[Discuss] Why use Linux?

[kentborg at borg.org (Kent Borg)]

Microsoft so dominates the OS market that mostly people don't even 
consider there is a question here, let alone that the answer might be 
anything other than assumed default. People mostly follow the crowd and 
will use the OS that comes preinstalled on their PC (and that they have 
already paid for).

There are a lot of good reasons to use Linux, but it is still an uphill 
battle.

On 02/11/2014 04:47 AM, MBR wrote:
 > [...]
 > might be best if you were to call it "GNU/Linux" rather than "Linux" 
and explain why
 > [...]
 > The essence of Free Software, as articulated by RMS (Richard M.
 > Stallman) who invented the concept and founded the FSF
 > [...]
 > really ought to familiarize yourself with Stallman's article "Why
 > Open Source misses the point of Free Software
 > [...]

I would suggest going easy on the political content lest it look like 
you are recruiting for a political party.

If you have a clear preference on these questions, go ahead and be true 
to your opinions, use your preferred terminology and perspective. But 
don't scare away your audience by fighting an internecine battle with 
the wrong people. Whether it is "Linux" or "GNU/Linux" is a trivial 
point in the face of "it isn't Microsoft"!

Certainly explain that open source software is quite different from 
proprietary software, that the source code is available to anyone, that 
it is more secure, offers more control to users who are interested, 
doesn't have upgrade treadmills of forced obsolescence, etc. But don't 
expect your audience to appreciate philosophical subtleties within the 
community when they aren't so sure they have any interest listening in 
the first place.


-kb