Bump for later read
I’ve been a linux user off and on for a few years now and I always saw great potential in the OS. They’ve come a very long way in just a short time.
My biggest gripe in the beginning was lack of instruction and terminology/definitions. Progress in that department has made a huge difference to me, a home user.
They’ve come a very long way with regard to drivers which was a huge impairment to the home user.
Having options is great with regard to software, but what’s even more important is that the basics work out of the box right away. For example, operating systems that fail to discover internet connections right out of the box are a huge problem in any environment.
There’s nothing like a OS that tells you there is a problem, and that you have to go online to get the remedy, but it can’t find or configure your existing online stuff so that you can do exactly that!
Microsoft is guilty of that, too.
Right now, I’m enjoying Linux mint 16xfce on a spare laptop. I just installed it last week and it works beautifully, right out of the box. Everything works! I didn’t have to download various and sundry software to go to youtube and watch a video. It WORKED! That hasn’t always been the case with some varieties of linux.
Choice of OS is important with regard to linux because some ‘’flavors’’ work better on some computers than others. Some people want eye candy while others simply want the basics. But with linux, you can find pretty much what you want.
One thing I’ve found with linux is that my head is geared to windows so when trying to do something with linux, I tend to over think it. But linux is much more simple and direct. You just have to learn a different ‘language’ or thought process. It’s like the difference between baking cookies or steaming vegetables.
Now that most of what a person needs to know can be found somewhere on line, linux users or users to be can find information and support.
I’ve grown to like linux, and unless you try out the various ones, you’ll never really know which is the best for you. In the case of linux flavors, you have to taste them! It’s a lot like buying icecream or even shoes. Taste it, or try it on..walk around for a bit and see if your feet like the shoes. No? Ok, try the other pair.
Linux is fantastic for variety and good fit.