0

http://codingexperiments.com

Your common, non-technical Windows user has most likely not heard anything more than a cursory mention about Linux. They have questions about Linux that are not always answered easily.

Full story »
cutcross's picture
Created by cutcross 13 years 2 weeks ago
Category: Community   Tags:
aboutblank's picture

aboutblank

13 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago

0

I have a list of responses

I have a list of responses to these questions. In my responses, I am presuming that Linux is actually a reference to a GNU/Linux system - I would take the time to correct any confusion before continuing. I also take the effort to frame my responses in terms of freedom and social solidarity, electronic imperialism and subjugation. This comes before discussing any technical aspects of our systems.

Question 1: Why is Linux so special compared to Windows or Mac?

How to answer: Our GNU/Linux systems respect your freedom and right to social solidarity. The Windows and Mac systems are not intended to give you freedom as they intend to keep you helpless to help yourselves and keep you divided from your neighbours. I would then explain the four freedoms and relate how these systems fail to grant freedom.

Question 2: This whole open-source thing sounds like Wikipedia, and Wikipedia is full of vandalism. Is Linux safe?

How to answer: Yes, it is true that anybody can change and vandilise Wikipedia and our GNU/Linux system. In the case of Wikipedia, the community is vigilant against cases of vandilism. In the case of GNU/Linux, our system is free software. This means that you may study how it works to see its features that may be good or bad. If it has bad features, you have the freedom to tinker with it as you wish. Since you are not a programmer, you will need to find a programmer to help you to do this.

In other words, our systems generally safe because our community prides itself in furthering our community. If you need more assurance than that, you can always take the effort to commission an audit of our system.

Question 3: Windows works fine; why should I switch?

How to answer: Windows does not respect your freedom. As a result, you are entrusting your computing to a foreign master, which in this case is Microsoft. Microsoft has been known to include dangerous software in their Windows system that allow Microsoft to spy on your activity at their will. There are also software allows them to control your Windows system at their will. It may be true that they won't ever target your specific computer, but the fact these misfeatures exist say a lot about the character of this particular master.

Question 4: If I install Linux on my computer that has Windows, I’m not actually saving any money. Why do I install Linux, then?

How to answer: Our systems are different as they are intended to give you freedom. You may run our software for any purpose. You may study and tinker with our software when you wish. You may share vertabim and modified copies of our software whenever you wish. You have freedom and we encourage you to help us share our software and improve it. This is in stark contrast to the software proprietors that work hard to take away your freedom.

Question 5: What is the easiest way I can try out Linux?

How to answer: Find a knowledgable friend to help you install any suitable GNU/Linux system. You may also hire a professional consultant if you desire.

Question 6: How do I choose a distribution of Linux? There are so many!

How to answer: There are very few variants of the GNU/Linux system that are completely free. The vast majority of the other GNU/Linux system compromise on freedom making them potentially as dangerous as Microsoft's Windows system. Some systems do not distribute proprietary software in themselves but they do make recommendations to install proprietary software. This is a list of distributions I would recommend: http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html

Question 7: How do I choose a desktop environment? There are so many!

How to answer: I would personally recommend Gnome if you want something that's remeniscent of your Windows system. Other recommendations include Xfce and KDE.

Best karma users