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- buffermaster, on 09/14/2008, -3/+22Linux users know this already - Windows users don't care!
- brainnovate, on 09/14/2008, -0/+15There is only one reason that convinced me... Windows sucks. In terms of being productive with your system and not having to reinstall, reboot, crash,, etc, etc, etc, there is no comparison. For any software that still requires windows, just use VirtualBox.
- inactive, on 09/14/2008, -4/+171. Cost. Sure you have to pay for the OS, but that's a 1-time charge. You don't have to buy Office 2007 or Nero, there are Open Source alternatives to those programs, so cost shouldn't be a major issue for most users.
2. Security and Reliability. Yes and no. In general linux distros may be more secure or reliable, but most problems are caused by user mistakes anyway, and considering linux is still more popular among the IT crowd is it really that surprising?
3. Updating software. "But Linux automatically updates each and every software that is installed in your system." That's just not true. It depends on how you install the software as to whether or not the software will update automatically. If you download a software package from some website and don't install the program through one of the automated installer tools it will not update automatically. Additionally, sometimes you may not want to update certain software packages for various reasons, so having an all-in-one update tool isn't always a good thing,
4. Choice. You don't have to buy Vista Ultimate. There are different choices of OS packages, and if you don't want to use Windows Media Player or IE, don't. You can choose to download and install whatever software you want.
5. Support. Linux does offer a lot of online support, but that's really only good if the computer is functioning and you can get to those support sites. Having a telephone contact is important, especially for corporate users where waiting for someone to respond in a forum post may not be practical when the problem effects a companies bottom line.
These aren't the best reasons for somoene to swith to linux, but of course they are worth considering. However, by not listing cons why a user shouldn't switch to keep the article balanced, it really only tells half the story, - truck87bp, on 09/14/2008, -2/+12I'm almost 61 years old and hate the terminal window, absolutely hate it !
After using Ubuntu daily since the 7.10 release, I now hate to boot into XP because its so damn SLOW. My Linux uses my 4 gigs of RAM, an my XP doesn't. I find having to do more work-around's because of all the DRM crap that XPs now infected with that's its a real pain in the @$$ (think it was SP3 that bombed my XP). I haven't had not one spy-ware installed or been attacked by a single virus yet in Linux. Every computer that my family and friends need help with are Windows only . Not one has had problems with their Linux. I pointed them to the how too thing on the Youtube.
If you really haven't used Linux for any period of time you will have no idea what the speed of your computer is really all about.
I still have XP as I like to use Google Sketch-up, even then I have to stop my sound program and web camera because of conflicts and freezing with big files but that's about as far as it goes with XP anymore.
Ubuntu is a very nice operating system and I am really surprised how well and how fast it works.
Thats my 2 cents from an old fart.
P.S. It would be nice if Google would release the Sketch-up program for Linux. It still doesn't work with my install of the Wine program (OpenGL problem). I don't want to hear about terminal windows fixes for the opengl thingy....Thanks, I'll wait for a release from the Google. - JohnnySoftware, on 09/14/2008, -0/+4> 3. Updating software. "But Linux automatically updates each and every software that is installed in your system." That's just not true. It depends on how you install the software as to whether or not the software will update automatically. If you download a software package from some website and don't install the program through one of the automated installer tools it will not update automatically. Additionally, sometimes you may not want to update certain software packages for various reasons, so having an all-in-one update tool isn't always a good thing,
Really? An RPM is an RPM. Does it matter if you installed the RPM using the GUI that comes with Red Hat or you manually downloaded the RPM with your web browser and ran the 'rpm' command from a shell window? - sirhomer, on 09/14/2008, -0/+4@JerichoCane
FUD is the process of spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt about another product. The idea is to make the future of a competitors product look dim. An example will be, "I don't think it's legal to use Windows", or "Windows won't be around in a year". It's very hard to spread FUD about Microsoft because they are a huge company and any legal threats or ideas that Windows will die are not taken seriously. But Linux, unlike Windows, is very vulnerable to FUD. Microsoft constantly spreads FUD: "Linux violates our intellectual property, we have hundreds of unspecified patents and we might sue you!", that is FUD at it's finest.
But no, anything that simply promotes Linux as a superior option is not FUD, it's promotion. And it's especially good promotion when it's coming from the likes of Microsoft affiliate. - JohnnySoftware, on 09/14/2008, -0/+4I switched a computer at work from MS-Windows to dual boot system with Linux & MS-Windows in minutes.
There were not 23 steps. There was more like one step. I just ran the installer - that's it.
I went for many months before I ever booted Windows on it again. When I did, it was not to run any Windows-only program. It was just to dredge up a really old email. - truck87bp, on 09/15/2008, -0/+3Its pouring down rain...I hate Fishing and Golfing in the rain. The stock car track is closed because of rain and I don't bowl every day of the week and I happen to like Digg.
Really, I'd rather be Golfing. - smotpoker, on 09/14/2008, -1/+4Your experience is not everyone's. My mom eventually switched after I had shown Linux too her a few times and explained/demonstrated some of the ways Windows tries to lock users in and is insecure.
Eventually she had to re-install a few times and she lost work due to program/os crashes a few times. She also got infected with malware a few times. I could help with some of it but didn't have to time or desire to do much more than recommend spybot/adaware. The final straw was when she paid for rhapsody service and then bought some cd burning app and found out rhapsody drm wouldn't let her burn the music with another program or convert it to mp3s. This happened shortly after she had bought a phone from Verizon and then found she couldn't use it with another network if she wanted.
Since my sister had been running Kubuntu for like a year already with little/no problems, she realized it couldn't be too hard so she took the plunge (about 1.5 years ago) - ileftfark, on 09/14/2008, -0/+3I personally love the command line (very helpful for doing batch processes!), but I can't think of one thing the CLI is absolutely necessary for in any of the major Linux distros. Try a PCLOS or Linux Mint, I think you'd be surprised at how similar it is to Windows, gui-wise. Why so angry?
- sirhomer, on 09/14/2008, -1/+4"These aren't the best reasons for somoene (sic) to swith (sic) to linux, but of course they are worth considering. However, by not listing cons why a user shouldn't switch to keep the article balanced, it really only tells half the story,"
That is a bit naive. The goal of a persuasive article is to promote a specific viewpoint, often at the expense of others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persuasion
Since Linux doesn't really have multimillion or even multibillion dollar advertising budgets like some of it's competitors, it relies on word of mouth and persuasion to spread. Obviously it's possible to have a bad persuasion strategy, but persuasion itself it not bad, and is actually extremely effective way to promote a viewpoint. - yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -4/+7And there you have it. Another "55 reasons to switch from Windows to Linux in 23 steps"
And still - nothing happens... Still the same 2% (or whatever it is) market share..
What is the reason to post almost the same articles again and again? Do you see any changes?
If I have an OS and I use it - it means - I see no reason to switch.
And now - dugg me down, because I am against such articles :/ - truck87bp, on 09/15/2008, -0/+2Actually, if you Googled your outdated information, you would see that MS has slid down to 79% of market share from 87% in 1999. I also agree with JohnnySoftware that Ubuntu installs way too easy, not 28 steps. Actually, I was on the net when it rebooted the first time.
- philthetechie, on 09/14/2008, -0/+1affect is a verb
effect is a noun.
You can't effect a company's bottom line... I'm just saying. - condonm, on 09/15/2008, -0/+1Everything except for #1 also points to moving to a Mac...
- yessuz, on 09/15/2008, -0/+1In that case - COOL man :)
Hey, if you want to see some different things - come to Lithuania during the summer. You will find something beautiful ;) - yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -5/+5"There is only one reason that convinced me... Windows sucks" - very 'good' argument..
if the OS is so bad, so why there are so many people who use it and are completely happy with that? I am absolutelly happy with my Windows Xp. I have NEVER EVER re-installed it. And I see no reason Why should I do that... - isuisorisuaint, on 09/14/2008, -5/+4how many more times will this freaking list appear on the front page? 11ty more times??
- yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -4/+25. And don't forget that there are soooooo many windows support forums as well...
- yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -3/+1You're 61 years old and you comment/sit on DIGG?! You should be worried man... Go fishing or something...
- yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -4/+1Are you for REALZ?!
- JerichoCane, on 09/14/2008, -4/+1Or, to put it bluntly, Linux relies on FUD, the very same thing that in the perception of Linux users is only spread by big, bad companies, who want to obliterate Linux on their way to world domination.
- inactive, on 09/14/2008, -8/+2Linux still needs you to know a lot of commands,do something about that and then I might buy into this BS.I don't care whether it can run games or not I just don't like that ***** command line.Yes I'm angry......
- yessuz, on 09/14/2008, -8/+21. Cost. - You can download your windows copy as well :D And there are many other ways to get your windows copy. Like university, etc.
"Since everything is free, you don't have the nagging Windows Genuine Advantage Validation tool and also you don't have to store and keep in mind the 25 character products keys for different applications."
- no, that's not true! If you own legal copy, you don't even see that Genuine advantage validation whatever tool. Also, you do not have to keep in mind all these "25 digit codes" since: a) you can use free (open source, or non-open source) applications. b) these codes are stored on the other side of the application box (if you decide to buy it).. and many many other things.
And about free - what about "everything is free" with the Red Hat Linux? Is it really FREE?
*****.
2. Security and Reliability.
"You don't get BSOD's in Linux! Most of the top websites use Linux based systems as it is not uncommon for Linux to run for years without needing a single reboot! Viruses are very few, almost negligible as compared to Windows. Linux is highly resistant to crashing, freezing and is an extremely stable and robust operating system."
I haven't seen any BSOD since Windows 98. Most of the Websites are stored in servers and not on the Desktop computers... And the websites are launched on some kind of web server tool. And these tools might be used on various systems (like Apache for Windows, etc.)
Total bull *****.
3. Updating software.
"Windows features Microsoft Update which updates only the Microsoft software's that are installed in your system. It doesn't update, say for instance Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Winamp. You need to manually update each and every software which are not made by Microsoft. But Linux automatically updates each and every software that is installed in your system. It saves a lot of time and effort."
Why to update winamp or Photoshop (and where's photoshop for Linux, not Gimp?)? You can update you system, and almost all programs checks for the updates themselves, and asks: "Do you want to upgrade?" on every launch of the program. So why to bother?
*****.
4. Choice.
"When you install Windows Vista, you also get all the default applications installed with it. Suppose you don't need Microsoft Paint or Windows Media Player because it doesn't come with the codecs installed, you cannot install Vista without them. There are many such applications like this which you may not use in your lifetime, but you have to install them. But in Linux, you can pick and install the applications which suits you most. You also have the chance to pick up the Linux distribution which matches with your personality! You can change and try something new everyday as it's FREE. No bloatware!"
But basically, when you install Linux, you have like 25 calculators, 14 text editors etc. And all of them are ***** to use.. and then you have to look for office-like tools etc.
5. Support.
"The quality of support for Linux from the Internet is highly praiseworthy. High quality support is available from newsgroups, forums, irc's etc. People say it is as good if not better than the support that comes with proprietary software's. The best and the brightest of the Linux users are there to assist you if you run into any problems and in most cases, the solutions they provide are effective and they provide it with enthusiasm. They welcome you as a part of their family. They don't do it for money but for their love for Linux."
No *****? Are there any call-center for Linux? And probably there is only one forum for Windows support and no irc's?! Omg lol...
And what about that: "The best and the brightest of the Linux users are there to assist you if you run into any problems and in most cases, the solutions they provide are effective and they provide it with enthusiasm"??? All what you get is: RTFM NOOB LOLROFL...
Also I do not defragment, and I NEVER EVER wanted to "change the program" since it suits my needs, so - why to bother with that?? How many of "OPEN SOURCE" enthusiasts really use that "Open Source" and make any changes in the code?
The Linux kernels come with many drivers, which, as seen in MANY cases - are worth a nothing. It's useless.
How many people make any changes in the Windows registry files?
And about his "runs faster" or better development - that a *****. My windows runs very fast, and who of you says - WOW, windows xp ver. 9.55.3321 released - let's go to recompile the kernel.. and After that - half of drivers do not work, half of software is corrupted..
stop tell a ***** - if people use the OS, it means that the OS is good. - JerichoCane, on 09/14/2008, -10/+2Blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum repeated theses.
- Cost: Didn't pay a dime for Windows XP Pro as I got it for free from my university's IT department.
- Security and Reliability: Installed Windows XP Pro on my current PC roughly 2.5 years ago. Had not to re-install since. Had no BSOD since. Had no freezes of any kind since. Had no viruses without using any anti-virus software. Isn't that marvelous?
- Updating Software: As has often enough been said, any Linux distribution limits the average user to the software that's available in the distribution's repositories. Once he ventures beyond that, automatic updates are no longer. Look in Ubuntu 8.04's repositories. There's ancient software abound!
- Freedom of choice: Ah, yes. The ubiquitous killer argument. I don't use Windows Media Player, I don't use Internet Explorer, I don't use Outlook Express. I use the applications I want. There, freedom of choice.
- Support: God, do you really want to make me laugh? There are just as many Windows support forums out there as there are Linux support forums. And the Windows support forums have the added value of no indoctrination and no crude ideology.
By the way, I don't defragment.
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