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Flipping the Linux switch: Myths about Linux
There are a lot of funny, preconceived notions about Linux (and Linux users). Some ideas fall in to the realm of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). Some ideas have an inkling of truth to them, and have grown and mutated into full fledged myths. Sort of like how Vlad the Impaler became Dracula, but with a lot less violence and a lot more compiling.Some of the myths may even be stopping you from trying Linux. You want to try it, sure... but it's too hard or can't do what you need or you're not a hacker.
Let's lay some myths to rest today. Pitchforks, torches and garlic are optional.
Myth: Linux is hard.
This is a myth with some truth to it. Everything unfamiliar is hard at first. The first time you rode a bike, it was hard. It got easier in time. The first time you used a computer, whether it was a Commodore 64, a classic Macintosh, Windows 3.1 or Windows 98, it was hard.
The problem with this myth is that it got blown out of proportion. The "Linux is hard" camp seems to have Linux circa 1997 stuck in their collective memories. Linux doesn't require any programming experience. It doesn't require constant use of the terminal (though if that floats your boat, feel free to spend all the time there you want). It doesn't usually require more than the ability to point, click, and press keys on the keyboard.
There is a graphical user interface and desktops that behave much the way OS X or Windows behaves. Will there be a learning curve? Of course there will. But there was a learning curve going from XP to Vista, too.
Myth: If it's free (in cost), there must be something wrong with it.
You can pay for Linux. We have. Does that make you feel better? No? Does it make you wonder why we paid for something they're giving away? We paid for something they're giving away because it was that good.
Maybe the above seems like circular logic. But it makes more sense than the myth itself. Have you ever spent $30 on a program and it wasn't all it was cracked up to be? Maybe you spent $700 on a single program and it had so many features you didn't need, you could have gotten away with a $30 version? Just because you have paid for something in advance, does that mean it's any good?
An application, in order to be useful, must do what you need (and expect) it to do. It doesn't matter whether it's free or $800.
Myth: Linux users are anti-Microsoft.
Okay, we'll admit, there are people who use Linux who really don't like Microsoft, for whatever reason. There are Mac users who don't have warm fuzzy feelings towards Microsoft. There are some people who use Windows who aren't totally in love with Microsoft, either. It's fun to bash on the market leader. Sometimes it is deserved, and sometimes it isn't.
Most people, thankfully, are quite rational (even around here). Linux has strong points that Windows doesn't have. Windows, yes, has strong points that Linux doesn't have. Sometimes we prefer to use our Windows box for things we either can't do well on our Linux machines (gaming is the big one that comes to mind) or because we like a certain Windows application better than the Linux alternative.
Though some of us find ourselves using Linux much more than Windows, that doesn't mean we despise everything associated with Microsoft. It doesn't mean we don't, on occasion, use Microsoft products. It isn't all or nothing. Things can co-exist.
Myth: Linux can't handle multimedia files.
While there are some files (with DRM) Linux can't play, the belief that Linux is incapable of handling multimedia files isn't correct. A few times a week Netflix mails us DVDs. We play them on our homebrew personal video recorder running Linux-based MythTV.
We're also able to play unencrypted .wma, .wmv, and of course .mp3 and .mpeg files without issue. Before viewing or listening, you may be required to download and install the necessary codecs for these files. They may be available through your distro's repositories, or through a third party source.
Myth: Linux means re-installing my whole system. If I hate it... Then what?
In the olden days? Maybe. Now? Nah. If you're itching to try Linux, but just don't want to wipe out the Windows (or OS X) install you've got buzzing along quite happily on your computer, download a LiveCD. Or use a Linux distro that fits on a flash drive. It gives the opportunity to try Linux without ever touching anything on your hard drive. There are even versions of Linux that can run inside Windows.
So, brave new users, lay down your fiery torches and put away your silver bullets. Instead, pick up a blank CD or flash drive. Take Linux for a whirl, and stomp out a few myths on your own.
Comments
21
Subscribe to commentsDagMXJan 24th 2008 1:50PM
Re: Linux is hard
I've used various linux distributions for a few years, and I realise that linux has gotten easier, but it is far from easy. Windows is easy, OS X is easy. Linux is not.
For common tasks, you never have to step into the terminal or anything. I agree. But for anything a bit more complex(not power-user domain, but more 21st century teenager stuff), Linux is terrible.
For so many simple things, you have to either hope someones prepared the right thing already or you have to start understanding extensions, terminal commands, debugging etc...
Mind you, this is with Ubuntu which has been very buggy with recent updates(7.10 is a disaster in terms of stability and consistency), but I've found the same for most linux distributions I've tried over the years.
Also, maybe it's the way I use linux, but it makes too much of the OS workings visible to the user. I feel comfortable using linux, but a non-tech savvy person will feel very daunted by it.
Hell installing flash player was a pain in Ubuntu 7.10 as was getting a decent media player up and running. Theres too many facets to linux for it to be considered easy.
IMO KDE4 is a good approach because it comes closer to OS X in terms of making things transparent to the users.
Maybe in another few years you can say linux is easy, but not now. Theres still a lot to be done
PeterJan 24th 2008 4:28PM
DagMX - You're totally correct. Linux might not be hard, but it isn't easy either.
One thing that most users are going to have a lot of difficulty with is software installs. If it's not available from the package manager or some other repository, you have to spend a lot of time in the terminal and doing the configuration by hand. Most average computer users have no idea how to do these things.
Linux is also much more cryptic when things do go wrong. Error messages are either absurdly technical or totally vague.
That is one thing Windows does very well. Software installs are very easy and many problems are dealt with behind the scenes so the user isn't exposed to them.
StephenJan 25th 2008 3:24AM
"Hell installing flash player was a pain in Ubuntu 7.10 as was getting a decent media player up and running. Theres too many facets to linux for it to be considered easy."
What? You realise that in Feisty (7.10), you could go to a page that had flash content, and, just like in Windows, Firefox comes up with the 'Extra Plugins are required to display some content on this page' thing. Clicking the button would install it for you.
But in Gutsy, when you first opened Firefox, it should have come up with a dialog asking if you wanted to install Flash or the open source Gnash - it was literally one click...
And try double clicking a media file that it can't play - it will tell you, and have an option for searching for plugins - three come up, check them all and hit apply - worked for me... (Commercial DVD playback is admittedly a little more tricky for legal reasons)
DagMXJan 25th 2008 11:38AM
@Stephen
Actually, if you follow 7.10 upgrades etc... recent builds have problems with the official flash player. As in it will never install properly.
I was thankful enough that someone had a script ready that installed it, but if it werent for that, I was up a creek without a paddle.
As it is, the latest upgrade to 7.10 broke compiz. I can't save half my settings and I started up ubuntu one day to find that it was zoomed in and there was no way I could revert without several restarts of the system
ToddJan 24th 2008 3:41PM
"...Okay, we'll admit, there are people who use Linux who really don't like Microsoft..."
I am insulted that I was not referred to by name at this point in the post. For future reference, it's spelled t-o-d-d.
kojo87Jan 24th 2008 5:24PM
why does it not surprise me you think everyone should make their posts in regard to you...
wildeoneJan 24th 2008 3:13PM
I've been an avid computer user at work and home for many years. I love the idea of Linux and have installed and run it just for fun, but so far it is just not as simple to deal with as Windows and OS X. For getting work done, I really much prefer Win XP.
To really be successful for the masses, Linux must work without requiring the user to understand or even be aware of the existence of file structures, file types, command lines, etc. We really need to think about the way automobiles have a standard user interface and require essentially zero understanding of how they work in order to operate them.
In other words, Linux needs to work for people who don't care about computers at all---only what they can accomplish with them.
jus10Jan 24th 2008 3:45PM
I went from a decade of using Linux exclusively to adding MacOS to the mix. Now I have a Macbook next to my FreeBSD desktop and between the two of them I can pretty much accomplish anything I want to. If I have time to tinker or want my program "my way" thats BSD. But if I need something to just work or something to take a business meeting, that's the Mac.
One thing this article didn't touch on was: "why would you want to run Linux over whatever you have?". Any reason is fine but you have to ask yourself is it worth putting in the time to learn and switch over. If you just want to learn and play around (with any os), I'd say download a copy of VirtualBox (it is free) and install whatever in your virtual computer. You're not going to play 3d games but frankly, that's not a reason to install Linux.
ErikJan 24th 2008 5:06PM
I actually just switched over to Ubuntu as my "primary" os a few weeks ago, after a few years of brief visits. For me, it has finally reached the point were I can not only routinely use it myself, but I can see installing it on other's computers as well.
Before people complain that it's "hard," keep in mind that the vast majority of people that I support (friends and family) have me rebuild their windows computers once a year. I install antivirus, antispyware... the works, but windows just falls apart unless you know how to take care of it. They rarely try to install their own software or even connect to a new printer. Windows is hard.
On the other hand, while there have been a few things that were a little tricky to configure in Ubuntu, there was plenty of info out there to help me.
The only reason I boot into windows now is to play games or test software.
Joan M. MasJan 25th 2008 1:28AM
I have been using Ubuntu for a while and to use it is as simple as it may get. Of course I'm not trying to use very advanced features for the moment and I stay away from Terminal as much as I can.
Installing software is a snap and it just works fine: I have a very good design toolbox with Inkscape and Xara Xtreme Opensource, Gimp... you name it.
And its look and feel is great. I have a theme that closely resembles a MacOSX.
itsgregmanJan 24th 2008 5:28PM
To all who claim Linux isnt as easy to use as windows sounds like youve been using the wrong distros. I run PCLinuxOS and flash and just about all media codecs come preinstalled. Not to mention the PCLinux control center (perfect for setting up all your hardware without having to resort to the command line ) which few distros can match. that being said Ive only been using Linux a little over a year and have only resorted to the command line when i wanted to experiment and learn ( not because I had to ). I agree with dagmx and erik that ubuntu does relie on the command line way to heavily.
kojo87Jan 24th 2008 5:30PM
I've played with linux before (Ubuntu and SuSE mostly) and i liked it with the exception of driver support. no matter what machine i put either OS on i could not get my network adapters, wired or wireless, to install correctly. any OS without internet is next to useless. i didnt want to use Ubuntu with nothing but the out-of-box software.
im really want to get an Asus Eee PC because its all i need in a laptop and everything will work as it should. no way am i installing XP on it. i have a Vista powered desktop that will handle everything else. specifically Team Fortress 2
v3n0mEJan 24th 2008 9:03PM
Linux has game
http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/04/09/Linux_has_game/1
check it out
limextremeJan 24th 2008 10:51PM
Thanks to this post, I'm not scared of trying Linux now! Good job!
StephenJan 25th 2008 3:24AM
It's a bit hard not to be Anti-Microsoft when their CEO has been quoted as saying 'Linux is a Cancer', 'All linux users owe us for our intellectual property', and they run advertising campaigns consisting mainly of lies (or distorted information and statistics) like 'Get the Facts' and their new ones. And don't forget that they have been paying analysts for years to write articles proclaiming Microsoft's 'superior' security over Linux. I could go on, but anyway...
I'm not saying that everyone should hate Microsoft, or that their operating system isn't useful for some things, but not liking them is definitely not irrational.
Shannon VanWagnerJan 25th 2008 7:23PM
Couple of important things about Linux...
1.) Linux changes constantly. Therefore Linux becomes easier, better, and more fantastic with every iteration of upgrades. Take Ubuntu for instance, every six months there is a major upgrade. What didn't work in 7.04 is likely to work in 7.10. I have a Dell Inspiron 2650 laptop with a Netgear PCMCIA network adapter, for which I had to load the beastly (but not really) ndiswrapper to make work in Ubuntu 7.04, then like magic, when I reloaded Ubuntu 7.10 the Netgear PCMCIA network adapter now works perfectly from the LiveCD and after installation of the newer version of Ubuntu. What happened was that someone simply posted the problem to ubuntuforums.org and then the devs fixed it, which leads me to my second point.
2.) The more people that use and believe in Linux, the better it gets. Here's the cycle, awesome people develop and make Linux work, the user masses download the Linux and use it, the users squawk about problems they have with the Linux, then the devs fix the Linux and release the next version very rapidly. It's a model that's based on making the OS better (as opposed to other Operating Systems that are driven most by making more profit for the business people than actually making a better product and faster), which leads me on to my next point.
3.) If you adopt Linux, it will change your life. Use and realize Linux and a little switch in your mind will actuate and a light will turn on. When the light turns on, you will experience a change in the way that you view and use technology. It is then that you will realize how powerful technology is, as a means for enabling us all as humankind.
These are only a few points for making what is considered (inaccurately in my view) a big change, but believe me, give Linux a sincere and honest try and you will discover what I'm talking about.
So now we just have to get software companies and the media to actually acknowledge Linux and the hardware providers to include it and support it....I aim to do just that.
Shannon VanWagner
http://healthysystem.blogspot.com
http://digg.com/users/bicep
Pete HarlowJan 30th 2008 9:17AM
Adding on to point 2), at the moment there is very little information released by the majority of manufacturers to enable GNU/Linux developers to develop drivers for various peripherals. The development has to be done by trial and error - a time consuming process. As the market share of Linux increases, those manufacturers not supporting Linux will lose significant sales, and therefore be more likely to provide details of their products to the Linux developers or provide their own drivers. For this reason also the quality of Linux and other free operating systems will improve with increased uptake.
RexJan 26th 2008 12:09PM
okey first of all, linux is not easy, NOT AT ALL......
secondly, thats exactly why i use it ;-) coz no one touches my kubuntu install, everybody boots to windows, i don't have to be bothered with whatever they do...
okey on a more serious note, linux is not easy, even it took me three reinstalls to finally be satisfide with it, but hey, i took it as a challange
sure i am a college student, with my major in finance, and the only programming i know is the html the college forced on me via "intro to comp" course, but still you mess, you figure, you learn, you know trial and error, practice makes perfect, that kind of stuff...
linux does have along way to go, but the fact that is that i have not booted in to xp for the past two months means alot, for me atleast
if you are really intrested, here is my guide...
1-try the live cd(i recommend kubuntu), get the feel of it, see what works, what doesn't, if you mess up, just reinstall...
2-if couple of things dont work, search the forums now, saves time and headaches when you actually dive in
3-if you fell confident, install it on your hardive as a dual boot with your xp.trust me, if you know how to defragment your drives, you have the skills to install your linux, partition your drive, etc, heck it takes all of 6 easy steps and 15 minutes to install kubuntu on my relatively old machine...
sorry for my long post, just my two cents
KarlJan 27th 2008 4:27PM
Another myth is that you are on your own with zero support if you install a Linux distribution. I'm still on 7.04 (Ubuntu Feisty Fawn) and continue to get updates (patches, updated apps, security fixes, etc.). And will continue to get support until Oct. at which point I'll install version 8.10 (a long term release) and get updates for three years.
So those of you used to Windows updates this pretty much works the same way.
EvanFeb 25th 2008 1:08PM
I've used several builds of Linux for different periods of time over the last couple of years. While I like the idea of Linux and have fun tinkering with the settings, there is one glaring fault that has turned me off from it.
I use a dual monitor setup and often like tinkering with my video settings and updating my video drivers. No matter the program to streamline driver updates and what not, inevitably at some point I will do something that Linux doesn't agree with.
In Windows I see making a mistake as a learning process that I can fix. In Linux I see this as losing my entire friggin' GUI and left with the terminal unable to even google things to get help fixing my problem meaning I have to reformat.
Until they can fix that, I won't be a full-time linux user. Sure every now and then I'll go back when I read about a big update. But everytime it's the same problem.