What is Digg?731 Comments
- holyskeleton, on 04/14/2008, -36/+202i use vista just so i can piss you off.
- Roger, on 04/14/2008, -36/+190Another week, another "why use linux?" article.
- crump199, on 04/14/2008, -9/+121I use pen and paper because it's more stable.
- ritzcracker, on 04/14/2008, -21/+118I use windows because i like video games.
- Salviati, on 04/14/2008, -15/+89Your analogy doesn't really explain the benefit of swimming in a cold lake. If I may expand it a bit...
Mac is like a beach with a paranoid lifeguard. Everything looks pretty from the shore, and you can even wade in a bit. But your not allowed to go too deep. And Lifeguard Steve really doesn't like those who break the rules.
Windows is like the public kiddie pool. You can float around, and maybe even swim a little, but there are all these little annoying buggers who keep getting in your way. You always have to keep an eye on your stuff to make sure it is secure, and despite the little cleaning system, deep down you know what you're really swimming in.
Linux is like a Scuba diver. It takes a little training, but once you know what you're doing, you are free to go as deep as you want. There are few limits, and there is a large community of other divers who are anxious to help you out. - lukas88, on 04/14/2008, -9/+83Most linux users I know, including myself, enjoy it because it offers an extra challenge. Stray from the beaten path (your distro and pre-installed software) and you can wander into no man's land very fast.
Linux will never be the most popular precisely because most people see computer issues as a huge pain in the ass and something to be avoided at all costs, not an interesting puzzle to overcome. It is dumb to try and convince people that they will have the same functionality if they install linux without needing to learn a whole new set of rules.
As soon as you realize that your OS doesn't make you special and that you really can no longer relate to the average computer user, getting other people to try linux seems a whole lot less important. - dawnraid101, on 04/14/2008, -7/+66I use Windows 95 becuase it has a funky teal background.
- stupidStan, on 04/14/2008, -8/+52Digg has seen enough of these, it is reaching the same people who either don't care, or already have a linux fetish.
- daftman, on 04/14/2008, -6/+41My mother-in-law has never touched a computer. Now she know how to use Firefox to watch youtube, Totem to watch dvd. So may be it might not be user friendly to you but, for a person who never used windows, it's pretty damn easy to use.
> need to build apps from Source code,
Nobody does that anymore since 2004
> repositories
Using repo is easier than installing from web browser - daftman, on 04/14/2008, -22/+53reported!
- emotecontrol, on 04/14/2008, -14/+43No distro of Linux is anywhere near ready for the public. There's still too much mucking around in the command line. You want help in Mac or Windows? You click the help icon and get an explanation of what to do. What to do consists of opening a window and changing a setting. You want help in Linux? Well you can go to a messageboard and post a question. Maybe within a week someone will get back to you and misunderstand what your problem is. If you can find your question in the messageboard again to check if there is an answer, you might find that someone has responded with a supplemental question that assumes that you have a working knowledge of Unix. If there is in fact a solution to your problem (and it's entirely likely that it's on some coder's list of things to do by 2009), it will likely consist of you opening up the command prompt and typing "sudo 50 lines of text", not having any clue what you're doing, and possibly changing something that will screw up your software in ways that you could previously only imagine.
Linux is a cute thing to install on your old computer so you can play Supertux, but it's got a long way to go before it can compete with polished, full-featured user-friendly operating systems like those offered by Apple and Microsoft. Hell, how long ago was it that you couldn't even watch a DVD on Linux?
Granted, it can do internet browsing and email just fine. So perhaps your grandmother might like it, since she'll never need to run anything more complicated than that. But when something goes wrong, I don't want to be the one who has to fix it.
Finally, the author of this article suggests that he finds operating MS Windows to be difficult. My three-year old can use Windows. It's easy. What the hell is wrong with this guy? - daftman, on 04/14/2008, -7/+34"Is ZeRux being offensive? Report it"
- Gamer2k4, on 04/14/2008, -2/+29"Despite my best efforts, I was unable to move the other side past the rhetoric and myths that seem to surround Linux."
Of course, then he uses the "Windows random BSOD" argument at the end as a reason to switch to Linux. Windows NEVER BSODs on me, and I find it hard to believe that it's that common of a problem for the average user (eg, people who don't do stupid things like deleting system files and the like). The same goes for viruses and spyware. Just download one or two free programs like Avast! and they aren't a problem anymore. - credence, on 04/14/2008, -0/+25I use a magnetized pin and a very steady hand.
- DannyB, on 04/14/2008, -5/+30Wow, another Linux article with no new insight, just the same regurgitated crap I've seen over and over again, listing all the advantages of Linux and myths. Here's a little tipper: Most of the myths are true, that's why the myths came to be in the first place.
And before you go bashing me, I'm running Linux right now. I just hate these stupid articles. Don't use Linux to be trendy, don't use Linux to think you'll score more points with the ladies, don't say you're using it because "it's open source duude!", as if you sit there and inspect/improve every piece of software you install.
When I installed Ubuntu 7.10, guess how long it took for me to get dual monitors working with Compiz? ***** 3 hours. Want to know why? Because the built-in xconf editor sucks my ass, so I had to spend hours looking through the Ubuntu forums for proper configuration settings.
And the one thing that pisses me off the most about Linux is that i hold my breathe every time I install or update my system, because it seems the most random change of your system puts it in PMS mode, and is subject to lock-ups and error messages for no apparent reason.
But, it works for the most part, does what I need it to, better than Windows, so thats all matters in my book. - ToadLeg, on 04/14/2008, -4/+28"Hitler used Windows to kill Jews ...etc..."
Is that funny? No. - repick3, on 04/14/2008, -11/+34There are a lot of "Why use Linux" lists around these days, but this one is particularly well written.
Switching to Linux is like going swimming in a cold lake. It may seem like you are going to freeze your ass off and die of hypothermia, but once you get in the water and are swimming around it's not so bad. - amoeba, on 04/14/2008, -3/+26I use Linux because it's fun.
- septicmadman, on 04/14/2008, -2/+24You are a very intelligent fellow, I believe without your input I would have missed that, good sir.
- crump199, on 04/14/2008, -3/+25Thanks for explaining the joke for me!
I really need it, ever since the head injury. - Kamujin, on 04/14/2008, -3/+25Poor article using the same BS FUD against window that Linux users complain is used against them.
Why to use Linux?
Simple, the OS is mature, stable, and should be made a commodity to allow humans to move on to other more lofty computing goals. Linux is leading OS that offers the kind of standards support capable of achieving this.
Both Windows and OS X are too tightly controlled by self interested companies to be suitable for this purpose. I am not making a moral judgment here, just stating a fact. - etherreal, on 04/14/2008, -20/+41Reasons not to use Linux:
Because I dont need to.
Everytime I decide I want to learn Linux, I start going through the motions and remember why I didnt give a ***** in the first place. Linux has a lot of value in a lot of ways, but in terms of using it for common use on the desktop...no thanks. I guess I am unlucky enough that it never wants to run on my hardware......
Ubuntu: Failed.
Kubuntu: Failed.
Red Hat: Failed.
Vista: Success.
XP: Success. - BlueSkyfish, on 04/14/2008, -9/+30I use Windows ME because it's more stable than all of them.
- inactive, on 04/14/2008, -19/+39Linux needs a boost.
It has great potential and too little attention. - Quakes, on 04/14/2008, -5/+24... A "few tweaks" that a non-experienced user would not have the faintest clue on how to make.
Don't get me wrong. I love Linux. But the hardware thing is definitely not a myth. - KhaaL, on 04/14/2008, -0/+19I use OS/2 because I've been stuck in a basement for the last decade.
- inactive, on 04/14/2008, -10/+28I use XP so I can laugh when your system lags.
- theaceoffire, on 04/14/2008, -1/+19Or that something else might be fun/useful/interesting.
For example, if I chose to go golfing instead of fishing, it doesn't mean that I was wrong to fish yesterday. - inactive, on 04/14/2008, -38/+56Linux is NOT user friendly yet (to the non savy that is), dumb it down to Windows level and then I see a chance in the Desktop market. Most people I know don't even know how to add/delete programs for their Windows PC and you expect them to switch to Linux where they need to build apps from Source code, and deal with repositories? Come on.....
And yes I use GNU/Linux (Debian distro) mostly because I enjoy exploring and changing the Kernel, and reading code from others. - 22magnum, on 04/14/2008, -10/+27I use Linux because I like my computer to do what I want it to do.
- inactive, on 04/14/2008, -3/+20Yeah yeah .. Those were the Linux-pro's .. Can we please have the "10 reasons NOT to use Linux" now? ..
- forgiste, on 04/14/2008, -4/+20but it wasn't funny... at all... Not only that that's Godwin's Law in the first comment!
- DiscoLando, on 04/14/2008, -1/+17Sorry, GIMP just doesn't hold a candle to Photoshop, especially for professional color separated printing. FOSS advocates forget that just because an application is free, does not automatically mean it is *better*.
- inactive, on 04/14/2008, -2/+17I switched to linux for a short while, until I realised that for me, personally, it held no avantages at all, yet it held some small disadvantages.
- HaloZero, on 04/14/2008, -0/+15The only time I've had a BSOD was when I had faulty RAM. Bad RAM + any OS = bad bad bad.
- OrangeSoda31, on 04/14/2008, -3/+18I use XP pro because I am a pirate!
- ReFracture, on 04/14/2008, -4/+19I'm a gamer, thats all there is to it.
Cedega and Wine cannot run games on linux at the same level of performance as Windows it's self.
I like ubuntu, I really do, but not so much I'd sacrifice compatibility and performance in my games.
I just want to install it, and have it work. Updating a driver is a lot less of a pain in the ass than fiddling with Wine's settings. - employeeno5, on 04/14/2008, -0/+14I've only been using Linux for 6 months. I'm not a IT guy or a coder or anything other than a general computer user who's always had an interest in technology. The support I found was fantastic. It's unfortunately true that you see too much of what you described.
I though always found comprehensive answers that had a goal of not just answer my questions/solving my problems, but in making sure that I really did understand what was going. For the record it was the Ubuntu forums that I got that from. I'm skeptical of anything with allot of hype but Ubuntu was a distro that really did seem to have the most active and receptive community.
That has meant that my knowledge of and skill at navigating around Linux and using it to my own ends has expanded greatly, very quickly.
So yes, there can be a learning curve depending on your previous knowledge or how deep you want to get into it, but that also isn't necessarily the case. I have a sister and a friend running Linux who both have no interest in computers (outside of just using them) who have had no problem (and have even preferred) using Linux over Windows for things like email, web browsing, writing office documents, graphing math projects, listening to music and managing ipods. They haven't needed a lick of help from anybody. I just needed an hour to install it and make sure things were running correctly.
Linux is a seriously excellent option for many people. For many it isn't though so it's also so it's great that people can buy Windows or an Apple product. However, really not enough people know hows, whats and whys of Linux and think it is great there's articles out there like this.
You could argue well that there's maybe been too many of these articles on nerdy places like Digg, but for better or worse that's the nature of Digg if people are voting for it.
At least it's not as bald-face stupid as some of the stuff that comes up over and over and over again on this site.
If you don't like the Linux articles on Digg, don't read them or even bury them if you actively dislike it that much. I don't see how they're a real problem though, or somehow being deceitful or damaging. At the end of the day Linux has never done anything but help people who need it for either technological or even finacial reasons.
The only people it might be a problem for is a bored college student who already owns Windows, or OS X and tries it just for fun and ends up a with a frustrated weekend. - bagboyrebel, on 04/14/2008, -2/+15Godwin's law...in a linux story.
- crichton101, on 04/14/2008, -4/+17Good article but I can see the point of view of people as far as myth 4 goes. If I walk into a store, between all of the various programs(dvd burning, movie editing, office & home and gardening) and all of the games available, how many will actually work right out of the box? Sure there are some equivalent programs but gimp really doesn't compare to photoshop. And not many of the top games run Linux. Sure I could download wine but even then I may still have to try and find a work around, and I'm still not guarrenteed that games or apps will work. Point is by switching to Linux, something I want to do by the way, you do lose access to a fair amount of commercial products that do not have same quality equivalents on Linux. until better portability and/or more more companies open up their products to being Linux compatible this will be a stickler for many folks.
- Zaggynl, on 04/14/2008, -3/+16 The average game player is 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
Having fun is immature? Oh please. - Ouze, on 04/14/2008, -1/+14Excuse me, but real programmers use butterflies.
- charlie55, on 04/14/2008, -2/+15people who get into heated debates about OSs are losers.
- Zemnexx, on 04/14/2008, -1/+14If your a gamer, then Linux is not in your favor. There are games for Linux and are compatible with Linux but not near as much as Windows, there are also alot of games that are only for Windows, and I think there are apps that help to make windows games run on Linux and Virtual Machines to run Windows under Linux but there are bound to be problems with different games and incompatibilities, so if your a gamer, than windows is probably your best bet, I am by no means attacking Linux even thought my comment is in favor of windows. I have not personally tried Linux but I hear it is a great OS and is definitely worth a shot so don't just lock yourself up to windows, explore a little and see whats right for you.
- digitalpencil, on 04/14/2008, -4/+16I'm can't believe i'm still here continuing to debate this with you retards..
It Was A Joke!! A really crappy joke that wasn't very funny, that's why I hit the bury button. But it was far from offensive..
Is Hitler now Voldemort? I mean should we start referring to him as 'DictatorWhoMustNotBeNamed'?!? The guy made a crappy joke and you've blown it way out of proportion, it was blatantly obvious that he didn't mean any offense and you're wasting admins time in reporting the unfunny sap.
So whatever, you want someone to report, report me for calling you all 'retarded, over-sensitive, time-wasting pricks'. - OneLess, on 04/14/2008, -1/+13Talking to yourself through Digg comments is a worrisome sign of mental illness.
- DiscoLando, on 04/14/2008, -1/+13If someone can convince Adobe to release a native Linux version of Photoshop CS3, I'll switch in a heartbeat.
- charlie55, on 04/14/2008, -8/+20windows is more compatible with the rest of the world using windows.
since win2000, windows has been far more stable, and rarely crashes.
games
it can be hard to install things on linux. i tried to install JRE on ubuntu and it was murder
only idiots get viruses -
Show 51 - 100 of 728 discussions
The Digg Toolbar for Firefox lets you Digg, submit content, and keep track of Digg even when you're not on the Digg site. Download the official 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is