Why don't people use Linux?

[Paragon]

I'd be interested in trying Linux out after exams finish. My PC's about due for a format anyways.

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

This guy states it quite plainly:

http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free

M$ is free--that's why people still use it.

[[Fallen]Thanatos]

see, i don't think that is why people use windows compared to Linux.

People like "easy" and as the article says "She wants to be able to log into Hot mail, transfer songs to her MP3 player, and watch You tube. She doesn't care whether all this happens on Windows or whatever"

as we all know most of us a "geeks" and proud to be, but most of the world out there is full of simple minded people that want a "wizard" to do everything. Hitting the "next" button is allot easy er then typing something.

The title of the article is "Windows Is Free
The impact of pirated software on free software"
Its saying that one of the main reasons that people use windows is because you can dl for free.

I call total bullshit on this on!
sure, you can get it free, you find a hacked copy from a p2p server, then you can look for a cd key on-line for it as well. I would say pirated windows is not a "main" reason people use windows.

Now look at it this way,
Your "normal" computer user will go out and buy a pre-made computer. Unlike us who will make our own. Pre-made computers (unless its a Mac) come with windows already and the price is Incorporated into the sale.

Don't get me wrong though, i know allot of people out there have illegal copy's of windows on there computers, i just don't think its a Major contributor to the reason that windows is still the most popular OS.

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

If all you're doing is checking email, watching Youtube, etc. then Linux will do that. Ubuntu does it and can even do it in Wizard form if you want. If you want to verify for yourself, try downloading it. You can just boot off the CD and get everything.

His analogy of cars seems just about perfect to me. I don't how many people have asked me for a copy of Windows. While I agree that many people have Windows because it came with their system, I imagine many of them also have a cracked version on some other one. Friends far less technical savvy than even myself have cracked copies. In my group of Toronto friends alone (geographers, journalists, engineers, interior designers, etc) I would rate the cracked rate at about 75% conservatively.

I, myself, have only owned 3 legit copies of Windows in my life (3.1, 98, and XP home). I only own the last one b/c it happen to come with the laptop.

The power of free is far more powerful than you think. I'm living proof (lobster tank and all the other sh!t I pick up)

[Tempus]

I think this guy is spot on.
Fantastic find Jason very thought provoking. The only people I know using legit copies of xp are like Matt pointed out, people who got it with their computers. I personally have never bought windows in any form. I have the one from the Uni, and 3 from computers I have bought.

While I was running a desktop I used Linux for a lot of things, in fact it was the boot drive. However, with specialized crap on the desktop I have not opted to use it. Also when it comes to gaming I like the simplicity of windows in that I can just throw the cd in and walk away. It doesnt take 3rd party software to run which I personally find very appealing

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

Where people who use Linux are located:

http://royal.pingdom.com/?p=340

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

What needs fixing in Linux:

http://linux.slashdot.org/linux/08/12/01/1356208.shtml

That might be a start.

[[Fallen]Thumperup]

This article writen by Tomshardware is an intresting read about the personal computer

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/app ... ,2080.html