I don’t have a vehicle, how do I?
Ok, jokes apart, when I discuss OS with my offline fellows, AND when I mention Linux, I get these problems of replying to the questions they fire. Like for example:
A: Why don’t you use Windows?
H: I dont have enough cash to buy one and apart from that, its softwares cost a lot.
A: Oh. Pirate it you jerk!
H: Yeah, jerks pirate.
A: DIE
H: Same to you.
That was a bit of fiction too, but the thing I miss is delivering a strong point to make people look at Linux from a different angle than the typical ‘Difficult’ one. Maybe its the teachers in most colleges happily going about lecturing ‘Linux is difficult’ sessions that creates problems here. Heck, some even say there is no such thing as GUI in Linux.
Adding to that, I dont have enough time and patience to make people shift anymore either. People simply detest simplicity and prefer a few hundred clicks over a small command each time. I know, personal preferences but what good is it if its dumb to have a personal preference like that?
Well, anyway, I’ll figure out some points…
Here’s some fun for Linux users [ Ubuntu in specific 
]
sudo apt-get install cmatrix
cmatrix
Neat animation in text that is 
Hello,
I also have the same problem! Most of my friends think Windows is the best O.S. And if I say they are wrong they are like ‘YEAH RIGHT’.
But actually if you think about it, it’s quite normal behaviour. I mean, everybody who uses a computer for the first time will most likely use Windows. And that’s where the problem starts. If only somehow first time computer users could use Ubuntu!
Also, sometimes I think piracy is something Microsoft has purposely allowed, some of their anti-piracy protective measures are lame. Maybe it’s a scheme to make its OS more popular ?
And on a more positive note, why does’nt M$ release it’s own version of Linux ? And maybe make a proprietery software for linux that would run windows apps on linux ?
(Okay too many random thoughts!
)
Rohit Arondekar
7 Dec 06 at 10:19 pm
Hehe yeah random. Microsoft Linux just doesnt sound good in the mouth
Harsh J
7 Dec 06 at 10:42 pm
Well first time users of a computer would probably have no idea of Linux. you know what it’s like, just because Microsoft is most popular, uneducated first time users think it must be the best to use. But later on, they find out Linux, and they may swtich OS, or maybe even try it once. I can vouch for that story because that was me.
I want a Mac laptop now. 
Wengistein
8 Dec 06 at 2:49 am
We need to teach these kids open-mindness! They need to accept whatever tickles people’s pickles
On a more serious note, I understand that you are upset when people judge something that they obviously have no clue what is, or haven’t even tried it out.
Tina
8 Dec 06 at 3:41 am
Well, I’ve an experience how teaching badly affects. One day one of my neighbor girl, 12 years of age come to me for replicating a cd. I’ve done that using cdrecord, and seeing that she asked me, “Is this linux ?” I was wondered that she knows about linux and enquired about the same. To my astonishment, her response was “Linux is bad. Windows is good !” Answer to my “Why?” was “We have linux in our schools”
Well, teachers are doing a good job for billy.
NB: Kerala have gnu/linux as their official platform for computer education in schools.
Riyaz Usman
8 Dec 06 at 11:13 am
“Microsoft Linux just doesnt sound good in the mouth”
Errr…how abt Billuntu? Or Gatesora?
OT, the reason Linux is ‘unacceptable’ to people is mebbe coz of their lack of exposure to Linux. Windows is so omnipresent that it clouds away Linux’s awareness.
YCR
8 Dec 06 at 5:17 pm
I wouldn’t say windows is omnipresent, its the mindset of people that is difficult to change and also the people tp whom you are talking to. Like if you talk to a guy who is afraid to reinstall windows just coz he thinks he will screw up then there is no use of telling him or her to change or switch to linux as they will be even more darn scared to install it. Though I currently can’t use Linux I am still fan of Ubuntu more than ever, now-a-days more I use windows more I have started to hate it. Its boring GUI is what I hate the most. Other than simply I hate everything I hate about it including the software and viruses.
@DW: Hey I never really knew that Linux was the platform used in Kerala School that is quite a good news for me atleast I can talk about it to my cousins.
karthiksn
8 Dec 06 at 8:27 pm
honestly i was one such guy..who thought WINDOWS is the coolest OS..how ever i dont find the need to use a new OS..cos WINDOWS XP meets almost all my requirements..
ManR
8 Dec 06 at 9:20 pm
i face this problem too. i once tried to convince a hardcore windows fan. that ended in failure but i have managed to convince some. i never pirate software when i can get anything for free from linux. only jerks pirate. well said qwerty…
saurabh.sauron
9 Dec 06 at 3:04 pm
OK. I am minority here.I have absolutely NO exposure to any OS other than Windows.I realized the virtues of Ubuntu and Linux et al only by exposure to you blogging geniuses.Give a computer with Linux installed i’ll say “d-uh, this is just too tough and meant for computer geeks. What will an amateur like me do with such ‘complicated stuff”?No, puh-leeeze, let me go back to Windows.” It’s just that since everyone installs Windows as the OS in comps, more people have Windows as their OS, and most people don’t even know that other OS’s exist, that such is the condition.Sorry : )
BJ
10 Dec 06 at 7:17 pm
Test browser sniffer…
@Wengi – I hope I beat you to the Mac
@Tina – Exactly.
@Riyaz – That’s sad to hear
@YCR – Yeah. We need a rain of Ubuntu discs
@Karthik – I hate to see you not being able to use Linux
@ManR – It meets mine too. I just needed freedom more.
@BJ – I’ve blogged this once before, am not telling Windows is crime or using the same as everyone else is stupid, am trying to make people tell no to piracy. To me, I have enough cash on me to buy a copy legit of XP, but I go for Linux cause it respects my freedom, I can alter, change, use, remove any part I wish to for any reason of mine. I like the freedom it gives me!
Harsh J
10 Dec 06 at 10:30 pm
The perceived problem with Linux is that it does not provide everyday utility tasks for the layman. I have realised the best way is to talk about Linux without mentioning it explicitly or the jargon. And illustrate along with the talk, that helps a lot. And try to make it as apolitical as possible, make it more focused on utility. Most of my acquaintances do not understand meaning of ‘Ubuntu’, so they skip the entire exercise, and go with Windows that they think they understand.
Abhijit Nadgouda
10 Dec 06 at 11:57 pm
Same thing We Linux users experiance from Windows die-hards.Infact my friend a BBM, is eager nowadays as he found another gr8 thing to do in his pirated windows xp!.*CRACKING* -he is searching with IE6 warez sites for cracks,hacks etc.He is very proud and seems to him he did something great.The second i say leave this pirate’s life,Use GNU/Linux or *BSD and fsf.org gnu softwares,he will shout!wht2do?
prakash
11 Dec 06 at 4:33 pm
So many of us are using Windows while reading this blog and posting the comments
.
Rohit Arondekar
11 Dec 06 at 6:16 pm
@Rohit, true.
Sad that I’ve to use win in my office.
Riyaz Usman
15 Dec 06 at 3:04 am