4 Dec 2011

Advantages of Using Linux

I have recently published a guest post called Disadvantages of Using Linux.
There were lots of comments on that post, and most of them are very valid.
To those who did not get the point... That post was a very-very fat troll. Yes, don't take it close to your heart. It was published on Sunday/Monday night to ease up your difficult Monday with few smiles on your face.
I am Linux person in heart, and by no doubt support Linux.
That's why let me talk about my Advantages of Using Linux.



1. Many options to choose from

Somebody may see it as disadvantage, but this is surely not! If you don't like one version or distribution of your operating system, please try a different one. There're so many of those that it is difficult to leave without your favourite one. Each Linux distribution has its followers, fans and opponents. Isn't it true democracy?

2. Free as freedom

Yes, you can do with your Linux distribution whatever you like. You can promote it, ask your friends to try it, help newbies to get used to it. Or you can use CD with image of your "enemy" as coaster for coffee cup. Whatever you use it for, nobody will take legal action against you. It's all your decision! It's all your freedom.

3. Free as beer

I have mentioned several options how you can use your Linux distribution just above. What I can add here? That you don' need to waste a penny of your money to get it. Of course, I do not mention money you need to spend on electricity, CD-R disks, internet access, computer depreciation and so on. By the way, there's a good way to save lots of money, and especially your own time and nerves, if you use services which deliver Linux distributions right into your mail box (yes, real mail box with real CD). One of them is our sister site Buy Linux CDs. Coming back to the cost of Linux. It's very rare case when you actually need to pay money for Linux distribution. It's more like exception: RedHat, Mandriva and Zorin OS are the most famous of those, because some of their versions cost money. In most cases (99.9%), your distribution will not cost you anything to download.

4. Easy to use

Yes, somebody may argue, but I can assure you that Linux is actually easy to use. Especially if you have not been brainwashed by system architecture of Big Companies, it does not matter what you can learn. Point-and-click interface is common nowadays. And, moreover, there are several "point-and-click" interfaces available: GNOME2, GNOME3, KDE3, KDE4, XFCE, LXDE, E17, Openbox... They are all easy to use, easy to configure (to some degree). Even if you have used Windows all your previous life, there are actually very few thing you need to re-learn: directory structure, security features and... FREEEEEEEDOM! All the rest is actually very similar to Windows / Mac interface, especially if you use KDE/XFCE environments.

5. Great community with great support

The last, but not the least in my list is support. Have you ever tried to use support for commercial OSes which you buy with your computer pre-installed? Honestly - I have not. The most I have tried was forums. Linux-based OSes have forums and other public support options as priority. Most of them have them as the only available option. That's why many Linux advocates, fans and users praise their community. It does not only give you the best-of-the-best advice on how to use your OS, but also can give you real friends.

Do you have anything to add? Surely, each Linux user has his/her own advantages! Don't be shy! Put your own reasons in comments below!

11 comments:

  1. Linux is the ONLY choice. Purchase any commercial OS and its money you waste, AND the commercial OS company will use some of the money to LITIGATE against Linux and its Apps. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T GIVE MS OR APPLE ANY MONEY.

    ReplyDelete
  2. While Linux is free to use, there are many ways a user can give back to the community, both by donating money to projects, or donating their time to make a distro better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linux gives you your computer back.

    you wouldn't believe the number of coworker (in an IT team inside a big non-IT company) who just do never, ever, THINK that something may be done by their computer, just because Off*ce does not propose it.

    Ever heard of planned tasks ? scripts ? anything done without caring about clicking somewhere ? Programming without a full blown piece of Visual cr*p ?

    Yeah, I know, my life is a nightmare.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What you do not provide is any reason to use Linux instead of Windows or a Mac. Unless I come from some hate for Microsoft in general, I don't have any reason to buy a Linux computer or to replace Windows with Linux.

    Since all computers these days come with one or the other, there doesn't seem to be any future for Linux. It would be restricted to the few who build their own computers from parts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. @Anonymous
    What about these (negative, agreed) reasons? http://thebeezspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/09/real-life-windows-xp.html

    And are you really that dim that you think you're not PAYING for that stuff (I had another word in mind with a "C" and "P" in it, along with an occasional "R" and a complementary other letter of your choice, but I thought that could be offensive to some people)??

    BTW, Word and Visio are so horrible I can do without, using (also in Windows), other more productive FOSS tools who don't die spontaneously when working on a document of 500+ pages or takes the best part of the morning to load.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @ anonymous ...

    Reasons?!?! OK,... Speed, configurability, Size (of the OS), security, scalability, available software (thousands of applications available through repositories), integration (Linux has tools for playing nice with other OSes), Eye candy (compiz, cairo-dock, and other software will give yo fast 3D desktop effects on lower end hardware), versatility (similar to configurability, but the idea here is you can reassign the machine as a use case system; server, HTPC, gateway, etc.), ad infinitum,...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am not going to comment on this post. Just express your own feelings.
    But I want to make link from previous post clickable:
    http://thebeezspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/09/real-life-windows-xp.html

    Hans, just a little advice as fellow Blogger blogger (hehe): you need to use .... tags to make links clickable in comments.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Official IRC Guidelines from Linux Mint

    No Trolling

    Trolling consists of messages containing an apparently foolish contradiction of common knowledge, a deliberately offensive insult to the users of the channel or a broad request for trivial follow-up messages. It serves no purpose other than the enjoyment of the troll.

    You're quite lucky that you own this website because on others you would have been kicked off or even banned for trolling...and for what purpose? Your own ego unfortunately (which doesn't do anyone any good) You are not furthering the cause of Linux only creating havoc. It's unfortunate that this still occurs, but then again it's your website and you can do what you want to good or bad. Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have to disagree with the first poster, there are alternatives(also free).

    I am a free software user (mostly GNU/Linux distros).I'm not going to tell you what you should use, i don't care; just stop asking me to fix your pc. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Security is a huge advantage. I recently setup my sister-in-law with Mint because her XP machine got another virus that required a re-install, for the third time. When she asked what she could do, I said Linux. So far she's happy.
    IMO, the simple fact is that both Linux and Mac see less viruses because the malware makers don't target them. Why target 1% when you can target 90%? Additionally, that 1% are more likely people like myself, server administrators or IT specialist. It's like trying to rob a bank full of navy seals instead of someones house. It's more secure because WE are more secure.
    After I set my sister-in-law up with Linux my sister asked why I didn't do it for her. My answer was simple, "you play games that require windows."
    So the key is to use the right tool for the right job. Be that Microsoft, OSX, or Linux.

    ReplyDelete