Linux?

Some people were chatting about Linux in IRC and many people at my college use Linux but no one seems to have a satisfactory reason as to why. Anyone care to explain?

 

The only real reason i could see people running linux is because its free, or they are a programmer, because i hear linux is better for that.

 

Most Linux users have no real purpose to be using it, it offers almost no benefits to most end users.

Although it is free, so I guess that's a plus.

 

Like mentioned above it is mostly used because it's "free as in freedom", but i don't recommend it unless you'd like to play with terminal codes and that stuff, plus most programs that run on Windows are incompatible with GNU/Linux.
Anyway, if you want to try it, read more about it first, and choose a distro that suits you..

 

I find Linux to be alot simpler that Windows, not to mention it's free, and has a large database of free software in most cases are sleeker, and more user friendly than some bloated programs e.g "Sound Converter" does exactly what it says on the tin, with no bullshit trial software you've found on google.

It's a good alternative for older machines too. My old laptop for some reason decided Windows XP is no longer welcome, and frequently bluescreens. I installed Linux Mint 9 (this was about 2 1/2 years ago now) and it now works like a charm and has done ever since.

 

Why use it?
hmm.. perhaps because it's faster?
it has more of what some users want?
customizable
very resource-friendly

why not use it?
compatibility with programs
stability in some distrubutions
compatibility with some computer hardware(may not recognize your wireless card for example)

I personally run linux on my netbook, and I love it. I run the JoliCloud distribution on it, and the difference between it and Windows XP is undeniable. The netbook is actually bearable when in use while running linux... I can play youtube vids without stuttering, load pages at work at brisk paces, and bootup is much quicker too. With only 1gig of ram on tap, windows is just too much of a hog for a netbook.

also, if you've ever used mac osx, you've used linux. Oh, you thought apple's osx was completely designed in-house? lulz... why do you think even the shittiest macs are so smooth and quick as far as the user-experience is concerned?

 

I use it to look cool in front of CS majors.

 

I prefer windows 7, but the only thing I heard is that linux is better for hosting servers. Not sure why.

 

It's much more aesthetically pleasing. I would use it if I had no intent on playing games, using many Windows programs, etc.

 

I used it for my minecraft server, not because I know anything about it, but the hosts were offering linux VPSs for less than half the price of windows server VPSs haha

maybe it hogs less memory?

 

http://whylinuxisbetter.net/
http://linuxmint.com/

 

read my above post. Yes, it hogs less memory. It's also free, so you dont have to pay for anything. programs, games, anything. Not that the games on their marketplace are stellar, but they're still easy-access and free. I like linux. I dont use it on my gaming rig, but every other pc in my home is setup to dual-boot linux and windows.

 

I'm going to bump this. Less than two years ago I was questioning why anyone would want Linux and now I run it on everything I own.

 

May I ask why? I also wondered why people use Linux apart that it is free, I've tried it before and it was ok but no real reason for me to use it over Windows or OSX. Ubuntu also looks like a rip off of OSX, which is not a bad thing for me since I got used to OSX.

 

I'm having trouble not raging at what you said.
What's a rip off of what?
Get your facts straight, that's like saying Michael Jackson copied Justin Bieber.

 

The command line on linux is far more powerful than windows.

 

I mean in Ubuntu and it's design, not Linux and I guess rip off was wrong words to use

Any example of something you can do on Linux that you can't in Windows or OSX? Not trying to argue just wondering.

 

This is why:

 

That just shows the distributions of Linux I think? I'm wondering what are the benefits of using Linux over OSX and Windows. Hopefully Suf can answer my question better.

 

Free
Community support
Customization
Lack of Malware
Lightweight for performance
Strong Kernels (stablility)
Live CD's/TD
Open Source
Option to further learn about computer systems

Pretty much all of these can be pulled from that distro picture.