Five Reasons to Use Linux

FOSS Force ^ | 5/28/15 | Christine Hall

[markomalley]

6. The source code is published, unlike proprietary systems...and you can recompile it yourself. This means that you (or somebody else) can 100% validate that there is no spyware on it (such as the keylogger built into the Windows 10 preview)
7. There are endless number of distributions that you can try. For a sample, see Distro Watch.
8. With virtually every distribution, you can "test drive" it before installing it by downloading a "live" version onto a USB stick or a CD/DVD and running the OS on the USB stick / optical disk. For example, Linux Live USB Creator (or LiLi for short) allows you to create a live USB to try out over 100 distributions.

If you've never played with Linux before, I'd encourage you to download LiLi, create a live Linux USB and try out a couple of distributions for yourself.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'll put on my cynical hat: 2 huge reasons why people use computers are: 1) Games and 2) Pron -- not necessarily in that order.

I think Linux users can surf for Pron as easily as the next guy. But games are another matter. If Linux can keep up with drivers for cutting edge hardware, and if users can just grab gaming SW from Steam, throw it on the linux box and just play it -- that will destroy Microsoft. But we're not there yet.

[central_va]

) Games and 2) Pron

That "Pron" is deadly.

[9thLife]

Five Reasons to Use LINUX Obamacare:

1) It's Free!
2) It's easy to use! No, really! Just dump your insurance company and go on to our website -- sorta like just dumping Windows and booting up Ubuntu!
3) I'd continue, but I'm outta time. Just fill in the blanks!

[Chainmail]

“Pron”? Is this something new we haven’t heard of?

[9thLife]

There are 300 mm + users of Excel on the planet. The platform and application have revolutionized business.

It's only about debauchery and satisfying base motives for some people.

[CommieCutter]

I tried Ubuntu/Linux. (Not sure what the difference is.)

I successfully installed it, and tried to use it on an old Dell Laptop (Vostro 1000). Apparently Dell doesn’t do well with that OS, I couldn’t get the drivers to function correctly..

If I could find a hardware brand that is known to work well with Linux I might try it again.

[FreedomPoster]

Ability to run the Office suite is pretty important. While there are FOSS alternatives, they don’t have 100% compatibility, and that’s an issue for sure.

[rarestia]

Years ago there were some development houses putting out games on Linux. EVE Online comes to mind as one I tried. The problem isn’t so much the engine but the graphics drivers themselves. While nVidia, specifically, is getting better, most high-end graphics cards are not supported in Linux and porting the drivers is a hassle that most companies don’t want to tackle.

[markomalley]

Apparently Dell doesn’t do well with that OS, I couldn’t get the drivers to function correctly..

I've had that problem in the past but they've improved quite a bit over the years.

You might want to try the Peppermint distro. That works well with older machines. I was able to successfully resurrect a first-generation EEE PC as well as an ancient Sony Vaio by using that distribution.

I would suggest that you try playing with LiLi, a software that allows you to easily create "live USB" sticks where you can play with different Linux distributions until you find one that fully works and that you like.

[CommieCutter]

Thanks!

I might try that with an old Acer I have. I’ve since gotten rid of the Vostro.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

It’s versatile: I couldn’t begin to make a list to illustrate the ways that Linux is versatile

Customizing the UI is not "versatility".

Versatility is seamlessly running any application, program or device you need.

Linux has made great strides in the past five years but is in no way "versatile".

Unless the number of installations gets significant enough to attract attention from SW developers Linux will remain a small niche market and Windows/Apple and Android will continue to dominate.

[Stentor]

Posting this running Ubuntu 15.04 on a Dell Inspiron 5520. Everything ran at install. Install was fast. I don’t miss the psychosis that was Windows 8, 8.1, 10 preview. 10 preview is like we threw away the big smelly garbage that was 8 and we only left a few thousand annoying crumbs behind.

[markomalley]

Unless the number of installations gets significant enough to attract attention from SW developers Linux will remain a small niche market and Windows/Apple and Android will continue to dominate.

Don't know if you saw this from last November: Microsoft Open Sources .NET, Saying It Will Run on Linux and Mac. Or this: Microsoft “loves Linux” as it makes Azure bigger, better.

Here's the .net Github

There have been a lot of changes in the past couple of years...

[CommieCutter]

I actually don’t mind Windows 8. But I also don’t want to spend 600-800$ every time I need a new laptop. And using older units with a secure free OS would by a nice alternative.

[ShadowAce]

[ShadowAce]

9. You can update a running kernel without a reboot—as of kernel 4.0.

[RayChuang88]

Two things could hurt desktop Linux:

1. Hardware support is still not as good as Windows for the latest hardware.
2. Microsoft could offer very generous pricing for even new install copies of Windows 10 Home and Professional editions.

[Poser]

I use desktop Linux every day. It is pretty good, but I have to go to command line at least 10 times per year. As long as this is true, I suspect that Linux will not become mainstream. It also has to run Microsoft office pro without having to use some sort of Kluge to make it function. I would also like to see it run stand alone QuickBooks. I’m not really happy with the cloud version.

[Krosan]

I use Windows, but have LibreOffice and it does everything I need.