers support it as well."
It's not worth much. The average user that chooses to switch to Linux _probably_ isn't going to buy a new PC (most distros are free and arguably run better than XP...why would anyone buy a new computer for Linux?)...but yea, if more companies start releasing Linux-based PCs then there will be more and more support out there.
"No, Linux is difficult for Windows power users who can't accept the fact that they will have to be newbies again on Linux because many things are done very differently on Linux. Beginner computer users take to Linux better than they do Windows. My mom's first ever computer this past summer is a Linux rig I built for her and she uses it without any problems."
I'm not talking about power users here. I'm talking about the "everyman" making the switch to Linux, and I find it hard to believe that beginners take to Linux more easily than Windows…or that they can deal with problems if or when they do arise (installing new hardware?). That's great about your mom, by the way. Mmm, anecdotal evidence. - Dutchmang, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The article actually comes far closer than these Diggers in touching on the real problem. What's that? Micros~1 is a very nasty company that treats its customers like *****. Its only motivation is to lock people into its platform so that it becomes TOO TROUBLESOME OR TOO EXPENSIVE to switch. Then it collects usurious fees and throws them in the bank like a kid hoarding carnival prizes.
Examples 1 and 1A: Windows and Office. These are the two most expensive pieces of software on the average business desktop; they require each other and they act as trojans for all of the rest of the crappy software that MS tries to pile on top. To keep it going MS operates "digital madrases" that mint a gazillion brainwashed, marginally talented MCSEs to go out and spread the religion. They in turn get hired by the 1980s script kiddies who cut their teeth on Windows 3.1 shareware apps and never learned anything else, and operate IT today (but not forever).
Would this software be acceptable if it wasn't sold by Microsoft and solely designed to promote its world domination agenda? I dunno, maybe. But then again it would be a lot better to begin with, as all that "integrated innovation" (read: lock-in) energy would instead be channeled to writing software that is high quality and fit for purpose.
Call me an MS-hater if you want, but I can tell you that there are a *lot* of buyers out there looking for a way out of this pickle. MS can put out one fire, five fires, 100 fires through their bullying and wheedling.... but the momentum is there. Bill Gates ain't the only dude out there who knows how to run a business, and a whole lot of highly talented people are looking for help taking back their own destiny. There is a growing will to change that dynamic. It's most notable outside the US and especially in emerging economies, but it's here too.
Will it be Linux taking share from Windows? I think so, but I don't really care. All I know is that there will be, not just alternatives, but improvements on what MS has trapped itself into producing through the wrong focus -- those bloated overpriced buggy insecure products that people feel trapped into using.
I've always said that Microsoft's next innovation will be its first, but that's not really true. Where Bill Gates really got it right was in figuring out how to get the world by the balls. He was a groundbreaker in finding the dynamics that lock people in, and brazen about applying the screws once they were there. ("Convicted monopolist" anyone?)
But now he has to try to keep people under his thumb so the cash extraction can continue. As anyone knows, people can be controlled for a while, but will not be ruled forever by those they hate. Yes I think Linux and other software alternatives are superior to those from MS. But this has never been about technology -- it's about human behavior. And from that perspective the outcome is assured. -
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