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Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:55 am
by carlos
This is an excellent article geared towards those coming from Windows. Please read this first it will help set your expectations of linux and hopefully help you stick it out through the times when things are just not working out.

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

It really helped me out when I first started using linux. I hope that you can find it helpful. :)
You'd be amazed how many people make this complaint.
They come to Linux, expecting to find essentially a free, open-source version of Windows.
- Quite often, this is what they've been told to expect by over-zealous Linux users.
However, it's a paradoxical hope.

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:38 pm
by scorp123
Sticky bit set :wink:

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:52 am
by grimdestripador
Bump!
Read the article till the end. Had lots of two sided analogies.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:12 am
by jbaerbock
Maybe it'll help my brother (avid Windows lover) understand why I enjoy Linux so much? Awesome article though.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:00 am
by scorp123
I like the 'Lego' example ... it's spot-on :D

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:24 pm
by jbaerbock
Yeah I always did play with legos a lot growing up :D.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:41 pm
by scorp123
jbaerbock wrote:Yeah I always did play with legos a lot growing up :D.
Me too ... hmmm, thinking of it I'd still love to :lol:

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:14 pm
by jbaerbock
Well my wife and I plan to have a lego party someday so if you want to come to Mankato, MN USA you are welcome :D

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:13 pm
by newW2
An excellent read indeed! Great analogies all around. Now for the Lego party. Can you make it in August? Gets pretty hot here in AZ that time of year. :)

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:50 pm
by jbaerbock
Hey if you're in this general area sure why not :D. Not many registered Mint users in my area sadly :(

A nice POV explaining defective views around.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:53 am
by dracorX
I like that article too. I think there goes a trend to make some distris too windows like, which I - honestly - don't like too much, although I'm involved in one.

But they can be a good intermediate step, till someone learns to love the freedom and - sometimes - even begins tinkering round with the system.

Me for my part am GLAD that Linux isn't like Windows ;-)

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:48 am
by jbaerbock
Yeah I love linux and the ONLY reason I keep windows around is for games. But come the next release of Mint I may do a clean sweep and go Linux all the way :D.

windows

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:59 am
by dracorX
Hehe

I swiped my windows install some time ago. I have - however - still a virtual box with windows in it ;-)

That is enough for my needs...

You might want to check it out... and a feedback on gaming on it would also be nice, as I only need it for pokerstars.com

Re: windows

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:17 am
by scorp123
dracorX wrote: and a feedback on gaming on it
For 'real' gaming things like VMware and VirtualBox are way too slow because they have too much overhead (they simulate an entire PC). For such stuff WINE or Cedega are better suited (they just emulate the API; games think they're running on Windows + DirectX).

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:40 pm
by jbaerbock
True but some games just refuse to work on wine and cedega. And until ATI makes a Linux driver for my 200M card my card doesn't perform to is potential.

Re: Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:30 pm
by thyultimate
Thanks man for the link, it was a wonderful article esp. since I just switched to Linux :D

Re: Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:42 pm
by Zwopper
Good reading!

Re: Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:53 am
by Fred
BadFish wrote:
I think Linux should model itself after Windows (without the flaws) just like Ford is like Chevy. It is different, but like it. Linux will not be serious challenge until it realizes that Windows is the standard and Linux needs to meet its rival on its playing field.
Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more! Unix and Unix like OSs were around before Windows came onto the scene and will be around after Windows has faded into the sunset.

Windows is a one company, one pony, proprietary mess. There is nothing "standard" about it. It might be your standard but it certainly isn't mine.

Linux was never intended to be a better Windows, and I hope it is never reduced to that. Linux is only in competition with Windows in the media's and some companies' minds. It certainly isn't in competition with Windows in most developer's and user's minds.

Linux is what it is; A better way of computing than some of the other OSs available, in my opinion. For those that wish to learn and use it, I applaud them for their good judgment. For those that are happy with whatever Microsoft dishes out, I wish them well. :-)

Microsoft might be in competition with Linux, but Linux is not in competition with Windows. And it shouldn't even try to be. I am reminded of an old saying, "never play another man's game unless your intent is to lose."

Fred

Re: Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 2:30 am
by MagnusB
BadFish wrote:I think Linux should model itself after Windows (without the flaws) just like Ford is like Chevy. It is different, but like it. Linux will not be serious challenge until it realizes that Windows is the standard and Linux needs to meet its rival on its playing field.
Windows compares to Ford in the context that good ol' Henry once said: "You can have a T-Ford in any colour as long as it is back." which I feel sums up the windows philosophy pretty good :)
Fred wrote: Linux is what it is; A better way of computing than some of the other OSs available, in my opinion. For those that wish to learn and use it, I applaud them for their good judgment. For those that are happy with whatever Microsoft dishes out, I wish them well. :-)
Agree'd

Re: Linux is Not Windows

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:03 pm
by Acid_1
BadFish wrote:Linux is not Windows but Ford is not Chevy, which is not Dodge, which is not Ferrari which is not Datsun. Yet if I am blindfolded in a Ford, I can probably find the radio, back seat and truck even if I am used to a Dodge I think Linux should model itself after Windows (without the flaws) just like Ford is like Chevy. It is different, but like it. Linux will not be serious challenge until it realizes that Windows is the standard and Linux needs to meet its rival on its playing field.
I understand where you are coming from, and I used to think like that 8 months ago, then 3 months ago, I just decided "screw it all. linux all the way", and all I've used in Linux. As someones signature said earlier "Learning Linux isn't hard. Unlearning Windows is."