This is a response to an article written by Jason Burns: Oh Linux Fanboys, why must ye tempt me so? I’d like to start by recommending this to anyone who’s interested in the whole Windows/Linux debate as it does highlight some of the thoughts around Linux users.

So I am supposed to buy that someone would spend $2,000+ on a computer, and then run Linux on it to save $100?

I think it’s unfair to base an argument solely around price. Many a Linux user can afford the money to set up a Windows machine, I’m not sure on the stats but I’ll wager many a user will dual boot in one form or another. I, for example, work in Linux wheras for my home/personal use I boot to Windows more often as I game and use Windows only DAWs.

To answer this conundrum you have to look beyond pricing (I removed Windows entirely from my work machine, my employers may not be happy since they already bought the Microsoft license) but when I can use it, I do. I often think people who do not use Linux, and more importantly see no reason to use it are baffled as to why those who use it, do.

The best way to address this would be to offer my reasons for using Linux. I now primary use Ubuntu, although I have been a past user of Mandriva, Gentoo, SuSe and RedHat. I think the root cause for me would be Linux being based on the open source ethos. This is something you either understand and buy into or it passes you by and you’re left thinking, why bother? It’s the internet’s own little slice of Communism if you like, an ideal. This may be overstating the issue but I think it’s a very important point and a great insight as to why those people use Linux. I wish for my own part that I could contribute more to the open source projects I currently use and is something I plan on doing in the future.

Specifically for Linux, I think some of the package management tools included are just awesome. Ubuntu’s Aptitude/Synaptic is great and so simple to use, having the right packge/program within seconds reach and getting it almost instantly installed is way better than anything Microsoft currently offer. I equally like Gentoo’s Portage, some people like this even more due to it’s on the fly compilation.

It’s all well and good having a great belief but if the product is not functional then it will fail.

I think open source is more than a cheap get out clause for many, I’d be remiss to say this is the case for all. But I think in the majority of home users, those looking for the cheap option will more often than not just opt for pirated copies of Windows of one flavor or another, I’m not saying this is right but I think in my experience this is the more common route.

An interesting article on the French Gendarmerie Nationale switching to Linux and saving a significant amount of money is reported on apcmag.com French police switch from Windows to Linux.

Windows decimated linux by a huge margin in all but one game.

I wouldn’t suggest anyone is under the illusion that Linux is on par with the Windows alternatives. Games being made to run specifically for Windows while the Wine project (and alternatives) are having to reverse engineer much of the code and currently making it a poor relation. Until games manufacturers see there is a market in producing Linux native software then the average Linux user will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage. The Wine project are currently doing a great job at providing Linux users with a solution and there are now so many programs available to those wishing to use a Windows program in their Linux box and this is great for people wanting to use Linux more frequently. I think it’s great to support these projects as without these Linux would be a less attractive option for many, it’s in this growing market that makes Linux more of a going concern and eventually make developers stand up and listen. Linux currently holds around a 2% market share which may not sound significant but the significant fact is that it’s on the rise (small % drop since Windows 7) over it’s lifespan. Ubuntu has done the world of good to aid its growth.

There’s definitely work to be done to catch up Windows on a gaming front but this can’t be done without games manufacturers’ support. On everything else I see Linux as a viable alternative.

So the real question do Linux users care more about free or freedom?  I definately think it’s a matter of choice and freedom, no one wants to be railroaded to one option and I don’t see why it gets people goat so much that people want to use Linux. I think argument comes back to people not understanding Linux users and their want to use Linux, it does not make sense to them. This is fair enough, I say each to their own  but I do take umbrage when people suggest I’m wrong for wanting to adopt Linux.

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