Why do you want to try Linux?

[thewheelman]

I'm curious as to why many are trying Linux for the first time.

It is not like most are switching to actually learn Linux, since most will never use the command line or vi. In fact, it is only the development of GUI interfaces for Linux OS's, similar to Windows, that has people willing to try.

OS's like Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuse are only getting recommended because you do not need to learn the Linux basics. Learning IPTables, or network configuration, or setting up SAMBA does not happen by using the GUI. And if you think you are going to learn Solaris or Unix this way, guess again.

 

[Berlin]

After reading Woody's gazillion posts on it, I decided to try it last year. I purchased a net book ( and a second one after that , different brand ) which runs only on linux. Love it , does what I want it to do ...no regret.

My main concern was security. Now I use it for my financial stuff over the net.

I also have it on dual boot on my of my desktops for surfing purpose, when I am not using Mac.

And yes, as Woody says, it is free .

 

[terpene]

I'm curious as to why many are trying Linux for the first time.

It is not like most are switching to actually learn Linux, since most will never use the command line or vi. In fact, it is only the development of GUI interfaces for Linux OS's, similar to Windows, that has people willing to try.

OS's like Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuse are only getting recommended because you do not need to learn the Linux basics. Learning IPTables, or network configuration, or setting up SAMBA does not happen by using the GUI. And if you think you are going to learn Solaris or Unix this way, guess again.

This is like one of those questionnaires that political parties send. Phrased in such a way as to get the answer they want you to give! There are surely other reasons to want to use Linux...

Do you learn programming or computer languages by using Windows?

 

[Cassini]

There's no option for: Linux is my primary operating system on 5 different computers?

Seriously, if you are doing anything requiring computing power, Linux is the way to go. Windows can't be trusted without anti-virus, and anti-virus completely kills the speed of CPU and disk intensive applications. Linux also networks easily, and you can save 1000's of dollars in licensing when building a compute cluster.

 

[enyaw]

There are a few reasons, today's linux looks very similar to windoze. You have the gui, my computer, etc folders which make it easier to migrate. It is also way more user friendly than it used to be, in general. The security is comforting, no need to get antivirus etc. Your mach doesn't get bogged down with fragmented files over time because it's a journalized filesystem. Bells and whistles, music management, photo editing, media players etc. All thrown in with the OS, updates are almost instant in terms of security patches.

And it's a cheap man's Mac. LoL

 

[WoodPeckr]

My main concerns were viruses/security and cost.

I've known about Linux for years but just never got around to trying it out till ~3 years ago when XP which I really like, was being replaced by Vista. Then with all you heard was horror stories about Vista back then, I thought about finally giving Linux a try.

Now I just turn on the PC and run it, then leave it, as a PC was meant to be.

No more endless AV scans, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, Spysweeper, Malwarebytes scans to run. No registry to repair. No Defragging to do. No CCleaner to run.

Being M$ & Apple FREE is a pretty nice feeling to, since Linux is all FREE.

 

[The Options Menu]

My Linux use predates KDE 1.0 (98), and I switched to it as my primary desktop in 98, for a few years after I had Windows in a virtual machine but I nuked that to free up space around the turn of the millennium.

Those were the days! Hardware, pfft it worked with harddisks! Need decent desktop performance, simple patch and build your own kernel! Packages and package management was in it's earliest days.

Why'd I switch?
-It was interesting.
-Control.
-It was fine for programming. (Definitions of fine depending)
-Even then it had a lot of interesting apps and features.

and my number one reason? Building exotic home networks. If you wanted to put a computer in the closet with no monitor and no keyboard and 5 or 6 ethernet cards this was for you! With traffic management, prioritized file sharing, acting as a game server, to act as a staging box for websites, file and print server, etc...

edit: I'm a Debian / KDE partisan but it's really been amazing to see how far Linux has come sin oh say 96-7. You really can go wrong with (k)Ubuntu, Debian, Open Suse, Fedora, or Mandriva at this point. To see almost perfect hardware support, gorgeous GUIs, apps that kick the tar out of anything else (IMHO), and all built on top of the traditional strong points of *NIX... It really has been glorious.

 

[thewheelman]

This is like one of those questionnaires that political parties send. Phrased in such a way as to get the answer they want you to give! There are surely other reasons to want to use Linux...

Do you learn programming or computer languages by using Windows?

Yes it was a loaded question...on purpose though. Those who program or work with Linux are not the same as those who are just out to try something different. I'm curious about what is driving the typical home Windows user to try Linux. The basics of Linux has not really changed, just the usability for new users.

 

[WoodPeckr]

There are a few very simple basic Linux distros even easier than Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora. Linpus Light and Dam Small Linux are two. Dam Small Linux, is < 50 megs in size and gives you all you need to safely surf the web and is very easy to pickup and runs off a Live CD.

 

[The Options Menu]

There are a few very simple basic Linux distros even easier than Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora. Linpus Light and Dam Small Linux are two. Dam Small Linux, is < 50 megs in size and gives you all you need to safely surf the web and is very easy to pickup and runs off a Live CD.

The two best tools you'll ever have are a 'live' Linux distro and a large USB disk. If you're the guy who has to fix other people's junk use the live Linux + USB Disk to fetch and backup the data, run ClamAV on it, then pave the sucker... 9 out of 10 times it's quicker actually trying to fix Windows especially if you keep up to date versions of common downloadable Windows software on the USB Disk. (Just make sure you have the Vendor's restore stuff handy.)

 

[wollensak]

The Learning Factor

The greatest pleasure in my life comes from learning new skills. I love hands on learning. I'm more of a machine-head than a bit-head.

I would never have gotten into computers if not for GUI Linux. With Linux any old P3 becomes a learning experience. I have built machines of all kinds, from Slot 1, through P3s, Tualatins, Dual CPU, P4s, Athlons up to relatively new machines.

Linux is so hardware friendly you can debug almost any hardware problem.
It will support the oldest to the newest of machines. You can learn at your own pace. Linux will not trash or obsolete your computer like Windows will.
Combine Ubuntu with SCSI and those older machines really fly.

The only time I use Windows is for Photoshop. Having become used to first Mandriva and now Ubuntu, I avoid using Windows whenever possible.

The way Linux has opened up computers to everyone (that wants to learn) is a blessing and a small miracle.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Needless to say, I've never even considered possibility to use Vista.

Vista Premium came on my laptop.
After SP1 Vista ran better but never really had much problem with it before the little it was used. Vista file system seems too bloated compared to XP. Maybe was just so used to XP which I never really had any problems with.

The one thing I liked most about Vista was its nice 3D version of Chess.....
Other than that I prefer Linux now to both XP and Vista.
Haven't tried Windows 7 yet.