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246 Comments
- Greg-J, on 02/08/2009, -5/+816. Thousands of Windows-only applications (even Photoshop CS3) and games work with Linux through WINE just as fast. You can also find good alternative open source software.
*****. Did you open a 30MB file once and work on it for a short while with a 100 step history? Try doing real graphics work with 1,000 levels of history. As a graphic designer and avid Linux user, this statement is complete crap. WINE has gotten a lot better as of late, but it is no where near as fast or as stable when running graphic and 3d modeling apps.
Statements like these are what turn people off "switching". Linux is better than Windows for most things, but don't make ***** up. - 3242130193, on 02/07/2009, -5/+71"Don’t laugh. I’m not a big fan of porn, but ..."
Okay, but you admit that are are at least a small fan, right? - argoff, on 02/07/2009, -11/+52As someone who has used linux since the early 90's. My suggestion is don't waste your time. In 93, a business that I worked for told me that the internet was a passing fad. Microsoft is a better Unix than Unix. In 98 people I worked with told me that Linux was a toy os, not fit for the enterprise like SCO was. Or what about "x86 isn't suited for the data center like Sun was" The kind of crap I've had to listen to, you can't even make this stuff up. My advice is, just avoid dependence on the proprietary crap as much as possible, and eventually the rest of the herd will get it and you'll be out ahead - even if you do suffer a dot.com crash or two.
- ohplease, on 02/08/2009, -2/+31
You know Linux is getting easy to use when complete retards such as the author can run it. - Renton, on 02/08/2009, -1/+29"As someone who has used linux since the early 90's. My suggestion is don't waste your time [trying to convert people]."
I think that's what he was going for. - motters, on 02/07/2009, -2/+29I agree that not having to deal with malware is the #1 selling point when trying to convince Windows users besieged by problems with viruses and also the "security" bloatware.
- kooredaan, on 02/08/2009, -15/+41Why I shouldn't switch....
Because I don't need or want too. - suprxtragrav, on 02/08/2009, -16/+42geez whats with all these switch to switch-to-linux articles lately? you guys are like the Jehovah's witnesses of the OS world. It comes off as really needy and desperate.
Sure i get it, the linux kernel is more stable than windows by design. But can i play mirrors edge on linux? can i use dual displays with my laptop? Can my grandma install drivers for her videocard without using terminal?
Theres a reason power users are still using windows, and its not because of ignorance. (before you bury me into oblivion i just want to say that i'm typing this from a laptop running linux mint and windows 7) - mtg101, on 02/07/2009, -2/+27I keep trying to switch to Linux on my Dell laptop, but it never manages to handle dual displays properly - mirror only. I don't have the time to research how to get it to work, so I revert to Windows. For all the benefits of Linux, it's small things like this that have always prevented me from switching.
It's nothing to do with my favourite pr0n site using Flash 9... - Slackdragon, on 02/08/2009, -3/+27I think smugly resorting to calling people resistant to switching to your OS of choice "geniuses" is both condescending and counter-productive. Plenty of people I've tried to encourage to use Linux, to just give it a try, had already had a bad experience with the cold elitism sometimes displayed by Linux enthusiasts.
They perceive the OS as "Not User Friendly" and the user base as "Not Friendly Users." And, honestly, jabs like this in the article only help to cement the stereotype. - roysorlie, on 02/07/2009, -2/+22I'm using dualscreen, and have done so on both a nvidia and ati card, without any issues... what kind of problems are you having, using which card? Let me know, and I'll walk you through it :)
- jmantra, on 02/08/2009, -6/+25Who here thinks the linux zealotry gets old after a while? The average Joe Schmoe doesn't care what OS he uses as long as he is able to do what he needs to do without too much hassle whether that be with linux, OS X or windows.
I like linux a lot, however quit trying to shove it down people's throats. Who the heck wants to sort through a bunch of forum posts whenever they run into problems with their wi-fi or nvidia card?
And no CS 3 will not run under WINE without a significant amount of hacking, who has time for that? and games do not always perform well... if they run at all. - or3n, on 02/08/2009, -4/+23In theory everything there is true BUT it takes a ton of effort to get Linux just the way you want it -- which includes at times just something as simple as getting your microphone working properly (personal experience ) .. I love Ubuntu but Linux developers' work is cut out for them.
- LucasVB, on 02/08/2009, -0/+17Also on #5: "and you can see the source code so you know that FBI isn’t checking you out, like on Windows."
So... What kind of porn does this guy gets? - mizatt, on 02/08/2009, -13/+30I agree with a lot of this, but Linux support for wireless devices still eats ass
- cesclaveria, on 02/08/2009, -2/+16his point is, do not get "married" to a technology controlled by someone else. "avoid dependence on the proprietary crap as much as possible"
- inactive, on 02/08/2009, -1/+15I don't use Linux but installing stuff with Ubuntu and Fedora (only distros I've tried) is a breeze, and a lot easier than on Windows.
- mrroarke, on 02/08/2009, -4/+18"Even though you succeed many times, there are always a few ‘geniuses’ out there who need some real persuading to switch over to Linux."
That condescending ***** is enough to keep me from switching to Linux. - Krondor, on 02/08/2009, -2/+15It can already, dpkg click works in Ubuntu now, and OpenSUSE has the excellent 1-click install setup.
- DirtPile, on 02/08/2009, -7/+2011. Linux picks up your kids from soccer practice and makes them eat their vegetables.
- opticwind, on 02/08/2009, -0/+13As is always the rule:
No one who should be using linux needs information about it. Anyone needing linux will already be tech-savy or at least well-informed enough not to require a list written as if by a child.
"Linux is Fun!"...Seriously? THAT'S your big point? - DrCyclops, on 02/08/2009, -0/+12Well, clearly the kind that the FBI is interested in--
Oh... oh dear. - davidpack01, on 02/08/2009, -0/+11NTFS is also a journaled filesystem.
- inactive, on 02/08/2009, -2/+13Choosy moms choose Jiff!
- delecti, on 02/08/2009, -10/+21I found that profoundly unconvincing.
1. I never get any form of virus/spyware in windows anyway.
2. Without even having all of the effects enabled, linux has slowed several separate systems I've run to a crawl.
3. I'll grant this argument, Synaptic is pretty amazing, but saying that "Linux" has it is a bit of a generalization, that said, distilling an entire OS experience to getting new software is pretty inaccurate.
4. I've never paid for Windows, or gotten in any trouble for using a non-legitimate version. Plus, I've had legitimate access to licenses for a few years through my college's MSDN.
5. Who cares if anyone else looks at my porn? I willingly share all of my porn through a HTTP server to my friends and to anyone on campus through DC++
6. Thousands of "Windows only" applications run in WINDOWS without the need for a compatibility layer, that's not an advantage, that's mitigating a weakness.
7. I really don't give a ***** how much I can customize my system. Most people I know are content with and/or just don't care what theme windows installs with by default.
8. I can expand my windows for free by adding more programs, and some days I don't want to have to learn anything new.
9. Windows works already, and has features that I want and need already, I don't want to work for my OS unless I want to tweak some setting, most of which are as easy to access in windows if you know what you're doing as in linux if you search for a half-hour through forums.
10. Oh great, I'm forced to do something I might not care about. I do this anyway in the windows install process. - solarwind24, on 02/08/2009, -4/+13So... What's your point? Are you for Linux or against it?
- srg13, on 02/08/2009, -2/+11"The day that the majority of software available for the Linux platform can be installed by double clicking an executable file"
Ubuntu's been able to do this since, what? 2004? It's easier than Windows too - you just double click a .deb file and click the 'Install' button and you're done.
But it's not the best way to install software - you really want to just add a repo and use the package manager. - trollick, on 02/08/2009, -3/+12"6. Thousands of Windows-only applications (even Photoshop CS3) and games work with Linux through WINE"
If only there existed an OS that would run all these applications and games natively. Until then I guess Linux is the only choice.
/s - cesclaveria, on 02/08/2009, -2/+11you know that exes are just executable files right? nothing out of the ordinary.
- Yusayoh, on 02/08/2009, -7/+15I love how a lot of his reasons are completely subjective. For example, "Linux is fun" and "Linux looks better than..."? He also doesn't cite where he knows that it'll keep running fast forever.
It's NOT easier to use for everyone, which compliments my subjective argument.
This article is just stupid overall, and will not many any Windows or Mac user switch. - DirtPile, on 02/08/2009, -1/+9I'll show *you* my small fan of porn!
- KeithA45, on 02/08/2009, -3/+11"...you’ve probably tried to convert a few people over to Linux from another operating system. Even though you succeed many times, there are always a few ‘geniuses’ out there who need some real persuading to switch over to Linux."
"3. Linux is easier to use than Windows."
"7. Linux looks better than Windows Vista or Mac OS X"
"8. Linux is fun"
I don't hate Linux, but I do hate smug people who believe their opinions are better than mine, and I hate when someone uses statements that are matters of opinion as references to change my opinion (I'm sure someone out there thinks Windows 95 is the best looking OS to date) - cesclaveria, on 02/08/2009, -4/+12play mirrors edge? probably trough wine, I don´t know. But I hardly see it as a linux problem, that game was not designed to be played on linux and now it is linux fault?
dual displays, yes you can.
and drivers from gui? at least on ubuntu there is a solution for that with the restricted drivers manager, and I guess it doesnt work 100% of the times, but it has always worked for me. - Renton, on 02/08/2009, -4/+11Wine will give you compatibility with most .exe packages and games. Last I checked, it had trouble with .net applications though. There are also some games that run naively in Linux.
- RomeyRome, on 02/08/2009, -1/+8No *****. I love Linux. I hate Linux pushers.
- cesclaveria, on 02/08/2009, -1/+8the debian pakcage manager is even easier than double clicking an exe and going trough multiple windows clicking next.
- draiman, on 02/08/2009, -2/+9I can agree with most of this article, but I use windows, well because I know how to work it inside and out. I started with 3.1 and picked up every version (except for NT) after that, yes even the sickly dog that was ME. Linux is awesome I've tried Yellow dog and Ubuntu, just because I use windows doesn't mean I won't recommend it.
- Slackdragon, on 02/08/2009, -1/+8"Responses to 'why should I'"
- zealotbleeds, on 02/08/2009, -1/+8To play all the coolest game titles! Oh wait...
This is the only reason I switched back to Windows. I love Linux but digg me down anyways. - inactive, on 02/08/2009, -0/+6*Mac
- zeroshiftsl, on 02/08/2009, -3/+9@MAGZine "graphic developers cannot live without Photoshop on Windows"
I thought that's what Macs were for. - noisymime, on 02/08/2009, -1/+7Are you saying your grandma installs drivers on Windows?
- Klaasje, on 02/08/2009, -3/+9^^^^
That's why people don't like using linux ;-) - inactive, on 02/08/2009, -3/+9Umm...Self Righteous Egos aren't on the list...debunked.
- buckrogers1965, on 02/08/2009, -1/+7You call 30% adoption a failure? What world do you live in? Name any other OS that has ever gained even 15% versus windows in any desktop niche?
- CAisBacK, on 02/08/2009, -0/+611. It would make you a geek in the internets
- Ibox, on 02/08/2009, -1/+7this article is not from 1999, it mentions Vista.
- inactive, on 02/08/2009, -1/+7You haven't used Fedora or Ubuntu have you? It's pretty ***** easy.
- feignNU, on 02/08/2009, -5/+11@Pecheckler
The windows installation model is retarded. I'm sorry, but it is. You want to install something, so you have to go dig around google to find a .exe file. This .exe is actually two programs, one specially designed installer program, and then the actual software that you want (that is of course assuming it's not just a virus masquerading as the software you want). You double click the thing, go through a little wizard. It doesn't necessarily tell you if it's installed all kinds of malware and whatnot, in fact you don't even really know what you installed most of the time since you just clicked "next->next->finish". And on top of that, everything that you install this way is managed by its OWN installer/uninstaller software. They're all written by different people, to different standards, with different specs. Leaving you to manage everything you've installed by hand. Want to uninstall something you don't need anymore? What if it's not in "add/remove programs"? What if you don't remember the install path? There's just so much needless effort wasted.
In linux, software is installed with the help of a "package manager". This is a special piece of software which connects to searchable repositories of packages (applications) that are managed by each individual distribution. When you want to install one of these packages, you can use a GUI front end which comes with every popular distribution, or you can enter a few simple commands on the CLI. The package manager can be used to automatically update and maintain *every piece of software on your machine*. Not just system software. All of it. And what's more, it handles all your dependencies for you, and they always tell you when they have to install anything extra, so you always know exactly what you're getting. If a package that you want doesn't appear in a repository, each package management system tends to have its own ways of handling this.
The package management system is probably the #1 reason why linux is a better operating system than either OSX or Windows. It's laughable, and a sure sign of your ignorance, that you would think Windows is actually better or in any way easier in this regard. - mrsteveman1, on 02/08/2009, -3/+9It's also quite arrogant to assume that if only you could convince these people of the benefits of using Linux, they would switch immediately, as if they just haven't seen the light yet.
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