Why use Linux?

Rhys · 5 Jul 2007 at 12:07

I have just tried for the second time to use Linux. I installed Ubuntu which I read was user friendly. Previously i tried Opensuse.

I have now come to the conclusion that any Linux application is just too complicated for me. Why on earth ado I have to type in commands to install stuff?! Linux has a lonnnnng way to go before it replaces Windows for 99% of the population.

Rhys · 5 Jul 2007 at 13:08

The point is to make Linux the best OS that the community is capable of making. Not for other people: For itself. The oh-so-common threats of "Linux will never take over the desktop unless it does such-and-such" are simply irrelevant: The Linux community isn't trying to take over the desktop. They really don't care if it gets good enough to make it onto your desktop, so long as it stays good enough to remain on theirs. The highly-vocal MS-haters, pro-Linux zealots, and money-making FOSS purveyors might be loud, but they're still minorities.

That was a good article. The above sums it up.

Rhys · 5 Jul 2007 at 13:25

Im running it on VMware and I cant get the media player on it to play a wmv. Its so frustrating.

Rhys · 5 Jul 2007 at 14:25

I will give it a go tonight and see. I think my problem is Im coming at it with Windows eyes and it all looks wrong.

Rhys · 5 Jul 2007 at 15:21

Bes said:
Why use linux?

It's MUCH faster & lighter
More stable
Prettier
More customisable
Free
Far far more secure

It just feels 'right' to me

<3 Arch

* Its no faster in my (limited) experience
* Windows XP is stable enough for me
* XP is pretty enough
* Dont want to custom it
* I doubt its far more secure than XP with relevant security apps.

I read a lot of comments like yours which made me investigate it. But as I found from my experiece its not much fun working it out, it isnt revolutionary in any way and Linux is still for geeks which is the way they want it.

Rhys · 6 Jul 2007 at 09:56

What did you install
Ububtu. Im now trying Mandriva 2007 Spring which Ive read is close to a Windows experience.

Well if you don't want to customise it, why are you using Linux?
Because linux is hyped as an "free" alternative to Windows and I want to see what its like and then hopefully enjoy it and then start using it.

Rhys · 6 Jul 2007 at 12:13

Just installed Mandriva 2007 Spring Powerpack with Gnome desktop. This is more like it

Divx works straight away, Internet works, etc. I havent had to type any commands in either!

This is a realistic alternative to Windows for me. Although Mandriva isnt free.

EDIT - just found out that WMV doesnt work. Ive googled it and am finding stuff out. therefore to answer my original question:- because you can...

Rhys · 9 Jul 2007 at 09:33

SiriusB said:
I have come to absolutely love it and Ubuntu is now my primary OS on my main rig.

Im curious to know why you love it.

Rhys · 9 Jul 2007 at 12:35

M0KUJ1N said:
Why, he seemed to explain why he likes it pretty well in his original post. Or are you just trolling now

Im not trolling (if i understand the term correctly).

He didnt say specifically why he loved Linux. Everything he mentioned Windows can do.

I started this thread to try and see if I was missing something when I was thinking Linux is hard to use and offers nothing extra than Windows. I am genuinely curious to see why people use Linux over Windows other than the fact that a)they can b)the kudos.

edit - I now have Mandriva 2007 Spring installed on a VM machine and am testing it out that way. Im sure Ill get to a point where Im happy on using it.

Rhys · 11 Jul 2007 at 17:24

Just to report that I have found Mint. Its an offshoot of Ubuntu except its got the main media codecs. Im finding that this is probably the most user friendly and Windows-esque of what Ive looked at so far. Id recommend this for "noobs". like myself. Its also totally free

Also Ive found Puppy Linux which Im going to try on some older machines.