Why Linux

[m0u5e]

I can't help but notice that many posts eventually come down to "Linux vs Windows" or "Linux vs Mac". I'm not a developer or even a computer engineer, so I don't want to really get into the technical justifications of such.

I use Linux because it's free: Yes, costing nothing is an added benefit. And even though I acknowledge that Windows is probably much easier to use in some areas and I've had my fair share of frustrations in Ubuntu/ other distributions, I nonetheless choose Linux. For me, it's a moral incentive beyond anything to use free software.

So when it comes down to it, I use Linux because I think it's the right thing to do. And even if it isn't the best OS out there now (not the point of the debate), there's no reason that any one of us can't change that, because we are entirely community driven.

So Linux: not because it's easy, or free, or empowering, but because its ideologically sound.

Am I alone?

[Phenax]

I use it because I am far more productive and happy in the environment for most operations.

[reyfer]

I use it because it makes working on my PC fun again...I can experiment, change things, break things and repair them by myself....I can learn and make stuff that maybe others will use too...and I can share all that.

In the end, I use it because to me, it is the best, and it being free/libre is a definitive plus....so yes, I use it also because ideologically it appeals to me

[|{urse]

I use it because if i try to quit i get terrible headaches, crawly skin and the shakes.

[omegamike3]

I use it because if i try to quit i get terrible headaches, crawly skin and the shakes.

I weep uncontrollably for weeks on end...

[FFighter]

The Good:

* POSIX-based OS so...
-> Inherently more secure than Windows (this is big);
-> Powerful shell and CLI
-> Lightweight by nature
-> Modular

* Free and open -> This is good for learning purposes and sometimes productivity if you like to hack code;

The Bad

* Not so popular as of yet, lack of support from major commercial software companies, so:
- No decent gaming (wine doesn't help much... can I play Crysis? No);
- The availability of commercial software is limited. This means no Adobe Creative Suite. And wine doesn't help much either.
- When there is support, it is often second-class support, take a look at Skype and the Flash Player (even though things are getting better)
- Hardware support is limited too (manufacturer's fault), even though the community has been doing a marvelous work in this regard.

Is Linux ready for the desktop? Of course. But Windows still needs to be a guest ... Unless you are a freak C hacker that uses only the CLI and browse the web through Links.

So, why do I use it?
1) Security
2) POSIX aspects (I'm a Rails programmer and Ruby and Rails work better in POSIX envs)
3) Shell (bash)
4) It was a good challenge for me :)

And please, stop bashing closed-source software. There is nothing wrong with it.

[LaRoza]

Am I alone?

No one is alone on this forum statistically speaking there is likely to be another with a similiar opinion.

I use Linux


It is free and easy to use (yes, even the "harder" varieties are easy to use if you know what you are doing)
It is the operating system I know the best
Hardware compatibility. I don't have to worry about things not working like I do in Windows
Speed and productivity.

[m0u5e]

No one is alone on this forum statistically speaking there is likely to be another with a similiar opinion.

Thanks :3.

I just think that theres a lot of emphasis on Linux being technologically superior to other OSes. I'm just trying to explore the alternate possibilities of using Ubuntu and other variations of Linux because of the freedom afforded, rather than technical benefits.

I think this could potentially be an important marketing point for those who are new to Linux or looking to switch, especially those who aren't computer savvy.

[madjr]

Thanks :3.

I just think that theres a lot of emphasis on Linux being technologically superior to other OSes. I'm just trying to explore the alternate possibilities of using Ubuntu and other variations of Linux because of the freedom afforded, rather than technical benefits.

I think this could potentially be an important marketing point for those who are new to Linux or looking to switch, especially those who aren't computer savvy.

you are not alone

not only is the best OS (for me it is)

it's also the right thing to do as you said.

am against an unfair monopoly

once again humans are fighting for their rights and their freedom.

but this time we'll try to do it permanently. We're the future

Open source, creative commons, copyleft, green computing, etc.

you name it, we're doing it for a better world where our kids (and their kids) can live in.

The digital world will be a fair world if we help it.

software will be so important that it will even become part of our brains and bodies (in the not-so-distant future).

Imagine some mega-corporations controlling humanity at their will. We can prevent that today by constructing the base for tomorrow.

not only a software base, but also a human base (people who appreciate freedom, not just functionality or end-results)

[erginemr]

Here is my two cents:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=4414188&postcount=1
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=4417621&postcount=13
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3683019&postcount=29