Why Do People Switch To Linux? 746
tadelste writes "During the last month, Lxer.com conducted a survey of readers who use Linux. They asked readers why they switched to Linux and received a plethora of answers. Surprisingly, anti-Microsoft sentiment had less to do with the choice than one might imagine. Linux stands on its own merits. Anti-Microsoft sentiment comes from Microsoft's paranoia, which results in quotes like the one that had Bill Gates saying he'd put Linux in the Computer museum like he has other competitors." A respondent quote from the article: "It took me about a year to switch from W2K to Linux. The timing in the development of all of the Desktop elements has obviously been critical. If I'd tried any sooner, the whole thing would never have come together. Improved hardware support and equivalent apps have been a big part of the successful transition, and, I owe thanks to many in the Linux community for making that happen at an astounding rate and giving me my functional Desktop OS." Why do you think folks switch?
Simple answer (Score:1, Insightful)
Tired of pirating? (Score:1, Insightful)
Right?
Why I switched.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't think I'd call that a survey... (Score:5, Insightful)
Why do my customers switch? (Score:5, Insightful)
When asked can I do blah with Linux, the answer's pretty much yes out of the box. With Windows the answer's yes if you buy X, Y and Z.
I like Pain (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm not a huge fan though. I cant play half the videos I download, wireless in suse sucks. Fedora stoped loading KDE completely one day for no apparent reason.
IMO, linux is still 10 years behind microsoft.
Re:Bloat (Score:2, Insightful)
And why do you need a bloated X server at all if you only need mutt and pork ?
Mac OS X is the place to switch to (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:LaTeX (Score:5, Insightful)
Clearly this isn't the case for everyone, but Linux/Unix just clicked with me, all the way to make config changes the applications and the underlying architecture. And this is not to expound upon the fun I have tinkering which just isn't available in the windows platform.
~Anders
Didn't want to be tied down to... (Score:5, Insightful)
They largely don't. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:My story. (Score:1, Insightful)
Cost and more (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's the applications that make the difference (Score:3, Insightful)
Reasons for my switch (Score:5, Insightful)
I tried Linux off and on the past few years, finally moving to Linux full-time a year ago. First with Mandrake 10.1, now with SUSE 9.3 (probably upgrade to OpenSUSE 10 in the near future).
I switched for three reasons. First and foremost, I got tired of spending more time dealing with spyware and viruses than actually working. Second, I'm developing a Java3d-based web game, and wanted to ensure cross-platform compatability. And, third, the free-as-in-beer software eliminates the guilt due to pirated software (Office and Photoshop are frigging expensive).
About the only thing I miss is game compatability. If a native Linux client ever comes out for Civ3, Civ4, BF2 or GTA:SA, I'm screwed productivity-wise.
I call BS (Score:4, Insightful)
There will ALWAYS be flaws in a complex system. It's just part of the game. However, the goal is to minimize the downtime due to those flaws. Windows "flaws" tend to be easy to fix because so many people use Windows and you can do a quick search to find 8 million other people who've had the same problem. Linux has a lot of that, too, but you have to know where to go to get the right answers sometimes. What makes Linux nice is that it comes free with a plethora of debugging aids and the source code as well.
I'm tired of seeing the "Linux works flawlessly" argument. NONE of the major OS's run without a problem. OpenBSD has only had 1 remote vulnerability, but then again, it comes out of the box with basically NO services running. The more services you introduce into the system, the more flaws you expose.
Re:My story. (Score:5, Insightful)
Ah, but nobody actually *is* trying to play catch-up with MS - at least not as far as most of the high-profile projects I've looked into (such as the Linux kernel itself, KDE, Mozilla etc.) are concerned. I don't think I've ever seen anyone saying "Windows does this and that, we have to, too" on lkml, for example, with the possible exception of noobs who just got Linux yesterday and subscribed to the list today, and even those are few and far between. Generally, the focus is not on being better than anything else; the focus is just on being *good*. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons why Linux is actually successful, but MS still doesn't understand it.
Re:Simple answer... (Score:1, Insightful)
As a matter of fact, I'm someone Bill Gates should love; I don't steal his software (I happen to use FreeBSD). Instead he views me with contempt and derision. Says one thing and does another. What a loser.
I trust the code (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:My story. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why use Linux? (Score:2, Insightful)
A week ago I installed Mandrake 10.1 on my box.
You do know that there are two newer releases of Mandriva, don't you? 2005 (10.2) and 2006 (10.3) are out. Why not install a current version, one that you can get updates for?
Anyway, I use Mandriva heavily (currently 2005/10.2) and never have problems with it recognizing USB devices. If I plug in my camera it shows up in /mnt as does my USB hard drive, and recorder. It sometimes takes up to 30 seconds to show up, but it never fails.
I installed Windows the next day.
Did you install a current Windows like XP or did you go with an older like 98? Just wondering since you tried to install an old version of Linux..
I prefer that I don't have to configure everything in Windows
Hmm. I currently maintain over 200 Mandriva 2005 machines, all of which I've barely had to configure anything. In fact, I have to do more configuration for my Windows machines.
Re:Didn't want to be tied down to... (Score:3, Insightful)
1.a.) Why are you using access for a database for anything but the simplest information?
1.b.) No one is holding a gun to your head and making you buy a new copy of office. You like what you've got? Keep using it.
2.) Get windows XP SP2, and stop downloading spyware. Plus, it's only the power users that notice it. Most of my clients when I was consulting had their origional install of windows XP and it was running slightly slower than it used to, but they didn't really care. Also: try using linux as a desktop for 2 years and see if it doesn't start slowing down when you install a new program once every week or two, new hardware every 6 months, and new graphics drivers and security patches once a month. Most people that use linux on the desktop are careful about how they treat it, but on the windows side, most of us punish our OS. In the past week, I've installed DivX 6, Tivo Desktop, Quake 4, video lan client, and WinDVD. Do this enough and it bogs down.
3.) What? What takes half a day on windows that doesn't take half a day in Linux? The things that take a long time in windows (copying files to the hard drive for install) must be done in linux, too. Installing Linux (especially things like ubuntu and Fedora) have gotten easier, by a good bit, but it's still not as easy as windows.
4.) Hidden features? Dude, Windows Registry == Linux
5.) Get Windows XP SP2, or Windows server 2003.
6.) Get Windows XP SP2, or Windows server 2003.
7.) Yeah, Windows is 5 years behind. Except... gaming. Oh, and desktop usability (For the LOVE OF GOD, can someone create a universal clipboard for ANY linux windowing system? ALL I EVER WANTED was to cut and paste between apps). And hardware support. Also: Linux and Mac both defrag in the background, as does Windows XP and Server2003.
God. I use linux, and I use windows, and there are things that both are suited for. Linux = any internet service. Windows = user and computer management, gaming. Do whatever suits you; use whatever you're comfortable with, but let's not make shit up.
~Will
Surprising? (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't find this surprising at all. You don't run a business on emotion -- you run it on what works. Linux works. And well. And I can do things with it I can't do with MS.
Linux proponents do themselves a huge disservice by posting "M$ sux" posts everywhere. The whole '[they] doth protest too much' thing comes to mind.
I choose Linux for Linux, not as a slap in the face to Mr. Gates.
Re:It's the applications that make the difference (Score:5, Insightful)
Actions speak louder than words (Score:3, Insightful)
I *use* Linux because I want to use Linux.
I don't advocate Linux unless someone asks me.
I don't bash WinXX unless someone asks me.
I *bash* WinXX because people are always calling me asking: "Can you fix this?" "I've got a problem with my computer..." "My PC crashed..." "I opened this email and now my PC is so slow..." "My Internet is..." "I can't
So, while fixing, or more frequently of late telling them to get someone else to fix it, I bash. If they ask for advice, then I advocate.
So far, I have seen two 100% converts thanks to live/demo CDs and application maturity. Both are happy and don't *ever* call to tell me their PCs are broken anymore.
'Nuff said, just do it!
Re:Actions speak louder than words (Score:3, Insightful)
I advocate Linux because if Linux is more popular, not only will *everyone* benefit from reduced malware and vendor lock-in, but I will benefit from having my platform supported by hardware and software manufacturers. I don't bash WinXX unless someone asks me.
If I see someone drowning, I try to help whether they are shouting for help or not. A few of them are amazing swimmers who want to spend several minutes floating face-down, but most of them could use the help. If you are the kind of visionary who could see (say in 1880), the automobile rising to dominance, then it would be a kindness to tell your friends at the buggywhip factory that it might be time for some cross-training.
Re:LaTeX (Score:2, Insightful)
OK, let's get real then. *He* was talking about why *he* choiced Linux. You, on the other hand, are just talking about your opinions regarding how *others* will go.
"As a reason for switching, it [LaTeX integration] probably ranks below toe fungus"
I bet it ranks a bit higher for those (like the parent poster) that *do* use LaTeX.
Re:LaTeX (Score:2, Insightful)
~Anders
Re:Actions speak louder than words (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:My story. (Score:1, Insightful)
I'm guessing it's likely a bit more then say $400 (8 hours @ $50/hour).
And a commercial solution probably would have still cost him 8+ hours between installing, the aquisition process, etc.
Re:Why I switched.. (Score:1, Insightful)
No! It's you are playing an importand role! It's not small at all. Seriously, just think that in software development business there's a lot of people being paid to do just that.
Even if you just email the author saying that his software is useful to you, it's already a valueable contribution.
Double standards? (Score:5, Insightful)
LaTeX is not limited to Linux. LaTeX is NOT a reason to switch.
So... wanting to use Latex is not a good reason to switch to Linux because similar applications are available for Windows...
...but wanting to use Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer is a good reason to stick with Windows even though similar applications exist for Linux?
Double-standards anyone?
Real switch reasons (Score:2, Insightful)
I switched for the same reason a lot of people switch: One single issue with Windows (or MacOS) was so completly crippling to my experience, I was willing to put up with any other flaws to resolve. For me, it was a crippling terror of trusted computing (obligatory wikipedia article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_computing [wikipedia.org]) invading my work, which, as a CS major, will exist primarily on computers. My dad is chomping at the bit to get Linux on his work machine for much the same reason.
Re:Mod up (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, I admit it is (or it was) true. But as soon as person buys PS2 or other game console, the only reason for windows to exist on desktop dissapears. 99% of dual booting is just to play games.
I really don't see the use for personal desktop in Windows. What can it do? (and no, viruses I don't need. If I get virus better that I got it by sex, while spyware position is already taken by my annoying neighboors. All other jobs are much better performed with linux)
p.s. What would be Unixy app? Some Gay-MS-Word spellchecker result?
Advocacy etc. (Score:2, Insightful)
In college I used Unix, DOS, and Mac. (I was ok with using DOS when it came packaged with GW basic to do your repetitive tasks in a quick and dirty way. When they removed that, it was a rip-off.) I have never had any partiality toward any MS product, but damn many experiences pushing me away from them. I college I studied C in a Unix environment. It worked. That's a good thing to my mind. When I went on to take a second semester of C, the school had switched to MS Quick C. I had used Boorland's Turbo C, and it was fine. I had used the C compiler with the Unix install that we had. Then I had the most bug ridden piece of crap that I had ever seen land in my lap. The examples in the Official MS manual would not compile! I had never before seen such a dreadful piece of software in my life. That soured me against MS, the company a bit.
In that same era, if I wanted a word processor, I headed to the Mac labs, not the MS based labs. If I needed to program a robot, and directly control I/O, I was in the MS realm, because control of RS232 was well documented, and part of my curriculum.
Fast forward many years. My husband and I were buying computers. (Plural, as we don't play well with others...) He got a 60 MHz Intel box, I got a 60 MHz Mac. (Yes, I know, ancient history here, but we are leading somewhere here, I promise!) We had our machines set up. My Mac just worked. I used it. I worked, I played, and it simply worked. My husband is far more geeky that I could ever be, but he could never get his MS box to do quite what he wanted it to do. He extolled the virtues of his more documented software and hardware, but still his machine had failure after failure. It lead to my anti-Windows saying, "It's Sunday, time to reload Windows!"
My husband kept incrementally upgrading hardware on his Intel box, not a luxury that I had on my Mac. I held on to that 60 MHz machine until it was way out of date. I started using some of his discarded hardware for some kids software. Eventually my old Mac was put out to pasture, and I was migrated to faster hardware, and buggier software. But, as I couldn't afford the Apple upgrade path, I considered myself lucky for having been able to use a stable OS in my own home for as long as I could. (In all of the time that I used my Mac, I never caught anything. There may be Mac viruses, but they weren't prevalent on the BBS's and later the Internet. I have no first hand experience with them.) Once I was using MS for daily use, I cursed the BSOD multiple times per day. I dreaded the bloody thing. When I was offered a FREE version of *nix, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I was rid of the MS nonsense.
Fast forward a few more years. I was editing a print media newsletter for a 300+ family home schooling group. (As this is a group with many educators, there was a disproportionately high percentage of Mac users. Our group was roughly split 50/50) Despite the submission guidelines that always specified plain text email, people routinely submitted from whatever they had, be it from MS Word for Win, MS Word for Mac, or any other word processor that they had lying about. The previous editors all warned me of this. I was using Star Office. It was great for importing from other formats. Though in theory Word for Win was supposed to open in Word for Mac, and the reverse, in that era, it did not in fact work. Whereas, here I sat with Sun's Star Office, and I could read both. That really made for a positive experience with the Linux world for me. It didn't matter what the data was, or where it came from, I could read it.
Fast forward a few more years. The kids needed Windows software for some educational software. (They had to log in to the system with IE running under Windows.) Take into account that they had a machine far newer and faster than mine. I am not a computer user, I am a computer abuser. Normally on my Linux box, desktop #
I don't switch... (Score:3, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:2, Insightful)