my friends dont like linux

[Cadj]

i dunno what goin on, im still a bit of a newbie but i kinda know what im doin now. the problem is that my friends dont like linux, everytime they come over and see tux on my laptop screen they sigh :rolleyes:
does anyone else have this problem with other people??? and if so what did you do about it

[zdude255]

Laugh like hell when they get viruses for one.

[JamminJoeyB]

Ignore them.

Look at it this way. You have a stable operating system that works. Does what you want it to do, not what the os wants to do.

You also have an advantage now. You know more about your system then they ever will about thiers.

As a computer user/hobbiest, I took to learning linux as sort of a curiosity. Now I run it pretty much all the time. But when you get the craving for a couple of rounds of Americas Army, well ya gotta boot to 98.

Yes my friends don't really understand, but they don't knock me for it. I have one that I think will eventually try it.

[pr0c]

Time to get new friends HAHAHA :P

Just kidding... anyway, what does it matter? They like windows? Fine, let them use windows. If you can do everything you want to do in linux then stay 100% linux, if you need windows for certain things (like me) then use windows only when necessary. If you can't use linux then dont!

Allthough i love linux i'm realistic, i only believe you should be using linux if it provides everything you need.

It doesn't for me but its getting closer day by day.
1999 = windows 100%
2000 = windows 90 %
2001 = windows 70%
2002 = windows 50%
Today = windows 30%

I figure at the rate i'm going i'll be windows free (not microsoft) by 2004 ... atleast thats my goal.

I suggest you just shrug your friends off and don't get into arguments with them.

[fatTrav]

Yeah, I have the same problem.

I feel ya. They come into my room and see my brand new pc running straight Linux and say "what a waste." For me, it's not. I can do everything in Linux that they can do in Windows, only better usually. Games seem to run better under Linux that windows, open office is great...the only program I miss is DreamWeaver for it's site management features. That's it.

The only thing that burns is when they say "Linux sucks" without giving it any chance. If anyone actually interested in computers and how they work sat down with Linux, they would not leave w/o being amazed. Plus the amount of good apps that come with any distro (or those that are just available) is simply astonishing.

*Grins* Your friends prolly sigh because you can do more with your pc than they can with theirs. I mean, I know I can and I think that makes them jealous. Oh, and if your friends are like mine, at least we don't have to worry about having illegal software.

That's my two cents anyway.

[sharth]

some don't like it, but personally, I really don't care. It makes my life a smidge easier when getting stuff to and from school since the stupid floppy disks never work between the two. (apple os 9 -> linux. dunno the prob).

I've converted two of them though :)

[Okie]

yeah, i know a few Windoze ONLY users that never touch Linux
because they havent got the patience or the aptitude to try and
figure out how to use it, so billy borg got em eating out of the
palm of his hand, it is these same clueless ones that call me when
they get in to trouble on their windoze boxes, and i get tired of helping
them and tell them to just wipe it off and start over, and remind them to save
their personal files first and hang up the phone relieved they are out of my
ear...

[El_Cu_Guy]

Nobody complains. Whenever they sit down and see the desktop most simply think that I skinned Windows "or something". The others could care less. They simply look for familiar icons. That is the ones they see on my other machines. For example, if they wanna "surf the web" they just have to find Mozilla.

[sharth]

the windows skins did look quite neato :) if i ever got a decent processer i would throw one of those on there. mmm, porting blackbox to windows :)

[Gertrude]

When it comes down to it its your computer you can do what you want to it. If it is serving you, and does what you want it to who cares if some asshats are sighing at it?

[drummerboy195]

ive really only discussed linux and microsoft(windows) in depth, one ended up being forcably converted (lost his xp sticker number thingy) one ridicules me for everything i say about computers, and the other is scared of microsoft now, but he is very confy with it and doesnt want to change.

[shadowrider]

Originally posted by Cadj
i dunno what goin on, im still a bit of a newbie but i kinda know what im doin now. the problem is that my friends dont like linux, everytime they come over and see tux on my laptop screen they sigh :rolleyes:
does anyone else have this problem with other people??? and if so what did you do about it
i'd convince them to switch to linux:D

[nothingbutlinux]

You actually *told* your friends you're using Linux? What were you thinking?? Just kidding :)

I honestly believe that by learning Linux, we're ahead of the game. Linux is ever-so-slowly gaining on Microsoft, and when your friends finally realize they'd better learn Linux or fall behind, you can point at them and laugh!

[shadowrider]

Originally posted by nothingbutlinux
You actually *told* your friends you're using Linux? What were you thinking?? Just kidding :)

I honestly believe that by learning Linux, we're ahead of the game. Linux is ever-so-slowly gaining on Microsoft, and when your friends finally realize they'd better learn Linux or fall behind, you can point at them and laugh!

sooner or later..especially with the palladium coming pretty soon:D

[ThomasTraynor]

Ignore them. I have a mixed set of machines at home. My wife and myself using Linux, the kids use windows (for their games). The linux boxes are rock solid and don't require reboots, the window machines require semi-regular reboots because of an app crashing.

If they bring up that linux is harder to use I have a five year old that can navigate around linux to bring up paint and card games, web browser without a problem just like that other OS :p

[2ndsign]

people dont understand
a good linux user know his machine inside and out.can play on the commandline like a child!

a good windows user even if he studies windows for years and looks at dos like its
a mystery!browse thru a gui and think hes
accomplished something when he gets a program to work!

its obvious to me who knows more about computers.the linux guy of course!

;) :D

[shadowrider]

well i guess being able to accomplish something more in one os over the other os is what makes up a good os.
and that's why i chose linux. i guess some people just don't bother learning new stuff as they're probably not interested enough or they got hooked up badly...with windows?:D

[plattypus1]

Okay, my $.02: Download the Knoppix .iso and give each of your friends a copy. (Make sure you get the english version, I made that mistake... took me forever to find the bloody = key for the boot prompt!)
Tell 'em to just try it, it doesn't screw up their hard drive or anything. If they go home, chuck the CD-R into their trash bin and go on with winblows, they're hopeless Bill-borgs for life. Many people will do this. If so, just ignore them. It is YOUR computer after all. However, you'll probably find one of them comes back and asks for your distro cd's. It worked for me.

[evac-q8r]

You say that you are a newbie at Linux. May I ask you why you chose to start using it. The reason I ask is because I am a graduate student in Physics. When I started doing my research I was thrown into a world where the physics community only uses Linux. I was lost at first, but the chosen few will have the patience and wisdom to overcome there deficiencies and do miraculaous things, things untold or useen. It may be you who advances the world of Linux into some unseen dimension. Understand that you no longer live in the matrix. When you interact with your computer, it is a reflection of you and not a reflection of it unto you. It turns out that your friends are blind and cannot see the truth... those poor souls. I have been using Red Hat Linux for about 3 years now and just the abiltiy to logon to remote machines is ever so common, but yet so powerful and only truely emcompassed on Linux machines. Give Linux some more time, my friend, Linux is a like a juggernaut, or a massive inexorable force literally crushing everything in its path. Linux is a juggernaut which resides outside of the matrix. This force is comprised of people like you and me who sit at their computers and develop and contribute and learn and understand. Only time will tell the punishment and ignorance your friends will encounter. Don't hate them though, just forgive them that they know not the truth!

[sharth]

Originally posted by evac-q8r
You say that you are a newbie at Linux. May I ask you why you chose to start using it. The reason I ask is because I am a graduate student in Physics. When I started doing my research I was thrown into a world where the physics community only uses Linux. I was lost at first, but the chosen few will have the patience and wisdom to overcome there deficiencies and do miraculaous things, things untold or useen. It may be you who advances the world of Linux into some unseen dimension. Understand that you no longer live in the matrix. When you interact with your computer, it is a reflection of you and not a reflection of it unto you. It turns out that your friends are blind and cannot see the truth... those poor souls. I have been using Red Hat Linux for about 3 years now and just the abiltiy to logon to remote machines is ever so common, but yet so powerful and only truely emcompassed on Linux machines. Give Linux some more time, my friend, Linux is a like a juggernaut, or a massive inexorable force literally crushing everything in its path. Linux is a juggernaut which resides outside of the matrix. This force is comprised of people like you and me who sit at their computers and develop and contribute and learn and understand. Only time will tell the punishment and ignorance your friends will encounter. Don't hate them though, just forgive them that they know not the truth! sounds like religion. Oh wait, we can't start that thread again ;)

[ZAmodeo]

shiver, shiver, palladium scares me. I can barely wait until Wine comes out with a version that works better with more apps and, ok apps aren't really a problem for me - Games though -- The one thing most people use Windows for when they have the option of Linux. If I could use AOE2 in Linux, I really wouldn't need Windows, until some other games come along that I'll "need'. I do have Java issues in RedHat, but SuSE works fine for them. Everything else I can think of I can do in Windows, I can do in Linux better. RedHat's update system is nice too-- better than windows update. You have to install a bunch of stuff separately with W/U but you can do everything at once with RedHat's
---------------------------------------
I'm FTP installing SuSE 8.2 on April 11, it's debut date!
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btw, how do I get an Avatar?

[LinuxLuke]

Originally posted by sharth
. mmm, porting blackbox to windows :)

do a google for BB4Win, I've used it, and it was pretty much just like blackbox... I ran it on top of explorer though, it can be set to run as the default shell...

[sharth]

*drool*

[netp0et]

I know how it feels to be looked at funny because of my love for linux. I work for compusa and to see people asking question after question about Window problems i offer them a way out by showing the advantages of redhat linux but they are too afraid to try something new. So all i can do is keep trying and keep offering the a way to free them from the micro hold.

[Kaligraphic]

I remember when I started using. I wanted some novelty, so I went looking for linux. I only picked debian because I could download it quickly. But I had one good reason to learn to use it - a reason that automatically trumped windows - linux was free and I had a new (ok used) laptop with no os. Of course, it was kind of hard at the beginning, but I quickly learned the two most important commands (man and info).

But just show off how quickly you can boot and how well it works. I know I was impressed at how quickly I now boot into icewm.

[Dutch Mafia-boy.]

count me in this situation too....

I have a couple friends that were more advanced at computers than I was a couple years back....we took a 9 month course together where coming in.....they knew their stuff --> hardware, had a home network etc. I knew nothing coming from a marketing background --> I knew what CPU and RAM acronyms meant., and how to navigate around in Word....

They'll buy a new computer with Windows XP on it and think its the meanest, fastest machine around.....They love their Windows....and I'll say to them, "Don't you think it s time you learned something more advanced?" -->funny thing that gets me though --> they both come from a programmer background.......figure that one out !

[garskoci]

Who are you using Linux for? You? Or, them? Why care?

[MartinB]

Many of my friends are already using Linux, or considering using it. One uses RedHat as his only OS, since Windows kept crashing. Another friend uses SuSE for C programming, another has Mandrake installed simply out of curiousity, another has RedHat and IPCop firewall, another has Mandrake (and intends to remove Windows pretty soon), another two are intending to start dual-booting Mandrake or RedHat very soon. My C programming teacher uses a single boot Linux system, and my parents are having it installed on their computer next time they ask me to fix Windows 98 again. Of course, I myself have two machines that both only boot Linux (Gentoo and SmoothWall).

It all seems pretty weird now that I think about it. Only a year ago and I was a Windows-only person and didn't know anyone who used Linux, and now, I only boot Linux and almost everyone I know uses it or is considering using it. Linux is becoming very big, very fast.

[Sepero]

OMG, Dude! Am I the only person that actually has the Opposite reaction to this? The day I stopped looking at Linux as just a OS switch, and started looking at Linux an unlimited upgrade to my computer, that's when it all started coming together!

Now I tell all my friends I'm running Linux. I tell them how they'll not only have a faster computer period, but they can also get rid of the overhead of anti-virus software. I tell them about how they'll never have to "defrag" again, and how they'll have "real" security. You should have seen the expression on my friends face when I got past the so called security on his winxp.

I recently signed up at a local college and what do they have on their pc's? win98! I could've just puked! Before I left, I graffiteed a little Linux logo on one of the desktop wallpapers. As I was leaving I asked the woman in the computer room when they were going to upgrade to Linux. She said "Uh.... I dunno?...."

heheheh

[Fryguy8]

Linux isn't a religion, so I don't worry about trying to spread it to other people. If people want to use the same OS as 95% of the population, that's fine by me. My system works and that's good enough for me.

[janet loves bill]

Show your friends this, rip a music CD to .wav, .ogg, mp3.....
show them the difference between the sizes of the song files.
ogg is much smaller and I think sounds way better. ask them how much wasted space they have on their systems from mp3 and wav files, and see what reactions you get.....he he

[MartinB]

I just do stuff like playing DVD's on my desktop background, or installing a program from the Internet via a single command, or mouse wheeling through my various desktops, or playing some Windows game in WineX, or... well, you get the idea... It always gets people interested. :)

[mage492]

Well, I have some friends that hate Linux (oddly, the same people that hate Apple...), but some who actually use it themselves.

I was a diehard Mac User until I wanted to start working with mySQL. When I found out that it didn't work on the Mac os, and that my only choices were Windoze, Linux, and the variants of Unix, it's pretty obvious what my choice was!

My computers have always been like friends to me (They have names and everything!), so I use the same criterion that I use with my human friends. Is it friendly? Apple is friendly (I speak mostly about the older Mac os's, though. X = bad.). Windoze? Don't even want to go there! Linux? Linux is like a somewhat cryptic, but very wise, friend. Once you break the barrier of understanding, you'll be amazed!

Fruity penguins, forever!!! (Apple/Linux user)

[sharth]

Originally posted by mage492
Fruity penguins, forever!!! (Apple/Linux user) iFruit! woo! :D

[AlexPlank]

Originally posted by JamminJoeyB
As a computer user/hobbiest, I took to learning linux as sort of a curiosity. Now I run it pretty much all the time. But when you get the craving for a couple of rounds of Americas Army, well ya gotta boot to 98.

Yeah... thats all I use windows for too. I just use my families computer for americas army though. I dont want windows messin up my comp.

[tucolino]

Originally posted by pr0c
Time to get new friends HAHAHA :P

Just kidding... anyway, what does it matter? They like windows? Fine, let them use windows. If you can do everything you want to do in linux then stay 100% linux, if you need windows for certain things (like me) then use windows only when necessary. If you can't use linux then dont!

Allthough i love linux i'm realistic, i only believe you should be using linux if it provides everything you need.

It doesn't for me but its getting closer day by day.
1999 = windows 100%
2000 = windows 90 %
2001 = windows 70%
2002 = windows 50%
Today = windows 30%

I figure at the rate i'm going i'll be windows free (not microsoft) by 2004 ... atleast thats my goal.

I suggest you just shrug your friends off and don't get into arguments with them.

just curious... what apps do you need from windows?

[77Punker]

For me, I still gotta play alot of games on windowsXP (no, they don't usually work on wine). Every single other thing I do can be done on Linux, better, faster, and more stable. As for my friends, you guys are lucky to have friends who know what an OS is!! I mentioned to some friends that I can boot into Linux now and they asked what it means to boot...
:-(

[ricstr]

I have SuSE 8.1 duall booting with Windows XP on my sisters computer, she has no problem using it and prefers the linux games :)

[bigrigdriver]

First, they got jealous because my Linux box could boot up and be ready to work long, long, LONG, before their windoze machines. Then they started bad-mouthing installation in Linux, compared to installation in windoze. Then, I found a new set of friends, many of whom use Linux. Problem solved.

[valadil]

Only one of my friends is really adamantly opposed to Linux. He's still using Windows ME... I usually just try to explain how he's out of his element and point out how ****e windows is. One of these days I'll leave a knoppix disk in his drive.

Most of my other friends are pretty cool about it though. They either don't care, are linux users themselves, or admit that I know more about computing and don't criticize me.

[sharth]

this was so ressurection of a dead thread :)

[RodNICE]

Lemme start by saying this... Linux till I die.

With that said, I really don't think my Linux (RH8) is getting me anywhere! Sure it takes about an hour and a half to get an OS installed with a ton of apps, but what's the use when it takes you 50 times that to get things working the way you want to?

The main reason I didn't want to go to Linux was the games issue but I have a life no so that is the least of my concerns.

Windows lets me plug-and-pray my printer and have it up in no time. Linux I gotta go search the Web for days (I still cant print). Most of the stuff I'm learning is just syntax and not computing concepts so I still don't think I'm any smarter (1 week strong so far though).

It's like this, when a child is born, they are not expected to know how the world works, or how to feed themselves, or how to care for themselves. As the child grows, he can decide how deep of an understanding he wants of this world and how much control/responsiblity.

I have always felt behind in my understanding of all things computer and struggled all through school. I thought Linux would be my digital salvation but, just when I thought I was catching up to my friends who don't have a computer degree but know more then I do, I feel like I'm going backwards just trying to do the most common tasks again.

Linux I believe in you, but unfortunately, to tell others of you I would be at a disadvantage as my experience testifies against me.

[sharth]

mandrake has like drakeprint or something, other distros have their own stuff. there are toold to easily set it up. and cups is extreamly simple.

a degree in computers won't teach you much. It's more of a do you want to learn? then you read. Personally, I read new-order, JL, Extreme Tech, anand tech, Tom's and Dan's (and a few others), because I'm interested. I doubt that I'll ever buy any of this stuff, but I like to read about it. and what not.

Thats where you learn, reading stuff, and then putting some of it into practice (if you can afford it and feel like it). But don't say, wow, he or she is awsome with computers. how did they learn that? think that's cool, how did you do that? then you've learned something, you haven't just been wowed.

[phlipant]

in redhat use

start->system settings->printing

if you prefer the CLI type

printconf-gui

[pr0c]

Originally posted by tucolino
just curious... what apps do you need from windows?

A good database frontend. I use MIcrosoft access as a quick down and dirty db frontend right now. I've never seen or heard of anythign even remotely as nice... Openoffice is of no help and i've tried half a dozen other frontends that are quite poor in comarison to Access.

Other than that i need Mono/C#/.net to finish gettting ported. I absolutley love C# !! it is so nice.. I'm not willling to learn another language anytime soon so its critical i can program in linux. SOoner or later i'm hoping c#, .net, mono and related will be what java was meant to be.. write once run anywhere. Java is sort of like that but more like write once, run like crap anywhere. C++ is just as portable really...

I've got a few offices that i can convert to linux 100% once i find a very good replacement for Microsoft Access. Its really unfortunate.

Oh and BTW yes i know you can use wine/crossover office to run Access but that is just crappy to deal with.

[roamingnomad]

The day .NET is ported, it'll be the day the GNU project buys Microsoft.

(read: NEVER)