Would you switch to Windows if it becomes free of cost and leave Linux?

[hanen105]

What would cause one to leave Linux for Windows?

[sanderd17]

I wouldn't switch back to windows, now I'm used to Linux and it's much better and easier to work with. I think along with me not many people will leave Linux for Windows but on the other hand not many people will leave Windows for Linux because they're afraid of Linux while they should be afraid of the power Windows has.

[golusweet]

No, I will stick with Linux.

I'm sick of Installing Anti-viruses for Windows, and Blue screen of death.

It's freaking tired to install drivers for my hardware in Windows.

and of course, Frequent reboots for everything.

Windows is so slow for me.:P

[SuperSonic4]

No, I wouldn't. I like the idea of repositories and the command line

[meeples]

linux ftw :)

[belikralj]

I'd stick with linux because it lets me do what I want when I want and doesn't hide any system files or configurations from me in some ridiculously inaccessible place. It's not the FREE as in money that attracts me to linux it's the I'm FREE to do what ever I want with it because it is so modular.

[glotz]

I'd make the switch if the operating systems changed their licenses with each other...

[belikralj]

True, I might then as well but Windows would still be the worse OS. However what I forgot is that if Windows went open source it would no longer remain as atrocious as it is at present since we would start improving it :)

[BkkBonanza]

And I thought Windows was already free...(as in beer).

[ddrichardson]

I'm not sure opening Windows would help, if what I've been told by a friend who works at Redmond the code is so indecipherable it would take forever to understand it before you could do anything with it.

Joking aside, Windows lacks a number of features that I like - elevated rights, multiple desktops to name but a few.

The other side of the coin is that freely available software for Windows is mostly awful or crippled in some way. We seem to forget all the associated OSS applications.

[khelben1979]

I answered no. In my opinion: Linux is a good operating system and Windows is not and that's my reason.

[Sewje]

Lets not lie if Windows was free, yes I'd switch anyday because of certain software I can't get with another os, sure there are free alternatives but when you're programmed to use certain software for years its pretty hard to change! Not impossible tho.

[Bölvaður]

use linux for a year and you'll realize why no one would switch :) we all have different reasons though.

[Nizarus]

No :) because free is not open source !!

[Wobblybob]

I'd stick with Linux, since swapping to Ubuntu I have had a hassle free life and am much happier with my computer experience. Why would I want to go back to crashing & re installing & shouting at my poor PC & laptop.

Martin

[Marlonsm]

What me me come to Linux wasn't the price of Windows, the cost was just one of the reasons.

[Dougie187]

I don't use linux because windows costs money. I use linux because it makes my life easier.

I find it much more difficult to code in windows, personally. Mainly because I hate MSVS. The command line is not as elegant as the linux terminal is, and that is one of the main reasons I use linux. Aside that, it's easier to make it my own. The only reason I would ever use windows would be for games, but I don't need those on my computer since I have some consoles.

[locosmurf]

I would stay with linux even if I had to pay for it. I love the fact that you have repositories with all of the packages you need (and many you don't). I like the community help, much better than tech support. I love costumizing my system to my exact needs and wants. Linux is simply better, imho.

[x58]

I had before dual boot and I needed Windows , because there was programs witch one was not work under Linux and then years later I find programs witch one was changer this programs and one day I just was not needed anymore Windows.
I install then Linux and I am with it at that day.I will be with Linux because I love it.Yes sometimes I have problems, but how long it takes I will resolve it.I am very happy with Linux.
Windows is good program, but it is very poring and expensive too.

[RachedTN]

No, because I believe in Open Source and in Linux and I believe that's FOSS is the way that we should take :)

[firebirdworks]

Good luck finding this kind of a windows community.

[mytwobears]

No, I would not switch to windows. When I buy a computer it comes with windows and the first thing I do is install ubuntu over it.

I find ubuntu and linux more interesting and intellectually challenging. I enjoy learning about how things work. I guess I'm a tinkerer and ubuntu/linux satisfies that.

[neilneil2000]

I use both Linux and Windows regularly, and for me, they suit different purposes.

I use Windows for my desktop machine, as it is simple to do things. Day to day tasks tend to be easier on Windows for example:


Drivers are freely available and *just work*
Microsoft's domination means that interworking and sharing requires very little set up.
I use MSN, and none of the clones are quite as good (read multiple logins & webcam)


Ubuntu is certainly heading in the right direction, and for servers, there is no way I would choose windows.

I know there are people that disagree with this, but before I get shot down...this is a poll and this is just my view...eek

[Zoowey]

I answered no for the reason that I have been using and continue to partially use Windows for 13 years and ever since I mostly switched to Linux I have found it easier and friendlier to use than Windows. Linux is open source and a lot of software available for it is open source as well which allows a complete control over customability and personal preference.

Windows can be customized but not nearly as much as Linux can be. If your tired of customizing the outside of the software with Linux you get to customize to inside if you wish, something that isn't really possible in Windows.

I have Windows 7 Release Candidate on a separate partition and have used it extensively and still greatly prefer Linux.

I find Linux to be a more stable and a more compatible OS that can be used on literally any computer.

Overall it's just a dream to use. I am very happy with it. :D

[khelben1979]

I'm using Debian myself and I'm impressed of how good it works. It's a huge relief to use than using Windows which can be a real pain sometimes.

[hazelnuts84]

In Tunisia it's already free of charge!!! :)

I won't even think about switching to it even if it becomes opensource!!

[Gramps]

As I read the question it didn't say that Windows would become open source, it would be Free.

As with most I don't miss having to scan for viruses every hour nor do I miss the fact that Windows thinks I dumb and wants to control everything and do it it's way no matter what I think or want.

I won't miss surfing the web and being attacked by a milioucious site in a drive by.

What will or would I miss about Winodws? You know off the top of my head I can't think of a single thing.

So would I go back to Windows, not during my life time....

[Ravernomina]

sick of viruses,spyware,ad-ware and all the other idiot things windows has...

[alaya.zied]

I'm using Linux because it's free software not because it cost nothing (in Tunisia windows is already cost nothing :) )

[Alterax]

No. There's a lot more to free than just immediate monetary cost or lack thereof. For me to call something free (and mean it):

*It has to grant me the freedom to run it as I wish, for any reason (Windows' DRM implementation and Trusted Computing denies me this right).

*I have to have full access to the source code and the right to study it and modify it to suit my needs. (Example--to compile it for other architectures I use beyond the x86 or the x64. Like ARM, or PowerPC, or SPARC)

*The freedom to distribute copies to others, either for or without a fee.

*The freedom to distribute any improvements I make as part of the code.

So even if there's no price tag, Windows still doesn't fit any of these prerequisites--which are important to me as a programmer and as a user.

Now on the other hand, there are open-source operating systems designed to be free implementations of Microsoft Windows. There's no hypothetical "if" to it; they are available now. ReactOS is a reasonably well-known one, and if I'm not mistaken it fits the freedoms described above AND is free of charge. It's an interesting project, and it gets to be a closer and more compatible approximation every day. Still, I really have no reason to switch to it. To me, the GNU/Linux environment is a lot more efficient and a lot easier to understand.

[netBoss]

Salutation

Non je vais pas changer sous Windows
En plus je utulise Windows piraté donc je m'enfou si il est devenu FREE
Note : Je utulisais Windows au passé.

Merci
netBoss

[alhaines]

LINUX FOR NOW!

Open Source is like a religious experience so there is no going back, it is no longer an option. How can I unknow the truth of being able to configure my system my way!

oh and I save a lot not needing to have the virus's cleaned out of my daughters laptop!

:)

[chrisinspace]

People have to pay for Windows? :confused: :P

[Neo31]

Nothing would cause me to switch to Windows, I wont do it be cause even if it becomes free it will suck as it did all the time :)
the reason : Microsoft is the leader of closed source, it's great with marketing easy for simple users, but technically not professional or better than Linux.
If one day i would pay for an commercialized operating system it wont be Windows it should be something like Solaris, UNIX or something like that.

[ddrichardson]

easy for simple users
Having spent the last week training staff on Sharepoint Team Services on Windows XP I wouldn't even say that.

[zenithdave]

A 64 bit version of windows 7 yes, well i intend to buy it soon as it comes out so i don't know why i bothered posting..........ahh yes 64 bit Karmic and 64 bit Windows dual boot = Heaven.

[Cope57]

I am sure this poll would have different results in the Windows Forum (http://www.windowsforum.com/).

[Wiebelhaus]

No , because Windows is innately insecure and unstable. I don't trust my private data on one , period.

[doas777]

I would have more windows boxes than i do, were that the case. it certainly wouldn't replace Linux any more than Linux has replaced windows for me.

[Neo31]

Having spent the last week training staff on Sharepoint Team Services on Windows XP I wouldn't even say that.hum! may be :p but I don't like it anyway, it's not a matter of easy or hard to use for me but a matter of TRUST and open/closed source.

No , because Windows is innately insecure and unstable. I don't trust my private data on one , period.Yep, that's it ;)

[mannishboy]

J'ai voté Non ,

Mais ... win n'est il pas gratuit en tunisie ?:mrgreen: n'est il pas piraté ?:mrgreen:

Avez vous vu un con qui la payé ?

Et Malgré on Opte pour Linux .

Donc c'est une question de Stabilité et surtout D'amour .

[MaWaLe]

The cost is not the only reason for choosing Linux.
Personnally i think that it's the last reason. What do you think about the real reason fior choosing this OS :
- reliability
- strength
- security
- flexibility
- evolutive
- professional
- ....


The answer for me is :
why should i choose to use the copycat OS when i can use the original one which invented the concept (being stolen by M$) :p :p :p :p

[pi4r0n]

I completely agree with MaWaLeto.

On another hand we don't really need to switch to Windows :) as we got all these virtual machines now so we can use Linux and Windows at the same time :)

Cheers

pi4r0n

[megamania]

What would cause one to leave Linux for Windows?
I'll switch to Windows the day I find it is better for me.

At the moment, I have a dual boot on my laptop (Vista/Ubuntu) and I NEVER boot to Windows. I left it there just because I somehow paid for it.

[pr.nizar]

Moi je suis pas mazo comme la plupart ici! :lolflag:
Et pourquoi être obligé de switcher? J'utilise les deux et je tire profit de chacun d'eux! ;)
Faire un sondage sur la question sur un forum dédié à Ubuntu n'est vraiment pas fair play! :mrgreen:
Dans l'état actuel des choses, je switcherais.. :) Ubuntu n'est pas encore tout-à-fait prêt à mon avis.. ;)

[Neo31]

Ubuntu n'est pas encore tout-à-fait prêt à mon avis.. ;)Can you tell us about some arguments you based you choice on?
Do you think Windows is ready? if yes, why?
If there is no way for Ubuntu because it is not ready as you say did you tried other Linux OSs?
Thanks :)

[Blackperle]

the ideologie of the Linux OS is attractive not linux itself.Many users will try free OS but anyone would feel as free as in linux OS.
Many people have the illusion that using windows is so simple ,but this simplicity involves lack of creativity and imagination.this is what i understood by switching to LInux .
Thank you whom gave from their precious time.

[pedja_portugalac]

Windows is already free of cost to me :) and I use it (windows 7) just to update my cars tomtom gps device. :mad: Shame on tomtom, they use lot of GPL codes but the only OSs you can update with are windows and mac. :mad:

PS. Do you know that Dutch people dry toilet paper so they can use it at least 3 times? :mad:

[Abouyeza]

Bonjour et merci à pr.nizar pour son honnêteté, en effet (je cite) "Faire un sondage sur la question sur un forum dédié à Ubuntu n'est vraiment pas fair play".
En ce qui me concerne, je n'utilise Windows que sur mon ordinateur portable, et parce que j'ai besoin d'utiliser des présentations faites en français et en arabe, sous PowerPoint, et que je n'arrive pas à les retrouver "indemnes", lorsque je les ouvre avec OpenOffice, notamment à cause d'un problème de police arabe Linux à laquelle je tiens (Scheherazade). Mais à part ça, je n'ouvre plus Windows et je tiens à Linux pour toutes les raisons évoquées ci-dessus : liberté (pas forcément gratuité totale), sécurité (pas de virus), éthique (partage, communauté), efficacité (ça marche !), ainsi que pour le plaisir de ne pas faire comme la majorité ! (un p'tit côté rebelle ;))....
مع السلامة

[guriinii]

because I despise Microsoft. Simple

[hoppipolla]

Linux runs faster and does more, at least on here :)

That said, I dual boot for games :)