Comments on: Busting 5 Myths About (Ubuntu) Linux

By: Walkere

Walkere — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:03:55 +0000

Usually, myths and misconceptions are based on a complete lack of experience. People fear what they don’t know, and therefore they take things at face value.

In this case, the misconception is that Linux is unsuited for the average user. Using a Ubuntu machine for just an hour or two should be plenty to dispel that myth.

Surely there are more technical issues you could discuss that would require a lot of experience with both Windows and Linux machines. However, I don’t think it takes much experience with Linux to see that it’s a viable alternative to Windows.

Implying that it does take uber-experience feeds back into the “Linux is for nerds” stereo-type. If I couldn’t see the usefulness or appropriateness of a Linux distro within an hour or two of use, what good is it to me? What good is it to the average computer user?

By: Bojan

Bojan — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:55:25 +0000

So, you “recently switched”. Myth-busting really doesn’t require any more experience than that?

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By: Reboot

Reboot — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:13:39 +0000

5. You Get What You Pay For…

Alot of this has been replaced with Microsoft’s continued and laughable BS FUD attacks on Linux focusing on total cost of ownership. Since you can’t beat the price, MS now says it’s more expensive to use Linux. Doing so has helped make Linux a player in business. Thanks, Microsoft…

4. But There Are No Games!

I’m not a gamer but I do enjoy classic games like card games, strategy, etc… Linux has a ton of them. My brother-in-law also happens to enjoy classic games and was happy to learn that Linux has got enough games to keep him busy for the rest of his life. So it really depends on the type of games and entertainment you’re looking for. I’ve also noticed that they also have a large collection of action-oriented 3D games but hve really delved too deeply here since I don’t play them even on my Windows machine.

1. Fine. But I Don’t Know Geek-Speak!

Alot of this comes from forums - ironically, from Linux users themselves. When a user asks “how do I install XYZ package?”, they are immediatedly sent to the command line. I could very easily send an MS user to the command line also for many tasks but it doesn’t make sense to do so and it shouldn’t be option 1 when newbies ask for help.

Newbie users are often asked to understand things like ISOs, filesystems, monitor protocols, deamons, and even the intricacies of how a program is installed before they begin. This is unnecessary. I could likewise explain to a Windows end-user such things like DLLs, directories and even get into the details of the registry. Why would I do that with a Windows user? Why is it necessary to do the same with a Linux user?

Why should I get into details about NTFS or Services or why their browser uses a caching system located 5 levels deep starting at driveC (root)? This is why your point 1 becomes such an issue with so many new users - there is such a thing as being too helpful.

I have tried explaining some basic and underlying Windows OS funstions to users and it doesn’t take them long before they get a stroke… they all prefer a simple double-click or wizard but will trade it all in if I just fix the problem for them - without an explanation.

By: Uncle B

Uncle B — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:56:07 +0000

I am an old (60years) techno-moron who decided that there had to be something better than the screwing I was taking using that other brand (Microsoft). I switched to a free Ubuntu download three years ago and have since erased that other brand from my origonal “dual-boot” to make more room for Ubuntu stuff. At first Ubuntu was slightly strange to me but after a few days everything began to fall into place, and after a few web searches I was doing as good as or better than I had ever done on that other brand. No more blue screens of death, foolish notifications, service calls to speed up the system, large software bills etc., You couldn’t force me back to that other brand if you paid me to use it, I enjoy computing now, and especially like Firefox and Openoffice.

By: hendoc

hendoc — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:19:13 +0000

Windows-free for almost 3 years. By the way; not one single virus or one piece of spyware or adware for that exact same time period.

By: Website Design

Website Design — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:03:45 +0000

Great post. I’ve loved linux for ever and a day and it’s really disconcerting to come across people who throw up these excuses or reservations for not trying it. Linux, Ubuntu most recently, is a great alternative to Windows. I do Website Design and it suits me very well.

And as far as games… There are quite a few that are pretty fun. A lot of the FPS are really nice. I especially like the Aliens one and the one where you’re a Spider. (Sorry, names escape me at the moment).

Great post!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:59:23 +0000

Good, and short, essay!

As to games, I count 180 games, and suites of games such as Gcompris, and Childsplay, that are all free in the Apt upgrades in Edubuntu, SimplyMepis, and Vixta, some of my favorite distros!

Essay number two might cover the huge support networks for each of the 300 http://LiveCDlist.com distros and the 100 top Linux distros at http://distrowatch.com

Essay number three should cover the strength inherent in a virus free, almost entirely crash proof, Linux. I have a target goal of converting one frustrated Microsoft user per week, and have exceeded that by three, since 1997!

I now know that there IS intelligent life on Earth!