The value in linux is what it doesn't costs. In the case of the musicians that's a $500+ value. In the case of developers that's thousands in compilers and other tools. In the case of visual artists, that's hundreds of thousands in animation suites. Multiply that by the millions of poor souls who use linux, and we're the richest content creators on the market, by virtue of what we didn't spend to be able to create content.

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Excellent point. To add to that commercially the push for Linux in R&D is because it's free, and open source; ergo you don't end up owing royalties to the OS vendor for your products.

WAIT! If it wasn't for Windows and it's users driving the rush to ever larger and faster hardware, and increasing the minimum requirements, we Linux users couldn't find nearly new Lenovo Laptops on eBay for ~$100 that positively scream with Linux!

By Grabthar's hammer, and the sons of Worvan, you are correct Sir!

It took me less than 30 minutes to install Lubuntu on an Eee PC 901. (Excluding updates, but that's because my parents have slow Internet)

And I have a Linux server that I'll admit I've spent countless hours configuring (many of those hours that would have been otherwise devoted to homework...) but you're minning the point. I (and most other people here) like spending hours inside a terminal screwing around with the OS and all the configurations. I'd much rather spend an hour confiiguring Apache or installing a hard drive (well, maybe not an hour for that) than spend the same amount of time writing a research paper or doing all the stuff that comes with Algebra 2.

Which brings me to a question. I don't intend to sound rude, but why are you a senior member of this forum with over two thousand posts if you apparently don't like Linux?
Again, I don't want to sound mean, but if you don't like it, why even bother? There's always Windows and Apple out there.

So you have iTunes, Photoshop, Netflix and Microsoft Office working on it also?
I think it is you who is missing the point. This is not about me personally -- I enjoy messing with Linux too -- this is about "Reasons why people don't want to switch to Linux".
I appreciate the power and flexibility of Linux and it has always been one of my hobbies spending time using computers in one way or another. However, I recognise that other people have different priorities and those are not always compatible with Linux. That doesn't make the people lazy or stupid or mean they have in some way been ensnared by the evils or Microsoft or Apple it just means they're different people.

OK first of all please stop listing Netflix because it works just fine with Pipelight. Furthermore it will be a non-issue very soon because MS is killing it.

Secondly, for any causal user up to semi-pro photo editing, Gimp (and there are specialized versions for Photoshop hangers on) is just as good as Photoshop. Only a very few people really just have to have Photoshop. There are now so many alternatives nobody really needs iTunes.

OK so what's left? ahhhh Office. You already admitted that the only thing that alternatives like Libre Office lack is support for certain macros. I'd really like to know just how valuable and necessary those are that is worth the loss of freedom and power, not to mention, assuming you have at least some modicum of appreciation for FOSS, being in The Cathedral instead of The Bazaar. I'm using "you" in a plural sense because everyone should always ask themselves if the gains are worth the costs. Nobody is saying it isn't a struggle to change habits that have taken years to develop, but isn't it worth it to no longer be a cash cow?

PS Notice I didn't even mention Malware.

Did you miss the part where I said people don't want to spend their time setting things up?
If Silverlight is dying, by the way, you may want to tell the MPAA and Netflix and ask why it's mandated in order to play certain content and why Netflix just migrated to it if it's dying.

It occured to me this a.m. reading this thread, how i had seen thread in forums and news groups since the mid 90's when i first started using linux Quite the nostalgia trip thanks
Yet here we are all using linux even if no one wants to switch to it and even tho its on millions of mobile and other devices.

Are you volunteering to be SYSOP for the LQ BBS? Not THAT would be nostalgia.

I wonder what the market percentage of Android versus Apple phones there really is out there. Anyone seen any market research results on that? I found a few, that first one shows some interesting info; world market vs US. Android seems to be holding up very well, as of last April that is. I laughed, it seems pretty even; number of phones, number of apps, then "who's making the most money per phone?" A: Apple by a far margin. Surprising? No. And then that second link backs that up.

http://techland.time.com/2013/04/16/ios-vs-android/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tonybrad...all-the-money/

You just can't find too many "computers" that would be laptops or desktops which natively ship with Linux, or ship with Linux as their primary OS. Funnily, Linux is heavily used by the backup and restore utilities which are on the protected or hidden partitions on all systems.

So the "I want it now and want it easy" world may not be in to installing and configuring Linux desktop. But more than half of them couldn't make a phone call, look up recipes, check their calendar, or more importantly "restore their PC when it goes down via Malware/Viruses" without Linux.

@enorbet - For any typos here, we can activate the Omega 13

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people make the mistake that these are applications but they are actually specific software programs or services. there are several other programs that could be applied to music cataloging, image manipulation, video streaming, office productivity that are compatible with linux. but like going from windows to mac or linux to windows there will be hurdles overcoming established processes.


edit: the term mobile app makes this even more confusing. i consider them more like browser plug-ins or extensions because they are commonly single function/single use.

If you use work or Photoshop/CS in a professional world there is no getting around them. Currently I'm working a product with a guy who does laser engraving, he need a couple images I have and they HAVE to be in .psd. 273 Brought up the issues with Office, and until those issues are fixed many will stay on Windows/OS X. I do think the day is coming as more stuff becomes cloud based but it's not here yet.

You've made the classic mistake of confusing capability with compatibility. Yes, MANY people need photoshop, because nothing else is truly compatible. Yes several other programs are nearly as capable, but they are not compatible, which won't fly in the professional world.

Have you ever used an iOS product? Because there are over 50 million people per year who buy just their mobile phones alone who would beg to differ.

Once again, capability vs compatibility. OO/LO compatibility with MS Office is laughable, and that just won't fly in a professional environment. Until the OO/LO developers get writer, calc, etc. to the point that they can just open/save a docx/xlsx/pptx file and have it look even remotely similar to how it does in MS Office, they will never be a viable alternative.

Why grow up in a nightmare (or blindly allow it) just use Linux and only buy in to compatibility kids, end Snowpiercer like cycles (reference not spam of course nobody on the train has to die!)

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didnt you mean to quote germany-chris:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post5150092
?