Survey on why people switch to Linux

It's not just hatred of Microsoft

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/8231
from WinCustomize Forums

Over the last few years, several hundred people have started using Linux as their primary desktop.  To find out why those users left the herd, a survey was taken.

The results have were quite interesting and tended to be largely for technical or price reasons as opposed to some deep rooted issue with Microsoft.  Check it out.

4,001 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I didn't switch, but installed Fedora (dual boot) to see what it's like & learn a few things. (Thanks Meowy)
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I dual booted with Fedora core 4 just to satisify the geek in me. Two things I didn't care for was there are no drivers that support my printer, and WindowBlinds is missing. Talk about withdraw symptoms!
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Dual boot is great! I'm not experienced enough to jump straight in to Linux, a fanatical Linux mate of mine convinced me to try it out, so now I have Mandriva installed on a spare hard drive. It's great fun exploring and playing with it, seems to work much quicker and more efficiently than Windows, so far so good. The percentage of time I spend with Linux is steadily growing as I learn more about it. One day in the future, when I can have all of my favorite programs (or acceptable alternatives), I don't think I'll have any trouble leaving Windows behind? Like someone else said, it works the way you'd expect computers to work, with all the control in the users hands. But due to my experience level, I'll still be using Windows for quite a while yet?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have my Windows XP Pro SP2 PC and another Box running Red Hat. Perhaps, not the prefered version of Linux but I like it. HOWEVER, I prefer my Microsoft PC running Windows.

IMHO I "believe" people will "sometimes" get Linux or MacOS just to be "defiant". It's always fun to go against the super-powers such as Microsoft.

But, fun and what IMO to be considered as "industry standard" with the Windows PC you can't deny.

I've spent the last 12 years learning Windows and other various Microsoft products in and out. And I support them 100%. They might not be the most secure, or most functional with their Software or Operating System.. But, heck, I'm not either. So, what's the difference. I take full advantage of my Windows features and that's all I really need as far as usuage. But, that's me.

If you want to be a "defiant" I'd say Linux is the way to do it. But for me, I'm stuck with Windows. It's almost 98% of my blood.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just got through dumping Windows and doing the hard-core swap over to Fedora Core 4 x64.
Reppiks, you CAN change how your PC looks and acts, if your in KDE, go through the control panel to Look and Feel, the skins option is in there, or if your in Gnome (like me), go through Preferences > Theme.

I decided to drop windows a long time ago, but due to hardware problms, i could not, but i can and did now.
Everything that you have to pay for (Windowblinds, widgets, etc...) can more than likley be found for free for Linux.
Want Widgets? Use SuperKaramba.
Visual Styles? KDE-Look.org and Gnome-look.org

Granted, as a freelance programmer, i understand that the nice people at stardock want to and would like to get paid, but there are so many of A and B apps out there that you have to pay for in windows, when in the linux world, these apps are free.