Hi.

I know of the many reasons to tell people to switch to GNU/Linux. But I'd like to compile a list of reasons why people don't want to switch to Linux and possibly overcome most or all of the obstacles.

Feel free to add to the list.

The most obvious one that comes to my mind is the horrible Itunes. Getting it to work in Wine is a nightmare and understandably people don't want to lose their songs. I advise people never to use Itunes in the first place as it's a software prison.

So the list so far:
1. Itunes is not available.
...

Greetz
I personally don't think people should start off expecting they have to switch. It's just smarter to dual boot or add a cheap, dedicated machine, and an easier sell. Of those two dual boot is more likely to get used.

Also, there are some valid reasons for not using Wine and keeping "real" windows. Video editing software on Linux is only just beginning to close the gap, and although I use and hugely respect Ardour, it is not really a complete solution yet for Pro work and it may never be unless it gets full compatibility with VST plugins or LADSPA makes several quantum leaps. I'm not sure of the status these days but CAD work may also be a deal breaker for a complete switchover.

Even if the alternative OS lies dormant for awhile our most valued recruiter is Microsoft itself since we can safely bet they will do something to anger their userbase, whether forcing abandonment of XP or another resource hungry, forced UI change for change sake or abandonment of older hardware.... something. That day, they will boot Linux with a vengeance.

iTunes, CAD, Media editing, and Games. There's some progress on most of those, but until things like photoshop or premier gets ported, those users could care less about something that doesn't let them do what they need to do for a living. And anything beyond that is just an appliance which doesn't matter what OS it runs as long as the price is right. Fortunately linux has the price is right market cornered.

I have never really had any of these problems you have said. I have no real need for wine. or Itunes etc. but I have no problem working with them. first thing to learn is Linux. Think Linux. Use linux hardware with linux. remember it is linux not Windows not Mac. Once you can deal with that you will wake up to a huge amount of cool things that you never seen. I know this sounds hard. But what really is a Itune format.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes thats old stuff
been using them for a long time.

I would learn how a program works that way you understand what happens when you click something. The source is open and so open it read what the programer wants it to do. This may sound hard not really after a while.
here a good page for people that use ubuntu. http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/tutorials...pad-with-linux

So far I see no mention of FREEDOM, and it should be the essential reason to use FREE software.

The desire to switch to GNU/Linux does not exist for most people because the fire in the belly for FREEDOM has largely been extinguished, or replaced by the hunger for "new, shiny, more!".

Without FREEDOM as the driving force, everything else degenerates down to market-speak, spec-speak, new and improved...

1 members found this post helpful.

I don't know what you mean by that, because the only things prison-like about it are:
1) It doesn't run in Linux (a lot of software doesn't run in Linux, but I don't see anybody clamoring that Photoshop is a prison)
2) You need it to interface with Apple's portable devices

That's it. The file formats aren't proprietary, nothing is locked down, there's no DRM, etc. I have an iPhone and use iTunes (in fact it's literally the only thing I use my Windows machine for), but the iTunes library has been moved to a network mount of the RAID on my Linux server. If I download some music in the iTunes app on my phone, iTunes on my Windows machine at home simultaneously downloads it in the background straight to the music archive on my Linux server in DRM-free m4a, which I can then stream to any music player on any OS in my home, and it gets backed up nightly to external storage. That's about as un-prison-like as you can get...

maybe the appropriate term is walled-garden:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post5116217

Frankly, I'd be surprised that anyone would go out of their way to "switch to" Linux.

By and large, they buy a computer for one of two reasons: either it looked good in the electronics store, or they needed a particular model in order to do a particular thing. In the first case, there's no particular reason at all for their decision, and inertia serves as a reason not to switch. In the latter, the purchase was purposeful. They might buy another computer to go alongside of this one, but they bought this computer in order to do a specific thing and they're going to keep it.

Most of the people who "buy Linux" don't even know it, and, they don't care. They buy "Android phones." They buy kid-sisters of Linux and call them "Macs" and "iPhones." Once again, purposeful, and it that purpose has nothing to do with the operating system.

But rarely, if ever, do people take something that is working for them and switch it to a fundamentally different operating environment that might not "work for them." The operating system is the horse, not the cart.

And, frankly, if I did need to run both OSes at the same time, as from time to time of course I do, then I would either buy a separate machine (probably second-hand), or I would install virtual-machine software and an external hard drive. I wouldn't touch the host OS, much less replace it.

1 members found this post helpful.

In the days of old you didn't have a choice but to replace the Windows OS. You couldn't crack the case without voiding the warranty. And the version of windows that came with the machine did not allow you to resize the partitions to allow room for linux on a dual boot. Versions >= WinME broke loadlin functionality. Stack on top of that the versions of windows that were picky, as in you couldn't create backup install discs on CDRW medium, but in theory you could with CDR. Oddly on an os that didn't technically come with disc burning software. Only recently with Vista+ versions of windows can you resize the partitions in windows to make room for linux. Thus resolving the need to remove windows to have a linux install. Of course by that time we had usb storage options and motherboards that supported booting off of usb.

But I agree linux makes more sense when you have more than one machine. The insanity that is tcpdump output in linux when there's a windows machine on the network, versus just other linux machines is motivation enough to at least think about switching.

You shouldn't "try to get people to switch to Linux", rather introduce them to it and help them learn to make the transition.

For me I've set up dual boot systems for a couple dozen people, some loved Linux, most just have it on their system for the day that their Windows decides not to boot, and some just removed it untried.

Personally I dual boot or actually multi boot, I have Windows 7 and ONLY use it as a game console, and have usually 5-7 different Linux distros installed at any given time that I use for all my online activity.

I agree. If people don't want to switch to Linux, then they shouldn't. They're not gonna like it, and they're gonna try to make it like Windoze ... yuck.

If I do hear people complain about Windoze and say it sucks, then I will introduce them to alternatives. Why ? Because that's what others did for me, and that's why I'm here typing this

As for reasons, probably:
1) They are afraid of something new or unknown.
2) They want whatever Windoze program to work on Linux and usually try to get it to run through wine.
3) They lack technical knowledge, are insecure about their abilities which leads to further anxiety and resistance.

I think not everyone can or should use Linux. Make sure to tell them about BSD too, as it is not that unpopular.

Most people have no wish or desire to learn computers. Maybe they shouldn't even have a need to.

Yeah, more jobs for us

The biggest reason persons don't switch is this, and it's one that is commonly omitted from discussions amongst geeks:

Most typical computer users have never and will never install a computer OS. If they can't bring it home with them on the computer, they won't--can't--use it. They may be very good at using specific applications (my girlfriend can make MS Word dance in circles on its head), but that does not mean they understand that it's all only ones and zeroes.

Persons who frequent places like this and who write articles for Linux sites and publications are not typical computer users.

Yes, proprietors in "free trade" it has and will continue to change fast. brianL's signature with a slightly hidden quote enters my mind here for killing evil law$, cloning and copying patents (so the poor can live &c:)truthfully to answer your question my

1. for the list: people are lazy.