something i`ve never quite understood
I`ve been to various FOSS conferences and i find few aspects of open source software interesting. However, what i fail to understand is why 90% of linux users i`ve met, seem to hate windows even while :-
1. Theming their linux distro to look like windows.
2. Sub-consciously admitting to the fact that Gates HAS done a good job.
3. Realizing that the linux environment is HOPELESS for gaming(comparison with windows).
Common conversations(sometimes heated discussions) regarding the matter, which take place every now and then(some i`ve been a part of, others i`ve quietly watched), can be summarized into a small conversation as follows…
me:- why do you hate windows so much?
them:- windows is closed. they need money for what they`ve done.
me:- well, have`nt they done a pretty neat job?
them:- no, they haven`t. linux is more user-friendly.
me:- WHAT?
them:- yes, i do find linux VERY user friendly.
me:- oh, fine. And is this “user-friendliness” the reason why you love linux so much…?
them:- no. i love it because it`s open source.
me:- oh, and have you ever considered contributing\contributed in any manner?
them:- not really… i mean, not yet.
It`s almost as if claiming to use linux(AND hate windows), makes you seem like a geek with “over-developed” brains. This is a open remark against all those who support open source without actually understanding the underlying ideology or contributing to it in any manner. If your belief in FOSS is strong enough to blame windows of a bad ideology, then i wonder how the ratio (contributing to FOSS : blaming windows) gets to be so small.
my views…
I love linux.
FOSS… ? i find it interesting; just don`t think its “interesting” enough to accept as an ideology.
what do i believe in?
Making money on what you`r good at is no crime. Smart people have been doing it over the ages, and will continue to do so. Wasting your breath criticizing them is just not gonna help. Linux is a good effort which improves with every new release. But, it`s different from windows in almost ALL respects. Kindly, stop the damn comparison and for the love of God, stop trying to make one look like the other!!! Appreciate the differences.
Think about it. `n if you think its the truth, live with it.
I understand your point. Windows is a great desktop where as Linux is a great server. But these days, we have distros like Ubuntu that makes even the desktop version of Linux amazing! WIndows is a lot user-frierndly than Linux. Agreed but Linux is a lot more secured. Choosing an OS depends on the person’s capacity and understanding. I know person who wanted to move to Ubuntu but got back to Linux. Finally, my point is… LOVE Linux but dont hate Windows. Let that kid stay in a corner Lol Also, i dont see how using Linux makes one g33k? it’s abt not what u r using but how much u know abt it. Not necessary that u have contributed to the community but atleast you should know what are you dealing with!
I Love linux for life! I admit that I still have XP SP2 as well. Peace!
i`m glad that we share similar views in most respects …
And I do not think that using linux makes you a geek… its just that the people i was referring to, seem to think so.
Hey there! nice work with the blog, looks great now
Zubin i think you went to really wrong kind of FOSS confs organized by all wrong kind of people who I’m sure are talkers & haters and have nothing to do either with linux dev or windows dev.
I think such useless discussions don’t occur in good FOSS confs like FOSS.in, etc
Have a look at this conference for a look at *real* FOSS conferences –
FOSDEM 09 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH6d6U0EsAM
another one @ FOSDEM 09 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk41vmJcCZo
A superb documentary on OSS – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cqdqKhLIAQ
and yet another energizing one from FOSS.IN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfx8upiFlbY
Do educate those people who love hatetalks to leave it and do something productive instead
haha…. maybe i`ve been at all the wrong places….
u do have a point….!
well, there’s gonna be a linux gaming console soon
http://ostatic.com/blog/linux-gaming-console-coming-in-november
Linux has become serious about gaming too
um… can`t really agree with the “november” deadline. but this could definitely be a start though. there are games which are just too popular on windows boxes, and their *nix imitations have been released. i don`t have any experience playing the *nix version of counterstrike but the reviews say that they are bad(big time). but this is just an instance. there must be fine open source game engines which are based on python(i`m not sure); however, i don`t really expect gaming to be popular on linux that soon. gamers never seem to settle for the second best; so it`ll take time to rise above the competition(hope it does).
Yeah I agree performance is a key factor in gaming and a gamer who spends so much moolah over high end graphics equipments, wont like drops in FPS due to the OS.
Things take time to evolve, OSS shook server market by Apache, it shook browser market by Firefox, I hope it shakes OS and Gaming market one day too
All, I would like to see, is a massive game getting developed by hackers world over, that would be an exciting scene to watch, as if David beat Goliath.
Till then Consoles and a Windows PC are the majors of gaming
Hey Zubin! You’ve very nicely summarized the general feeling a student has, when he is exposed to open source software… I’m no linux hater, but not a preacher of open source too. I too believe in the fact that if you are good at something claim for it! Abhishek is right too saying that the people try to brainwash in the low level conferences.. You’re damn right on the point too that a person feels he’s a geek if he uses linux, i feel he is a noob when he says he hates windows! As far as security is concerned, i think it’s secure enough cos 90%+ of people are using it. On a lighter note i think they had to add some holes else imagine how will the software industry thrive? the antiviruses, pc troubleshooters, bug fixers and lot more companies in the support field..
I am with you, if you love idea of FOSS be a contributor rather than being a preacher..Mark my word, if you are having this thinking you will go very high..!
Great work.. looking for reading similar interesting stuffs..
“…i feel he is a noob when he says he hates windows..”
haha… i loved that !
thank you, i appreciate your point of view…
Interesting thought zubin!!!
just a reminder they love linux for its EASE of use!
Even i have quite noticed this prejudice that FOSS lovers have for windows yet they are not such active contributors!
What makes me laugh even more is that when these linux lovers who claim to love it for its ‘USER FRIENDLINESS’ have to do some task easy but uncommon task their first response is to log into windows!
hypocrisy all the way!:D
dont get me to be anti-linux but i think the reasons people give for using linux are not good enough!
Instead of saying user frndliness if ppl say it saves power and is better for power management schemes, for security then it makes sense! ppl who claim to like it dont even know what to like it for!
I know when Avinash reads this I am going to be on gunpoint!
Nevertheless, this is what I think!
hi zubin, i do agree with your point.but as i feel,Linux is having its own advantages and windows is having its own.Its true that it will take long time(as i think) for developers to develop high graphics game that can run on linux without any trouble,here windows overtake linux.but think from a learner’s(basically student’s) point of view,if he/she wants to learn or research on OS,it can be done comfortably on linux platform when u compare windows,here linux overtake windows.
Well..there is some amount of truth in the fact that people blindly believe stuff not because they want to but because it was forced upon them, or is a common trend.
Some people i know do just commit themselves to FOSS because they think it makes them cooler or disputable. At the same time there are a category who blindly believe in windows, without getting to know the OS properly. How many Windows fans actually know even to administer windows,they just download some software that does all the good or bad work for them.Eventually when something happens to their system, through a bad system call or a corrupted system file, they panic and in an effort to solve the problem completely reinstall the OS.
“theming their linux distro to look like windows.”
Well, i dont see any harm in doing so if one feels that he like the looks presented by windows.The issue with windows haters is not just about looks, but also about security and flexibility.
“oh, and have you ever considered contributing\contributed in any manner?”
One does not have to contribute to a GNU/Linux system if he likes the fact that is open source, he is just comfortable with idealogy that is available for free sharing, and can be modified by anyone to make it less bug-ridden or solve his issues with the OS
“Making money on what you`r good at is no crime”
I agree with fact that money is an important factor and making a profit out proprietary is software is definitely not “heinous” , but at the same time indulging in efforts to bring down the so-called “opposition” they see in GNU/linux with unethical activities is a crime!
“How many Windows fans actually know even to administer windows…”
A regular house-wife who does her share of blogging, a business-man… do these people need to be technically sound enough, to “administer” an operating system? Also, if the common man finds it hard to use windows(which has gone to great lengths to satisfy user friendliness), i find it hard to imagine that he would enjoy using forums to help him configuring a linux machine to suit his needs.
“One does not have to contribute to a GNU/Linux system if he likes the fact that is open source, he is just comfortable with idealogy…”
“Well, i dont see any harm in doing so if one feels that he like the looks presented by windows…”
i think an ideology consists of ideas and views you adhere to; `n i`ve seen “hard-core windows haters” theme their machines in an attempt to make it look like windows. well, does`nt this affect their ideologies and principles? or is it that they pretend to have an ideology but do not, at all?
if a person performs the 2 activities mentioned below simultaneously, i fail to understand what kind of a person he is :-
1. he hates windows(oh, he`s in love with those looks; won`t say it aloud though!!!).
2. he makes his linux distro mimic windows.
There is a point to which i agree to though:-
A person who uses linux because its free(whether or not he has an ideology); NO pay for it. But this is strictly an argument in support of free software; this is not an argument in support of open-source software. A person who supports free software is definitely different from a person who supports open source. i don`t see why anyone would be interested in open-source if they are`nt interested in the code…
NOTE:- i support open source software and i love linux. my original argument was not on the boons and banes of open-source; but on certain sorts of people who just happen to be … um… “narrow-minded”.
Great read mate,
as you have said, linux should be considered as a totally different os, why do they want to show that they are better than windows?
I hate those guys who learnt all their computing in windows and one day realized “using linux would make you a geek” and started using linux, wears a tee that reads “Windows Sucks” and uses Windows when no ones around.
Windows is not the best out there, neither is linux. It all depends on what you need and what is good for you
nice to see we share a common perspective…