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271 Comments
- inactive, on 12/27/2007, -4/+57maybe you should ask them if they want to change and when they say "no", you should STFU
- sq377, on 12/27/2007, -4/+57I used to convert anyone that had a windows problem, but I've learned since then. I run only linux now, and when people see it and ask about it, I show them what linux has to offer and I hand them a CD. However pushing it on friends like this guy says usually just pisses them off. I also ordered a bunch of the ubuntu cds from shipit and put them in my college's hardware lab, within a week they were all gone. Every once in a while I get one of the people with one of those cd's asking for help with problems. These people are usually the ones that stick with it and enjoy it alot more. I suggest this path instead, wait until they are curious, and then show them what it has to offer. Most devout windows people are happy with windows, so let them be.
Also another tip: I used to be the tech guy everyone went to for computer problems. Now I always tell them I only service linux machines. I explain why it's better, explain what software will run, and give them a livecd to test. I converted my parents and a few of their friends, and they love it. Plus the few times they actually do need help it usually is something solvable instead of a random virus/malware problem. - ArthurSucks, on 12/27/2007, -4/+43I've decided to never convert someone ever again. My mother was so angry that there a tool was "in the wrong spot" in Open Office she refused to work on that PC. It's not that Linux is harder (in fact it's actually easier than Windows now) but Windows users want it all to be exactly the same.
- 10goto10, on 12/27/2007, -9/+48I'm not looking to bash Linux, but this constant quest for converting people starts to rival the scariest of religious cults.
- baalzebub, on 12/27/2007, -5/+43i usually kidnap them and tie them to a chair in the basement in front of a PC with no OS and a Slackware CD, and tell them no food or water until i see you learned to install Linux...
- bumcheekcity, on 12/27/2007, -4/+36Howto: Convert A Friend To Linux
1) Do not assume your friend wants to use Linux. Not everybody thinks your damn operating system is the best thing since masturbation.
2) Do not unneccessarily convert someone to Linux, keep friend, drink beer. - s0m31john, on 12/27/2007, -1/+30I once used an Ubuntu live disk in school.
You'd think I was a terrorist, they wouldn't let me use the computers for the longest time. - schestowitz, on 12/27/2007, -5/+33Some people are a lost case because they resist change -- any change for that matter -- from the very start. Find those who require your help rather than look out for those whom you want to change.
- doctorfungi, on 12/27/2007, -16/+42Windows does everything I need it to, Linux doesn't without having to jump through a million hoops first. That's pretty much all there is to it on my end as a Windows user.
- JasonCox, on 12/27/2007, -1/+23Next time read your school's AUP first. I used to work on the IT staff of a school district and if we caught any kid futzing with the computers we would have been within our right to revoke his network access for the rest of the year. They're the school's computers, not yours, remember that.
(and most SysAdmins will allow you to run a Live CD, just ask before you do it, not after you get caught) - jjb123, on 12/27/2007, -2/+24Were you waterboarded?
- animus, on 12/27/2007, -5/+26thought this was a parody at first..
but holy crap you nerds ARE in a cult.
scary. - dgh1973, on 12/27/2007, -4/+23You know, I used to be a die hard Linux advocate. Used it as my primary desktop for at least five years. I have to say though, the only reason I'd convert a friend to it is if they were interested in pursuing a career in Unix system administration, and even then they would have to have a solid background in computers and be willing to use it as a learning tool.
I'm more inclined to convert people over to macs personally, because then I won't have to answer constant phone calls about how to do X or how to do Y, or why when they bought that new blue tooth device it won't seem to work correctly on their new Linux system right out of the box without me coming over and configuring the system for it. Linux is good, but it's still not for the faint of heart.
Don't get me wrong, I like it - I just can't see recommending it to anyone but a geek blessed with the hacker spirit. Sure it may do the basic stuff just fine and then some, but if you convert someone to Linux you basically have to tell them "consult with me or google before buying any new hardware, because there's a chance it won't work" (take Lexmark printers for example, lots of those use windows only drivers). Do you really want to put that kind of burden on a typical end user? - kboyer, on 12/27/2007, -2/+20If your friend is a gamer, don't even bother trying this.
- balazsbela, on 12/27/2007, -0/+15Run MS Office in wine.
But you shouldn't try to convert someone who is so easily irritated by something so small. - TheOther1, on 12/27/2007, -1/+15Great, then stick with Windows. If you ever come across something you can't do on Windows, then take a look at Linux. There is a time and place for every OS, as long as it does what you want and need it to do.
I happen to run both since the wife likes Windows and I'm not going to force Linux on her, or anyone else. I'd be more than willing to help anyone learn how to use Linux, but won't force it on them. - PJ1967, on 12/27/2007, -0/+13Isn't your mom aggravated that Microsoft changes the "look and feel" of Windows/Office in just about every new release?
- rtaibah, on 05/22/2009, -1/+14Lol, slackware!! Have some mercy! Thats brutal.
- ArthurSucks, on 12/27/2007, -0/+13As a matter of fact she is. :)
- aeiou, on 12/27/2007, -0/+13Yeah, I remember that feeling. In school I always thought us geeks should be allowed to do whatever we want with the computers. But when it comes down to it- they are not your computers, so the school has the right to have them used however they want, even if some of the restrictions on the computers are a little overboard and limiting.
- lowerlogic, on 12/27/2007, -0/+13She's still running MS Office 95.
- ucg1, on 12/27/2007, -0/+12There is no operating system that "just works."
And if you're going to mention Apple, let me say that I own a few Macs, and know a few Mac users, and it does NOT "just work." It's a really nice UNIX environment, but its amazing how much of Apple's software "just doesn't work." Even some of their pro software has huge showstopper bugs that they don't bother to fix leaving users completely helpless waiting for Apple to pay attention. Yeah, you can submit a bug report, but you'll have to wait until they feel like fixing it which may be never.
At least with open source software you have options when things go wrong or don't work. If you can't fix things yourself, there are coders out there who can. You may have to pay someone to fix things, but at least you're not dependent on one company you don't have any control over. Granted, there is a lot of software (mainly pro software) that just doesn't have good open source alternatives, so we are stuck using closed source software anyway. - TheOther1, on 12/27/2007, -0/+11Might as well make them do a stage 1 Gentoo install.
- roguedragon, on 12/27/2007, -4/+15Yeah, I've found that when promoting Linux, usually you have to get the people who are severely incensed with Microsoft and totally "fed up" before you'll get any converts. The rest are "just happy where they are" and won't move even if you beat them with a crowbar, or the nearest gravity gun.
- duckyinc, on 12/27/2007, -2/+12ironic that half life is on windows only
- arghargh, on 12/27/2007, -2/+11great spam comment
- ucg1, on 12/27/2007, -3/+12For me its the reverse, a distro like Ubuntu does everything I need without much effort, whereas Windows takes quite a bit of work just to get a decent setup working. Even OS X requires quite a bit of work to get setup, but at least is a nicer environment than Windows once its setup. Granted, I tend to do a lot more tasks that favor a UNIX-like environment.
- inactive, on 12/27/2007, -2/+11You want to convert me to Linux? Then follow these easy steps:
1. Stop forcing me to use a command line.
2. Make my Spyder2Express monitor calibration software and hardware sensor work. (or at least allow for the profile to be loaded into my video card just like in Windows)
3. Let me listen to my foolishly bought DRM itunes music in Linux.
4. Let me play my games in something higher than 1280x1024 (last time I checked Nvidia drivers didn't support higher resolutions)
5. Let me use Photoshop in Linux (I'd use Gimp only if I could trust that it works just as well as Photoshop for serious photo editing)
Honestly, if I could find solutions to all of this, I'd drop Windows in a heartbeat. - MWeather, on 12/27/2007, -0/+9You mean like going through a GUI installer, then hitting the button that updates your OS and all your software and all the drivers? Where can I find that button in windows? I always have to go to Windows Update and reboot a couple times, then go download the software I need from various websites and install those individually. That's assuming the install recognizes my SATA drives.
- GMorgan, on 12/27/2007, -0/+8I don't need such barbarism. I go forth into this proprietary world with copies of holy scriptures such as The Cathedral and the Bazaar and convert people via the force of my faith in his holiness RMS and his disciple on Earth Linus Torvalds.
Of course, occasionally we have to burn the odd heretic (or worse, condemn them to the depths of Windows) but you expect that. - tech10171968, on 12/27/2007, -0/+8Even better: kidnap them, tie them to a chair in the basement in front of a PC with no OS and a Windows CD. 3 days later ask them if they still think Windows "Just Works".
- arbulus, on 12/27/2007, -1/+9It's not a matter of religious conversion, it's a matter of making people aware that there are alternatives out there. Most people don't even understand what an OS is, much less that there are different ones. People go crazy with windows because of malware and spend hundreds of dollars on spyware and virus removal apps to little avail. There are a large number of those folk who use computers just to check email and browse the web occasionally who would switch to Linux in a heartbeat if only they knew that it existed. The problem is that Windows is all they know and all they've ever been exposed to.
- JudgeMonkey, on 12/27/2007, -3/+11Ok, well I'm a linux noob, I've been using it for a little while now. Anytime I wanted to install anything I've needed to muck with repos. Anytime I've wanted to install anything without repos, it seemed so much more complicated that I instead tried to find an alternate way.
Convert me, how the **** is using repos easier than downloading and either just unzipping, or right out installing a program with just a click?
Linux works, and you can't beat the price, but easier? Not by a long shot. - ucg1, on 12/27/2007, -1/+9Mac users have similar problems with hardware. You can't just buy any hardware and expect it to work. For example, someone bought a Mac user I know a webcam as a gift. It would not work. It had drivers for OS X, but was for 10.2.
I have used Linux since 1995, and I've not tried to push it on anyone else. I also use OS X as my main OS at home, and I'm even hesitant to push that on anyone. OS X is not free from problems despite what Apple's marketing/advertising department says. And I've seen some Windows users try to switch to OS X and just get completely frustrated by the differences and can't adjust to it because its not what they're used to.
When people ask me what kind of computer to get, I give them all the ins and outs of all the different platforms and let them decide. I tell them what I like and why. I tell them that if they switch to OS X from Windows they will have some relearning to do and its not perfect and bug-free, but at least they can install Windows on it if all else fails (or sell it for close to what its worth). I tell them to avoid Vista for now. I only mention Linux to people who might be able to handle it or are interested in learning that sort of thing. I don't do tech support for people, and I don't want to, so I'm not going to push anyone to make a choice that's going to make me the person they call for help.
I do wish that Linux or some other decent open source OS would become the defacto standard for PC's, and modern distros have come a long way, but its still going to be a while. - Xanium4332, on 12/27/2007, -0/+8define better.
-- If it had better functionality while still being open source, then sure.
-- If it had better functionality, but was _not_ open source, then in my eyes it's not actually better, so no. - MiDri, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7Well being I can't take a 360 version of orange box and pop it in my pc and play, no we're not going to consider the 360 version a Windows version.
- arghargh, on 12/27/2007, -3/+10epic reply!
- octowussy, on 12/27/2007, -16/+23You guys are worse than Jehovah's Witnesses.
- balazsbela, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7My advice to everyone who wants people to recognize Linux for what it is:
do not try to push Linux down anyone's throat, don't go to them, let them come to you.
Show them what you use, explain why it's good(if they ask), also what it lacks and let them decide.
Also tell them everything you know about the OS they are currently using and mostly about the company which produces it.
When people have enough information to decide what is best, they will.
When they realize that what they use doesn't fit their needs anymore they will come to you and ask for help.
Participate in websites, forums that help newbies with problems.
And do not forget, this is not religion, no matter how right you are.
A Dilbert quote that I think is really true:
"Never argue with an idiot, they pull you down to their level and beat you with experience." - sirhomer, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7Don't underestimate Compiz Fusion. A lot of the FUD about it is just envy mostly from Applebots. Once OS X gets something similar it will be heralded as a great advancement. O_o
- jiveturkeyblues, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7seeing my friend's desktop cube is what made me install ubuntu a few months ago.
- starsky51, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7I actually think that Macs are good for the Linux community. Anything that can loosen Microsoft's grip and make people realise that there are alternatives to Windows is a good thing.
- mirandu, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7linux wont spread far and wide till we address the usability issues for a generation that has never seen anything except windows ... Firefox stays a big big example
- Dylson, on 12/27/2007, -13/+19This, above all reasons, is why I hate linux. It's because the community thinks they are above everyone and they think their operating system is better than all the rest. It's not, and linux users aren't better than me.
- HonoredMule, on 12/27/2007, -1/+7"I only service Linux machines."
I like that. Get out of the MrFixit spotlight, promote Linux, and by suggesting that your expertise is limited to Linux systems, don't come off as a hard ass or unconcerned about your friends/relative's computer woes. - ninja0, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6With ubuntu this isn't really the case anymore. Most things can be found in the package manager, which is much easier than googling your antivirus, then googling spyware removal tools, then googling adware removal tools, then googling for service packs, etc etc etc, catch my drift?
with Ubuntu its all simplified, and in my eyes you get the best of both worlds. Most of the simplicity of windows, and all the advanced task from linux. ubuntu has made it extremely easy to install things, and the support if phenomenal. -- www.ubuntuforums.org - MacParrot, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6Because they suffered mightily in WW2
- ninja0, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6HAHA, of course, that would be fun for them. linux driver support>windows driver support
- MattBD, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6I'd certainly consider it. If the Hurd kernel ever got finished and there was a GNU/Hurd distro that was as easy to use as Ubuntu, I'd probably give it a try. Don't forget, Linux isn't one OS, it's a whole family of OS's that cover all different skill levels and purposes, and many Linux users will try new distros all the time, so they are generally more open to changing OS than Mac or Windows users.
A distro like Ubuntu is aimed at a completely different audience to something like Slackware or Gentoo. - MattBD, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6Very likely. They made a great big fuss about Leopard having multiple desktops, when as far as I know Gnome and KDE have both had them for a while (I don't know exactly how long, having used Linux for less than a year).
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