Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

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helloimustbegoing

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by helloimustbegoing »

I came over to Linux because of Microsoft trying to force desktop users into using an OS (8, and now 10) obviously made for tablets. I also got tired of being paranoid about malware. I do dual-boot for a few things that don't have a Linux equivalent.
DeMus

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by DeMus »

z31fanatic wrote: 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.
I don't agree with that. Many times ( and not only on bad Tuesdays) when I want to switch off the laptop I use for work related things (working on W7) can't be switched off because of updates. No problem. I go to bed and let the laptop do its thing. More problematic is it when I want to do some things again and switch on the laptop seeing it still needs to configure those updates, reboot, do some more things, reboot again until finally everything is done.
On LInux I just see an icon turn blue telling me there are updates and what I do with them is up to me. That is the difference. On Linux I am boss over my computer, when using Windows MS is. That's what I hate. I paid for the laptop and MS is still running the show. Well, not on my desktop which for the last 7 years is Linux only territory.
Last edited by DeMus on Mon May 25, 2015 2:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ark987

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Ark987 »

At work:

Linux has a flexible system and license model, you can experiment, adapt and growth at your own peace of mind.

At home:

Linux consumes less disk space and RAM.
Linux saves time, has an automatic software management for every piece of software in your system (as long as you use the repos ofc)
Linux is designed to be used in your computer not to force you to buy a new one when a new version is released


But still Linux is missing quality commercial software in the workstation area, not every FOSS is a precious jewel.
speeldoos

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by speeldoos »

When I first used Linux, the distro was Ubuntu and at the time, my laptop that was running Windows 8 was lagging whenever I was on it. Things took very long to respond and I was at the my wits' end.

I remembered that a friend of mine on Skype told me that he used Linux (Fedora) and I decide to give installing Linux a try. I am a hobby programmer however I am unhappy with the way Windows approach programmers as an OS. I also want to try more hardware projects and I found that perhaps Linux could help me in my computing journey. (Before anyone reply, please note that I know that programmers does not have to use Linux to do well, I'm just stating that for me, I felt that Linux would be something worth knowing and using for my endeavors.

It was hard at first because due to my laggy laptop, I had to learn everything from the group up to make a bootable USB from my sister's computer. Of course, I figured out how to use the BIOS, installing it was less troublesome. It seem overwhelming and time consuming to install only because I had to learn a lot of things but the desperation to save my laptop motivated me faster. I liked using Ubuntu (not so much unity but that's another story) but then I had a dumb idea to install another Linux distro without being careful and then I accidentally crash my entire laptop beyond repair.... I was unhappy that I would have to use Windows 8 again (on my sister's laptop, which is now mine haha.)

I hated using Windows 8 and I wanted to switch again but it took me a few months to actually have the freedom to act out on it. Enter a few days ago, I was under tons of stress from compiling libraries for an input engine that I put on indefinite hold and not succeeding. Someone in stack overflow said that Linux was better for compiling because I was getting similar problems as the OP. Anyway, after putting all of my family's files on my Google Drive, I decide to turn my sister's usb into a bootable drive again and after a few trial and errors, I managed to download an iso of Linux Mint without corruption and now I am on it, a lot more satisfied with little to no updates that are really resource hungry, being able to use the terminal and thus downloading things quicker and finding a lot of cool software programs that are FOSS.

I will admit changing over rom windows to Linux is not entirely great. For one, I cannot access .exe or .msi files anymore so I am unable to make games that are meant for windows. When it comes to gaming, Linux is not for everyone. However being unable to play games on Linux is outweighed by the freedom to be my own boss and not just download programs for my own 'safety'. I get to learn a lot about the computer itself by reading up on Linux manuals and recently I finally started using an IRC for the first time and talk to people there with good results. I am even learning computer terms in various languages including Esperanto!
Jedinovice
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Jedinovice »

I resisted Linux for some time as I tried it in the old country and it was a disaster. The OS and software were just not ready for the real world.

Skip to 2012 and I have no choice. I cannot face either Windows 8 or the new software activation system where I no longer own the system so I gulped, bought a cheapo laptop and installed Linux - Slackware to start with (later, Mint) with KDE. Whoa, what a difference! Linux is all grown up!

So, why Linux and not Windows?

1) I own the software! I get the Mint install DVD. I download and keep all deb files from installation. I can install and re-install as I like! These days it's hell getting a Windows install DVD and even when you get one you have to beg Microsoft to active the software for you. Ouch!

2) Cost. Free is good. I live in Indonesia on a third of my income in the UK. OK, some things are cheaper - accomodation for a start and no need for a money guzzling car, but electronics cost the Earth and second hand is not an option. The software I have in Mint would easily cost over $1000! I have more software now than I ever had under Windows for free. Legal Windows software is now unaffordable for me. (Everybody pirates here but that brings it's own problems.)

3) The free Linux software I have is superior to Windows. No, stay with me here. Everyone jumps to talk about Office and Photoshop and how powerful they are and I grant that. Linux does not yet have the same powered apps. But… only the super-pro's use the specialist features of this software. I like to do video editing for R&R and I used Kdenlive for Linux. Who would insist that the only way to do any video editing at all required the likes of 'Lightworks' at around $1000? Yet consumers are taught that to do any photo touching up at all required Adobe Photoshop at $300+. I despair.

As it stands, the Linux software I use is really damn powerful - providing far more than my basic needs every day! Furthermore, no addware, no pop-ups, no thirty day trial ware. I just download apps for free and they work. If one does not do what I want it does it in a weird way, I download an alternative. No hassles. Try that with Windows. And, as one example. K3B - DVD burning software is beautiful. Fast powerful, clean interface, intuitive, while Nero Burning ROM costs I don't know how much and the last time I looked (year ago I admit) had morphed into a mutant in terms of the GUI. I am using Linux and then Windows and asking myself, "People pay money to run this crud?"

4) Linux is so damn easy to use! OK, I use KDE which I regard as the most user friendly GUI going - but tastes are different. The fact is that you can chose the GUI to suit yourself - and people do. You absolutely cannot do that with Windows! But also, the GUI's make sense! I mean, I am not a fan of Unity but it's beautiful to use compared with Windows 'Metro.' In addition, despite differing GUI's Linux apps remain intuitive and consistent. I know what is a button, what is an image, what is a hyperlink. I have no idea what is what in Windows any more and I have to rely upon the mouse pointer changing, or not, to tell what is what in an application. And legacy support in Windows no stinks. Linux is far better. So the software I do own for Windows will not run under Windows 7+.

5) You can LEARN in Linux! I learnt my IT skills but buying a Pentium 133 with all the install disks, including the Windows 95 install CD back in 1997. Then I installed- played around - re-installed, tried different drivers and experimented.

This is no longer possible in Windows. Everything is locked down so the user cannot access anything any more (but the hacker can) plus, you don't get the Windows install media any more and even then you have to activate any install. Now Windows is very much 'Buy the laptop and OS all in one, period." I am training a kid in IT at his request and we have had to install Mint Linux via VM as the only way for him to learn how to install an operating system and control it. Windows and Mac do not allow for this. You want to learn about an operating system and how a computer works? These days the only real way is Linux.

6) Linux does not slow down over time. Windows does- and eventually becomes unusuable. The registry is designed to scramble making the laptop unusable… at which point the poor non-techie user is told they are best buy a new laptop. My wife is still running her five year old single core netbook with 1GB of RAM with Mint Linux 17.0 KDE. Only the old c50 (now deceased) struggled with KDE. Windows would be unusable within a month of use. I mean, installing lots of fonts makes Windows unusable!!

7) Greater security - as has been mentioned.

But overall, I have all the applications I could ever want, on tap, for free! When Microsoft change the office format again to force new sales of their ofifce suite, I wait six months for a new version of Libreoffice.

I get no hassle with Linux! I get a cool, easy to use OS - far easier than Windows (I mean, I live and die by user defined keyboard shortcuts - a feature unavailable to Windows and Mac) with easy to use, consistent software that I can understand, no malware, no adware, the software will run on virtually any old box and total control of my computer. No begging for activation. And I get to own all the install files. You just cannot realistically do that with Windows anymore!

I liked using Windows 95. No seriously. The OS was horrible unstable but the GUI was clean, easy to understand and, back in 1997, the GUI made sense and you were not hostage to adware. Then came the Internet, Windows 98 with IE integration and Windows kept morphing into something stranger and stranger and the application interfaces more and more bizarre. When I do have to touch Windows (shudder now) I have to deal with apps written for the old Windows 95 interface, Windows 98 'everything is a webpage' interface or the new 'everything is a tablet' interface to I don't know what for Windows 10. Linux apps are clean and easy to understand. It's like going back to 1997 but with more advanced software and a stable OS - the best of all worlds.

Windows has it for games and very specialist software. But I don't play games. For 90% of desktop owners Linux is the way to go. But people do not like change and prefer the Devil they know even when it costs thousands of dollars in total cost just for grief.
You literally cannot give Linux away.
Sigh.
Mint Linux 18.0 64 bit KDE edition.
Video editing (AMV's mainly) on a dual core n2840 atom!
Results here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Dw91 ... yVKS7X1Rlg
LOOK HERE FOR MY DEMO OF MINT LINUX KDE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8hDYiGprWs
GermanyChris

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by GermanyChris »

I was never a Windows user, I used Apples then Mac's until 2005 when Steve said Apple was jumping shark so I jumped to Linux.
Drygar

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Drygar »

There are many reasons why I switched from Microsoft Windows to GNU/Linux.
It did not happen suddenly, it was due to many Microsoft decisions in the past years - decisions that first I did not fancy, then I really disliked, at the end I hated and now I can't stand :) I have been long time Microsoft user, customer and a lot more and at the end I felt betrayed. I felt I was used! Really.

Trust and Respect are important for me.

Windows 10 - they day it was first released to public for test, that was really the end of the MS story for me.

First, it was Windows 8, SecureBoot, Office 2013 - ugly interface, not made for computers, they forced me use it like tablet.
While with Windows XP, Vista and Win 7 there was at least some sort of customization. Windows 8 and up-words, there is no such thing.

Security, cyber security is important for me. Closed source, proprietary software can't be secure, especially from a company that is well-known for not being secure and that cooperates with authorities and intelligence agencies...

Windows/Microsoft is extremely expensive. I can afford it, but I am tired of always having to pay them for pretty much nothing. I am tired of the commercial industry.
Since 2004 I have paid so much money to MS for various software [many many licenses for Windows XP, Vista, 7, Office 2007, Office 2013, etc] of theirs and I persuaded so much people to also buy their software - I am ashamed of this.
What happens when you pay them - nothing positive for you, just loosing $.
Last time I got sick of their support who couldn't activate my Office 2013 Pro and who did not want to downgrade it to Office 2010 simply because I didn't like the 2013 interface. I paid for Office 2013 Pro because I couldn't find Office 2010 lic - they stopped selling it - their agent was explaining to me over the phone how beautiful 2013 is compared to 2010 :shock: and refused to downgrade it to 2010.

Most other things have already been mentioned, so I will simply repeat it:

- finally became very tired of constantly cleaning windows (pun intended!), and tired of the constant maintenance, and tired of the lack of security

- I learned about Microsoft's illegal and immoral business practices

- I don't have to pay a licence fee - I prefer to donate to real experts , donate reasonable amount of money, not huge licence fees

- Windows updates. In the past years ever since Windows 7 SP1, they got insane ! Now, clean install of Windows 7 SP1, you will have to install over 1.3 GB of updates - this will take hours if they manage to install properly, if you are lucky even of very high speed Net (optic). Why all this hassle ?

- "Activation hell" - I can get pirated copy of Windows XP, 7, Office and install it faster than activation . I buy legal original copy of Windows/Office and have activation issues, MS support is useless. [Note-I don't support piracy]

- MS is just a major money pit.

- Linux updates are painless, seamless, efficient and boring.

- GNU/Linux security is top notch when compared to other OS

- Windows is not secure OS by design. Read on the Net about Windows 2000 RTM version that contained xxxxx number of known issues/bugs upon release. What about XP - so many bugs since initial release that more than 15 years since initial release, they still fix security issues ? :twisted: Insider builds...

- Antivirus industry just got mad in the past several years - This is all caused by Microsoft policies since Windows 8 release, rise of free bloated AVs, etc.

With Microsoft - they use you (especially home users and small businesses). Now with their Windows as a service, Office 365, Windows 365, etc.
I need to learn, to improve. GNU/Linux gives me security and gives me freedom. There is no freedom without security.
asaoppenheimer

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by asaoppenheimer »

Totally agree with all cons regarding using Linux. Linux is becoming popular! By the way 3 years ago the time I used windows I was looking for some video editor for and found Sony Vegas. But it was of course cracked and wouldn work stable. After transferring to Linux 2 years ago I tried Kdenlive. Wow. It was totally free. Functionallity the same Vegas has. So, guys use Linux.
mrdachshund86

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by mrdachshund86 »

There are many reasons.

1) Choice:

Windows: Oh look, I can change colors and wallpapers! How incredibly thoughtful of them! :roll:

Linux: There are currently 278 distros listed on DistroWatch. For DEs, you have MATE, Cinnamon, KDE, xfce, plus many more. You can even have window managers if you don't want a fully fledged DE. You can have a Debian base, Red Hat base, Arch, etc. As far as choices go, Linux is an all-you-can-eat buffet! (Which I suppose makes Windows prison food :lol: )

2 ) Security:

Back in my pre-Linux days, I was completely at the mercy of Redmond to patch security vulnerabilities. Viruses were, and are, a constant scare in the Windows world. Now, I know that if the Windows partition ever gets infected it so bad that it cannot be cleaned, I can always make more room for Mint. :wink:

3) Development:

This is a big one. Windows is developed from a marketing standpoint, meaning that there are bound to be many features that seem gimmicky or outright useless. Linux Mint, and the hundreds of other distros, are created with the standpoint of a software engineer, who actually seems to know what users really want pre-installed on their system (granted, a lot of the bloat comes from manufacturers, so it's not entirely Microsoft's fault*). For example, when I first ran Audacity in Windows 7, I had to install a special file just to export MP3 files. Instead of, say, an important media codec, a Windows machine is usually loaded with everything else but what an actual user would actually want. Someone working on their own free time on a project such as Linux Mint are not going to waste their time with cheap gimmicks.

There are more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

*Though Windows 10 looks like it'll change this, and not in a good way.
Drygar

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Drygar »

Why not Microsoft ?

:arrow: http://www.windows10update.com/2015/06/ ... alization/

Microsoft's revised privacy policy. What a joke ? Remember this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI1ominSL_c
Cortana, Bing, Advertising ID, SmartScreen, MS account, Location, etc.
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dXTC
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by dXTC »

Very interesting reading; thanks for the link. It's rather pathetic that Cortana requires Location Services to be turned on just to load, when Apple's Siri doesn't require such (although Siri is a little more useful with it on).

As for myself, I haven't completely ditched MS. I use Windows at home for one thing: running Cakewalk Sonar, my music recording app. That Windows instance is disconnected from the network. Everything else I have, apart from my employer-issued work computer, is OS X or Linux Mint-- and I find myself gravitating toward Mint more and more for everyday usage.
dXTC
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IT oldie, Linux newbie, and all-around goofy fellow.
Jedinovice
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Jedinovice »

asaoppenheimer wrote:Totally agree with all cons regarding using Linux. Linux is becoming popular! By the way 3 years ago the time I used windows I was looking for some video editor for and found Sony Vegas. But it was of course cracked and wouldn work stable. After transferring to Linux 2 years ago I tried Kdenlive. Wow. It was totally free. Functionallity the same Vegas has. So, guys use Linux.
Now that I can relate to! I spent $100 on Magix Movie edit pro. It did the job except:

It would crash every ten minutes- guaranteed.
It would not read in any file format correctly except MP4 which mean ages converting sources and MP4 is not a good format for editing from. Magix was stagger on working with the highly compressed MP4 files. Preview was impossible, I had to render to view my work.
I did not like the interface very much but it was the only video editor around at the time that focused on the time line. Everything else was geared towards storyboard mode.

Kdenlive is way faster, reads virtually anything, has a really nice interface and crashes about once a week when doing intensive work.And is every bit as powerful as Magix Movie edit pro and I get all upgrades for free.

I'm never going back to Windows now.
Mint Linux 18.0 64 bit KDE edition.
Video editing (AMV's mainly) on a dual core n2840 atom!
Results here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Dw91 ... yVKS7X1Rlg
LOOK HERE FOR MY DEMO OF MINT LINUX KDE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8hDYiGprWs
Ark987

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Ark987 »

Drygar wrote:Why not Microsoft ?

:arrow: http://www.windows10update.com/2015/06/ ... alization/

Microsoft's revised privacy policy. What a joke ? Remember this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI1ominSL_c
Cortana, Bing, Advertising ID, SmartScreen, MS account, Location, etc.
So we have a clone of Google services in town, in less than 10 years the Advertiser ID will be managed by your local government and printed out in your ID card and become you new citizen number :roll:
coder123

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by coder123 »

my list

1. virus free
2. way more lightweight
3. no maintenance
4. way more configurable (and depending on the distro it may be necessary but every distro is way more configurable than windows if you know what to do)
scryan

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by scryan »

The ability to use just a lightweight tiling window manager, and sane configuration files.
theStreak

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by theStreak »

All of the above. The last straw for me (running XP) was that I kept getting nagged with a dialog insisting that i go through some process to prove the authenticity of my Windows installation. Needless to say, I didn't take kindly to being treated like a common criminal. Prior to that point I had already made Linux my primary O/S but this accusatory nagging made it my only one. I haven't looked back.
Chiefahol

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Chiefahol »

I feel really silly when I pay $100 for a windows disk. It's like your paying to get spyed on, your paying for viruses, and your paying so that in 3 years you can pay again for the next crappy OS they release. Then you have to pay all those other douchebag companies for their proprietary software, screw all of that drama!

Windows is good for gaming, and photoshop, everything else i'm either doing or planning to do on linux. :mrgreen:
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z31fanatic
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Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by z31fanatic »

Chiefahol wrote:Then you have to pay all those other douchebag companies for their proprietary software, screw all of that drama!
There wouldn't be any open source or free software if it weren't for the paid proprietary software. Most people that contribute to open source development, have a real paying job with one of those companies you mention. :wink:
Drygar

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Drygar »

z31fanatic wrote:
Chiefahol wrote:Most people that contribute to open source development, have a real paying job with one of those companies you mention. :wink:
",unfortunately" if I may add
Drygar

Re: Why Linux? Why not Microsoft?

Post by Drygar »

Chiefahol wrote:Windows is good for gaming, and photoshop, everything else i'm either doing or planning to do on linux. :mrgreen:
IMO, at the moment Windows is 'good' for
- businesses that must use Windows because of their software is made for Windows
- gaming because the software is designed for Windows

Photoshop - well, as far as I know, top designers rely on Mac for design, graphical software, etc..
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