Linux Vs. Mac: Linux Users Respond

I'm the tech guy for my family and for my neighborhood, and whenever I get a call to de-crapify a gunked up Windows computer, I make the pitch to try Linux. So far, I've never had a person I've switched over ask for me to put Windows back on.

"tropicflite"
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I was introduced to Linux in 1995 (Red Hat Linux 3.0.3) and have been using it as my only OS since 1998.  No Windows for me (except when forced to at work) since then. In recent years it's been all Linux at work as well. I'd never go back to Windows. When I've had to help someone with a Windows system I wonder how they ever put up with a computing environment like that.

Caitlyn
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For me Linux is more than adequate to do everything I need to do. I don't need Windows other than play a few games. Hopefully in a short time Wine/Cedega will be capable of playing those last games. As soon as that is the case that last Windows box will be shut down forever.

John K.
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Wiped out Windows 5 months ago from all my 5 machines, at home, at work, even the home theater PC is running Ubuntu right now. Never will go back to Windows, but very rare[ly] I need it for some CD label printing.

"tz"
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I don't disagree with those who use Windows because of some needed software application. It is not the fault of an OS that a developer restricts their product to one or another OS.... What drives me crazy are the people who complain about problems that are OS specific, who then reject even trying another.

Anonymous post
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It is not Linux's fault that it can't run a game designed specifically to run on Windows. Educating users that they need to contact the game manufacturer, and stating they will not buy another game from them until they can run on Linux, [otherwise] the companies will leave Linux out of the loop.

Scott Carr
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I get SO sick of hearing about people saying Linux doesn't have driver support and the like. Fact is, it has better driver support out of the box than even Vista! The difference is hardware manufacturers will provide Windows drivers that Windows doesn't come with ... where they generally refuse to do the same for Linux for some stupid reason. Guess our money isn't worth their time or something.

"DigitaLink"
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If I want to upgrade my OS to the latest and greatest version of Windows I'm going to the store to buy it. And let's be honest here, if I'm upgrading to Vista I'm probably buying new hardware so it will run well. Apple OSX upgrades are still a purchase. If I want Linux I download it and install it. The price for Linux is my labor to get it installed.... Bottom line is this. You want something that works right out of the box and you have cash? Buy Windows or Apple. You have no cash and want the latest and greatest on your current hardware? Use Linux.

"DJC"
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We had an exclusively Linux household for 4 years, then I bought my son a Mac for digital music composition. I see no Windows in my future, but probably not Linux either. In another 5 years, we'll all be running thin clients and using the Web for all our apps.

"Dave-Nebraska"
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I'm one who tried it, then left. I was perfectly happy with the look, feel and function of Ubuntu Fiesty Fawn. Open Office and some other good programs took care of many of my needs. However, I develop websites for a living, and Linux just doesn't support some key apps that I need ... I'm not willing to dual-boot, because then I would have to maintain two OSs and I would have to boot back and forth. That just doesn't make sense to me. So, even though Linux has many good apps available, the few that weren't available killed it for me. Too bad, because I really prefer the Linux philosophy.

Mike W.
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I still have to ask the question, why bother to change [from Windows to anything else]? Apple is even more proprietary than Windows, and the Linux software library is way too limited to meet my needs ... Windows provides the largest selection of software, not Mac or Linux. That's the real issue ... The whole argument is academic as I use a computer because of the applications, not the OS.

"theoldman59"
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