Top 7 Reasons People Quit Linux

Osiris · 05-01-2009, 03:30 PM

Top 7 Reasons People Quit Linux

Some guy wrote a list of the Top 7 Reasons People Quit Linux. Personally, I think that lists like this are, by themselves, one of the reason people quit Linux. We have a great deal of readers that are Linux users and we’ve even spent some time with Linux ourselves. We find that people usually respond to Linux help better when people aren’t making fun of you the whole way. OMG!!! Really? Yup.

OMG!!! Really? But seriously. So what? Are you scared of the keyboard? This is usually related to point #2 above, and it's usually a one-off manoeuvre designed to get something working. For example, to get DVD playback on Ubuntu, you have to type a certain command after downloading software. Once done, however, DVDs will play back automatically forever and ever.

lyecdevf · 05-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Linux some times teaches me a lot about life. Just like in life you need to find and appreciate the good sides it gives you to continue and the same can be said for linux. If you can not find any thing good about linux than you are not really trying.

oldskool · 05-02-2009, 07:54 PM

That's like the deepest thing about Linux I ever heard of for sure

Now I am looking forward to some nirvana of my own whilst pursuing Linux adventures. Maybe we could end wars with it even ?!

philbar71 · 05-02-2009, 10:19 PM

the main reason i have quit linux is because i have never figured out how to install darn video card drivers. every time i try i get some stupid error and then i cant find any help so i just give up :mad:

with windows it's simple. i go to nvidia's site, download a .exe and then run it from the desk top.

but with some form of linux i have had to go through all sorts of loops and bounds just to find out that it didnt work right.

c0rr0sive · 05-02-2009, 10:43 PM

Main reason I don't use it personally... Video games...

Jayce · 05-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philbar71

the main reason i have quit linux is because i have never figured out how to install darn video card drivers. every time i try i get some stupid error and then i cant find any help so i just give up :mad:

with windows it's simple. i go to nvidia's site, download a .exe and then run it from the desk top.

but with some form of linux i have had to go through all sorts of loops and bounds just to find out that it didnt work right.

I just boot up. In the upper right corner it says Hardware Drivers Available. I click, select the driver I want (normally several versions are available in case a newer one doesn't perform as well for you), and click "activate."

Then reboot.

I know what you mean about doing stuff manually, if that's what you were trying to do. When the newest drivers come out a lot of users will try them out manually cause normally it takes a little bit of time for the developers to make 1 compiled easy-to-use package for everybody... and once or twice I've come up unsuccessful from doing that. But ever since I've been with Ubuntu I've used Nvidia, and they've always came to me telling me "hey new drivers!" and I just hit that activate button and we're good to go.

zmatt · 05-03-2009, 07:16 PM

That article is really condescending. Not everyone who quits Linux is a whiny n00b. And by saying that, the author is indirectly hurting his own position. Nobody likes a jerk.

kmote · 05-03-2009, 08:56 PM

I agree that the article is condesending but you have to remember these are the top (by which I'm sure he means most common) reasons for people quitting linux (maybe this is anecdotal or maybe he actually has some data, I don't know). Under these ciscumstances my list might go something like this:
1) Lack of computer games - this is a completely genuine reason, spending $100s for a gaming PC and not being able to play the game collection worth $100s more is a very good reason not to use linux as a primary OS.
2 - 4) Assorted "whiny n00b" reasons
5) Wireless problems
6, 7) More "whiny n00b" reasons

I would bet that if I had some numbers, 5 of the top 7 reasons would be perceived/non-technical problems; like the one who got the ubuntu laptop from dell only to realise to her horror that it had ubuntu on it!
The next 10 reasons might all be brilliant, valid reasons why linux is unsuitable or something else is even better but that doesn't change the top 7.

zmatt · 05-03-2009, 09:20 PM

My personal reasons for not using Linux are:

1) Poor documentation
2) Poor laptop support (not just wifi, but things like power states and battery usage)
3)Lack of major title games (WINE goes along way, but nobody not even cedega has a good dx9 solution)
4) over use of the command line
5) package management system

kmote · 05-03-2009, 09:55 PM

1) What? There is so much documentation both installed and all over the internet I find it a little difficult to believe you are saying that.
2) I'll take your word on that one.
3) Linux doesn't have anything like the kind of gaming experience you can easily get from Windows.
4) Personally I use the command line a lot, on many of my machines it's the only option. However, if you do have a graphical environment installed obligatory use of the command line is quite rare and it is much better than the windows one.
5) I can't see how this is a downside. It's there if you need/want it but using it isn't compulsory.

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