Windows users are whiners

"Linux is hard to install"
You probably bought a computer with Windows preinstalled and bought a new one when it came to a grinding halt. Next time try reinstalling it from scratch, drivers and applications included.

"Linux doesn't support as much hardware"
Don't worry. The occasional digital camera, memory stick and USB harddisk will probably work. Check the Internet, select the proper components and buy a custom computer. It is probably cheaper than a computer off the shelf with Windows preinstalled. If you want a laptop, try a Dell or consult the Internet.

"I can't run my programs on Linux"
True, if you want to run Linux programs on Windows you have probably more luck to find a native Windows version. But there are more ways to get the job done. If you want to burn a CD, you don't need Nero. If you want to write a document, you don't need MS-Word. If you want to manipulate an image, you don't need Photoshop. If you want to develop a program, you don't need MS-Visual Studio. K3B, OpenOffice, GIMP and Kdevelop work just as well. And yes, we do have Firefox.

"I can't play my games on Linux"
Computers aren't there to play games. Try a console, buy an xBox and scratch your disks, I don't care. If you want to do something serious, try Linux.

"I don't want to work on the command line"
My girlfriend uses Linux all the time. She doesn't even know what a command line is. Get real. A good Linux distribution allows you to do all the essential stuff from the GUI. Don't tell me editing the registry is easy.

"Windows is just as secure as Linux"
Yeah, and my grandmother is world champion polka dancing. On Linux, there a no real threats where viruses, spyware or trojans are concerned. All the programs you have to install on Windows to get the thing remotely secure eat up CPU seconds and make your computer less stable and responsive.

"Windows is just as expensive"
Don't think because it came preinstalled that you didn't pay for Windows. Believe me, you did. And all these nice programs like Nero, Photoshop, MS-Office don't come for free as well. You're probably using pirated versions. Wait 'till your next WGA check.

"I'm lame"
You're probably right. You want it the easy way. You want to come home, plug in your computer and play some lame game right away. You don't want to spend an hour installing an OS and think before you click a 'continue' button. And because you've been doing that for the last ten years, you don't want to study some manual and learn a new program. You're so lame, that you are even prepared to fork out your hard earned cash from your wallet in order to stay lame. You're the kind of person that admits that carbondioxide emissions are a problem, but you're too lame to take the bike to go to work. Instead, you bought yourself a Hummer because you thought it was cool. You're the kind of person that prefers to write endless blogs full of excuses instead of making a change. Face it, it's not Linux that is the problem, it is you.

Comments

[scragar]

It's an easy switch, or atleast it was for me.

Personaly I was always annoyed with windows, so eventualy I decided to try linux, so I requested a free CD from ubuntu.com and about 2 weeks later I got a nice package in the post, which I immediatly tore open and pulled out 2 disks, the first of which got thrown in the disk drive. After a relativly slow reboot I was staring at the ubunutu live CD, I tried a few things and was not too impressed, still windows refused to allow me to change display settings(stuck at 640 with 16 colours, most impressive), atleast without installing drivers that I didn't have for a graphics card I couldn't identify, meanwhile ubuntu offered a range of options begining at 640 and ending somewhere around 1600, and this was just the start. After a few clicks I had customized panels, and in no time what so ever I had decided to atleast give ubuntu a true test, so I installed it. a few simple questions later and it helpfully informed me step by step what it was doing during the install(as oposed to windows that tried to hide as much as possible). After installing it asked me if I wanted to restart now or later, helpfully explaining the benifits and disadvantages of both options, I chose to restart and after an impressivly short restart I logged in. once I was in I was immediatly informed of updates, clicking on the icon listed a few updates, and I installed them. Again a restart was required, but I held of restarting for the moment, choosing instead to try a few programs. First was video, unbfortunaly my movie wouldn't play, but I knew VLC was available for linux as well as windows, so I seached around looking for a package manager that I was made vaugly aware of during the updates, and after only a few seconds I found synaptic, loading it took a while, but I was shocked to see several thousand applications listed, and number of which I could install. Scrolling through the list at quite some speed I eventual settled on vlc, assuming I was to click the box next to it after seeing some boxes green and others white I was prompted with a small dropdown of options, the most apparant of which was mark for instilation, so that's just what I did, repeating for a series of other applications that I deamed important after my stay on windows. Thinking that was it I clicked close, to which synaptic warned me that I had not yet applied changes, so I cancled the option, and immediatly noticed the "apply" button, cursing my own blindness I watched as it downloaded a series of 10 or 11 packages, unpacked and installed them without even once asking me for a single peice of information about where to install or asking for permition to create desktop icon. With my computer now sporting a new copy of VLC, I headed back to my movie, right-clicking prompted an array of options, not seeing any imediatly to change default program I clicked "open with VLC" and the video almost immediatly started playing, not bad, but I had to find a way to change the default, so I right clicked the file again, this time I clicked properties, maybe this would offer some help. as soon as the properties window opened I spoted what I was after, a small tab labeled "open with", clicking that, then VLC in the list provided set VLC to my default movie player for all .avi files. knowing that I could play movies, and knowing already that firefox came with the system I turned my attention to the only other thing I required of an operating system at that time, a torrent client. opening firefox, scrolling to a favourite torrents site I set about downloading the first one I saw, downloading the torrent to my desktop(intrestingly, this was my first view of my home directory, which appeared to by empty save for a single folder label Desktop) I would open it from there. rightclicking on the torrent offered the default option of opening with "BitTorrent", thinking this a perfect application I chose it, and was pleased to see a small window appear offering all the options I required for a normal basis without any complex decisions.

That's all I needed at the time, and ubuntu not only matched my requirements, it met them all without my once having to manual install anything. That's something windows never offered, almost every single application would take ages to load "install sheild" or some such install manager, then ask some generic questions that rarely, if ever, would have answers other than the default.

Since then I have installed a whole variaty of software, gone through several hardware changes and even upgraded on several occasions, and the software gets better and better. since the disk said to pass it on to as many people as possible I have decided to do so, converting several fiends, both of my brothers and my grandfather into at the very least addopting a dual boot, and with only 1 exception everyone was glad to accept it, in most cases chosing to abandon windowsm the one exception I should note, belives that open source doesn't work because it's too easy to hack, that free software never works(otherwise why would they give it away when they could charge), and that IE is the only way of veiwing the internet.

[n0ne_n0ne]

@_:

These were my opinions only and in no way were meant to offend anyone. If for any reason you feel the need to contact me in any way regarding these post, especially for inappropriate wording or a perceived derogatory statement, please fell free to contact me. I am all over the internet and you can find me there.

[Sajro]

"Please don't say "pirated software".

Pirates are sea robbers who kill their victims. They used to be hanged when caught.

This has nothing to do with illegal copying of software."

Apparently, this person doesn't realize that piracy is a word for theft. If I steal music from a music store (not even downloaded), it's piracy. If I stole your car (and especially if I sold it) it's piracy.

[martin jasny]

Please don't say "pirated software".

Pirates are sea robbers who kill their victims. They used to be hanged when caught.

This has nothing to do with illegal copying of software.

Guess who spread this term first?

[frank]

well. actually i spend less time tweaking and fixing and configuring linux (my boxes run opensuse 10.2 and debian) than i did in windows.
i have more time do work on my pc (and waste my time on teh internets).

i installed linux on many of my friends pc's. they never looked back. and, surprisingly, are calling me for help much less.

next point is:
i love the linux community. sure i've met assholes, but there are assholes in every community. we always found a solution. the overwhelming majority was nice helpful and forgiving. and actually, i would be glad if most of the windows users stay where they are. if someone has lost his ability to think, and his will to start thinking again, they only mean trouble.
and i don't mean comiting your live to your box and spend hours learning, but beeing open, and not condemning every difference as bad.

[n0ne_n0ne]

Boss Says:
"...I will visit a book store and read it too. What a waste."

@Boss:
Reading is fundamental ; -)

[Boss]

Hey double nOne, or double nothing would be more appropriate when addressed to you.

You gave nothing to come back to. Oh, may be to this: "every cell phone model is different". Write a book about it, I will visit a book store and read it too. What a waste

Bye-bye

[n0ne_n0ne]

Boss Says:
"...you're one funny clown. Keep on amusing others, you're doing a great job."

@Boss:
laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and ... someone yells, "shut up!"

@Boss:
Come back when you have something constructive to add to the post!

the squeaking wheel gets ... annoying.

[Boss]

"If it's needed on Linux, it's in the distro's repository."

nOne_nOne,
you're one funny clown. Keep on amusing others, you're doing a great job.

[n0ne_n0ne]

Boss Says:
"...well, you know if you want those WinDoze users to convert..."

@ Boss:
Herein lies the problem.
I DON'T have an agenda! More misinformation!

Boss Says:
"...why Mozilla released the fix for Linux??? Let's just waste some time and money on something that is not really needed..."

@Boss:
Read my post!
"If it's needed on Linux, it's in the distro's repository."

Boss Says:
"...WinDoze users to convert, making a couple of Linux distros feel like Windows..."

@Boss:
Can a WinDoze luser use a Mac?

Case in point: All OSes don't have to be Windows Lite!

hence: every cell phone model is different.

[Boss]

to nOne_nOne,

Since you read into this story way toooooo deep.

1) If it is not needed in Linux, why Mozilla released the fix for Linux??? Let's just waste some time and money on something that is not really needed :)
2) "Linux is not Windows Lite!" well, you know if you want those WinDoze users to convert, making a couple of Linux distros feel like Windows Lite would not hurt the cause. At least it would make them feel like they're in familiar waters. It is natural to retrieve from unfamiliar and unknown (has nothing to do with being ignorant).

I have a totally different reaction to the "Funny Story": Stupid people deserve to get screwed. It would hurt to study up (even before you try Windows).

[hansy]

@ n0ne_n0ne

maybe a BROKEN mirror. the problem is, and linux users often dont realize this either, windows users can not be seen as one. to many people are using windows atm.
pro's, geek's, whiners, semi pro's, newbies, idiots, smart people etc.

i dont really understand your second question, but i try to answer it. there are always people new to windows, maybe first computer or whatever (switching from linux to ms).
and you dont need to be a geek to understand windows (i think nowadays you also can say that to linux, which i like btw!).

when you want help from the windows community, you get it alot simplier, politer and faster. its personal experience from forums, irc channels etc.
ofcourse linux is getting better there, too.

but people like the guy who made this blog are truly showing that there are still big cocky linux "geeks" out there.

it's true, linux is not the problem, but i see the problem with the linux USERS (to be more specific, the cocky ones who thinking that everybody needs to read 10000 pages to understand one simple question and that ONLY there ideology is the right one), not the windows users. ;)

[n0ne_n0ne]

The story played the Windows users ignorants card, once again!

Funny Story Says:
"I'm headed back to XP. My critical Firefox vulnerabilities have been fixed over there..."

@Story: Maybe, because it's needed on XP?

@Story: What FireFox vulnerabilities are actually in the wild. How many actually work under Linux?

@Story: I dunno ... If it's needed on Linux, it's in the distro's repository.

@Sory: Sorry to burst your bubble, but, Linux is not Windows Lite!

FYI: The rules of the road is a little different in the UK than the US.

[Boss]

Funny Story:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8185716581.html

[Joe Almeida]

Hans, your blog says what many Linux users feel when people question why you use Linux, or when you try to convince your superiors to try Linux in a test case. Honestly, I agreed with 100% of what you said, but if I talk with full force with those convictions, I'd have no friends. With patience however, I have converted some over, and others are beginning to realize the limitations of Windows. It's always good to challenge one's self with change, it keeps you sharp, and you keep growing as a person. Learning Linux does make you a better computer user. I started in the Windows world, but when I took the Linux plunge, I never looked back.

[Joe Almeida]

Hans, your blog says what many Linux users feel when people question why you use Linux, or when you try to convince your superiors to try Linux in a test case. Honestly, I agreed with 100% of what you said, but if I talk with full force with those convictions, I'd have no friends. With patience however, I have converted some over, and others are beginning to realize the limitations of Windows. It's always good to challenge one's self with change, it keeps you sharp, and you keep growing as a person. Learning Linux does make you a better computer user. I started in the Windows world, but when I took the Linux plunge, I never looked back.

[hike]

Yes, a reinstall of Windows is a lengthly and costly task.

Yes, Windows users are generally whiners--just ask Widows help desk people.

Yes, *nix user and admins are cocky!

Yes, Windows users are self-absorbed and myoptic!

Yes, transitioning to Windows from a pure *nix world is even more problematic than switching to Linux from Windows.

O the loss! The loss!
(to paraphrase "The Heart of Darkness" line.)

[n0ne_n0ne]

hansy Says:
"(the cocky linux geeks)"

@hansy: The author is only holding up a mirror. Sometimes one doesn't like what they see in the mirror.

hansy Says:
"...biggest advantage windows has, the friendly users. windows user helping newbies AWESOME and EASY. step by step so everybody can understand it"

@hansy: Why do Windows users need a 'Geek $quad'?

[hansy]

people like you are the reasons why many windows user still using windows. linux geeks are COCKY AS HELL.
but then, you WANT people to use linux, but you dont give a shit about them. thats not going to work!
either you help them in a nice polite way or you deal with the fact, that linux NEVER EVER will be an alternative for standard users.
also you (the cocky linux geeks) should realize that just if you dont want it (games, more gui's, less reading etc.) doesnt mean no one wants it.

many people grow up with microshit and MAYBE, there are interested to switch to linux, but getting "no" help (telling someone to google or read a 1000 page book is NOT helping) and see how cocky people are, they stay at windows.
thats the biggest advantage windows has, the friendly users. windows user helping newbies AWESOME and EASY. step by step so everybody can understand it, linux lacks that alot. also, a windows user will not ALWAYS asking WHY you need that? he helps or gives alternatives.

THINK ABOUT IT!

[GreyGeek]

I remember the "uptime wars" about 5 or 6 years ago.

Win95/98 users were claiming uptimes equal to or exceeding Linux uptimes of 1 or 2 years, or more, which meant, in addition, that Win05/98 was just as stable as Linux.

Then Microsoft announced the 49.7 day clock bug, which crashed EVERY win95/98 powered PC, IF it managed to stay up that long. The fact that no Windows fanbois mentioned that bug proved that they never knew about it because their boxes had NEVER stayed up even that short a period of time.

It also proved that their claims were bogus, and that they were liars.

[João Matos]

you get the point

*****

[Charles]

Personally, I'm glad open source software exists on both platforms, it really helps move people closer to Linux when they realize they're using software that came from Linux roots.

The other day I asked someone who'd never touched Linux before to install it and he asked me "why isn't everyone using this? This is cool." He'd never seen, installed, or used Linux before (ubuntu-alternate cd). You don't have to be a genius to install or use Linux.

At an even more basic level I once installed Linux for a retired gentleman who only wanted a computer to play tetris. I put Linux on along with a dozen tetris variants. About a month later I got an upset call from him saying all his tetris games were gone - one of his relatives had put a pirated version of Windows XP on the machine and left him with only one tetris variant. He didn't care what OS was on his machine, what he cared about was the end result.

Most of the time Linux gets the job done, and gets it done well.

[Michael]

Great article.

By reading some of the most comments I can see that it really is true: (some) Windows users are whiners.

To the real Windows whiners: Try - for a change - to learn/understand something new and stop being so goddamned intimidated every time something like this appears online.

Should the linux fanboiz be equally intimidated everytime someone writes a blog entry about how fantastic Windows is ??

...oh, wait, - that's never happend, unless, of course, you're payed by M$...

[Henry S.]

You forgot one:

"Linux pushers are elitist bastards"
This one is true. Read this blog as proof.

(Note, I am a Linux user, not a pusher. I've always used computers to play games, so screw you and all you elitist bastards. You people are *the only thing* giving Linux a bad name.)

[toodle loo]

Anybody who says OpenOffice doesn't run as good or as smooth as MS Office obviously hasn't used OpenOffice for more than a day. I've used both extensively. I am a power user, and OpenOffice is just as good as MS Office. No wait. . . . it's better because:

1. It's free
2. It's Open Source

Open Source is the future, no exceptions. :-) Linux may come and go, but Open Source is the future.