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Listen to the podcast: So why don't I run
Linux? 
Transcript
This is Leo Notenboom for askleo.net.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article that discussed my problems activating a copy of Windows XP Home.
A common response has been to ask me why I even bothered? Why didn't I just run Linux?
I want to be very clear about something: I love Linux, I really do. For example the servers that host Ask Leo! have run Linux for several years now. I'm extremely comfortable using Linux.
And I do keep looking for an excuse to run it as my primary machine.
But I can't. I've tried several times, and each time I give up, returning to Windows.
The problem I keep running into is simply this: I don't use my computer in isolation. I keep needing to interact, either directly or indirectly, with other machines running Windows and with other people running Windows. I need to run applications that are available only on Windows. And even when alternatives are available, they're frequently not compatible alternatives - meaning that seamless or even near-seamless interchange of data between Windows and Linux is difficult at best, and in many cases simply not available. And those that claim compatibility often have small flaws and differences that render them either frustrating or effectively useless for my purposes.
But I'll try again sometime in the near future, probably when I get a new machine. No, the new machine will run Windows - like I said, I have too many critical dependencies on Windows - and I believe that's true for many people. but it's a great opportunity to try it again on the old machine as I migrate off.
Perhaps I'll be able to restrict what I do on that machine to a Linux compatible subset.
In a podcast a couple of weeks ago I also asked the somewhat rhetorical question: What do normal people do?
As bad as it might be for Windows users, the situation is still worse for Linux. For most "normal people", Linux is still too much of a conceptual leap with little to no support to fall back on. And while I absolutely recognize that there are many support forums and resources out on the internet, my claim is that's actually not enough. Until there's a family member or a local computer store, or even a major manufacturer that's willing to truly support Linux, it's not something I can yet recommend for the average user.
For anyone who likes to experiment, absolutely, it's worth a try and if it fits your needs, then by all means go for it.
It's getting better, but recognize that it still has the feeling of a "do it yourself" operating system.
And no, that doesn't minimize any of the issues that folks have with Windows - it just makes Linux less of an alternative than we might want it to be.
At least for now.
I'd love to hear what you think. Visit askleo.net and enter 12311 in the go to article number box to access the show notes, the transcript and to leave me a comment. While you're there, browse the hundreds of technical questions and answers on the site.
Till next time, I'm Leo Notenboom, for askleo.net.
Article C3335 - March 30, 2008
I am trying out with linux and i do agree with leo about having lots of dependencies on windows. I however believe that the choice should be based on what you want to achieve. Id advise a student in computer science, or a knowledge hungry individual to go for linux whilst id advise the average office lad to go on Windows. With linux, you are forced to understand some concepts of computers that have been "obfuscated" by the seemingly magical windows. In a nutshell, because im learning and want to learn.....i use linux in my spare time :-)
Posted by: Munyaradzi at April 6, 2008 11:43 PMI would love to try Linux one day when it will be able to support Autodesk software. Untill then... I have no other choice but Windows.
Posted by: Margherita at April 7, 2008 3:03 AMWhy not run Linux? It's the best all we have to do as customers is demand things to be Linux compatible. I am sick of Windows running the world. Companies have got to make our products work with our programs.
Posted by: Jug at April 7, 2008 7:30 PMJug
Am running with Linux this instant-- am totally non-intuitive re computer lingo which is why i'm interested in this site (to learn)-- anyway, my spouse is the IT guru, with a preference for Linux and Ubuntu, which I also prefer for internet use.It's plethora of add-ons for working with my language studies, graphics interests etc are on-tap. However, I do need Microsoft as well, to run my digitising sewing programmes with machine compatibility.Sometimes I use Microsoft for the internet because I may wish to later use some of my sewing design formats or other windows compatible files, but find it more problematical than Linux, which rarely has 'non responding' or shut down problems.Many of my old Windows programmes are irreplaceable and those that are, could cost extraordinary amounts of $'s with extra features I dont need or want.Unfortuneately for most of us, there seems to be a push for us to- update or do without-.
Posted by: downunder at April 10, 2008 5:33 AMI'd like to recommend mandriva for beginners. I just installed last week and it was ridiculously easy. Everything worked without any tweaking and I'm posting from it right now.
Posted by: mandrivafanboy at April 19, 2008 6:27 PMLinux is supported by a major buisness... Novel???? And OpenSuse Novel created OpenSuse and still supports it... I've heard a lot of windows junkies complain that out of the box its not supporting their software.... Ever try Google? I got all my hardware working for linux. Somtimes you have to go online and search for your answers. I got my Linksys WRT54G wireless router working. All you have to do is google search the stock password on it go to your web browser and pop in the ip of your router put in the password and change stuff from there..... Including the password for configurations.... OMG that was easy. LOL. I will say this however. If you don't know how to open up cmd and use it don't think about linux... Its not idiot proof on the sole basis that your not going to find any help unless you know what to type in a search query. If you want to make the leap a good start is OpenSuse. Their forums are full of support and my second option to start some one on is Ubuntu. After that Madriva. Keep in mind that Linux is very very very customizable... Meaning its not ready out of the box for everyone.. For some it is.For me its an adventure.
Posted by: Eric at July 19, 2008 4:09 PMFor anyone wanting to try Linux without 'messing' about with mbr's & partitioning try Puppy Linux
Posted by: John Winder at August 26, 2008 4:43 AMhttp://www.puppylinux.org/home
forums:- http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php
Coexists with ntfs - the painless way of trying Linux!
See also Lin n Win - http://www.icpug.org.uk/national/linnwin/contents.htm to enable dual/triple etc booting - still no partitioning or modifying of the mbr.
I've only been using Linux a short while but recommend the above - they have the most helpful forums I've ever come across.
After trying out 16 or 18 versions, I have found that Xandros 3.02 works very well for "newbies" to Linux. I've installed it on machines donated to refugee families our church is sponsoring and they seem to be able to use it with little or no difficulty. It looks and feels very much like Windows XP. Particularly if what the user primarily wants is Internet access, e-mail capability, and an Office-like suite (included with most, if not all, Linux distributions), Xandros will suit them well. It's all-but-automatic to install and takes little installation time. The only customization needed was to clear some shortcuts from the desktop. Another fine performer in the Linux camp is Ubuntu 8.04. Either is available for less than $2.00, plus the inevitable shipping and handling. Sorry if this sounds like a commercial, but after years of searching for a bridge from Windows to Linux, these two versions seem to be more seamless in transition than any I've found.
Posted by: Art Hall at October 22, 2008 7:47 AMI don't really understand the problem people have using Linux. I have run one or another version of Linux on my computers for over three years now. This past year, I deleted all versions of Windows and sent the to "Microsoft Heaven" where I think all Microsoft products belong.
Posted by: Ken Sturmer at February 10, 2009 8:43 AMI currently use SUSE 11.1 on both my PC and Laptop. It functions much more smoothly than Windows ever did, and the support is excellent. There is never a problem, that I cannot solve by checking the forums. I don't understand people who claim Linux is not "user friendly". I found all my software applications ( and could pick and try out each as Linux is freeware! If something did not work, I tried something else. I do video editing and photo editing on my computer. I have found applications that do this better, and just as easily as any Windows software, and all for free. I would never use Windows again!
Thank you so much! I had exactly exactly same problem as you. I'm actually running both XP and Ubuntu, and it was jarring how difficult XP was to set up compared to the painless process Ubuntu was.
And I thought Linux was the complex, confusing OS?!
And I tho
Posted by: Krezos at September 13, 2009 2:57 PM