What is Digg?106 Comments
- Pas3n7, on 10/12/2007, -3/+302 + 2 + 2 != 7
- bluemax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20Why I like Linux:
1) No spyware or virus *****.
2) More control. Your computer does what YOU want it to do, not what an OS manufacturer thinks you want it to.
3) It's free, in both connotations of the word.
4) Programs are generally predictable and stable, and more straightforward. When you set up a program under Linux you know exactly what's going on, as opposed to the uncertaintly associated with Windows "wizards." (just my personal experience as a sys admin)
5) I don't EVER have to reboot a computer or server unless there's a critical error.
6) The ingenuity of the open source community in terms of software development. There's nothing you can develop on a Windows or Mac machine that you can't do on Linux. - danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13I was an avid Linux user and now am also an avid mac user!
- n8to, on 10/12/2007, -7/+18
2 linux boxes + 2 mac boxes + 2 windows boxes = never getting laid in this lifetime - chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Customization. Features (KDE vs. Explorer/Windows... come on...). Security. Those are my top reasons.
I hope. I HOPE Vista isn't a train wreak. If Vista turns out well, everyone will be better off.
However, if it doesn't... there is Linux. Easier every day, new features every week, and more hardware and software vendor support every month. It isn't for everyone. But if everyone tried... say, Kubuntu (perhaps with Automatix). How many would go back? How many would then pay for Vista, for many features that are here already... that have been here for years in Linux and Mac?
Vista still wont' have a real CLI. You can't even change the theme in Windows XP without hacking it.
Add to themes, customization, security, no defraging (newer filesystems!), a way to update the OS and ALL applications with one click, and FREE... how many people would pay for Vista?
I know I won't. I'm done paying Microsoft. I don't think they are a terrible company. They make a lot of money, and I would love to own their stock. But I do feel that many of their products are severely lacking compared to its competitors. - bryant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10My reason: There's only about 40 viruses, I think.
- chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11"Most people" don't know about Open Office or have never tried it.
While not MS Office by any stretch - it is more than adequate for a larger portion of MS Office users than MS would care to admit. Simply put, if there were a CD in stores with Open Office on it, beside MS Office (with a several hundred dollar price-tag). I think many would give OO.org a whirl and find it has all the features they need.
It is easy to stick with what you know... and difficult to change, even if the change is just the name.
I think "Most people" would find that once you start saving your documents in an open format - that a large percentage of them wouldn't need MS Office anymore. - ToadX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8He didn't say he listed all the operating systems he was using. He just said 2 were Windows, 2 were Mac OS X, and 2 were Linux. There's nothing wrong with that statement. Obviously, his seventh system isn't running one of those 3 operating systems.
- Tsuroerusu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7And those died out years ago, like the dinosaurs! ;)
- Tsuroerusu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Why I like GNU/Linux:
1) It gives me the freedom to freely learn stuff about the system I'm using, modify it and make things work the way I want them to.
2) Being able to share this great operating system with others and the same good experience I have with it, without risking getting sued up da ass.
3) There are tons and tons of cool, great, wonderful software available for GNU/Linux that I can play with, tinker with and set my machines up to do pretty much everything I want them to do, the powerful command line interface allows me to write scripts that will do all sorts of neat stuff.
That's the things I value the most about free- and open source software, these things comes as a bonus:
1) A reliable, robust, stable and secure operating system which I can validate personally by diving into the source code, which in my mind makes Microsoft a bunch of cowards, if Windows is as secure and they claim, why donøt they show us? Show us the damn source code so we can believe you!
2) If I don't have the option I'm not forced to shell out cash for every damn program I need.
3) Free software and open source enables competition, KDE and GNOME are not enemies, far from it in fact! Competition is good for a healthy community, makes people innovate much much more ..... - tsunamisteve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The article says that most people using Windows "put up with it" because of the MS Office, which they probably don't know you can get for OS X.
- Monoboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Scary enough, but I agree with you a bit there.
I've used Linux on and off. Five months ago I decided to see how well I could get someone with limited technical knowledge to use Linux. So I built a machine for my girlfriend and threw Ubuntu Linux on it.
It worked out well at first. The first thing she noticed was the interface and how easy it was to use.
She had a music player and everything set up for her.
Then started to come the harder stuff. Firefox 1.5 came out and she wanted it on there. Ubuntu 5.10 doesn't come with Firefox 1.5. So me not knowing a whole lot about Linux had to Google it, install it, set it up. Everything was good.
Then she moved away (but not very far away). She wanted to install something on there, but she couldn't do it. I think it was Skype. The program has a deb on their website to download, but she knew nothing about using the terminal to install the deb (even though I showed her).
Then there were tons of media file problems. Hard times playing WMV files. Hard times playing this and that format. Xine would have problems on some files. She wanted to play DVD's on your DVD-rom drive, but she couldn't. Then there were sound issues where some programs wouldn't have sound output or programs that you could use to record like LMMS or Audacity wouldn't record or playback sound.
I think Ubuntu is going in the right direction, but I get the feeling that Linux still has a bit further to go before it can really hit the masses, the regular desktop users, and the grandma or grandpa users. - MonkeyFit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I mainly use Windows, because I know Windows and am getting to the point where i can bitchsmack it and make it do what I want all the time (I have some trouble occasionally, but it's usually related to programs and not Windows itself). I got Windows configured the way I wanted and then got bored. So I tried to challenge myself by doing stupid things like move the Program Files folder to a different drive. A long overdue reinstall later and it was time to install Linux. It gave me something to tinker with that I could break with no worries, and once I learn how to manhandle it, it might become my primary OS of choice. The only reason to keep Windows around would be for friends who come over to use my computer, games, and some other minor uses that Windows performs better than Linux.
- dragulaaeop, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I guess this is were someone comes in and says "you must be a windows user"
- searayman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I am an avid apple user and am becoming an avid linux user, i have a few Apple computers and a few old pc's that I am changing all the PC's to linux just becuase i dont like microsoft at all.
- ScoTTeh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6It really depends what you run on Linux and how tech savvy the user is. A number of daemons have well documented exploits, but by default Linux normally doesnt come with these installed. Most Linux users are also not stupid enough to run software that appears in there email attachments from unknown sources or with executable extentions (assuming a linux virus got mailed to the user and not that linux binarys normally have an extention). I agree that Linux is more secure than Windows, but the recent Mac OSX nasties that have been floating around proove that the weakest link for even the most secure system is the user.
- ForbesBingley, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6With all the good intentions in the world, I simply cannot come to terms with Linux.
Three times I've tried over the years, and three times I've been for forced to flee in horror from the horror that is the various user interfaces, such that they are.
I've no doubt untold power lurks beneath the spurious exterior, but I'll be damned if I can get to it.
I admit that I'm a user interface whore, so nothing but pure idiot-proof simplicity will do. But then, that doesn't set me apart, that puts me among a significant majority who expect the very same.
By any stretch of the imagination, neither Gnome or KDE come anywhere near even rudimentary simplicity.
The thing is, I'm not alone, here. There are a number of reasons the big ISV's won't touch Linux, but one of those reasons is the user interface. It's a mess and if my experiences are anything to go by, it's also a moving target. Much more so than either Windows or Mac OS X, which both have their own momentum right now.
Maybe in another 5 years, Linux will be ready for me to give it another look... - sharkscott, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Zero of which are found on my computer :-)
- rexxars, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I like Linux too. I just wish more companies made linux versions of their games. I might switch entirely. I don't have and don't like consoles, so the PC is my only place to play games.
- jellomizer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I would say some of the Mac users are like that. But most of them I met fall into some of these categories.
1. They had Windows, and they were sick of it breaking all the time, so they tried Macs and they are happy
2. (Which includes myself) Used Linux for a long time (Started in 1994) then switched (2002) when OS X came out where it had a good Unix command line but I didn't have to struggle for desktop tasks, Like burring a CD, Adding USB equipment, having Office and Photoshop is just a plus. (I myself still use and recommend Linux for a lot of tasks, including making Affordable Appliance systems, and servers. but for desktop while the GUI is Good there are still a lot of gotcha that the Mac just handles a lot better.
3. People who like the look of the Apple computers. These are people who just like the way they look and they buy it, they are not looking for price, performance, etc... They just want one that looks good. (Kinda like in Legally blond where the main character bought herself a Pink iBook) - worthawholebean, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7You must be a Windows User.
- worthawholebean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'm an Apple/Linux user. And a happy one at that.
- Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5People in here have a totally different perspective on OSs than the majority of users.
the VAST Majority of users do not want "total control" of their OS.
They do not want Viruses/spyware
They do want a handful of well known software, Office, PhotoShop, etc that is EASY to install.
They are NOT hardcore gamers
They DO want common media tasks to work "out of the box"
They DO want easy software for managing music and photos "out of the box"
They NEVER upgrade their hardware.
So what system does all of that?
Here is a hint; It isn't Linux, and it isn't Windows.
The problem is most of them either just do what their friends do, or they listen to propeller-heads who try to talk them into Linux solutions. - dupS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I agree with linsys. When i sit down at a *nix machine, i can get right to work. i know where all the files i need are, and i know that if i cant figure something out help is only a man page away. I think that windows is great, but some people have more of an intuitive nature, they ask why and how does this work, and these are the people who use linux. They enjoy the freedom to change any part of their system because they want to. Most users though, as previously stated, don't need the full control that linux offers, so they are fine with Windows or Mac Os X.
My two cents...dupS - linnerd40, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I am an avid Linux user but still keep Windows on my second hard drive because of gaming and some apps that don't run on Linux. I find Linux is fun, challenging, and different! That is why I like it. I only us Windows about 5% of the time. The other 95% is spent using Linux trying to do anything I can (especially stuff I can't do with Windows). I also LOVE the customization that can be done with Linux. There is sooo much cool stuff out there that Windows just doesn't expose you to. Simply put, I love Linux.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It is not that Microsoft makes your hardware work, it is the stubbornness of hardware vendors to make Windows only drivers. If vendors suddenly would only make Linux drivers, then Windows would be in a much worse position then Linux is now with hardware support. Because there is no immense Windows community of expert hackers who would reverse engineer the hardware to create drivers.
- toddbu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I think that this is good news for Linux. At different times in my life, I've been a member of groups that are anti-something, and in every case they've fallen apart as members lose their zeal for the cause. I personally like the fact that some elements of Linux have become more Microsoft-like because then it's easier to sell somebody like my mom on this technology. On the flip side, I was disappointed recently to see that Linux Journal has been openly ranting on anyone who wants to make Linux look like Windows. To me, it's more about making something better than the other guy than doing it differently.
- diggnationdevon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Well, I don't like it.
- Aleks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Edgar Stiles did like Linux but he's dead now :(
http://brianedgar.ytmnd.com/ - Phoenyx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2...and maybe some of that extra time is gained by not doing menial stuff (e.g. poking around the internet trying to find installers or updates)
apt-get install (software name) from the command line and away you go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Packaging_Tool - mianos, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Diggety dug. I loved statistic regarding mac users not knowing much about linux but disliking it anyway.
- toddbu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"So I tried to challenge myself by doing stupid things like move the Program Files folder to a different drive."
It's funny you should mention this, because one of many reasons to love Linux is the lack of drive letters. I can't tell you how many times I partitioned drives in Windows only to need a different scheme later, and then I'd have to rebuilt everything because the drive letters were different. There are some ways to work around this problem using subst, but it's really an ugly hack. There's something really beautiful about the way *nix handles the file system. AFAIK, Windows can't do anything like /proc or /dev, and shared memory requires access to APIs rather than reading/writing /dev/shm. And how cool is it to mount -o loop? - echimu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Freedom – to see code, to modify code
Money comes later but free software are always good (like sex) ;) - BrianPeppers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hahaha!! I'm in that YTMND... Thats total class!!
- whiteguysamurai, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4At least 2/3 people in this camp agree on one thing....
Linux users have way too much time on their hands.
Only sort of kidding, not a fan of compiling. - peace, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4because people like underdog, especially a good dog that doesn't bite.
- aphexairlines, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You don't have to rely on apt repositories. Autopackage is fine:
http://autopackage.org/ - danpsmith, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I don't like linux cuz it's anti-microsoft or anything like this. I like the spirit of the movement. Linux to me is more about open source, about sharing, about making a product for the point of accomplishing a goal instead of making money. It's about providing a legacy through your own code. Giving your code to others in hopes that if you fail to maintain it, if it is useful, it will continue on through someone else's keystrokes. I don't like Mac for the same reasons I don't like Windows, it's close-sourced. Also, I don't wanna have to buy Mac hardware. The only downside of linux is that nothing just works. Microsoft has a knack of making anything you have work somehow. Driver support is key.
- aphexairlines, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I don't understand your gf's story: Skype releases a compressed archive that she can just click and run, and so does Firefox.
And I don't think you get a DVD player in a Windows CD either... - kabz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2One of the more annoying problems in Linux is display configuration.
However, Ubuntu GNU/Linux seems to have some software that does a pretty good job of configuring the X configuration file prior to X actually starting. I think Ubuntu needs a bit of a speed kick as my install on QEMU seemed a tad sluggish compared with Windows XP in the same emulator. - DoctorShim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Here's what I have to say: I like Linux because I can play with it, and the support is great. I just recently fell in love with Gentoo, it's excellent. I like Windows because I can *use* it. When I want to play with my computer, I use Linux; when I want to get work done I use Windows.
I don't believe Microsoft is evil, that's just silly. Sun, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Logitech, you name it! They're all mean. Any of them would lay-off 5,000 employees or sell your private information without flinching. I use what I use because I can and I want to.
Whatever twaddles your tweedle, people! Surveys, viruses, bugs, nor security holes will keep me from using Windows. Compiling my own kernel, reading source code, hunting for tarballs, nor spending lots of time mucking around will keep me from using Linux. - whiteguysamurai, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4AMEN!
- KoZo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5i use linux because it feels geeky! ha!
- QettoE, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Linux is not an OS you can learn in one day. Same goes for Windows if you want to start it from scratch... I'm an IT administrator of a 500 user company (100% Windows OS except my workstation which is running Kubuntu Linux) and by far I can move 400 of them to Linux overnight without them bitching. Reason? Because they don't know anything about Windows and have no desire to learn it inside out. They don't care as long as they can run office, get their emails and surf the internet.
Again, if you don't plan to learn Linux inside out then there will be no difference between the two OS. Of course Windows has better multimedia support (at this point) but Linux will catch up in a few years. - simpletim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Couldn't have said it better. I want to use *nix so bad but I just don't feel like anyone is talking to me. I feel like it's a lot of programmers talking to programmers. I don't know code, I don't know CLI. I love to install and uninstall programs just to check them out and with linux, even ubuntu, this is so much more difficult. I would love to shed my windows, but I just can't.
- whiteguysamurai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ok, that's cool....
Why aren't ALL distros using a prepackaged installer, wtf would someone want to do it the hard way? - Killerah, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I love it how people negative dugg your comment where you said "oops" probably because you put that in the wrong place, but they loved your out of place comment!
- Edogz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"the only turn- off is that its just a command line!!! that sucks..."
That's not quite true. Although much of Linux may exist on a command line, the most popular desktop approach is using a graphical window manager. There are many window managers for Linux that interact with the kernel.
Go ahead and search for it.
Anyways, I found this article to have quite interesting results, I enjoyed it! - rockmanac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Mac user here who also has 2 Ubuntu boxes running - 1 is a desktop machine I use as a secondary machine to the Powerbook and the other is a back-up machine to which I rsync my home folder. (Hey, even though Macs are super reliable, you never know when a HD will fail, trust me, it's happened once!)
-A - miaow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this could be the answer to my conundrum
-
Show 51 - 100 of 104 discussions
Browsing Digg on your phone just got easier with our enhancements to the 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is