Why aren't you running Linux?

[darxus]

It's a sincere question. I'm curious what I can do to help reduce dependence on closed operating systems.

And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with not running Linux, I understand it's not best for everybody. I'm just curious about making it best for more people.

Ubuntu is the most user friendly Linux distribution. It's also the one I use for both desktops and servers. You can download and burn a CD image, and boot into it off the CD without installing, to try it out without installing it. It is very slow that way, because CD drives are slower than hard drives, and everything in the image needs to be decompressed as it's read.

cathijosephine did the install herself when Windows etc. got too slow on her computer.

http://www.ubuntu.com/ (CD image link is right at the top - download.)

Let me know if you would like me to burn an install CD for you or look over your shoulder while you install.

Freeing up hard drive space under Windows and then repartitioning it for Linux will probably be the hardest part.

Comments

[princessleia2.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm not running Windows, but being in the position I'm in I do frequently hear reasons that people still do. Without even touching the "gaming" reason (which I don't actually see as major except among non-linux geeks) the top three reasons would have to be:

1. Quickbooks. I spent about a year working on a F/OSS accounting application but the desire to develop in this area is not high in spite of demand for the product. "Accounting is boring" and many of the F/OSS solutions out there appeal to an international crowd, which is terribly tricky, you really need a tax and accounting expert in your country to be involved in development - and help update it every year.

2. Can't use off-the-shelf software, like Turbotax. Looks like I haven't left the economics arena, but Turbotax is the best example of popular piece of software that there simply isn't a Linux version for. There are also people who still shop in stores for software and like that they can pick something off the shelf and go home with it.

3. Work or school ties them to it. Frequently schools and workplaces have Windows-specific applications and so they require the students and employees to use Windows - even at home for the work VPN, or software requirements for homework.

Aside from those things, most casual users would be perfectly happy using Ubuntu these days. Cheers to you for getting the word out :)