Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX

Why do we want people to switch to Linux ?

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H_TeXMeX_H:
I've been wondering why we would want people to switch to Linux. Yeah, Linux is a lot more stable and secure and not full of shit compared to Window$, but why would we want people to switch to it ? The reasons aren't always as clear as you might think. Specifically, I'm talking about the effects of large numbers of people switching to Linux and the effects it wound have.

The following are in terms of results of large numbers of people switching to Linux.

Pros: (please add more if you want)
1) Better and more software, hardware, and driver support for Linux - this will eventually happen anyway, but if consumers switch to Linux more companies will release Linux drivers ... i.e. printers, scanners, modems, usb internet, integrated wifi, etc.
2) People will be free of Window$ hell - a good thing in general
3) UNIX based systems will evolve faster with more donations and funding - I hope this will be the case
4) Larger consumer base may make it easier to diagnose and fix bugs - assuming more people participate in debugging

Cons: (again, add em if you know em)
1) More adware, malware, viruses, bullshit marketing targeted at Linux - I've been largely ignorant of this point of view, but now that I know more it doesn't seem all that unlikely
2) Possibly slower evolution of hardware - M$ pushes for faster and better hardware to run their bloated piece of shit, while Linux can run on ancient systems, will it push significatly less hard ? probably
3) Economic downturn due to large number of companies dependent on Window$ to market their otherwise bullshit product - it seems far fetched, but not really. List all the companies you know that are dependent on M$ to market their products (only works on M$ companies) not that I wouldn't like to see them fall, unfortunately they claim their losses to the feds and take it out of YOUR taxes. All anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-adware, clean up M$, 3rd party partitioning, etc. (this may contradict with a pro in that anti-virus may soon again be needed)
4) Distro wars - there are so many distros, and a lot of boundaries separate them in therms of how they do things (package managers mostly), how will these conficts be resolved ? Which distro will be preffered by consumers ? will some distros start charging money for their OS ?

I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't encourage people to switch to Linux, but I do want to consider the consequences of swiching large numbers of people to Linux. I haven't really fully considered these consequences myself until recently ... I think they are important to consider though

Lead Head:
Heres another Pro, Some people don't notice a difference between windows and linux, I sat a person down in front of a linux computer and they just started using, Just had to make sure there was a firefox and AIM icon on the desktop:pIm serious though, Alot of people don't know the difference, they just think its like a different version of windows, My 6th Grade english teacher had a mac in her classrom, She said it ran Mac OSX and then she said "its just another version of windows right?" I just kinda well sat there with my eyes wide open

H_TeXMeX_H:
Interesting ... very interesting. Then really, most people are scared of something new. Most people I hear say you gotta be crazy to use Linux, maybe they just haven't tried to use it. You know what I might do ... it's kind of a pain to hand out CDs ... besides my college has a T1 connection ... why not e-mail everyone and tell em about Linux. Sadly I think the ITS won't allow non-Window$ OS to run due to the "security threat". They say you gotta be running anti-virus to connect ... they may have this built into being able to access the internet. Still, it's worth a try I suppose.

Pathos:
Because We don't want to be stuck in the MS trap.

The GNU way is the only way this was ever possible:
- The GNU licence protects OSS developers from being ripped off. So they dedicate themselves to quality OSS software
- The resulting OS is free as in beer so anyone can get it.

The more people using linux the more companies that will look at putting money into it and the more respect the developers get for their work. Eventually it will overtake windows but that requires a larger user base.

Nvidia are releasing commercial quality drivers because there is demand for them.

and hell why not?

your cons:

1 - no linux is better designed from the ground up. Applications are designed better. You would have to be an idiot or have your machine open to hackers to get a virus. Viruses could die out.

2 - but the hardware doesn't have to compensate for windows bloat anyway. Modern PC parts are being develped for XP and are far beyond what is required yet are still getting better and better.

3 - You said there would be more linux viruses then said there will be no demand for tools to remove them :P

4 - They don't its a free world and all packages have to be inspected for how modify the distro so packaging different is not a problem. Whateva they want. Ubuntu this year something else next if a distro can't keep up then it shouldn't stay king of the hill which mean continuous progress. Err some already do but the content is open source and freely available anyway.

mobrien_12:
We, as in the entire world, need to get out of a monoculture controlled by one company who puts world domination and the *AA above the needs of it's own customers and security.  MS should not control the world.  It doesn't have to be Linux exclusivel.  Despite how much I like Linux, I know it must not be Linux exclusively.   There are umpteen *BSD's and OSX out there, as well as other minor players like Yellowtab Zeta and ecomstation available.  Like Scotty said, "the right tool for the right job."

Even Windows may have its place... it's place just isn't everywhere

People may worry about interoperability, like back in the early 80's when there were several "home computers" on the market that couldn't talk to each other.  They may say we need a monopoly so they can send their word files by outlook to their friends.  To which, I say BULL.  Open Standards garantee interoperability.  MS can and will change their "standards" whenever they feel like it.  Try "interoperating" on a decent sized MS word file from 10 years ago.  

Windows is a security mess.  The entire world has to suffer because of it.  Worms.  Zombie networks. Spammers.  

Linux/BSD etc won't slow hardware evolution.  MS doesn't "drive" anything.  Believe me, hardware manufacturers are driven by the need to create the best products out there.  Look at the advances in Intel and AMD chips.  Both companies are constantly trying to make better chips, because of competition and customer demand, not because MS decrees it must be so.

Yes, more malware will be written for OSX, BSD, Linux, etc. if it becomes more popular, but these are fundamentally more secure operating systems, so it will never be anywhere near as serious a problem as it is with Windows. The leeches that depend on the flaws in Windows?  Adapt or die.  Quite frantly, Norton and Macafee Antivirus are starting to really piss me off and I'd like to see them go belly up.

Linux and BSD distributors  can and do charge money for their OS.   I'm quite frankly upset that I can't go buy Linux or BSD  at Comp USA anymore.

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