LINUX REVOLUTION! (?)?

Question

I've been a Windows user since as far back as I know...until 3 weeks ago! I installed Kubuntu 9.04 on my computer on a hard disk partition (section isolated for Linux) and I have been more than impressed. Kubuntu - one of several kernels, including Ubuntu - is a fast, efficient, clean, and secure operating system. Installation seems difficult at first, but in reality is not too difficult. Linux is different, but it's better, far better.

http://www.kubuntu.org/

So, my question. Why don't more people switch from Windows to Linux? Is it because they don't know about it yet, or they're afraid of the unknown? (don't be ashamed, I was too)

Answer 1

Kubuntu and Ubuntu use the same kernal unless they are different versions I think. Like ubuntu from 2 years ago won't use the same kernal as now because it didn't exist then.



People are afraid of what they don't know, and are creatures of habit.



It's a matter of time, Linux will be mainstream soon enough.



Installation of Ubuntu is super easy, what are you talking about?



Most hardware does not work with Windows out of the box. That is why they come with a disk with software drivers on it. Won't work with Windows untill you install them.



Linux distros like Ubuntu recognize your hardware without having to install the drivers, unless it is totally new and or cutting edge hardware. That is mostly why. If you always want to use the newest hardware, you better keep Windows on the side.



Yeah the software thing to I suppose. Yeah lots of great software for Linux. does everything I need and more. Lots of great games, but there are cool games and stuff for Windows that haven't made their way to Linux, so again keep Windows on the side...



I think there is a way to emulate the drivers for Windows. Ndiswrapper or something, never needed to use it but I think the option is there. Some people don't have time to @uck around though.



If people know their operating system works, they won't mess around with something else, even if it works better.



Bro, that is no big lie, I have never heard anyone advertise "this hardware only works on Windows" They may say "designed for Windows" It'll all work on Linux, just that it might not until someone gets around to making the software for it.



Linux just needs good marketing and people with broken Windows who are going to spend money to get it fixed/upgraded at the shop anyway.

Answer 2

Kubuntu uses the same kernel as all other Ubuntu versions. It uses KDE as the Window Manager, as opposed to Gnome, which is the default in vanilla Ubuntu.



Most people don't even know what an operating system is, much less that there are options other than Windows. On top of that, there are very few commercial apps that run under Linux. I've been using Linux long enough that I remember being able to get Word Perfect for Linux, and Photoshop, Frame Maker and Illustrator for Unix. These days you can only run those apps on Windows or Mac OS. There's no secure way to do online banking under Linux, for example. Many custom apps for businesses are written for Windows only - much to my chagrin I work in tech support for a company where all of our programmers are strictly VB coders. All of our in-house apps are written (badly, IMO) in VB. This is fairly standard.

Answer 3

Ubuntu is gnome based and Kubuntu is KDE based i like Kubuntu better :P anyways the reason why people dont switch is because for one the driver problem not all hardware is compatible with linux i have windows 7 and the motherboard is a xfx 8200 and to get linux to run on it i have to add all kinds of lines to the command line of ubuntu and its such a hassle. Another reason why people don't switch is because of games yes i kno there is wine but it wont run all of the games and also windows for the most part is still easier to use then linux.

Answer 4

Because of available software (media production etc...) and games. Also, not every single device is supported by the 2.6 kernel, but upkeepers do a good job. They will only include open source drivers and not proprietary binaries which is bad for people with unsual or exotic hardware (especially WiFi adapters and cheap peripherals). Also, people don't want to relearn an OS if they use it for less casual purposes.



Also, for Laptops, Linux has poor Power Management compared to Windows/OS X and the battery does not last. Battery life is usually half (give or take).



Also, Ubuntu 9.10 was just released. Kunbuntu uses the same kernel as Ubuntu, just a different Window Manager (KDE instead of GNOME). You can also easily install KDE to Ubuntu and use KDE in ubuntu so you are not stuck with the weird KDE Apps found in Red Hat.

Answer 5

definite. interior an identical vein, there is this Nexenta springing up very good. it is a Solaris kernel with all the userland courses taken from Debian's library of utility programs. Then there nevertheless looks some existence lingering interior the Hurd progression efforts. What those styles of characterize is, Linux or Solaris or Hurd is merely the engine of a vehicle it is the OS. the the rest factors of the vehicle nevertheless comes from FSF. The toolchain or shell or grep and sed and such are not any much less significant than the engine it is the kernel. So it may actually be considered as a GNU revolution with a Penguin eye, solar eye and GNU eye by fact the three foci of power on the 2nd. it may replace interior the destiny. however the GNU's shadow would be felt for a protracted time to return.

Answer 6

I don't think people are afraid as much as frustrated with the problems installing hardware and getting it to work properly. Specifically with wireless adapters. Unfortunately, most all software and hardware is designed to work with Windows out of the box and alternative operating systems like Linux and even Mac will suffer until this becomes more equal.