Why don't people use Linux?

[PX]Kal Bob · Post by **[PX]Kal Bob** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 8:02 pm

Ok, I am aiming for a real conversation here, not a "You suck, no You suck" argument Or a "Windows Blows" topic ok.

I am sincerly interested in why people prefer Windows to Linux. This came up as I now use Jodi's computer which is running Windows XP. I can see anything that it does that Phoniex does not do. In fact I find myself limited while using Athena (Jodi's comp.)

Thus I am interested with what Linux is missing. Please say more then just, Windows is easier to setup, I know this might be the case, but I doubt it is the only reason.

I hope this turns out well :roll:

edit's

This Topic Will be strictly moded, you have been warned! :wink:

[PX] Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **[PX] Nebuchadnezzar** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 8:09 pm

I know you wanted more reasons, but that's almost it. I know windows. When I set up a new computer or install an OS, it's easier for me to put windows on it. If I knew how to install and use Linux, I would. Maybe at the next LAN, you should hold a Linux seminar to teach people. If someone showed me how to use Linux, I'd switch in a second.

Also, I'm scared that if something screws up with it, I won't know how to fix it, and will therefore be without a computer until someone who knows how helps me.

[PX]Kal Bob · Post by **[PX]Kal Bob** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 8:17 pm

So, would you say that "Documentation", or rather a lack there of is a major problem?

If the guides and Installers were better made would this encourage you to switch?

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 8:23 pm

Game support. Yes, Wine-x covers that market, but you have to pay for it and it doesn't support everything (ala Blood II). You sometimes need work-arounds for Windows, but these are generally easier to set up.

Driver support for a variety of products. Basic functionality is good and all, but I want just as many driver updates for Linux as I do Windows (if not more seeing as how it's open source).

Dependencies. Not a problem for Gentoo or Debian, but it is for other distros.

Questionnable future. They really need to start making money. We live in a capitalistic society. If a product's good, you've got my money. Yes, updates happen, but I imagine more would happen if there was a monetary gain available. id software's model is recommended by me as it would keep things open source and provide the programmers with a source of income.

Lack of public perception. Linux marketing sucks--plain and simple. The only real public version of Linux is IBM's. It's closed sourced and is strictly there for a serving environment. The public really isn't aware of Linux on the desktop. We know about, but we're computer geeks. Dell, etc. offer Windows and that's all (aside from Gateway, I think).

SCO is also a minor reason. Though everyone is fairly certain that they won't win, there is always that possibility. You go "remove" all the members of SCO, Homey B, and things'll start moving.

Windows is all ready established. If it ain't broke, why fix it? I think it is broke (or will soon be broken), but I'm in the minority in this.

[PX] Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **[PX] Nebuchadnezzar** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 8:36 pm

[PX]Kal Bob wrote:So, would you say that "Documentation", or rather a lack there of is a major problem?

If the guides and Installers were better made would this encourage you to switch?

It's not really that, I prefer to see it done and do it, rather than read how.

[Fallen]Thumperup · Post by **[Fallen]Thumperup** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:01 pm

My 2 sence

I don't prefer windows over linux or vise versa

once I found a good copy of linux it was really easy to setup....... But I was always faced with the question now what ????

I was stuck in a console mode and there is no real easy document on how to get yourself a GUI. What if I wanted to throw on KDE it shows me no easy way to just start installing.

This all and I don't know any of the commands because it is all new to me.

I am liking the fact of no Crashing or less vulnerbilities. One thing I hate about windows is that memory leak. Every 40 or so days it runs out of memory, I tried to delay it by adding more ram, this only delayed for a few more days.

teach me Linux and i'll tell you more about my 2 sence. I use whatever works the best for my needs.

Samurai · Post by **Samurai** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:29 pm

I don't know a whole lot about computer operating systems. I do, however, know that Linux is much more stable than windows, and therefore more reliable. As it turns out I only have one computer of my own, so I'm not going to risk experimentation and essentially labotomizing my comp until somebody else can fix it.

If I had another computer the story would be different, and I would probably run both operating systems, because I know windows, and could still play around with linux. I did install linux on a computer with a friend of mine, but when we got finished the main installation we asked what every other inexperienced user asks: what now? (my friend is very knowledgeable about computers, and we have both done programming all through high school)

That's basically it: Lack of resources (more PCs) for experimentation, and lack of knowledge (which comes from experimentation).

[PX]IronFist · Post by **[PX]IronFist** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 4:42 am

I think the reason basically comes down to only 2 things - compatability and ease of use.
People want their OS to be easy to set-up, easy to maintain, and be instantly compatable with almost every new piece of PC software and hardware on the market (and most old ones). These two factors are more important than all others - including stability and security.
If Linux had these two things covered then I think it would be able to overcome all other obsticals against it - like lack of public perception.

For myself the ease of use isn't that much of a factor, I prefer customizability over user friendlyness (although everyone likes a GUI sometimes), but compatability is a real issue.
When I install a new piece of software I don't want to have to do any tinkering with my OS to get it working (assuming my drivers are up to date).
When I install new hardware I want the drivers to be easy to find, well designed and implemented, and frequently updated.
These are the advantages that Windows offers.

[Fallen]Thumperup · Post by **[Fallen]Thumperup** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:59 am

main reason covered many times

The General Public is stupid, anyone that has worked in retail knows this. The easier it is to use the better off they are.

[PX]Kal Bob · Post by **[PX]Kal Bob** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 10:59 am

So then we are up to three right?

1. Documentaion.

2. Ease of Use.

3. Compatability (Hardware/Software)

Ok,

Reason 1: I agree totaly. The Eliteist nature of most Linux Instruction can get damn anoying at times. I think that I can make a good run with these seminars. I Think I can make them more understandable.

Reason 2: can we expand on this? I mean, specificaly what needs to be easy. KDE is very windows like, so lets assume that this full GUI is installed. What else needs to be simple?

Reason 3: I also agree, slow driver support is a pain in the ass! But it is comming along. Most new hardware comes with drivers for Linux. You just have to get them of the companies website.

If I missed any reasons from above this post, please point them out to me. I am also very pleased with this disscution so far. It will be very helpful for my Seminars.

[Fallen]TSB · Post by **[Fallen]TSB** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:39 pm

ok this is a easy answer... Windwos is main streem.. also it comes with most computers.. so for the sake of its there and you need to do nothing with it to get it started ... people use what is givien to them.. if computers started comming with just linux then the question would be .. why not windows.. also here is a twist.. if linux had been the one to come with computer from the start.. would people be using windows becuase it was like the underground gui and to prove a point?? weird to think about...

I know Linux is better for servers but I think using it is also your way of saying "I am different" "I dont wanna be one of you windows zombies"

nothing persional..

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:56 pm

Seemed to fit the trend of the thread:

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040303/index.html

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:51 pm

as for the ease of use it basically comes back to... what now? feeling...
heres what i mean we are all so familiar with windows that we are mostly competent enough to tinker around with this or that and not worry about screwing things up to badly. As with Samuri i would have to agree that lack of reasources is huge
my thing is that i cant start tinkering with linux because i dont have the know-how (docs) and I cant afford to bugger up my computer because linux allows you all power. Thus i do something wrong and I cant even get to the net to figure out what the hell i did wrong let alone how to try and fix it

i suppose it comes down to ultimate paranoia ... if i break it i cant fix it...
i mean the other thing is most of us dont like a huge learning curve or stepping out of the comfort zone. We know windows... and i dont know about anyone else but when i think about linux i get quite overwhelmed becauise i wouldnt even know where to start

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:11 pm

Remember when I was talking about virtual Linux, Homey B?

This is what I was talking about:

http://www20.tomshardware.com/howto/20040305/index.html

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:54 am

@$$hats like the ones in this article also don't help matters (though, Homey B already brought this up):

http://www.reallylinux.com/docs/snobsoped.shtml