Why do you use Linux?

theheyes · 12 Jul 2009 at 15:17

steve-h said:
1. How does Windows limit you?

No more than 10 concurrent connections to shares, limited number of physical cpus. Basically a lot of the things that distinguish the workstation versions from the server versions. There are other examples, for instance while I was looking into nmap for Windows I found out that MS had removed support for TCP over raw sockets in XP SP2 for no real reason. So there we have a cross-platform tool that is less functional on Windows through an artificial limitation.

Also, please don't assume I just meant Windows. OSX is probably the king of articifical limitation.

2. Torrents, they're the future.

By easily acquire, I mean easy access to legitimate copies. As far as I know Microsoft don't offer a general download version of Windows. I know there are student editions that you can download, but even these aren't a straightforward disc image.

3. I'll give you the malware point... however i've run windows all my pc-life and have never had these problems everyone else seems to have :/

I don't forget about malware altogether, but with Linux it certainly takes a back seat. I have clamAV to do the occasional system scan but it's mainly there to scan unknown usb sticks, downloads and attachments that may have come from/go back to Windows environments. As long as I download from the repository and keep my software up to date I'm quite confident I'll be fine with Linux. With Windows on the other hand I feel the need to have a real-time anti-virus product as standard to deal with files other people give me.

Also, don't take it as a dig at Microsoft/Windows. I'm typing this on a MacBook with Vista installed of all things and I work in a Server2003/XP environment and like using Windows. I'd be lying if said Linux was perfect, but it does give you options Windows doesn't.

steve-h · 12 Jul 2009 at 15:58

some good points there buddy

sorry for going offtopic there

i use linux (on my laptop)... well to learn about linux, xubuntu currently, switching to arch in the next half hour

zetec452 · 12 Jul 2009 at 17:19

I pretty much use linux because its interesting and I need to know it for work. I'm still a fan of Windows and tend to have my laptop running from form of Linux with my main PC running Visa / W7.

zinc · 12 Jul 2009 at 17:58

I use Linux for my main desktop and my laptop.

My reasons:

1. Performance - It boots up insanely fast. I have my desktop machine running on a ssd

. In my expierence I find overtime windows just gets slower and slower. However on Linux I find it just as fast as the day I installed it.

2. Customisation - I get bored with the same look and effects all the time so I love that I can completly customise and tweak everything from the icons to the ms of effects

3. Media server - I keep all my music and videos in one place. I have a DAAP share (Sometimes called iTunes share) to stream and sync music between all my computers and a samba share for the videos.

4. Web development - I do all my web development on it, it has everything I need!

5. GnomeDo - Not a specific reason why I use Linux as windows and osx have dock launchers, but I just love gnomeDo in the docky theme

Overall Linux has everything I need, most of which is installed straight from a clean install.

zetec452 · 12 Jul 2009 at 18:41

zinc said:
I use Linux for my main desktop and my laptop.

My reasons:

1. Performance - It boots up insanely fast. I have my desktop machine running on a ssd . In my expierence I find overtime windows just gets slower and slower. However on Linux I find it just as fast as the day I installed it.

Slightly off topic. How is Linux with SSD? I assume you have had no problems?

dangerstat · 12 Jul 2009 at 18:42

steve-h said:
whats the problem with the password security handling exactly?

I wasn't saying there is one, what I was pointing out is that with a Linux OS you can change it, and in Windows?

Whilst most might be happy with browsing the web, accessing headbook and sending a few emails, if you really want full control over your OS only those with free source code are an option

zinc · 12 Jul 2009 at 19:45

JonRohan said:
Slightly off topic. How is Linux with SSD? I assume you have had no problems?

Its been great so far, I've been running ubuntu 9.04 on a vertex 30gb for over a month now and had absolutely no problems. I just got a new build and I just went for it even though I heard there is no native trim support for SSDs in linux. I also made sure I got a board that plays well with linux and ssd so I got a Asus rampage II Gene. Everything worked out of the box in ubuntu 9.04.

The boot up time and speed of opening applications is amazing. :eek:

dangerstat · 12 Jul 2009 at 19:55

zinc said:
Its been great so far, I've been running ubuntu 9.04 on a vertex 30gb for over a month now and had absolutely no problems. I just got a new build and I just went for it even though I heard there is no native trim support for SSDs in linux. I also made sure I got a board that plays well with linux and ssd so I got a Asus rampage II Gene. Everything worked out of the box in ubuntu 9.04.

The boot up time and speed of opening applications is amazing.

Going to get myself an SSD this month for Linux use, good to hear there are no problems

RadoX · 12 Jul 2009 at 23:56

main reason i use it is because its going to be main stream in 5 - 10 years for the desktop user. there are two things holding it back currently witch are M$ office due to its usage everywhere and gaming. openoffice is doing a good job and as for gaming its abit of a :/ at the time.

edit:// photoshop also.

cb_linus · 13 Jul 2009 at 17:45

I use it it (or will again once I build my new desktop) because it's fun, it's very customisable and doesn't hold my hand when I want to go off and explore how the os works - the Linux community is tremendously helpful too so it's not like I'm lost or too baffled when I have a problem

Linux also provides a better platform for me for what I want an os to do than Windows or OSX (which I am using right now), for example the ease of software installation and keeping up-to-dateness, a single command used to up date the software on my old Gentoo installation (ok, occasionally I may have had to trouble shoot, but I'm the sort of person who likes that, and runs ebuilds not always marked as 'stable').

I admit there are advantages to other os's too - no native Photoshop in Linux, but it's not something I personally require. I would like to see more gaming support though, but I'm happy enough to play on a console for the most part

Illusion · 13 Jul 2009 at 19:44

I began using it on my PC at work as it allows so much more flexibilty for what I need.

BASH command line, shell scripting, simple things like being able to ssh around and scp etc without using Putty or some other slow and painful Windows app.

Basically Linux is so much more powerful for me in a technical environment. I could never go back to Windows in my job.

I do however continue to use Vista on my personal laptop for general things like web browsing, music, photos etc with Linux dual booting for whenver I need to do something work related.

memyselfandi · 13 Jul 2009 at 21:22

Flexibility first and foremost. I can make it do what I want, when I want. At home I use it on my servers mostly with other OS's on laptops/PCs.

But I'm a commercial Unix technical specialist by trade so I'm used to the concepts involved in running a Unix-like system.

Rich43 · 13 Jul 2009 at 22:25

Its better for productivity, windows is just a xbox 360

Kriist · 14 Jul 2009 at 06:38

Rich43 said:
Its better for productivity, windows is just a xbox 360

back that up?
windows = software
xbox360 = hardware :S

Outcast · 14 Jul 2009 at 17:02

Why do I use Linux ?

Because lots of the Kewl peeps from the C= Era moved over to the TuX and as such, The Kewl factor went with them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZoLphdE7l8&feature=player_embedded

Rich43 · 14 Jul 2009 at 17:11

Kriist said:
back that up?
windows = software
xbox360 = hardware :S

I mean, Windows is good as a gaming OS (until Wine and other stuff on Linux gets better), I just treat it as games console and fill it up with games and boot Linux when I need to do some serious productivity. You can put a extra hard drive in your pc for next to nothing nowadays and have both OS's.

RavenLunatic · 17 Jul 2009 at 19:40

I use Ubuntu in a Virtual machine for my e-mail, torrents and Open office under Windows Vista x64. Linux still has a long way to go before I would adopt it as a main OS.

Napaim · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:47

Because it's much faster to get things done, as well as being a far superior development environment to windows!

VirtualAdept · 18 Jul 2009 at 00:53

I use it for the lolz and the chicks...

no, seriously, I like how secure it is against virii. As said above, windows is easier to game on but since my machine is a heap of donkey turd, I dont need that so stick with mint.

Skree · 18 Jul 2009 at 01:08

i use linux to add further justification to my claim (and plain fact) that i'm better than everyone else.

e2a:

hehe.. nah. For low power stuff - i must be one of very, very few members here still with two sub-1ghz systems in daily use.. a 900mhz duron laptop, and a p2-350. Still got my old dual p2 and a P233mmx rigs in pieces in the spares box - I AM KLEPTONERD IV.