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[gvpraag]

Maybe I hurt some feelings, but what could be the advantage of using Linux?
To me it seems a little like buying a car: every car is good (otherwise it could not be sold) and everybody has his reasons why to buy a specific type.
I am from the very first software-developer generation and from a time where OS's even didn't exist at all.  
First we had to develop our own and later we had to learn to work with many of them because every computer manufacturer had a completely different one.
IBM had the habit to overcomplicate things and for the OS (including Job-control) of the IBM mainframes you needed a whole wall of manuals.
Now I have two computers, one with OSX Lion and one with Windows7 Ultimate. Both excellent OS's and so easy to handle. I think that the majority of users did not even need to read the manual in order to be able to work with either of them.
In my PERSONAL opinion Mac OSX looks more smooth and beautiful and I prefer it above Win-7. However if you ask me about really important advantages or disadvantages I don't have the answer.
I played with computers all my life and I still like to experiment and to learn new things. So is there anybody who can explain me why I should try Linux and what I get more by implementing it.
Please do not come with speed issues; most computers have 80% idle-time already.
Gabriel.

[dharmabm]

your analogy is a bit flawed, to use it to explain you are talking about the difference between buying a bmw and getting a mercedes for free

[Crushdepth]

Why not just try it and decide for yourself? Just stick it on as a virtual machine and if you dont like it, delete it. Personally I use it for programming and server management, but office type stuff I use Windows. Virtualbox lets me have both running at once.

[rakman]

Linux is a "white box" implementation of Unix.  Mac OSX is derived from another "white box" implementation of Unix, BSD.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Software_Distribution

RedHat and Ubuntu are implementations of Linux with a friendly graphic user interface (or command line; user choice) similar in concept to the Mac OSX.

There are many variants of Linux, some use more AT&T System V concepts and some use more of the BSD concepts.

Solaris is a Sun implementation of Unix a mix of BSD and AT&T System V.  You can get a free copy of it as well.

It's really a choice of what you want to do with it and what you're familiar with, what tools and programs are supported with the variant you want to use.

Knowing more can give a spark to the creative process depending on what you're interested in.

Many networking appliances use BSD as the core, with modifications as necessary to accomplish the manufacturers needs.

[dmsnsa]

An OS is all about control and delivery.

You like your current OS's, one more than the other. I work with the stuff every day on BIG IRON environments, and I've been working at it all too long (I don't pre-date OS's, not by a long shot but even it I did it would be irrelevant). An OS provides two things: 1) control of an environment, and 2) a method to deliver information across a device. I like Open Source OS's as I'm able to: (i) Pick an OS that has the signed on to an OPEN disclosure of bugs/vulnerabilities/changes/improvements ( ii Provides all source code to everything within the Kernel space, and User Land, ( iii) Provides regular updates to both OS and packaged applications within its distribution set and (iv) It's free (and don't talk to me about experience of use required because that's a commonality that all OS/APP/DEVICE ...etc share).  Linux does that for me, as does  OpenBSD OS I use as well. In the end, the OS is just the table to lay the tool box.

I'll leave the subjective evaluations aside and just smile because what I need to do gets done and I do an awful lot with my OS / Application selections.

Edited by dmsnsa, 2012-01-06 23:40:53.

[Richard-BKK]

In my company we have a good amount of computers, if I would install MS Windows on all 24 computers it will cost me at least 100,000 THB. Plus that you will need some extra software like Antivirus, firewall and a few more utilities to get things on the workable level.

From Microsoft we all hear things that it's more difficult for users to work with Linux, Microsoft even says that Linux is less productive – trust me every time I visit another company where they use MS Windows people seem to play games the whole day... or sorry I lost the data because of a virus...

We use Ubuntu with Gnome 3.2, maybe not the best looking and most efficient version to work with, but I works perfectly we have never a problem that people install unauthorized programs, also all programs we run are 100% legal.

Most people who compare MS Windows with a Linux distribution compare it with using a illegal version of MS Windows. We sometimes use huge amounts of data and our computers are equipped with a minimum of 8GB of internal memory, therefore we need to use an 64-bit operating system (not so long ago you could only use Linux if you wanted to use more than 3.5GB). Currently MS Windows is also available in 64-bits version, but where are the programs? Which programs are truly capable to use the benefits of 64-bits running under MS Windows.

[Heimdallr]

If compatibility with different programs (and games) is a priority, Windows 7 is difficult to beat. For a small business the biggest obstacle is cost, making Linux an attractive alternative with little or no costs for obtaining the most important tools. It's really become about what you need. Win7 is obviously an easy choice. However, if you don't play, you can do everything on Linux with similar efficiency (and significantly better security).

[justsumhelp]

Because it does an awesome job hiding your secret Pr0n

[mungostjohn]

One use of Linux is with old PC computers that would be slowed down using the Windows OS to the extent that you'd end up throwing the computer out.
It also takes up a lot less space in the memory which is limited in the older computers.

[HAL9000]

It depends on the application. If you need to run Windows applications, a virtual machine on Linux just isn't the same. I particularly found the latest Mint Linux distribution to be very trouble free for installation, much like Windows with everything coming up and just working right away. I still have a few Windows tasks that I don't know how to do in Linux, so I haven't migrated yet, but I hope to before my Windows 7 becomes obsolete to avoid another use-tax payment to Microsoft. I'm sorry about the person above who said not to talk about speed, but I work my computer hard, and I can tell you that Windows 7 lags on my Core 2 Quad. Mint seems a little snappier, but I haven't spent much time with it. Also you will find Linux running commercial and industry workhorse systems. For example, the backbone of the internet is highly dependent on Linux. I don't even know if Windows is used at all in that type of heavy-duty work. Open Office is a free product because Sun didn't want customer desire for MS Office to be a reason for them not to buy Sun's extremely large and expensive IT solutions. With that much money at stake, they could afford to maintain and give away a free office suite.

[Gary A]

The biggest reason is that Linux is free. It works well and is fast, The problem is that most programs are Windows based and they won't work with Linux. If all you need to do is to get on the Internet, it is great.

Edited by Gary A, 2012-01-08 21:11:49.

[bkk_mike]

You choose the operating system for what you want to do...

i.e. If your work forces it (like me), you end up with Windows as that's what the office VPN software is for.
But if you want to use photo or video editing, you usually end up with a Mac. Not because the hardware is any better (it's usually worse), but because there's a better choice of software for doing that on a Mac.
Similarly, if you want to set up a server, for backups etc, then, I'll be honest, you're likely to end up with a distribution of Linux of some sort (either by buying a NAS box which happens to run Linux behind the scenes, or by setting up your own server...)

(I will admit Windows Home Server was a reasonable server choice - until they announced the removal of Drive Extender. With Linux alternatives like Amahi, which are free, and which have a Drive Extender equivalent (called Greyhole), if you're up to the task of setting up the server yourself, there's no reason to pick something other than Linux for it).

Linux also has that great advantage of being free. - Which means no product activation to deal with. (I have a "Pantip" copy of Windows installed on a laptop that had a hard drive failure and didn't ship with backup disks, just a recovery partition - and I have fully legit windows (bought from Amazon) installed on my kids desktop PCs. - Guess which give me problems with Windows activation complaining that the version of windows isn't valid. - Hint - it's the ones that cost a lot more than 200 baht)

Edited by bkk_mike, 2012-01-08 22:54:06.

[dharmabm]

Gary A, on 2012-01-08 21:10:18, said:

The biggest reason is that Linux is free. It works well and is fast, The problem is that most programs are Windows based and they won't work with Linux.

no offense, but can you give some examples of these programs? i'm 90% sure anything you come up with i can give you a linux alternative for!
k

[dharmabm]

bkk_mike, on 2012-01-08 22:51:58, said:

i.e. If your work forces it (like me), you end up with Windows as that's what the office VPN software is for.

vpns are platform independent,  you don't need a windows client to connect to a micrsoft vpn

Quote

But if you want to use photo or video editing, you usually end up with a Mac. Not because the hardware is any better (it's usually worse), but because there's a better choice of software for doing that on a Mac.

this may have been true 10-15 years ago, but i challenge you to give me an example today.

[Schnitzel]

While Microsoft is trying to get their systems work, Linux is trying to spread over the world

[Gary A]

dharmabm, on 2012-01-09 00:41:16, said:

Gary A, on 2012-01-08 21:10:18, said:

The biggest reason is that Linux is free. It works well and is fast, The problem is that most programs are Windows based and they won't work with Linux.

no offense, but can you give some examples of these programs? i'm 90% sure anything you come up with i can give you a linux alternative for!
k

Open Office is a great substitute for Microsoft Office so that is not an issue. What is an issue is Autocad and Garmin programs such as Map Source and Base Camp. I listen to and subscribe to Audible books and Linux won't run the Audible programs. I bought my wife a new Acer laptop that came with Linux. I changed it to Windows 7 Ultimate because Linux would not run any of her English learning programs.

Since most programs for Linux are free, I have found that they usually don't amount to much. They are about what you would expect for free. I will admit that if I had started with Linux and had never seen Windows, it is quite likely that I would be getting along just fine.

[wimpy]

If it weren't for Garmin Mapsource and Turbotax, I would be completely free of Windows.  Fortunately,  these run just fine on an old copy of Windows XP in Virtualbox.  Maybe it is just what I am used to, but whenever I use Windows, it is such a relief to get back into Linux Mint.

[thaimite]

wimpy, on 2012-01-09 10:12:28, said:

If it weren't for Garmin Mapsource and Turbotax, I would be completely free of Windows.  Fortunately,  these run just fine on an old copy of Windows XP in Virtualbox.  Maybe it is just what I am used to, but whenever I use Windows, it is such a relief to get back into Linux Mint.

I too am Linux fan, and I think that the free alternatives for the Windows programs are usually of a very good standard.
Unfortuantely there are a few windows programmes that I cannot find good replacements for the main one being Visio. Open Office does all I need for normal office work except I am a heavy user of Excel Macros and VBA and in these cases I either have to rewrite the VBA in open office Basic or run Excel in a Virtualbox session.
There are good CAD Programmes but a Linux version of Autocad would be good. I know of a few people would love to switch to Linux are unable to because of their need to run Autocad.

As Gary A has stated many proproiatry programmes are unavailable in Linux. In my case Kies (which is a terrible programme) but is required for firmware updayes of my Samsung.  
I use Virtualbox in these cases ut it is not perfect.  I have never had much success with Wine.  Wih regard to audible books I have found there are better and cheaper alternatives which use a standard MP3 player.  This of course dooes not play titles you have already purchased.

The upside of having a stable, cheap and fast OS and programmes means 95% of my personal computing time is with Linux, and I hate it when I have to go back to Windows even in a Virtual session.

Edited by thaimite, 2012-01-09 11:49:57.

[Lannig]

dharmabm, on 2012-01-09 00:45:35, said:

bkk_mike, on 2012-01-08 22:51:58, said:

i.e. If your work forces it (like me), you end up with Windows as that's what the office VPN software is for.

vpns are platform independent,  you don't need a windows client to connect to a micrsoft vpn

Not all of them are, by far. Both Checkpoint and Juniper offer VPN solutions for which only Windows and Mac clients exist. Although they're based on standard protocols, they've added enough nonstandard stuff in there to prevent interoperability with open-source clients.These vendors are very popular in corporate environments. Not the whole world runs OpenVPN ... I regret it as much as you do, but that's the sad truth.

[dharmabm]

ok, you guys got me on the garmin stuff, it is a very proprietary technology and they do not release any source or drivers, there isn't a viable alternative there. turbotax - you can do it completely online with all the features of the desktop client, plus there are lots of viable alternatives in both online and desktop (i've used both turbotax and taxact online, and like taxact better). as for CAD software i'm afraid you've got me again, the only thing i have tried is blender, and it sucks. we use rhino for design and i have been desperately seeking an alternative for years, but no luck. i've heard good things about the grabert product, but it is commercial and i haven't tried it. so i'm down 2 to 1, but the average user often falsely assumes they cannot do more common tasks without windows.

[dharmabm]

Lannig, on 2012-01-09 18:50:57, said:

dharmabm, on 2012-01-09 00:45:35, said:

bkk_mike, on 2012-01-08 22:51:58, said:

i.e. If your work forces it (like me), you end up with Windows as that's what the office VPN software is for.

vpns are platform independent,  you don't need a windows client to connect to a micrsoft vpn

Not all of them are, by far. Both Checkpoint and Juniper offer VPN solutions for which only Windows and Mac clients exist. Although they're based on standard protocols, they've added enough nonstandard stuff in there to prevent interoperability with open-source clients.These vendors are very popular in corporate environments. Not the whole world runs OpenVPN ... I regret it as much as you do, but that's the sad truth.

hmm, a quick search found an ubuntu client for juniper and tunneling possibilities for checkpoint (although full 'office mode' functionality (whatever that is) is not possible). i suppose anyone can build layers of proprietary code to make accepted industry standards unusable, but why would anyone in their right mind use them? :-)

[aussiebebe]

I run Ubuntu on my PC, use Windows 7 Ultimate on my laptop and Apple's latest OS on my ipad so I can see two more advantages of linux; Ubuntu has an integrated apps store unlike Windows and there is one software updating system whereas with apple, some apps may not auto update which potentially leaves them vulnerable. (I should point out that apple has a comprehensive updating and I've never had security issues).
Overall, it's possible to run both windows and ubuntu on the same machine, choose from boot or one within the other. It's really still a Window's world we're living in and it's hard being exclusively linux - always converting stuff. Likewise apple; updating a samsung smartphone is a windows job and you can't play quicktime files on a samsung tv via HDD for example.

[Lannig]

dharmabm, on 2012-01-09 21:44:56, said:

hmm, a quick search found an ubuntu client for juniper and tunneling possibilities for checkpoint (although full 'office mode' functionality (whatever that is) is not possible). i suppose anyone can build layers of proprietary code to make accepted industry standards unusable, but why would anyone in their right mind use them? :-)

You sound like you've never worked in a corporate IT environment.
Most of the time, you don't have a choice. And the people who decide to buy this or that for the corp. VPN don't even have a clue that someone might not be using Windows. More, they don't give a hoot (borrowed from the Night Owl ... hi Bernard, wherever you are). Sad fact of life.

[jacnl2000]

How’dy. Put on the red hat for a few months. Worked like a charm for me a few years ago. That splendid fitting material delivered me goosebumbs. So, personally, I think, in whatever mind, that is, and /or will [not yet to] be, a quite exciting jolly good learning experience after (-1) initially getting the newest added hardware behave. Just as what has been said before by other posters surfacing within this threads scope (+1), due to its customizable kernel architecture, that red hat OS worked excellent, well for me, especially on relative small memories positioned within already existing favourate niches consisting of known hardware mixs. Overall ret hat deserves a neutral validation (1-1=0), over here, given by me, in name of the power of certainty. No wanted cat in whatever tree I can think of. No problems. No worries. Bravo. A few years ago for me a real eyeopener.

[justsumhelp]

class WTF {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("I like your prose please continue");
    }
}

jacnl2000, on 2012-01-17 08:03:55, said:

How’dy. Put on the red hat for a few months. Worked like a charm for me a few years ago. That splendid fitting material delivered me goosebumbs. So, personally, I think, in whatever mind, that is, and /or will [not yet to] be, a quite exciting jolly good learning experience after (-1) initially getting the newest added hardware behave. Just as what has been said before by other posters surfacing within this threads scope (+1), due to its customizable kernel architecture, that red hat OS worked excellent, well for me, especially on relative small memories positioned within already existing favourate niches consisting of known hardware mixs. Overall ret hat deserves a neutral validation (1-1=0), over here, given by me, in name of the power of certainty. No wanted cat in whatever tree I can think of. No problems. No worries. Bravo. A few years ago for me a real eyeopener.