Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

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Bolle1961
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Bolle1961 »

Upating ;)
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killer de bug

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by killer de bug »

tdockery97 wrote:The top reason for me is the Windows updates. A little over 100 megabytes of updates would take an hour or more downloading, installing, rebooting, etc. Linux mint can download and install 400 MB of updates in 5 minutes with a good internet connection.
This morning I had to reboot to install updates at work. The day starts perfectly well...
This afternoon I got the popup again. Seriously guys???? :roll:
Fuzzy Penquin

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Fuzzy Penquin »

For me, Linux over Microsoft is because the UI is much more sane. Metro and tiles are stupid on anything that is not a tablet or phone. I also have an extreme amount of fun customising the look of my desktop with various themes, something I couldn't do in Windows (without paying Stardock, which I only learned existed after a year in Linux). And Windows always insisting on installing it's updates NOW and forcing a reboot while I'm in the middle of something, as well as taking 10 minutes or more to shut down or boot up because it has to load those updates....thus preventing me from being able to do anything for a long time (one hour was the longest I've experienced on Win7)....was maddening. I hated that so much. Of course, you can turn updates off, but then you are left vulnerable to bad things and nagged constantly about needing to turn updates on. Argh.

I like Linux better, in the end. It's stable and more fun. WinXP was fine and stable for me, never had problems and I liked it. But that computer had to donate parts to my husband's computer when his watercooling leaked and various bits caught fire. So end of XP right there (my new computer would end up with Mint). Win7 on my secondary hard drive is not stable for me and is very slow, and Win8 is horrible (although stable on my work laptop, so far). I have never had a virus or malware problem in all my years of Windows usage. Until I bought a Lenovo for work and found Superfish pre-installed by Lenovo. :evil: That seals it for me. Windows PC's come bundled with crapware (I've always known that, which is why I build my own desktops), but when they start coming pre-loaded with malware, I'm out! The whole point of buying a laptop all preconfigured is convenience of being able to boot and go right away. I shouldn't have to get a fresh copy of Windows (paying a second time), reformat my virgin factory-fresh laptop, and install a fresh Windows onto it & configure it, all before I can even safely use the thing. Defeats the purpose completely.

TL:DR
Linux over Microsoft EVERY time, for every reason.
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coffee412
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by coffee412 »

I run my own company and do a lot of I.T. work. I am a one man shop and need an operating system that is stable, Responsive and has a lot of tools for repairing software issues and testing hardware. Linux is the perfect operating system for something like that. I just finished a hardware/software upgrade to a client that bought 7 computers for their office with windows 7 pro 64. They needed MSOffice and Adobe Standard for their workers. I was amazed at the outlay of money to do just 7 computers and the software.

MSOffice is frickin expensive at 154.oo a computer.
Adobe Standard is 305.oo per user.
Antivirus? Lets add some more per year cost to that also.

So, You buy a computer with winX installed on it and what do you really have? A bunch of bloatware and no office software. But MS will rent it to you for xx amount a month or year. Oh, And when you do buy MSOffice they push you to create an account with them and you also get to go thru "Activation hell". The whole process of running windows makes me sick. My client is pretty pissed about the cost of the software in general. You can easily rap up about 500 bucks in software per computer in a office enviroment. That is sick!

With Linux Mint you install it and go. Everything comes with it that you need and if you want more its all available thru the software center. Also, You do not suffer from "Update hell". Can you imagine someone at - say a library or office - and they need to shut down their windows laptop because they have to leave for an appointment or catch a bus and you get the dreaded "DONT SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER -- UPDATING 1 OF 15". Also, Should your update fail then it has to either start removing updates or just lockup/crash.

IMHO, MS is just a major money pit. Its like buying a motor boat. You keep shoving money into it and never see a return on your investment. Then, You cannot even transfer the O/S or software to another computer according to the license.

Of course then you have all the virus/malware and spying on you - isnt that creepy?

I run linux. I have ran it for years and for the most part I am very happy except for some glitches that get fixed right away and you do not have to wait forever for a fix. I have to run windows for my business so I do that in a VM with virtualbox.

Its just that MS is so outclassed by linux (especially MINT). I feel for those that run windows and have to for some reason.

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BenTrabetere
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by BenTrabetere »

James_Smith wrote:I wonder why you (yes, you) went away from Microsoft products and embraced Linux?
I see this as a two-parter: Applications and Windows.

I move away from MS applications whenever I can and as quickly as possible - too many bad experiences, most of which cannot entirely be blamed on the applications themselves. I have been forced to use Office at work going back to Win 3.0, and early on I started thinking of it as an incubator for bad ideas and usage. I don't know which application was the first to offer 'Send as Email', but it became a Force of Evil when it was added to Office. And the dunderheads responsible for making HTML email worse by adding RFT to the mix should be put in a rocket aimed at the sun. I have had to endure too many bosses spreading MS-Office-related dumbth.

I cannot be Windows-free until suitable tax preparation software arrives for Linux ... or I summon the courage to use a web-based service. For that I can boot to XP or run Win7 in Virtualbox. I know I could not or would not ever go back to Windows exclusively. Linux satisfies most of my needs, and XP or Win7 fills the gaps. I like the stability, and I enjoy not having to rely on antivirus and security utilities that often cause problems that are worse than the ones they prevent. Price really isn't a selling point for me: it's nice that I am under no contractual obligation to provide monetary support is nice; however, I feel a moral obligation to send money whenever I can.

The biggest obstacle for me to returning to using Windows exclusively is UPDATES. It took two hours and numerous restarts to apply the updates when I set up Win7 in Virtualbox. I do not miss that. I do not miss the system freezing because a program hits a snag while checking for updates (I'm talking to you Adobe, Apple, McAfee and Symantec), or having to reboot and its annoying "Restart Now" message everytime an update comes down the pike, or worrying whether the disk activity after rebooting is because the update is being applied or it's because the update failed, or worrying the lastest MS patch is the delivery vehicle for bricking a computer.

Linux updates are painless, seamless, efficient and boring. I do not feel the need to close every application each time I apply an update, and I think the only Linux update that required a reboot was the upgrade to Rebecca. The only quibbles I have with Software Updates is it doesn't close automagically when the updates are finished and the Authentication window does not open as the active window.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by killer de bug »

BenTrabetere wrote: . The only quibbles I have with Software Updates is it doesn't close automagically when the updates are finished
It will come soon. It was added in the todo list.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Chemical_Ali »

Because everything on Linux works. For example, I have an old SCSI card and scanner that does not work on Windows 7 x64, because the drivers are no longer supported. Yet, Linux has no issues with my old SCSI card and old scanner. Another reason why I prefer Linux, is because I prefer using an OS and software that is developed by the community.
JayKay3OOO

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by JayKay3OOO »

Whoever thought windows 8 / 8.1 on a desktop was acceptable was insane.

Windows 10 is better.

So use win 7 / 10 for gaming and any specialist non linux software.

Use Linux. e.g. Mint for any home user doing most things.

Use a mac if you life is so shallow you actually care what people think of your computer (lots of people apparently) and have money to waste on overpriced, underspecced hardware with an OS thay somtimes feels more antiquated than Linux.
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austin.texas
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by austin.texas »

Windows:
windows.jpg
Mint:
Mint.jpg
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all41
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by all41 »

Mint
:) :wink: :!:

windows
:shock: :? :x :P :evil: :twisted: :roll: :?: :lol:
Everything in life was difficult before it became easy.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by nuagedeboucane »

Why use Linux, instead of W$? Because I hate BSOD's :lol:
To repair something, you must break it before ;-)
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zoli62
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by zoli62 »

nuagedeboucane wrote:Why use Linux, instead of W$? Because I hate BSOD's :lol:
You never heard about kernel panic? :?:
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by zoli62 »

I am also of the opinion that both system have their reason for existence.
Last edited by zoli62 on Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft? - because I choose to

Post by Habitual »

Linux makes me think.
Nili

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Nili »

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DrHu

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by DrHu »

I don't like windows 8x or possibly the next one win 10x
--because I don't really like the idea of trying to mangle an OS across all platforms (Server, desktop, notebook, mobile device (tablet or smartphone ) or some future wearable tech

The trouble for companies and they have generated this issue themselves:
--they need to keep producing the NEW product (or at least it should seem new) in order to entice new users or up-sell current users
  • The mania that appears whenever Apple comes out with a new IPhone being a good example..
I also don't like multi-function devices: those all-in-one printers (scanner + copy function + printing)
--I prefer to have printing or scanning available separately and will use the computer to manage the file sets, and should one or the other device fail, I won't have to give up the whole package (printing or scanning/copying --editing image)

I choose Linux after looking at *BSD and other OS (QNX, BEOS), I actually liked BEOS (now an open source option as Haiku): Beos is not multi-user, just like dos(ms or DR dos) was, it is single user/complete control mode, but with some OS protection for important system files..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeOS
http://www.haiku-os.org/

Linux was also multi-user more completely than earlier windows OS, win 98x and more secure because of the better separation of root/admin functions from the normal user
--winXP was also everyone is an Admin as the default, and only later tried to separate those functions via their extension of pasrts of the underlying OS

And of course, Linux did and still does give the user more control of the OS and its operations
--unless Linux gets too far down the road of following Ms, or Google (mobile OS)
  • But i don't believe and hope that Linux distributions don't track into that commercial idea so completely that they forget the user still exists..
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by z31fanatic »

coffee412 wrote: MSOffice is frickin expensive at 154.oo a computer.
Adobe Standard is 305.oo per user.
Antivirus? Lets add some more per year cost to that also.
See, this is where you are wrong. You are thinking like an end user.
The cost of Office and Adobe suite is nothing to a business that employs a lot of people. The productivity they get from that software more than makes up for the initial cost. And like it or not, MS Office is the best Office software there is. It's not just an opinion, it's a fact in the business world. Same with Adobe and other business software. Businesses pay for it because it is good software with great support.

On the antivirus, I am not sure why would someone need antivirus today. Windows today is much more secure than it used to be. Microsoft Security Essentials and the the free version of Malware Bytes is all one needs today.
People get viruses because of their own stupidity, not because the OS is not secure enough.
Last edited by z31fanatic on Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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z31fanatic
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by z31fanatic »

coffee412 wrote:You do not suffer from "Update hell". Can you imagine someone at - say a library or office - and they need to shut down their windows laptop because they have to leave for an appointment or catch a bus and you get the dreaded "DONT SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER -- UPDATING 1 OF 15". Also, Should your update fail then it has to either start removing updates or just lockup/crash.
Everyone with an ounce of knowledge knows that MS pushes Windows updates every second Tuesday of the month. Updates don't just suddenly appear anytime.
Again, just typical unbased fanboy drivel.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by xenopeek »

Reminding everybody about the topic at hand: for what personal reasons did you move to Linux and away from Windows.

Calling in to question (at best) others their personal reasons (at the time) for doing this is needlessly argumentative and off-topic. This isn't a discussion, it's a "share your story" topic. Let's stick to that.
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by xoverlord6 »

Reorx wrote:
James_Smith wrote:...I wonder why you (yes, you) went away from Microsoft products and embraced Linux?
4) Crapware (malware, nagware, bloatware).
This times a thousand. The worst is using "freeware" or even open source programs on Windows. Sourceforge seems to be a primary offender, where downloading "free" software on Windows gives you prompts to install unrelated bloatware.

Printer drivers, really, most drivers on Windows try to give you bloatware.

I've never seen anything like it on Linux.
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