4 Reasons people are not using linux

[debtboy]

Originally Posted by Anupam

I do agree, that Linux is difficult to use. And if you like things simple, then Windows is the better choice over Linux.

Sorry, I can't agree with this statement

Windows "seems" simple because you've probably been using it (and each new version of it) for the last 10 years.

All operating systems have a learning curve, when you've never used it before. Don't confuse familiarity with simplicity.

Ease of use is one aspect just as power/capability is another. I personally prefer linux because I get all the servers (web, ftp, nntp, samba, etc...) for free.

I forgot to mention COST!!! (Ha! Ha! Ha!)

[Jojo Yee]

Hi debtboy,

Welcome to our forum. I'm interested in a few of your posts and great if you can share more your valuable experience in Linux.

Originally Posted by debtboy

THe initial learning curve is almost vertical, but ...In short it's worth the struggle.

As the poll shows and what I agree on, Linux is known for being too difficult to use and set up. The steep learning curve is scaring most users off even though the OS is freely available, and many users are not familiar with it.

Originally Posted by debtboy

...All operating systems have a learning curve, when you've never used it before. Don't confuse familiarity with simplicity...

Absolutely true. Oh yes, familiarity and simplicity are two separate factors, and yet they are somehow inter-related. I've such thought that a simple task (to me) can become very difficult to another user when he is not familiar with it.

Good to see if a new section for Linux in the main page (item 2 under the thread Year has passed, here's what's planned for year 2) is well developed and more how-to's in respect of Linux can be added.

[bk_7312]

Originally Posted by Jojoyee

Year has passed, here's what's planned for year 2

Can't seem to access that link

[debtboy]

Hi Jojoyee, I don't have access to the "editors-forum" in the freeware-forum, so I can't read what's at the link you supplied, but I'll assume it's positive for linux and has to do with sharing info via "How-To", if so I'm all for it.

[Jojo Yee]

Hi debtboy and bk_7312, Sorry for the mix-up. That link is only accessible to the editors. Basically that's a discussion among the editors on a possible section for Linux in the TSA main site.

If you're interested to become an editor, you're most welcome.

[wdhpr]

Sorry, I can't agree with this statement

Windows "seems" simple because you've probably been using it (and each new version of it) for the last 10 years.

All operating systems have a learning curve, when you've never used it before. Don't confuse familiarity with simplicity.

Ease of use is one aspect just as power/capability is another. I personally prefer linux because I get all the servers (web, ftp, nntp, samba, etc...) for free.

Hi Debtboy
To be honest linux was extremely intimidating to me at first. The linux forums I went to were brutal. I was greeted with rudeness and ridicule. What responses I received were in techno geek and way over my head.

I started computers on the old commodore DOS boxes. I even owned an Amiga 1200 with 2 megs of ram 80 meg hard drive and 24 mgz LOL
Ah the good old days

Anyway you seem to have allot of experience, which is what this forum needs. I am just now starting to learn the command line and how the root directory fits into the overall system. This site could really use help by someone that can describe in simple English what Linux is.

What is the linux kernel?
What is the root directory?
Is it better to install linux on the hard drive (dual boot)?
Which distro is best for beginners?
Where are the best help forums?

So many questions. Like a journey into the unknown. I bet many more people would try linux if they can be sure their not going to wipe out their entire computer. Most people will not scrub windows for linux. I can't blame them. I was scared to death partitioning my hard drive for a dual boot setup. I installed a second hardrive which I used to store an exact image of my windows OS before proceeding. Grub was a nightmare and I still cant get my lexmark x1185 printer to work. That said, my 64 bit mepis distro's fly's like an eagle Its fast and with wine installed I can use some of my favorite window's apps. Dosbox enables me to play my favorite old games
Please consider giving your opinion at http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...nux-distro.htm.
Help take the mystery out of linux

Cheers
Wdhpr

[debtboy]

Hey wdhpr,

Yes the good old days...
My parents bought a Commodore 64, but I was too young to really appreciate it.
I do remember using an IBM PC where I would load the DOS floppy and boot (no hard drive), I would save data to that very same floppy.

I would be glad to give a brief overview of the kernel and then go over using Shells and the command line (w/ examples). You will understand the Root directory when we go over the command line.

I won't be much help choosing a particular distro, because they are all basically the same to me (same kernel and set of basic apps). As I said in another post the most noticeable difference in distros is what they choose to include for a GUI.
All distros can be modified.

[wdhpr]

I have been reading up on command line shells by going to the following site:http://www.linuxcommand.org/learning_the_shell.php.

the command line is powerful however its like learning a language. Kinda of like using DOS but just to a point. During the DOS days I used an app called quickmenu which made everything point and click.
I am using mepis and the default GUI is kde. I hear gnome is better but I didn't know I could switch. I will look into it.

It would be great to have you onboard to help with user questions. I have tried to help where I could, however I'm afraid I don't have enough experience to do much good.

What I see as a major hurdle for the average user is just getting linux installed. I don't think people are reading up on the process before trying. They download the ISO and give it a spin. When they go to install it and see they have to partition and create a swap drive they hit the brakes. Fear of messing up their computer. Live CD's give a glimpse but has limitations and is slow (my experience).

I attempted to explain the process http://www.techsupportalert.com/free...t-started.html.

I wish more people could see the true benefits of linux. I am impressed with the speed and how clean it is. I am so tired of watching windows pump out crap. Its like watching someone fix a faulty car by installing equally faulty parts.

Please share. People are hungry to learn.

Cheers
Wdhpr

[PsychEroc]

How about 4 reasons why people ARE using linux? I know nothing about it, except for some of the replies above. Someone said it's faster and safer, but faster and safer at what? Can I run all my office and web programs on it? If so, then faster and safer is certainly a selling-point. But if I have to adopt all new programs, then that's not persuasive. How else could it enrich my computing experience without complicating it? Also, I've never heard anyone end a conversation with: "well if you ran linux then you could that." Are there things that can only be done in linux? Is there a "Top Ten Reasons to Give Linux a Try"?

[Mike Connor]

Originally Posted by PsychEroc

How about 4 reasons why people ARE using linux?

Well, there are a few good reasons to use it.

It is free!

It is easy to install for most things, but you might have to look around a little more for the right drivers or peripheral devices which support it, or which it supports, although there are a great many compatible devices available now. Various support groups publish lists of compatible hardware.

It updates itself automatically without any problems.

Anybody wanting to try a good distribution should try this for instance;

http://wubi-installer.org/

This will install UBUNTU as a dual boot system on a Windows PC. Usually runs completely automatically, and tells you when it is finished. If you like it, just install it to disk directly. The WUBI will import all required settings for internet etc from Windows. Even stuff like bookmarks etc. Firefox, Thunderbird, Open Office, and a few other packages are more or less identical to the Windows versions, certainly as far as using them is concerned. Most people won't notice any difference at all.

It will do practically anything that windows will do, and there is a massive amount of software available for it, first class and free.

It is less susceptible to viruses and other nasties than Windows, for a number of reasons.

There are a couple of things it wont do, some banks and similar institutions use Windows software like Internet Explorer for Home banking and things like that, so if you want to do that you may need WINE which is a program which runs windows applications natively under LINUX.

http://www.winehq.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

It wont allow you to play most of the newest high tech games as these are mostly made for windows.

It will run well on older slower machines. ( Windows often won't even run on new fast ones! )

It is no harder to use than Windows, but there is a learning curve of course. Not many Windows users even know what a cmd prompt is for, and there are a lot of LINUX users who don't either, they don't need to, they just run applications by clicking on icons, exactly the same as in windows.

It is "traditionally" a system for "Command Line Geeks", and other technically minded people, but one may simply ignore that side of things and simply use it, just as most people use Windows.

Most people will be "using" it perfectly happily within an hour. Of course, if you want to program an "all singing all dancing" office suite using LINUX and various other software, then you will need a little more than an hour!

Once people use it they tend to like it. As more and more file formats become universal, ( like PDF's, Document and Graphic formats, various open document formats, etc etc ), there are fewer and fewer barriers to using it, because there is no problem reading existing data. You just have to want to!

Regards....

Mike Connor