Linux advocates generally have a negative attitude on message boards, newsgroups, blogs and chats, which leads to many conflicts with the users of Windows or Mac OS.
They are trying to convince these users that Linux is better, by repeatingly saying that Microsoft is evil and everyone should switch to Linux.
So you decide to give Linux a try. Depending on your patience, a couple of days or a couple of weeks pass and you realize you’re wasting time. Linux is a time waster. After you install it you spend a good amount of time installing drivers and configuring all your hardware to… at least work. You won’t even care your 7.1 surround sound card plays only stereo, or that you must buy a new printer, or that you can throw away your Bluetooth USB dongle because you can’t get it to work. Who cares about all that, you’re running Linux now, you are free! The fun only begins when you recompile the latest kernel. You’ll have to cancel that online business meeting at noon, your computer won’t boot: EXT2-fs error (device ide0(3,2): ext2_read_inode: unabled to read inode; block inode=68611, block=287534, even though you did nothing before shutting it down. Unfortunately you’re not going scuba diving this weekend, you’re busy connecting your laptop to the desktop PC. Let’s pray this time the system won’t crash again, and have to be saved by the Reset button.
Bugs are bugs, they can be fixed in future versions, but usability is a major problem. Linux is created by Linux advocates (or zealots if you like), for Linux advocates, while Windows tries to satisfy everyone.

The sarcasm above is based on true experiences, and it’s not targeted against the Linux operating system, but against the advocates whom continue to sustain that Linux beats the other operating systems. Therefore don’t get me wrong - the bad experiences don’t make Linux a bad operating system, but it makes it a lousy competitor for Windows. And I don’t hate the Linux users, but I despise the ones who poke your eyes out with their biased messages. If you tell them you prefer to stick to Windows they’ll say Linux is better, if you tell them there was an earthquake in Asia, they might find a way to put the blame on Microsoft. They are trying to gain market share with obsessive, compulsory messages. So you’re using Linux, I’m using Windows. Good for you, now mind your own business. Don’t tell me what car to drive, what clothes to wear, what music to listen, what operating system to use. It’s my own decision.

If you want more free time, less headache and if you want to use the computer just as easy as it is to watch the TV, you’ll want to stick to Windows. If you want to unnecessary complicate your life, if you want to feel like a gardener in a space shuttle, or if you want to save $100 (which you could be earning in saved time) go for Linux.

I’d like to mention I’m not comparing the current Linux distributions with Windows 98, Me or any old version of Windows, that wouldn’t be fair. I’m comparing it to Windows XP. And soon enough Windows Vista.

If you, the reader, never tried a Linux distribution, I urge you to download and install right now, or order a free CD (Ubuntu is giving free copies including a Live CD so you don’t need to install). Then you’ll see you’re not missing anything.

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Operating Systems article posted on Wednesday, December 21st, 2005 at 7:48 am . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.