Selling Linux to Windows Users

[Mark Haney]

Michael Haney wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 10:13 AM, H.S. <hs.samix at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dotan Cohen wrote:
>>> KDE crashes on me regularly.
>> I am using KDE primarily on one of my machines. It doesn't crash. This
>> Debian Testing so your setup on Ubuntu may be the problem.
>>
> 
> I've been running Kubuntu for a several months now.  Once I let my
> system run for a week without a reboot and not one crash or any other
> anomalous problem.  Tried that with a Windows XP machine and by the
> end of the week it was so slow and bogged down it took forever to do
> simple tasks.
> 
> I tried KDE originally in an early version of Redhat many many many
> years ago.  The KDE of today is very different, and better than the
> KDE of that era.  This was in the late 90's.

KDE now (and since the 3.5 era) is better than GNOME, IMHO.  I got sick 
of GNOME several years ago.

> 
>>>> 4 No matter what people say about Linux having viruses, I have yet to
>>>> see one in the wild. Has anyone here EVER seen one? I sure did with
>>>> Windows!!
>>> This is a valid point.
>> This is one big reason that I always suggest Ubuntu to senior users are
>> just starting to use a computer for email and internet stuff. No need to
>> worry about keeping virus definitions up to date. No need to install
>> resource hogging anti-virus software. The peace of mind this gives for
>> the maintainer of the machine is unparalleled!

I've seen one, but then it was on purpose to actually say I've SEEN one.

>>
> 
> I've yet to see one myself.  I used to get lots of viruses in XP when
> I used AVG Antivirus, I've since switched to Avast Home Edition and
> I've been virus free ever since.  Best free AV software for Windows
> ever made.  Norton and McAfee suck, and that's the clean PG rated
> version of what I really wanted to say about them.  Most AV software
> for Linux is meant to for scanning emails to protect Windows clients
> that connect to the server.
> 
>>>> 8 Install new software by typing one line.
>>> Some people prefer to click their way to software installation. But I
>>> give you this one!
>> Plus, no need to for a fast internet connection to maintain the remote
>> machine. A shell is all one needs. Again, huge benefit.

Huge benefit when you know how to use the CLI.  Most users don't and 
that makes life hard for those of us who rather expect SOME CLI 
knowledge.  I mean not all problems can be fixed by point and click.

>>
>>
> 
> True, most basic maintenance of a Linux box can be done via a terminal
> connection which works fine on a 56k modem connection.
> 
>>>> 9 Remove software without messing up the OS.
>>> Agreed in a general sense.
>> It is difficult to exaggerate the usefulness of this point. How many
>> times Windows users have been very afraid to remove older programs know
>> knowing what will break afterwards! Again, a huge advantage.
>>
>>

> 
> Windows has actually improve in this area, surprisingly. 

I sort of agree with this.  I will say that I'm rather sad things aren't 
  any better.  Used to (WAY back) all program files were in one 
directory.  To remove the program, remove the directory.  I never had a 
real issue with a LONG path if it kept my DLLs from getting clobbered. 
Sadly, Windows never really got that, if you ask me.



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Mark Haney
Sr. Systems Administrator
ERC Broadband
(828) 350-2415

Call (866) ERC-7110 for after hours support