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Meads
June 5th, 2006, 08:10 PM
Id like to know why you decided to use linux?

Personally i got fed up with windows and wanted a challenge so i thought id give linux ago after reading about it, and i must say i think it's great... :)

John.Michael.Kane
June 5th, 2006, 08:16 PM
I wanted to learn something new, and linux just seemed more user friendly atleast for me.

BitTorrentBuddha
June 5th, 2006, 08:18 PM
I had had an interest in open source software while still on windows. I felt comfortable using the command line. But most importantly, I was building my own computer and needed an OS that didn't cost $100+ :grin: .

Johnsie
June 5th, 2006, 08:22 PM
1. I find Linux a lot more customizable... Windows has themes but I think the Gnome ones are better looking.

2. I find the webserving software more stable, faster and reliable... XAMPP makes it really easy to set up apache, mysql,php and perl in under 1 minute.

3. Linux installs quicker than Windows

4. Out of the box support for my wi-fi and digital camera

5. I havent had any spywar/virus problems sinc einstalling Linux (although that would probably chnage if Linux became mainstream)

6. The wow factor... people love seeing and using my computer because it's 'different'

7. The applications menu in gnome is well organized. I found that in windows the start menus can become pretty messy.

8. Networking seems simpler to me. I dont know why, it just does

9.Using the repositories to install software is convenient. I used to have to go to download and sift through a lot of junk (which usually included spyware)

10. Music sounds better... that's just my opinion though :-)

11. It's free and I dont have to phone Microsoft when I install it

12.It's easy to get tech support via trhese forums or irc

13. Windows XP is 5 years old... Ubuntu has up-to-date technology since Dapper was only released last week.

14. I like the games :-)

tribaal
June 5th, 2006, 08:25 PM
I liked the idea to boot something different from the mainstrem suff. Then I got hooked in by the high degree of freedom given, and by learning something new (I was born curious).

I know, the "being different" reason sounds kind of silly to me too, but that's the way it is ;)

- trib'

Johnsie
June 5th, 2006, 08:29 PM
That too... I'm a bit of a scientist and I like to experiment :-)

OffHand
June 5th, 2006, 08:34 PM
I'm a masochist......................................... ................................. J/K.

I'm not all that rich and I got tired of Windows security and stability issues.
I also like computers that don't ring up 20 companies when I put it on.

Johnsie
June 5th, 2006, 08:37 PM
Because Windows is for chavs

?????
June 5th, 2006, 08:40 PM
1. I wanted to learn to use a new OS.
2. I read about Linux for a long time, but never tried it
3. I can forget about viruses
4. Very customizable
5. Stable OS
6. FREE
7. I'm interested in Open Source software
8. Multi Desktops to get rid of the clutter problem.
9. No need for doing the regular defrag, spyware/virus scans, etc
10. And windows is for computer newbies, which I am not
11. Did I mention security?
12. No BSODs!!!

My family doesnt even know I use Ubuntu/Linux...

bored2k
June 5th, 2006, 08:50 PM
The Choice.
I've been a tech-slacky/pringao for as long as I can remember, and at one point, I suddenly found myself in a state where nothing that I didn't already know of Windows interested me.
A handful of boring issues I experienced on Windows slowly made me lose interest/enthusiasm on it. On linux I have numerous issues of many kinds, but seeing them break my system/solving them are almost always masochistically fun to deal with.
I've always said that computers were meant to do what we order them to do, not the other way around. Linux makes me feel like I'm actually bossing my computer around into doing what I like, even if it sometimes takes me hours of ear-pulling and smacking to make it obey.
Et al.

xtacocorex
June 5th, 2006, 09:18 PM
It's a great place for FORTRAN code development...
I like the ability to configure my system how I want it
I can also teach myself Python easier
I don't have to fix peoples' Windows problems anymore
Multiple Desktops
Don't have to worry about anyone messing my system up since they don't have the root password

gr0kzer0
June 5th, 2006, 09:47 PM
A big motive for me was the fact I hate multinational corporations. When I was a kid, I went through a phase of refusing Coca-Cola and Big Macs cos "they take advantage of the poor and dispossessed, man!" I grew out of that... I drink coke and eat burgers nowadays, but I still feel guilty ;)

I was always reading bad stuff about Microsoft and Bill Gates - I thought about going with Apple for a while, but their kit's priced well out of my range, and anyway they're pretty bad themselves. Then I read about Linux... the story of how Linus created the kernel basically for kicks... and the way a world-wide group of hackers got together over the nascent internet and created this great beast that is Linux. It's a great story, and it appealed to the anarchist in me (I mean, the birth of Linux is anarchy with a capital A,N,A,R,C,H,Y). Plus I was penniless and needed to have a computer - I coulda pirated a copy of Windows, sure, but Linux just seemed... cooler.

I had a very basic grounding in Unix (I had a shell account on a machine running NetBSD) so I wasn't a complete n00b... though of course I had no experience of administration, I'd never used X, I could knock together a simple shell script and that was about it. But when I installed Ubuntu, when I came to Ubuntuforums.org, I knew I'd made the right move. I was where I belonged.

I lurk in the Linux Usenet groups a bit, I've used other forums too, and they're so full of elitism, with their "RTFM" and "Duh! N00b!" kinda crap. But this site is so different. The people here who know stuff are so keen to share their knowledge and advice. I've learnt so much by hanging here, I even feel confident in offering advice to newbies myself sometimes. Linux in general, and Ubuntu in particular, has a wicked blend of anarchy, humanity, humility and magnamanity. These are qualities that I admire in others and try to develop in myself. It goes beyond computing. Sure, it's computing that brings us together, that motivates us to act the way we do. But there's more to it than just nerds sitting up all night bullshitting on IRC. Ubuntu is Linux for human beings. And I'm proud to be one of the humans.

23meg
June 5th, 2006, 09:56 PM
- Because I need an operating system for my computer and Linux based ones are the most superior today for my uses.

- Because I see a future in open source and I want to contribute to that future and be part of it and shape it.

- Because I'm very much into the open way of doing things (in a very general sense) and great collaboration that has formed around it.

- Because I see the point in the ideology of Free Software and I want to support it on its way to the masses in the near future.

- Et al.

guine
June 5th, 2006, 10:09 PM
Tux racer and windows kept working less and less.

deadgobby
June 5th, 2006, 10:09 PM
It is the best thing since slice bread.
Freedom is the main thing.
Gobby

isotonic
June 5th, 2006, 10:41 PM
my reply is exactly the same! :D


Id like to know why you decided to use linux?

Personally i got fed up with windows and wanted a challenge so i thought id give linux ago after reading about it, and i must say i think it's great... :)

IYY
June 5th, 2006, 10:42 PM
Because I don't mind spending a day installing an OS, but when it's installed I expect it to keep working.

Bloch
June 5th, 2006, 11:02 PM
All my life I'd used bootleg copies of windows, anti-virus software, MS office etc etc.

There came a time when I decided it was better to show my opposition to multinational monopolies by using open-source software than by stealing.

G Morgan
June 5th, 2006, 11:05 PM
A lot of the same reasons as mentioned here but the main thing for me is control. Neither of the big corperate OSes give you control.

Apple always talk about the Macintosh experience or whatever. I wanted my computer to have the G Morgan experience.

Also I like the development model. I think it can be shown that open source is the best pure development model. I don't believe an inferior system should be used just because its easier to make money out of it. Use the best system, find financial benefits for doing it (many have like IBM and Red Hat. Good examples of where corperations needn't be evil to make money). Even if you make less than MS you can still take the market because you have the best system.

This really is a crucial point. I think it can be posible for companies to make money out of Linux and help towards development of the gratis software in the process. Businesses will want support for products, charging here is not against the philosophy. I think such a system should be supported where posible. If IBM trounce MS using Linux it would be worthwhile but it would be equally valuable if it makes MS change their ways and move towards a similar system.

nuvo
June 5th, 2006, 11:12 PM
I moved to Linux partly to avoid the fact that Microsoft is well known for leaving gaping holes in their OS for weeks or even months before patching them with code which often breaks something else (when I got the system I ripped to bits to make my current one, it had a notice in with it stating that if I installed SP2, it's probably stop the keyboard or something else working correctly because it has extra keys).
I also prefer free and open source software as there's less chance of small yet decent projects dying (if the developer pulls out, there's others to keep it going) and even if they do, if I know the language used to make them, I can try and build off of them myself.

I also had that niggling little voice in the back of my head ranting about security issues, permissions and admin accounts.
Fair enough, XP has admin accounts, but it still lacks the ability to easily lock user groups out of specific locations such as keeping my dev server out of reach of family members who'd stick random junk on it in an attempt to use it as a full server.
I like Mac's for using BSD Unix and their designs, don't get me wrong, but I'm still not willing to fork out over £900 for something with the power of the Intel iMac just to do exactly what I can under Ubuntu, but using TextMate instead of SCIte or Bluefish and I'm pretty happy with a 27" LCD monitor rather than paying over a grand for a 20" screen.
It's all well and good claiming Mac's are better than PC's when it comes to performance, but Apple uses the term "PC" to refer to computers running Windows rather than for what it actually is, "Personal Computer".
Basically, they claim the Mac either isn't a computer, or isn't personal and Linux would square up better against OS X than Windows XP in most area's not related to commercial apps like Photoshop.

Ubuntu also gives me a wealth of dev possibilities with only a few clicks in Synaptic while Windows would end up with me downloading everything, installing and actually getting things to play nice.
Granted, knowing how to get things running is a good thing, but if you're developing a website and not building a server, you're going to want to sidestep Apache config files and such and packages like EasyPHP are often out of date by a fair bit (and EasyPHP is in French unless you patch it).

Ubuntu was able to get hardware made by Microsoft running quicker than Windows XP and without rebooting (I got a wireless mouse and I had to reboot for XP to notice it, but Ubuntu used it as soon as it was plugged in) and in general, hardware detection has been pretty swell under Ubuntu with no extra driver installs (well, I used the nvidia driver for XGL support), and no mass of restarts and \ or hardware conflicts.
Even my WiFi was easier to get going.

Also, Linux changes a lot while Windows doesn't, so there's always something new to fiddle with \ break and then fix under Linux.

rado_london
June 5th, 2006, 11:21 PM
I moved to linux because I decided to learn computers in a new aspect. Linux was the answer to me. Then I started to use Ubuntu first of all because of the funny name but then i realised the name is nothing compared to the well good OS behind it. And hey year and a bit i am happy linux user. I use windows only for office purposes such as Access database which are sadly required for my education.

CronoDekar
June 5th, 2006, 11:25 PM
Originally I installed it on an old WinME computer that was so plagued from malware that it was really beyond fixing, so on kinda a whim I decided to look into this Linux thing, and ended up downloading the Breezy Badger. I was really impressed, and ended up deciding to repartition my HD and put Dapper Drake on it once it became stable.

And man, Dapper's like Speedy Gonzales on my computer. That really surprised me, since my comp is 3 years old and my computers have all gotten really slow by that point -- WinXP was starting to show its age. Two of the other things I really like are that everything I want is free (gratis), and that APT is just about the handiest thing ever. I love just exploring the Ubuntu repositories and seeing what new things I can find -- things I can trust won't put spyware or malware on my system! Plus Update Manager is really, really handy.

lapsey
June 5th, 2006, 11:36 PM
because its the future

givré
June 5th, 2006, 11:49 PM
Cool and free, why something else

paul cooke
June 5th, 2006, 11:49 PM
Id like to know why you decided to use linux?

Personally i got fed up with windows and wanted a challenge so i thought id give linux ago after reading about it, and i must say i think it's great... :)

Microsoft EULAs

Meads
June 5th, 2006, 11:57 PM
Microsoft EULAs
Heh?

xXx 0wn3d xXx
June 6th, 2006, 12:25 AM
I use Linux because it is stable, fast, secure, easy to use, free, and I can do anything with it. There are no limitations or restrictions. With Linux "My Computer is actually "My Computer." It's not under the control of a huge corporation.

rado_london
June 6th, 2006, 12:45 AM
Heh?
If I am right you didnt get what EULA is. This is the very long text which you accept. The whole name is End User Licence Agreement. It has bear stupid things in it.

Stew2
June 6th, 2006, 01:24 AM
Because I like it! :D

xfceslacker
June 6th, 2006, 01:28 AM
I was tired of getting spy ware and viruses, and liked that there was so much free software available for Linux.

vinodis
June 6th, 2006, 10:46 AM
Don't have to Steal costly software.

Don't have to pay Microsoft due.

Looks different.

Something to 'learn' always.

No Virus etc as of now.

vinodis
June 6th, 2006, 10:46 AM
Don't have to Steal costly software.

Don't have to pay Microsoft due.

Nothing pricking the concious - total freedom.

Looks different.

Something to 'learn' always.

No Virus etc as of now.

jethro10
June 6th, 2006, 11:54 AM
Because I took a risk in the belief that linux might just be starting to happen (outside of servers and specialists) and it might be time to get in there.

I'm an IT manager but purley windows/Novel for ever (20 years+).

Free stuff like proxy servers and mail servers etc. is starting to get me thinking about server uses that are cheap. However It was the desktop side that interested me at first.
But if it does break out into the wild, I hope to be ready.
J

Somenoob
June 6th, 2006, 12:05 PM
the main reason would be that it's better in quality.

slakkie
June 6th, 2006, 12:26 PM
Main reason:
* Because I have more say in what it does and how it does it, unlike with MS.
* Better logging functions from applications
* Not GUI driven

Secundairy reasons:
* A lot of support which is free
* I couldn't get FreeBSD working on my laptop
* I'm using unix over 6 years
* A lot of applications are available for free and can replace many closed source applications you use on Windows
* I can play with it, break it, and restore it easily, which is not always the case with Windows (granted, under Linux/Unix it can be a pain in *** as well).

Michael_aust
June 6th, 2006, 12:58 PM
The reason why I first tried it was because of curiosity. I was already using a number of opensource applications, Openoffice.org, Cdex, Firefox, ClamAV and a few others. IO saw that most of these were available for Linux so I thopught I would give it a try to see what it was like.

I talked my friend into comign along for the ride also, so he downloaded suse 9.3 for me. But ti would not install. I was unable to resize the windows partitions. So i used mepis as a live cd for 2 weeks whiel I waited for a new hdd i ordered to come that I ordered to isntlal linux on.

When the hdd arrived I took out thw windows one out it in a box and fitted the new hdd and put on mepis. Then I have used linux since that day. SO far its been nine months. The box with the windows hard drive is on my shelf catching dust. Best decission i ever made.

Yeh so basically it was curiosity. I openoffice and a number of other applications gave me the push. I had not had problems with viruses or anything. Largelly I was ok with windows , i was not unhappy with it. Since using Linux i have come to realsie just how cr*p windows is. I have learn more about computers from the 9 months using linux, then i did for the 5 years I was using windows.

Now I run debian on my desktop, and run xubuntu on my sisters desktop.

bruce89
June 6th, 2006, 01:04 PM
It was curiosity for me too. About 15 months ago, I installed Mandrake 7.2 on a spare computer (I realise it's anchient, but my brother left it lying around). I then seeked out a more modern one (using Wikipedia). What attracted me to Ubuntu was it is only one CD, and it uses firefox (I actually use Epiphany now!), so I installed Warty on my main computer. I have been with Ubuntu ever since.

AndyCooll
June 6th, 2006, 01:23 PM
I'd been using pirated software for years. My conscience got the better of me and I started looking for free alternatives. I came across Firefox, OpenOffice and then Linux. The open-source philosophy soon had me hooked.

I use it now because I feel more comfortable using it and generally prefer it. I like my virtual desktops etc

And I've now got so used to my freedom and choice that any restrictions (EULA's, DRM, "treachorous" computing etc) get right up my nose!

:cool:

Meads
June 6th, 2006, 02:29 PM
Alot of people used to use pirate software here hehe, theres me thinking it was just me :)

some nice replies here, makes up for an interesting read. Thanks :)

G Morgan
June 6th, 2006, 03:15 PM
The best way to respond to the violent defense of 'IP' is to use something else.

Kernel Sanders
June 6th, 2006, 04:15 PM
Ubuntu makes me feel happy using my computer again. I actually feel like my computer is MINE *hugs it* :p

Ubuntu is the ultimate "peace of mind" OS IMHO

=D> to Mark Shuttleworth tbh =D>

chadk
June 6th, 2006, 04:33 PM
I've fiddled with Linux since about 92 but never taken the full leap until about 3 weeks ago. I did it mostly out of curiosity of what the latest state of linux was. I tried a few flavors and settled on Ubuntu because it worked right the first time (well, still a couple graphics card tweeks but thanks Automatix!).

My wife's PC got Linux on it about 3 days after mine because I've literally had to rebuild her windows OS 5 times in the last year or so. She is constantly crashing that thing with malware and spyware, etc., Now, she doesn't even have a root password to do that damage ;) Plus, she liked my Linux PC.

I really like the fact that I can walk away from my Linux box right now and not come back for all year and barring hardware or power failure, the thing will still be running, happily crunching away at any tasks I left it to do before I left.

DigitalDuality
June 6th, 2006, 04:51 PM
d

bluemuffin
June 7th, 2006, 09:13 AM
1. It's FREE (as in beer) or, at least, Ubuntu is free (as promised).
2. I don't like being bullied or see my friends being bullied.
3. I like challenges. Linux is not as easy as Windows, fine with me.
4. I kind of missed the command line, like I used to do in DOS. Makes me feel like a computer hazard. :D

If I like Linux so much, then why I'm still dual booting with Windows (Mine's licensed)?
1. Linux has less third party support than Windows, some of our hardware are not supported by Ubuntu. :mad:
2. Some quality apps in windows does not run in Linux (CAD, GIS, grafix). :mad:
3. Most computer techies (like computer sciences graduates and computer engineers) I met or I work with are so used to Windows they refuse to acknowledge the existence of Linux (even if they have to stick with pirated XPs).:mad: :mad: :mad:

Anyways, thanks for coming out with Xubuntu, we are currently loading and testing it on an old P3 computer. If it works, it could prove a saviour for our older systems. :-D

dada1958
June 7th, 2006, 09:39 AM
I wanted something different, I was already playing with OSS on my Mac. I was getting tired of the expensive upgrades, the hype and the attitude of the average Mac users, thinking they are superior because they are only manipulated. I never liked Windows so that wasn't an option. In August 2005 I read about Ubuntu and since then things went fast.
I've got such more freedom, I'm not tied to too expensive hardware anymore and I like the principle of OSS. Ubuntu is a very good OS with great apps available.

qBaz
June 7th, 2006, 12:32 PM
Besides the obvious and already-stated (free, functional, fast), I've got to confess to a real enjoyment when I've tweaked something, broken it, and then muck around and find the solution. The satisfaction inherent in fixing a problem on a linux machine dwarfs any other platform I've been on. No clue why.

gslo
June 8th, 2006, 10:58 PM
This has to be the most fun I've had since I got my first computer in 2003 (late bloomer).
Point and click was getting boring, and it doesn't teach a person much about "real" computing. It's just more enjoyable learning on Ubuntu than XP ever was.
And of course I can set up a reliable, clean machine for my wife who Does want point and click and I wont be doing maintainance on it every week!

Clean,Secure,Tweakable,Reliable, Free and Tons of Fun!

John.Michael.Kane
June 8th, 2006, 11:02 PM
I'm wating for someone to make a poll Why Don't You Use Linux.. lol j/k

Rhapsody
June 8th, 2006, 11:14 PM
Tired of seeing BSoDs, wanted to give myself a good challenge, figured experience with Linux would be useful in the job market, liked the idea of an OS that would always be free unless I needed specific types of techincal support (which I don't)...