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How Do You Advocate Linux in 5 Minutes?
xtracto writes "I just returned from buying certain Linux magazine. While looking at the 'Computing' stand in the library, and right after I grabbed a copy of the Linux magazine, a guy asked me if I used Linux. After that, the man told me he had tried to use Linux, but he had found it difficult. I told him the first things that came to my mind: that it depended on the distribution (he tried Kubuntu). I recommended him to look for a Linux User Group near his hometown (he told me he didn't live near a city). What would you tell these kinds of people? Not so long ago, and to my surprise, a relative who is completely computer illiterate started talking about Linux, but the general thought is that 'it is harder than Windows'. How do you advocate Linux to people who are more comfortable using Windows?"
Actually no. History is littered with times when something superior did not gain mass adoption and instead an inferior product did. There could be many individual reasons, but the big one is marketing. It doesn't matter what you make and how goddamn awesome it is, if you can't get it out there, its not going to gain popularity. While Linux is almost ready, and some would argue the only hold back at this point is getting software companies (like game developers) on board wholesale, where's the marketing? It costs money, and of course someone would have to be in charge of something like. Love or hate Microsoft then can market something to the unwashed masses. Same with Apple. The Ipod isn't the and wasn't the best damn mp3 player out there. I remember when it first came out a company (I think gateway, its been a few years now) had a superior and cheaper mp3 player. It had everything the Ipod had, support for more file types and an FM tuner and it came in at like $100 cheaper. Now you likely couldn't even find mention of it.
"Build it and they will come" is a great line for movies, not so much in real life.
Very few. And those who put in bug reports about usability issues are usually either ignored or shouted down, especially if they don't include a patch to fix it. I'm sure this will get marked as Flamebait, but I've tried submitting usability bugs several times to different projects with no results.
Only programmers are respected in the open source world. If you can point out a usability problem like "Gnome apps don't alphabetize files in the Open dialog right" but you can't write code to fix it, you're sunk.
Oh, and I didn't make that up. Gnome apps *don't* alphabetize files right. You'd think that in the year 2007 being able to alphabetize a list of files is a solved problem, but not in the Linux world.
Comment of the year
Why should a computer 'just work'? A car doesn't 'just work' - you need months of training to use one and aren't expected to be your own mechanic. A computer is far more complex than a car. Why is it reasonable to expect it to do more but more simply?
The difference is that when Linux doesn't work, it's really difficult to make it work, and it involves a command line, which scares everyone except us. ;-)
When windows doesn't work, you're still in Windows. When it really doesn't work, you just have to re-install Windows. That's actually less scary than a command line for 95% of computer users.
"!"
You are absolutely correct. Just last week, I was exchanging emails with someone who wanted to try Linux but could not find a suitable machine. I pointed him to the fact that the Ubuntu CDs can be run without installing. A short time later, he was enthusing to me about how well it worked (even his wireless card!)
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
Sorry but a BSOD is not "just normal Windows". There is something wrong either with this system or his hardware. If it is hardware then Linux (or any OS you run on the system) may also fail to work because of it. If it is Windows itself there is most likely a simple fix. Most likely is a buggy driver.
Windows is not perfect however stating it is "normal" for a complete system crash is not true these days.
Now back to your post I agree with you, Live CDs are great. I have given around 50-60 to people in the past 2 years or so. Almost everyone thinks it is impressive you can run it without needing to install it (those you don't do not understand what an operating system is). Sadly I do not think any of them stuck with Linux. The reasons are common (hardware support, applications, complexity). I have never tried to force anyone to use Linux. Use what you like IMHO. I try and support Linux as much as I can but it is very difficult when everything in Windows 'Just Works(tm)'.
A lot of people see computers as a tool to do something, like a drill or a BBQ. A drill makes holes, a BBQ cooks food, a computer surfs the internet and does word processing. They don't have to build the drill from small parts to drill a hole, they don't have to rub two sticks together to get fire for the BBQ and so they don't want to have to work on their computer to get it to surf the internet.
First, everyone hates it when you use "M$". It's not cool or trendy, it's just annoying.
As for which Ubuntu to choose, try Xubuntu. I find that XFCE is much faster than KDE, and looks nicer than Gnome. But what it all comes down to is a personal preference. Just try the livecd's for each one before you decide. (you can also install the other desktop environments later if you get tired of whichever you choose)