I can't convince cousin that linux isn't worse than windows.

[lakotajames]

I wouldn't care too much except that when I visit his home I am forced to use the worthlessness that is sometimes referred to as Windows. I tried to tell him about it, but he had a bunch of stupid reasons not to, such as "Nothing in life is free, so it must be some kind of scam that charges you later or something" and "hackers made it, so they must want people to use it so they can hack them". There are many more, but those are the two he says the most. The strange thing is that he uses Firefox. When I told him that Firefox is open source just like Linux he just got mad. A different time he said that he wished Mozilla would make a anti-virus, I asked him why they would bother when they could just use Linux, but that didn't work either. Any suggestions for how I could convince him to at least try it?

[flytripper]

dont bother. just keep using it yourself and he might see the light. the more you push the more he's likely to resist. just keep praying brother :P

[Skripka]

You know what they say about foolish people and their money.....

[knutschr]

http://blog.anamazingmind.com/2008/02/why-linux-doesnt-spread-curse-of-being.html

[kerry_s]

I wouldn't care too much except that when I visit his home I am forced to use the worthlessness that is sometimes referred to as Windows. I tried to tell him about it, but he had a bunch of stupid reasons not to, such as "Nothing in life is free, so it must be some kind of scam that charges you later or something" and "hackers made it, so they must want people to use it so they can hack them". There are many more, but those are the two he says the most. The strange thing is that he uses Firefox. When I told him that Firefox is open source just like Linux he just got mad. A different time he said that he wished Mozilla would make a anti-virus, I asked him why they would bother when they could just use Linux, but that didn't work either. Any suggestions for how I could convince him to at least try it?

dude, use a live cd or usb and leave other peoples machines alone.
there's many to choose from, i'll often use different ones so they can see the variety of distros. if you can spare it, leave the cd for them to play with.
it depends on the person, but if there in to xp, i'll usually use pclinux, if there in to gaming i'll use a gaming distro, etc...

http://distrowatch.com/

[jonian_g]

Show him what OS are running the Top500 supercomputers in the world. And tell him that because of linux he has internet. Power of all the computers that use linux and... no internet.

Link to the list:

http://www.top500.org/stats/list/31/osfam

And a piechart:

http://www.top500.org/charts/list/31/osfam

[collinp]

Keep trying. Remember though, don't try to force linux on people, otherwise they may never try it.

[jonian_g]

if there in to gaming i'll use a gaming distro, etc...

I wouldn't recommend linux to someone that wants to play games.

[flytripper]

games are ace on linux man what ya talkin about?

[lakotajames]

actually, only games he plays are flight sims. so, is there an easy way to put ubuntu on a 2gb flash drive?

[scotcella]

I'm not a MS hater- I use it for specific purposes....so I use both Ubuntu and XP.

Anyway don't waste your breath, just let him spend what he sees fit- OS, Antivirus, computer repairs etc.

[jonian_g]

I'm talking about the games of Big Name game companies. And as for wine and cedega they don't play the latest games. I agree that linux has very good FPS games, commercial and non. I have spend many hours playing Quake 4...

[jonian_g]

actually, only games he plays are flight sims. so, is there an easy way to put ubuntu on a 2gb flash drive?

Of course. Many. The one I prefer and find it easier to use is:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

[collinp]

actually, only games he plays are flight sims. so, is there an easy way to put ubuntu on a 2gb flash drive?

Default Ubuntu install is (i believe) 4GB, so you would need somthing that size or bigger to install ubuntu. Try installing some distribution like Puppy Linux to a 2GB flash drive.

[jonian_g]

I have done it with a 2GB flash...
Actually it's a liveusb, you don't install ubuntu in it.

[Vorian Grey]

I wouldn't bother arguing wth him either. it's obvious that he is very closed minded. Besides, it is his computer. He has the right to run what he wants on it. Just install Linux to a USB and use that when you need to.

[lisati]

I'm not a MS hater- I use it for specific purposes....so I use both Ubuntu and XP.

Anyway don't waste your breath, just let him spend what he sees fit- OS, Antivirus, computer repairs etc.
+1: I use XP for some things (mainly video editing), and Ubuntu for just about everything else.

Both my current machines default to starting in Ubuntu but with the dual-boot option of XP, so if in-laws come over for assistance, there's the opportunity for exposure to Ubuntu.

Gentle exposure is probably better than getting into arguments........I "discovered" Ubuntu after remembering a suggestion to check out Linux by an acquaintance and then using Google......

[molotov00]

If he's happy with Windows, who are you to tell him otherwise? You can only provide the information, which you have.

[jonian_g]

If he's happy with Windows, who are you to tell him otherwise? You can only provide the information, which you have.

Being happy with something doesn't mean you have to reject an alternative without trying it.

[steveneddy]

Although you may have the best intentions, don't force him to change.

Let him see that your PC never or hardly crashes and that it is stable, dependable and reliable.

Show him how good the desktop looks.

Preaching too much drives many people away from Linux.

No need to be a zealot.

[Vorian Grey]

I use XP for some things (mainly video editing), and Ubuntu for just about everything else.


I use XP at work and Ubuntu at home. Nothing wrong with running Windows if someone wants/needs to. We use several custom built Access databases and there is no way my company will ever change. I don't even try to get them to. I figure it's their money and their time to spend as they see fit.

[Spaceman9]

101 things that the Mozilla browser can do that IE cannot. http://www.xulplanet.com/ndeakin/arts/reasons.html

10 Reasons Why Linux Ubuntu is Better than Windows http://www.sizlopedia.com/2008/03/29/10-reasons-why-linux-ubuntu-is-better-than-windows/

101 reasons why Linux is better than Windows http://cityblogger.com/archives/2007/01/24/101-reasons-why-linux-is-better-than-windows

Linux for the International Space Station Program http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3024

VIDEOS
WINDOWS VISTA AERO VS LINUX UBUNTU BERYL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ

3D Desktop! TouchScreen and XGL on Linux! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx9FgLr9oTk&feature=related

IBM Linux ad: Prodigy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL0G9wK8j4&feature=related

Novell Linux - Apple Ad Spoof (1st) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtp5gNhBZgo&feature=related

"WARNING" - Linux commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAr3XbqUbjo&feature=related


I've found in my own personal life there are four main reasons people don't use Linux.

1. They don't know Linux is out there.

2. They think anything free must be rubbish.

3. They don't want to change from Windows to Linux because they think people will think they're poor if they have to use a free OS and free software.

4. They think Linux is only for geeks that build their own computers and can't get a girl friend.

Comparison of Windows and Linux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Windows_and_Linux

Windows dominates in the desktop and personal computer markets with about 90% of the desktop market share, and in 2007 accounted for about 66% of all servers sold.[2] In server revenue market share (2007Q4) Windows achieved 36.3% and Linux achieved 12.7%.[3] As of November 2007, Linux powered 85% of the world's most powerful supercomputers, compared to Windows' 1.2% [4]. In February 2008, Linux powered five of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies, compared to Windows' two.

The servers on the WWW run Linux and the mainframes run FreeBSD. Linux is used in cell phones, microwave ovens, the computers in cars, the computers in military and commercial jet aircraft, the International Space Station, all Universities, most collages and high schools, scientific research centers around the world and the list goes on and on. Magic Light Studios create all their special effects with computers running Linux. Without Linux we wouldn't even have block buster special effects.

We live in a UNIX world. Anyone that learns how to use the UNIX family of operating systems will be much better prepared for the high tech future we will all have to cope with. Windows has the home computer market. The UNIX family of operating systems has everything else.

[Pro-reason]

His problem seems to be not with Linux but with the concept of liber and gratis software. The best way to make him see sense, therefore, is to point out how much of such software he already uses.

You did well to point out Firefox. Does he use add-ons in Firefox? They too are almost all free of charge and open-source. He browses websites? In that case he uses Apache. He posts on forums? In that case he probably uses PHP. Does he play games such as Wesnoth, Nexuiz, Europa Barbarorum and Sauerbraten? They are free of charge, made by enthusiasts. Etc, etc.

[cardinals_fan]

Leave him alone. Just bring a live CD (SLAX is nice) when you visit so that you don't have to use Windows.

[tdrusk]

Leave him alone. Enjoy your time with your cousin.

When it breaks, "fix" it.

[Giant Speck]

Have you tried leaving him alone?

So what if he doesn't want to switch. It's his computer and it's his decision.

Stop trying to force Linux on people as though you're pushing a religion off onto someone, and maybe they'll try it for themselves some day.

And even if they don't, it's no big deal.

[poofyhairguy]

One day he will have a cell phone, or a DVR or a router or something else that just runs linux. Then you can say "ha, see!"

Until then its a losing battle.

[Pro-reason]

Several people are suggesting he leave him alone.

You do realise that he's not talking about accosting some random passer-by in the street, don't you? He's talking about his cousin, with whom he no doubt spends loads of time with over a beer or two. If he wants to hang out with him and talk about a given thing, then he can!

He didn't ask whether you thought he ought to try to convince his cousin. He asked how to convince him.

This cousin believes several myths about open-source software, and there is nothing wrong with the original poster dispelling them. Would it be so much better if they discussed sport or the weather instead?

Jeez...

[david_lynch]

I wouldn't recommend linux to someone that wants to play games.

LOL! So much for your recommendation. I've been gaming on linux since doom came out for it in 1994. I have no trouble fragging windows users when playing doom, quake, ut2004, et, etc.

Naturally, it depends on exactly which titles you want to play. If there is some must-have game that can't be made to run under linux, then I'll play it on a ps3, problem solved.
:guitar:

[keiichidono]

LOL! So much for your recommendation. I've been gaming on linux since doom came out for it in 1994. I have no trouble fragging windows users when playing doom, quake, ut2004, et, etc.

Naturally, it depends on exactly which titles you want to play. If there is some must-have game that can't be made to run under linux, then I'll play it on a ps3, problem solved.
:guitar:
I'd like to ask you how you get to play Crysis using a PS3! :p

[damis648]

Honestly, here is what I would do: Tell him it is not bad. Linux powers most things in people's lives, TV's, Cars, Airplanes, Game Platforms. It is not made by hackers, and explain the Open Source concept of freedom and how it is different. Here is my point: Do not force it. Only educate him, and correct him in his misconceptions, he has clearly been misinformed. Throw him a liveCD, and let him figure it out for himself. If he wants to use Windows, fine. Let him do that, if it is better for him.

[sicofante]

I haven't read all through this thread but, honestly, the title says it all and reflects a very common attitude among Linuxeros: "Linux isn't worse than Windows"? Is that your "selling" point? I'm not surprised he doesn't trust you...

[damis648]

I haven't read all through this thread but, honestly, the title says it all and reflects a very common attitude among Linuxeros: "Linux isn't worse than Windows"? Is that your "selling" point? I'm not surprised he doesn't trust you...

I am sure what you are trying to say. He is saying that Linux is not worse than Windows. But, it might not be better for some people. For me, Windows is hell. Linux is heaven. Maybe not so for him.

[beercz]

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/