Do you run Linux - if not why?

dealer_wins

I am ignorant of linux, but seen it in action and it looked a lot more complicated than just using windows.

Im sure I could master it if needed, but for most people why would they.

If they could bring out a version that was as easy to set up and use as windows 10, I think that would be quite popular.

fermi

Do you run Linux [STRIKE]- if not why?[/STRIKE]

Yes, but I a an Ubuntu developer, so not quite typical. Still it's great to use something you can configure how you want down to the last comma of code (or nearly), and help build.

Linux based OS is also a LOT more than just desktop shells and apps.

henm2

I use it on Laptops at home all the time. (Linux Mint). Easier, less hassle, safer than Windows.

wongataa

I don't use Linux as the software I want to use requires Windows. I have no problem with Windows.

wongataa

dealer_wins wrote: »

I am ignorant of linux, but seen it in action and it looked a lot more complicated than just using windows.

Im sure I could master it if needed, but for most people why would they.

If they could bring out a version that was as easy to set up and use as windows 10, I think that would be quite popular.

For most home use (web browsing, checking email, basic office software use, etc) there are Linux variants that are just as easy to use and set up as Windows really. If it goes wrong support can be lacking though. It won't be as popular as most people buy a computer that comes with Windows installed and ready to go so why bother with the bother of changing it, especially if you are used to Windows already as most people will be.

Jon_01

As others have said, the packages aren't there for some users (I'd like to run it, my son's been using it for years).

I'd need Office, not an office clone, but office. I also use Final Draft daily and there aren't any Linux versions of anything that output industry standard.

motorguy

movilogo wrote: »

I am using Linux Mint as full replacement of Windows for last 3 years.


Setting up was a breeze. Not different from installing Windows from scratch (if you have ever done this).


Libre Office is 90% good enough compared with Microsoft Office. Writer, Calc and Impress are as good as Word, Excel and Power Point.


The database, Base, on other hand, is way behind than Microsoft Access. But most Windows users don't use Access anyway.


My belief is that people don't use Linux only because consumer PCs come with Windows bundled and people don't bother installing Linux on top.


Not everyone needs to work with terminals in Linux or use WINE etc which are complex apps.


But for normal web surfing, word processing and spreadsheet works, Linux + Libre Office are perfect replacement for Windows/Mac.


Oh yes, my peripherals are recognized by Linux. It is no longer 1990s where printer would not be recognized by Linux. :rotfl:

But why bother?

• My laptop came with Windows
• It does what i need it to
• I dont have compatibility issues with software

So what advantage would Linux give me?

motorguy

wongataa wrote: »

It won't be as popular as most people buy a computer that comes with Windows installed and ready to go so why bother with the bother of changing it, especially if you are used to Windows already as most people will be.

Thats wholly it.

I dont see any point in changing to Linux.

I've installed it on machines in the past but i just dont see any reason to run it.

System

MoneyMoney wrote: »

It is for advanced users only

Absolute rubbish. My wife is currently using Linux Mint 19 on a Thinkpad T400. She's been using Linux for half a decade now and like most home users as long as it can go on the internet, access Facebook, play Youtube cat videos, do online banking and do basic document creating and editing any OS would do the job. Recently she took to taking videos of the dogs with our GoPro camera. She wanted to know how to transfer the videos to her laptop and I told her to just plug it into one of the USB ports. Camera plugged in, prompt came up asking if she wanted to transfer videos, job done. No different to Windows.

A couple of months ago I installed Mint on my brother and niece's ageing Toshiba laptops he got from his council employers IT department, the decision primarily triggered by the fact they were on Windows 7 and he was getting messages from things like Google Chrome and AV software saying it was no longer supported plus daughter's laptop ending up the typical malware infested mess that only kids know how to achieve. Set them up, installed their printer/scanner and told them to ring me if any issues. No phone call.

As for Windows 10, a decent OS has now become something where MS push software onto it from their App Store without your permission. Most updates you'll find something else you didn't ask for installed from news aggregator software to things like several hundred MB of some game you have no intention of ever playing. Minecraft and Civ are often to be found following Patch Tuesday even though you've uninstalled them from previous times they were foisted upon you. From a maintenance point of view the really useful tools are becoming harder and harder to find as they are removed from the systems settings, the system settings being dumbed down more and more as time goes on. As for the font rendering of the GUI, I have no idea what MS have done but in things like the systems settings it has the worst rendering of any OS currently released.

System

Absolute no interest in it whatsoever.

A computing device is tool for me to do the things I want with the least amount of hassle.