[and now MY personal rant]
Arhh! I've had it. I just don't get it. I just don't.
These last 2 years there's been an endless stream of linux-sniffing-and-spitting windows users (like the original poster) and it just doesn't stop.
"Sniffing" because they don't really go much further. Install, look at it from afar and see that it's different.
Then comes the "Spitting" part. Feeling frustrated they have to approach any linux-user to inform them in a passive-aggresive way of their opinions and what a ripoff this whole linux / opensource thing is.

I mean: if you invest no money, no time, no intelligence in something, how can you be ripped off?

And why do they always have to be so angry about it? Nobody is asking them to switch. But on a certain level they do blame us (the happy linux users) when it's not working out. As if they did it to please us.

Arghh!

As if I care which OS somebody else uses. The only reason "linux popularity" is good for me is because of hardware support.

[the rant stops somewhere around here]

So why are they switching? What do they expect from it?
- a free OS? Windows isn't free and that doesn't stop them from using it. So that's not it.
- a stable virusfree environment? This would be a valid point if they would not complain about everything that makes this stability possible. Like security. So that's not it either.
- a cool reputation? That would explain why they feel so frustrated and personally offended when it's not as easy as they thought. Maybe pride gets hurt?
- better tools? Also not the case because they don't want to learn anything new and possibly better
- better system performance? This is also one of the popular reasons but they don't accept that it has tradeoffs. Less balls and whistles -> more performance and visaversa.

When I add up all the complaints, it essentialy comes down to this:
- they want a windows system (preferably free)
- they want it stable and secure
- they want it all, all the bells and whistles and features and plugins and whatever
- they want it like this out of the box and without any drawbacks
- they want it with a zero learning curve
- and they want to call it linux

I think people are simply misinformed. Linux is not the solutions to every possible computer problem.
It will not get you lots of girlfriends. It will not make you popular amongst your friends. It is not without it's own problems. It is not SO hard anymore that you need a deep and thorough understanding of how hardware works. But it isn't that easy either. You will need to use your brain, you will have to type, you will have to remember some passwords.

And about those tools. these are the tools that I use and there is no match on windows:
- SuSE, it rules. It is the best choice for new switchers. With Yast and Google by your side you are not completely in the dark in this new environment. I'm no longer a switcher or newbie but I'm hooked on Yast.
- Amarok is da bomb! There is none better for all your mp3 and ogg needs.
- Mplayer beats every movieplayer by far, and Mediaplayer twice. :)
- Easytag: Whoop!Whoop!Whoop! I haven't found anything that comes close in functionality (mp3-tagging)
- KDE desktop: the things you can do with your backgrounds...
- Xscreensaver just makes you lick fingers. I use it to display my digicam pictures (beats a photoalbum) and a selection of some great screensavers. I can't count the (unasked) positive reactions I've had from vistors.
- amsn: for a trouble- and blinkfree MSN environment. Looks great, has limited but handy features. Beats the

So, I have my stability, my tools, my legally free os, my userfriendly desktop. And no, I don't have a "cool" reputation and I don't have superspeedy system performance. But that's the point, isn't it. You have to decide what is important for you and accept the consequences of that choice.

Ahwell, I shouldn't let it get me upset. But it is so tiresome at times.
Everytime when I hear those awfull words "Yeah, I've been thinking about checking out this linux thing myself", I just want to scream and shove a live CD down their throa-------------

You get my point ;)

I apologise if I offended anybody. I just needed to get it of my chest, and since there already was some ranting going on, it seemed like the perfect place.

Regards..







PS: I just want to add that I only have problems with those "sniffers". I have respect for people that are giving linux a chance and trying to learn something new and different. It's hard in the beginning, feeling like a newbie all over again.

rottie's sentiments are close to mine and well stated. Thomas Edison never saw the Internet, Windows or Linux for that matter but one of his quotes seems to fit well here -- "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

In a nutshell...
 

Well, there you are...

Every once in a while a soul comes along and, probably without conciously meaning to, puts just the right words in just the right places, and creates an articulation that, well...says it all. And says it well.

Such is this offering. My [humble] opinion?

a) I've made a copy to stick on the bulletin board over my work desk;

b) I think this oughta be made a sticky...it's that good.

Thankyou...rottie

I know you might find this strange but I sometimes have difficulty running Windows.
Where the hell did they hide Network Neighborhood in THIS version? That's not where it was in 98 and 2000. . .
How do I get rid of IE and MSN Messenger again?
Where'd everything go in Control Panel? It sure looked different in Windows 98 and 2000. . .
Where do I go to change the desktop appearance, again?
WTF? But the network worked fine yesterday. . .? Why is it missing the drivers - they were there before. . .
What do you mean I need the admin password for MY flash drive? Why don't the other computers need admin's password for my flash drive? How come it only asks for admin's password if I plug the flash drive in before I log in?. . . WTF?

*SMACK!* Dammit, you better take my flash drive WITHOUT the admin password! Hear me?
Aargh!!!!!!!!!
*CRUNCH!*
Well. . . it's warranted, right?

MS changes things in EVERY version of Windows, and to me it's damn confusing when I have to fix a Windows PC since I'm all Linux now. People ask, "Do you know how to do such-and-such in OE/Word/PowerPoint/Excel?" "No. I used to when I used them." OpenOffice is very similar but it's still a little different.

ANY software you're not familiar with can be confusing.

You know I am sorry I missed this whole thing....really I am. It reminds me so much of that Welcome to the Internet post from years back, especially the "loser GEEKS who never matured on bit after high school." To which the response is

We are geeks, and damn happy being so. Notice how we run all things technological and we have people like him spit abuse at us when they can't be bothered to even try and learn? As for high school...Hang on, don't we have a few 60 year olds on here who actually posted? I know I never went to high school, but then again the Irish Education system is different.

All in all people like StoneAgeMoron are to be pitied. Not in a "How pathetic" sense mind you, more in the way you feel pity for a puppy that has hurt it's paw, or can't work out to go under the gate then stare at it.

Ok very off topic, but just my thoughts.

+1, he didn't even try to learn (let alone want). I love how the first few posts were trying to help and then he posts and affirms that he is a twit.

StoneAgeMoron chose his name well based on his post. I'm a proud 63 year old Geek that first saw the way to Geekdom in 1964.

Always nice to have a point backed up. I mean hell I'm 25 and I've been a geek, well since I can remember. Lego, computers, anything like that I was happy. People say geek like it's a bad thing. But what is a geek? Someone who is intelligent and savy around technology. Now is that bad? In this day and age, hell no.