What caused you to consider using linux or other Open Source Software on your Computer?

[ballreward]

I have worked with Windows since 3.0, so I am experienced with Windows. I was frustated with Windows when for example I went to check my on line Bank account and Internet Explorer would not run and I would spent a couple of hours figuring out what was wrong and how to fix it. I would sometimes have to put off what I wanted to get done just to fix the problem in Windows this happened often. The final straw was when the new authenication software started being used by Microsoft, all of a sudden my authenicated copies of XP and Visa were considered no longer good. I recieved a message that my Windows XP and Vista I had been using for years could be a counterfit. The only solution offered to me by Microsoft was to buy a new copy or pay then $149.00 for new registration numbers otherwise they would start shutting down my Windows, and they did start they closed my background out to start. Up to this time I did not know they could do that! I also had a XP shutdown because I exceeded my reinstall limit. I did not know that that little bit was in the agreement that most people do not read.

I do not hate Windows software I do dislike how Microsoft handles their software it seems like even if you buy it you don't own it. Anyone have problems like this? I was suddenly without Windows unless I brought a new one so I started looking at alternatives. Mac was good but very expensive. So I tried Ubuntu it worked I have used it as a main desktop until Unity. I am not dissing Windows I signed up to help them test new Windows Betas on my computers. But I am upset to have my authenicated copies of Windows that were good for years. I was suddenly told that they might be counterfit, might be and they were shut down. That pushed over to Mac and Linux.
What got you to try Linux?

[nebenaube]

1. several...

Access to the code for starters, adherence to industry standards as another, broader base of support for critical systems and reasonable licensing.

[tridim]

2. I had a Linux machine running for a several years, but never switched..

Mostly because the promise of standardized creative software ports never materialized.

I know there are alternatives for almost everything, but the standards (required for work) and MANY specialty apps were never ported. It's a shame really.

Linux worked well as a server until I calculated my extra power usage. It just wasn't worth it running two machines.

[pokerfan]

3. MS update KB951748

back in 2008 was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/patch_tuesday_update_breaks_zonealarm_windows_xp_updated

It prevented me from even getting on the Internet to even search for a solution for my problem. I didn't realize that it had crippled all ZoneAlarm users and that was day that I realized how little testing MS does before releasing updates.

[struggle4progress]

4. It's free and there are good distros available that really work well

[HopeHoops]

5. I go back a bit farther than you do, but machines get obsolete very quickly and Linux runs on them.

You can fire up an old 486 and get Linux up on it fairly easily. M$ keeps increasing the minimum specs just to keep selling new versions. That's not an Open Source problem. I have used Star Office for many years (Open Office now) and it is compatible in ways I never expected. I have more luck opening an old M$ Word file in Open Office than I do with the current M$ Word application. I use OO on Windows, Mac, and Linux and move files around between them seamlessly.

If you've got a box you are thinking of retiring, just download Ubuntu or something and give it a try. You'll love it. I've got an HP mini that came pre-loaded with Ubuntu and I never have to reboot the thing. It also has a solid state drive so the battery life is fucking forever. I run FireFox, and OO on it (main applications I use). It hardly weighs anything so it is a perfect bedside machine. Open it up and it is on and available - no wait like with a Windows box. Mac is only marginally faster at waking up and if you don't have an SD card for the Windows sync (mobsync), it takes a REALLY long time to restore a session.

[SnowCritter]

6. I was and experienced Unix user/admin before I ever touched a PC

so Linux kind of came naturally for me. Started out with and early version of Slackware, then moved through a couple of Red Hat distros (5 & 6). Worked with some FreeBSD and OpenBSD boxes, too. Currently using Open SuSE 11.4.

I've found that Linux can extend the life of an old PC - heck, it can even resurrect one. Case in point - my current Linux box was originally a Windows XP machine (one of several that was purchased at the same time). The darn thing constantly "blue screened". Tech support at the manufacturer was good, and assisted in every way possible to try to fix the problem. We replaced hardware and software (drivers) - nothing worked - it would "blue screen" at least once a week. They ended up sending us a new machine (free of charge). It (the old machine) sat in the scrap heap waiting for disposal for over 6 months. Just for giggles I put Open SuSE 11.0 on it and it worked like a champ - hasn't had a problem to this day.

[bemildred]

9. +1.

Exactly.

[SecularMotion]

7. My first home computer was an iMac

I bought a model "A" the first week they were released in August 1998. When the Mac operating system switched to a Unix base with OSX, I started learning the command line and was soon able to run a Linux Desktop on my iMac. I started installing Linux distros on old PCs that I inherited from my sister as she upgraded her computers. It took a while before I was able to maintain a stable Linux installation, but by the time my iMac died in 2006 I felt confident enough to use Linux system as my main computer.

I've mainly been using Fedora since 4 or 5 but I have also tried running Suse and Ubuntu. I love the transparency of Linux systems. Things still go wrong sometimes, but I don't panic as much now and know I can find a solution pretty quickly in the many Linux forums online. Linux file systems just make more sense than Windows.

[bemildred]

8. It's one hell of a lot cheaper and it wastes less of my time. nt

[sodium]

10. blue screens and error messages

I gave up on windows a long time ago. I did however purchase a 3-seat version of windows 7 for use on netflix. A couple of years ago I felt that it would be worth it and there was no way it would run in linux without microsoft's silverlight monstrosity. But that says more about netflix (at the time) than it does for windows.

My distro of choice is Gentoo. I still like to compile everything and there is no longer a dependency hell like it was for a few years. I really dont know why - I've tried them all and end up deleting tons of stuff I never use so I always go back to Gentoo. I started with a floppy-drive install of slackware around 1997 or so then went to red hat then gentoo.

This is the first post on du I have made since the day Obama won the White House. Thanks for listening and the topic. I lurk everyday - and I do mean everyday - but I never post. Dont know why.
Thanks for listening!

[PowerToThePeople]

11. Friend at University was using slackware

Back in y2k is when I started using it. Mandrake was my first. Debian on all my "real" workhorses, *buntu on netbooks,tablet,etc.

Debian social contract - http://www.debian.org/social_contract

This contract is in alignment with some of my political views.

[hunter]

12. Debian and its full kit of open source applications is so damned easy to install and update.

Build or refurbish a machine, install Debian, done. I can do it as many times as I want to on as many machines as I have. All the drivers and big apps are included, free, from a single repository.

Building legal (or even illegal...) machines using Windows is no fun.

Dealing with "Product activation keys," "registrations," and all that crap is miserable work. I won't do it unless someone pays me.

I should have to put up with this:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Activating-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

Seriously???

[MichaelMcGuire]

13. Three main reasons

1) no more anti-virus
2) I own older hardware which is still perfectly usable.
3) Free

I've been a Ubuntu user for a few years now. I can dual boot into XP if needed or run wine.

O aye and this

[2ndAmForComputers]

14. Basic human decency.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html

[A777]

15. My computer crashed

My computer crashed two days before I had a big paper due. I was only half way done.

I was able to hook up my old hard drive to my friend's computer via USB or whatever and get it out, but I still had no OS. I installed Ubuntu, which came with OpenOffice at the time, and in a little less than 30 minutes, I was typing away. I've been loving it ever since. I only use Windows if there's a program that doesn't work well with Wine, or when I'm at work.