No more Microsoft Windows; it's GNU/Linux for me

[spetsnaz]

been a big fan of linux for years

[ldsnet]

Left Linux 10 years ago. GNU just wasn't ready for mainstream use. My current laptop is running Windows 7, but I am running Ubuntu in a virtual box. Liking it a lot. About to take the plunge and slick the machine and go straight Linux

[tonyxcom]

A user is told by windows how he will do what he wants to do.

Can you give some examples of this behavior please.

[meaty-btz]

Can you give some examples of this behavior please.

Try playing an encrypted DVD on a secondary output on a laptop with a generic graphics driver.

Play an encrypted DVD at all without buying a non-base OS version (or paying for 3rd party software).

Use a file system other than NTFS, not only are there better, there are faster and more reliable FS available.

Share, mount, and secure an NFS share without wanting to beat your own skull in.

Try to connect into any "Business" network shares on a "Home" edition computer. That is always fun.

Operate an AMP Server, with all the features and security, without buying a "special version".

Operate a Domain Controller without buying a "special version".

Change your desktop environment without 3rd party software.. oh wait you can't. You get it their way with whatever little wiggle room they give you.

Uncouple Explorer from the system with 3rd party DEs, nope.

Move the Start Button (not the bar, the button and it's location on the bar), nope, not without some 3rd party hack.

Dictate the MAC address used by any given network connection no matter what the hardware mac is.

Live a DRM free life.

Live a Spyware (the OS as spyware, not talking about malware in general) Free Life, with no back doors.

Natively and seamlessly encrypt only the users folder and also the hard drive. Possible, but very difficult. I have heard horror stories when it goes sideways.

Used to be scripting as well but MS Power Shell is just that, powerful. I have been a big fan of it. In fact, MS Exchange Server currently does most of it's configuration via PowerShell.

The real reason of course is that Linux is just a Kernel, everything else is 2nd and 3rd party product. Things would get pretty crazy if Windows offered 6+ DEs free, 4+ sound subsystems, etc. By providing the monolithic platform they do their users a service. It requires much less skill to operate windows successfully. It provides a single target for developers. I remember the days before the MS Hardware Labs. In fact, I remember the impact it had on the industry and the company I was working for when for the first time we sent off our hardware to get certified. It was like a whole new world.

The best analogy is Windows is a standard Economy Car, Mac OS-X is a Prius, and Linux is that rat-rod muscle car that it's owner is a mechanic who turns wrenches on every weekend.

The only limit to what I can make Linux do is Me. Anything else is just a matter of knowing how and doing it.

[tonyxcom]

I was hoping you would provide an example of...

"A user is told by windows how he will do what he wants to do."

[chris]

I use Ubuntu Linux on my work laptop, have been since 2007. The only time I use Windows is on my gaming computer. Though I have to say Microsoft did a much better job with Win7 than I expected.

yes they did. after Vista being the disaster it is they had to make up for it. XP was also great.

[POLICESTATE]

I'm seriously considering just diving hardcore back into Linux and Unix, not so much because of home computing but because I'm really getting tired of the crappy caliber of windows admins I see these days. Just point-and-click dopes with no real sense of how to use the operating system or networking. Maybe it's too many bootcamps, maybe all the MS Certified Bull**** is too much like public schooling... I don't know. I do know that at least with Linux/Unix you really do have to know your stuff.

[Ralgha]

Try playing an encrypted DVD on a secondary output on a laptop with a generic graphics driver.

Play an encrypted DVD at all without buying a non-base OS version (or paying for 3rd party software).

Use a file system other than NTFS, not only are there better, there are faster and more reliable FS available.

Share, mount, and secure an NFS share without wanting to beat your own skull in.

Try to connect into any "Business" network shares on a "Home" edition computer. That is always fun.

Operate an AMP Server, with all the features and security, without buying a "special version".

Operate a Domain Controller without buying a "special version".

Change your desktop environment without 3rd party software.. oh wait you can't. You get it their way with whatever little wiggle room they give you.

Uncouple Explorer from the system with 3rd party DEs, nope.

Move the Start Button (not the bar, the button and it's location on the bar), nope, not without some 3rd party hack.

Dictate the MAC address used by any given network connection no matter what the hardware mac is.

Live a DRM free life.

Live a Spyware (the OS as spyware, not talking about malware in general) Free Life, with no back doors.

Natively and seamlessly encrypt only the users folder and also the hard drive. Possible, but very difficult. I have heard horror stories when it goes sideways.

Used to be scripting as well but MS Power Shell is just that, powerful. I have been a big fan of it. In fact, MS Exchange Server currently does most of it's configuration via PowerShell.

The real reason of course is that Linux is just a Kernel, everything else is 2nd and 3rd party product. Things would get pretty crazy if Windows offered 6+ DEs free, 4+ sound subsystems, etc. By providing the monolithic platform they do their users a service. It requires much less skill to operate windows successfully. It provides a single target for developers. I remember the days before the MS Hardware Labs. In fact, I remember the impact it had on the industry and the company I was working for when for the first time we sent off our hardware to get certified. It was like a whole new world.

The best analogy is Windows is a standard Economy Car, Mac OS-X is a Prius, and Linux is that rat-rod muscle car that it's owner is a mechanic who turns wrenches on every weekend.

The only limit to what I can make Linux do is Me. Anything else is just a matter of knowing how and doing it.

None of this is "Windows telling the user what to do," they're simply limitations of the OS, and frankly most people don't need most of those things.

You actually said it yourself, Linux is just a kernel and everything else is third party. You can do most of that stuff in Windows with third party software too, the difference is some of it you have to *OMG THE HORROR* pay for it.

The best analogy is Windows is a standard Economy Car, Mac OS-X is a Prius, and Linux is that rat-rod muscle car that it's owner is a mechanic who turns wrenches on every weekend.

This is actually a pretty accurate comparison. If you run Linux, you're going to have to dive in and fix it sooner or later.