How to convince people to choose linux?

JackH79 · 2011-04-14 06:49:50

Let them use it!

I'm running three Linux-Mint with gnome, an Arch with KDE, and one Arch with LXDE, and used to run some other flavours in our Internet Cafe as well.
Funnily enough, people who have absolutely no clue about computer don't even realise that they are running something other than Windows.
Some people dislike it without even trying of course, some use it but then prefer to go back to the familiar Windows UI, but we've also got a slowly growing group of customers who specifically go for the Linux machines (they do seem to prefer the Gnome desktops over other DEs though).
Also installed Linux on some people's laptops and netbooks who were absolutely amazed that one could run a whole OS off a CD when I was fixing their machines, and who then became curious about the whole thing. I did have to shut up though. The moment I tried to explain what a DE/WM or a distribution was, eyes glazed over and started turning away from me.

So I guess the best way to get people realise that Linux is not just a complicated hacker tool anymore, is to let them experience the ease a good setup can give you - and don't try to explain the ins and outs from the start ;-)

Daerun · 2011-04-14 09:34:39

A simply cosmethic reason, but one about some people is quite concerned: GNU/Linux environtments are usually translated to multiple languajes, that means that, unlike Windows, you will probably have an OS in your onw languaje, no matter how minority it is.

karabaja4 · 2011-04-14 11:03:31

Uhm...

First let me say that I find Linux unsuitable for computer noobs. I don't know what you guys mean by "better". Sure, Linux is more powerful, but what happenes when an update breaks something like xorg or user decides that they don't need that silly /etc directory? How easy is to fix those things for them on their own?

Furthermore, what do most noob people do on their compurers? My observations are: play video games, surf around facebook, watch flash material (youtube), transfer their photos from cameras, use webcams and skype to chat around and stuff like that. For most of these things Linux is just not the best choice - for example, respectevly the would need set up wine, use crappy adobe linux flash (which probably requires minimum of a quad core processor just to watch youtube videos without problems), transfer their photos with things like nautilus or thunar and mess around with udev and whatnot, install firmware for their camera etc. etc. you get the point.

Most users I observed just want to plug something in and use it - and they don't care how or why it works, they want the big red "do everything automatically" button. For this Linux is NOT the best choice - in favour of OSX or Microsoft products which do this alot better. So yeah, I was extremely annoyed by everything in Windows 7 for example, how it hid its settings, not allowing me to change simplest things because Microsoft knows what's the the best way to use my computer - but, I can see how this approch could appeal to some people.

Last edited by karabaja4 (2011-04-14 11:47:51)

ngoonee · 2011-04-14 11:28:29

karabaja4 wrote:

Furthermore, what do most noob people do on their compurers? My observations are: play video games, surf around facebook, watch flash material (youtube), transfer their photos from cameras, use webcams and skype to chat around and stuff like that. For most of these things Linux is just not the best choice - for example, respectevly the would need set up wine, use crappy adobe linux flash (which probably requires minimum of a quad core processor just to watch youtube videos without problems), transfer their photos with things like nautilus or thunar and mess around with udev and whatnot, install firmware for their camera etc. etc. you get the point

My sister knows nothing about computers, does the above you've mentioned, and after using ubuntu on an old notebook for a couple of months came asking me to put the same on her new netbook.

If someone doesn't touch their system (including not updating it), once you've set it up for them they're good to go. Ubuntu (with Gnome) is probably easier to use than Windows 7, depending on personal preference.

Ashren · 2011-04-14 11:39:37

I stopped recommending Linux to non-technical people. I hate doing support by phone and I don't really care if people who do not have the slightest interest in operating systems use Linux.

Actually I've stopped recommending Linux altogether, but I will actively help people who seek it out by themselves.

OrionFyre · 2011-04-16 15:35:10

I just had to post here.

My neighbor lady begged me to fix her windows machine "please please please it won't work and says it can't connect to the internet." She is one who has refused to go linux.

I couldn't resist. While she was out mowing the lawn I installed Arch, configured X and had Firefox start up full screen. Her computer went from five minutes of hard drive thrashing boot time to 25 seconds.

"What's all that text mean?"
"Oh I just tweaked your computer so it runs faster."
"I dunno, why doesn't it show those pictures?"
"Oh, well you see it eats up processor speed"
"oh... oh wow, firefox started already? that was fast! thanks for fixing my computer!"

I'm such a scoundrel. She's already sent me two text messages saying how much faster it goes. I figure I'll wait a month or two before I tell her she's running linux.

Last edited by OrionFyre (2011-04-16 15:36:05)

tgoossens · 2011-04-16 16:35:03

OrionFyre wrote:

I just had to post here.
My neighbor lady begged me to fix her windows machine "please please please it won't work and says it can't connect to the internet." She is one who has refused to go linux.
I couldn't resist. While she was out mowing the lawn I installed Arch, configured X and had Firefox start up full screen. Her computer went from five minutes of hard drive thrashing boot time to 25 seconds.
"What's all that text mean?"
"Oh I just tweaked your computer so it runs faster."
"I dunno, why doesn't it show those pictures?"
"Oh, well you see it eats up processor speed"
"oh... oh wow, firefox started already? that was fast! thanks for fixing my computer!"
I'm such a scoundrel. She's already sent me two text messages saying how much faster it goes. I figure I'll wait a month or two before I tell her she's running linux.

Nice story.

Let me know what her reaction was when you've told her.

Pajaro · 2011-04-16 17:20:58

Ashren wrote:

I stopped recommending Linux to non-technical people. I hate doing support by phone and I don't really care if people who do not have the slightest interest in operating systems use Linux.
Actually I've stopped recommending Linux altogether, but I will actively help people who seek it out by themselves.

I kind of do the same. I stopped recommending linux to people, but when someone is really useless with the computer and gets annoying stuff in few days I tell them that Linux does not have viruses, that if they want I can install it, but that it is their call. 2 out of 2 people have an easier life now with Ubuntu.

SS4 · 2011-04-16 17:24:16

OrionFyre wrote:

I just had to post here.
My neighbor lady begged me to fix her windows machine "please please please it won't work and says it can't connect to the internet." She is one who has refused to go linux.
I couldn't resist. While she was out mowing the lawn I installed Arch, configured X and had Firefox start up full screen. Her computer went from five minutes of hard drive thrashing boot time to 25 seconds.
"What's all that text mean?"
"Oh I just tweaked your computer so it runs faster."
"I dunno, why doesn't it show those pictures?"
"Oh, well you see it eats up processor speed"
"oh... oh wow, firefox started already? that was fast! thanks for fixing my computer!"
I'm such a scoundrel. She's already sent me two text messages saying how much faster it goes. I figure I'll wait a month or two before I tell her she's running linux.

For the record I think it's totally the wrong way to go about it. Refusing to fix it is fine, refusing to fix and installing linux - also fine but this seems OTT

Inxsible · 2011-04-17 00:06:04

Yeah...and what if her Windows was OEM without installation CD and she wants it back after you tell her? You might have to pony up the charges to get her Windows 7.

dakt · 2011-04-17 20:46:08

Just play around with Gnome3 in public...people will come and ask...at least in my case they did.

barzam · 2011-04-17 21:14:13

I'm not really interested in convincing people to choose Linux, but whenever I talk about some computer related thing mentioning Linux is pretty inevitable. I sometimes offer to get others a CD so they can try out themselves but I try to be as little pushy as possible. It's an OS not a religion.

Misfit138 · 2011-04-17 21:40:00

karabaja4 wrote:

Uhm...
First let me say that I find Linux unsuitable for computer noobs. I don't know what you guys mean by "better". Sure, Linux is more powerful, but what happenes when an update breaks something like xorg or user decides that they don't need that silly /etc directory? How easy is to fix those things for them on their own?
Furthermore, what do most noob people do on their compurers? My observations are: play video games, surf around facebook, watch flash material (youtube), transfer their photos from cameras, use webcams and skype to chat around and stuff like that. For most of these things Linux is just not the best choice - for example, respectevly the would need set up wine, use crappy adobe linux flash (which probably requires minimum of a quad core processor just to watch youtube videos without problems), transfer their photos with things like nautilus or thunar and mess around with udev and whatnot, install firmware for their camera etc. etc. you get the point.
Most users I observed just want to plug something in and use it - and they don't care how or why it works, they want the big red "do everything automatically" button. For this Linux is NOT the best choice - in favour of OSX or Microsoft products which do this alot better...

I agree 100%.
People who find GNU/Linux on their own are quite often also the ones who will appreciate and embrace it. For everyone else, there is Windows 7 (which I find to be an excellent OS) and Mac.
Windows XP was an excellent OS, and I am very impressed with Win7; after installing it on my main machine on a spare drive, it installed effortlessly, automatically found, downloaded and installed all drivers, and flash worked velvety smooth after installing Chrome. It also boots up in ~13 seconds and is usable in ~17.
I have been a happy Windows user since Win2k and continue to dual boot.
I think GNU/Linux is, and shall remain, a niche OS for a long, long time and I therefore don't recommend it to anyone. Growth, if any, seems to occur naturally, as it appeals to CS-types, techies, hobbyists, etc.

Marklar · 2011-04-18 02:41:33

I'll never attempt to "convert" someone over.

Linux is for computer enthusiasts. Windows is for consumers.

I tell people I run both Linux and Windows. If they're curious I'll show them Linux (no one has asked yet). If they want it on their system I'll set them up for Dual boot but I'll probably use an easier to use OS like Mint or Ubuntu.

Personally I like Windows, mainly because it just works for me. I haven't had a virus in years. I like Linux as well. I like Arch Linux because you have to somewhat learn linux in order to use it and appreciate it (unlike some distros like Ubuntu)

I'll probably never get rid of Windows because of it's ease of use and stability in regards to gaming. I also like programming in C# and Windows Forms.

But as most computing revolves around the internet with sites like hulu, google maps, facebook, youtube, etc there's no reason for Windows in this regard which is why most of the time I can get by running Arch just fine. I do prefer the look and feel and customization abilities of Gnome more than Windows. I was practically forced to install Linux on my laptop since my hard drive died and it had the Windows recovery partition it. I went with Fedora and have been using it for nearly 2 years.

As for Arch i just reinstalled on my Desktop and upgraded. While I was initially turned off by Gnome 3 the more I use the more I'm starting to like it. I think if some of my friends or family see it they'll want to use it too.

I just wish I could get a cool conky setup to show my system stats. (if it even works with Gnome anymore)

Last edited by Marklar (2011-04-18 02:55:31)

mythus · 2011-04-18 12:31:17

I say let them keep windows. Despite the fact that I don't like messing around with windows, it doesn't mean that I should force what I like upon others. I say, use the tool that is best for you.

For example, a good friend of mine who is technically savy would be perfectly capable using linux. However, he already has his computer, laptop, and media server computer all set up with windows 7, all able to communicate with one another, and with his xbox and ps3, able to send the hundreds of movies he has on his media server to each other and his TV. While it would be possible to do similar things with linux, it would mean a loss of time and a lot of effort to do so for him. Since it is all working good for him, I tell him to keep using it.

If someone has experience a lot of issues with their windows box and primarily only webserf, I'll show them that their is an alternative, let them see and use it if interested, but leave it all up to them.

The more people that keep with windows though, the more work I have and thus the longer I can keep getting paid (I am a computer tech). So I certainly hope that people stick with windows for that aspect.

OrionFyre · 2011-04-19 10:16:18

Inxsible wrote:

Yeah...and what if her Windows was OEM without installation CD and she wants it back after you tell her? You might have to pony up the charges to get her Windows 7.

Well, if she really wants her windows back and to erase linux, then I think I would probably go about it by:
1) deleting the linux partition
2) resize the "D:" data partition to it's previous size.
3) reinstall the window's bootloader

ultimately restoring the computer to exactly how it was before I installed Arch, that is to say "non-functioning"

However I get the feeling that won't happen since as I walked out the door to get the paper this morning she was again raving about how fast her computer is and how quickly it loads all the websites and (ironically) how fast her facebook flash games are now...

ksira · 2011-04-19 10:27:29

ahaha, the windows poo ice cream flavor in the google doc is hilarious.

hurleyef · 2011-04-19 12:52:28

Anything one could want to do on windows, they can do better on Linux EXCEPT for a couple things. Those things are:

1. Using specific proprietary software not natively available on Linux. (wine helps, but is no panache)

2. Video games.

It is my experience everything else is far superior when done from my Arch side compared to my win7 pro install.

hrobeers · 2011-04-19 19:36:12

Best way to convert someone (only tested on very close relatives):

* Let them use their windows computer
* Wait until they say: "It's broken!" or "It became too slow!"
* Install linux, they will let you because they think about buying a new computer. (better not arch, don't ask me how I know)
* Ask again if it is broken or if it is too slow

If their answer is: "NO, THANK YOU!!": converterd
If their answer is "yes, it still is": Take their computer and build a server with it, or give it to someone who deserves it more, they don't want it anyway.

This way I converted my girlfriend and I got a laptop from my sister!

Last edited by hrobeers (2011-04-19 19:37:41)

Misfit138 · 2011-04-19 22:32:23

hurleyef wrote:

Anything one could want to do on windows, they can do better on Linux EXCEPT for a couple things. Those things are:
1. Using specific proprietary software not natively available on Linux. (wine helps, but is no panache)
2. Video games..

I would also add professional grade audio/video editing software to that list as #3.

Cloudef · 2011-04-19 22:48:17

I don't care, I let people use anything they want.

fsckd · 2011-04-19 23:13:51

Cloudef wrote:

I don't care, I let people use anything they want.

This. There should be no reason to try so hard at controlling the choices of others. It's like bizarro FOSS or something.

Last edited by fsckd (2011-04-19 23:15:33)

neurolysis · 2011-04-20 09:55:06

I've converted a number of people over to Linux in the past few years, primarily on the basis of its stability and ethos, but I never go as far to actively pursue them like some vulture that's got edgy. The truth of the matter is, there are some people who, no matter how much stuff you shove at them, that will never embrace Linux. And that's ok -- it's entirely possible that they know themselves better than you know them, and don't think it would be worth it for their personal needs, which is not unreasonable.

Last edited by neurolysis (2011-04-20 09:55:43)

vinhsynd · 2011-04-23 04:13:45

Echoing everyone else around here, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Most people are used to Windows; it just works - in a way they are accustomed.
Unless they have a need for something offered only/better by GNU/Linux, changing operating systems is inefficient and unnecessary.

There is little difference between using a GNU/Linux distribution or Windows OS for the majority of daily tasks:
email
web surfing
youtube videos
instant messaging

So why care what the underlying operating system is?

Free (as in beer) isn't a compelling reason if they already own windows
Free (as in freedom) isn't a compelling reason if they are unable/unwilling/uninterested in exercising that freedom

The general mindset I try to impart to people who want to evangelize Linux is to reverse the situation and change the operating system to Haiku.

Do you really want to hear someone telling you Haiku is better because it is compatible with BeOS apps?
Does it really matter to you that the UI is completely multi-threaded for snappiness when there is no way to watch Hulu or Netflix?
Would you really like to give up the freedom to run most any application mentioned on forums you visit because they aren't available on Haiku?

I've found this mindset usually stops most OS evangelism.

The 1 time it didn't that person tried it out and still preferred windows because he is used to that ecosystem.
In retrospect I should have recommended he play with ReactOS instead - as watching him browse www.activewin.com from Linux was a bit disappointing.

Last edited by vinhsynd (2011-04-23 04:19:31)

manzdagratiano · 2011-05-01 04:45:21

No amount of preaching usually works. What DOES work, as I have seen, is when people get frustrated with Winblows due to its inevitable f***-ups, you reach out with an Ubuntu LiveCD and show them how smooth and fast it works, and how it has everything they will ever need, and how it is free as in speech and as in beer.

This has worked wonders:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 54#p926254

Arch Linux

#26 2011-04-14 06:49:50

Re: How to convince people to choose linux?

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