reasons-linux
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Many of the Linux-Ottawa members have been using computers for a long time. We like our computers to run the way WE want them too. So **personal control** is a big reason for choosing Linux, because it was built and continues to be supported as **open source** software. We can tinker and change things. Outsiders often think this is the essence of Linux -- a geek tinkerer' | Many of the Linux-Ottawa members have been using computers for a long time. We like our computers to run the way WE want them too. So **personal control** is a big reason for choosing Linux, because it was built and continues to be supported as **open source** software. We can tinker and change things. Outsiders often think this is the essence of Linux -- a geek tinkerer' | ||
- | Open source software will cost you the time and maybe transfer costs to download some files. Some folk say its // | + | Open source software will cost you the time and maybe transfer costs to download some files. Some folk say its // |
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+ | That isn't always super-easy, but it is definitely NOT any more difficult than reporting bugs about Windows or Apple software, and probably a bit easier. Moreover, sometimes we actually know the people. | ||
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+ | That gives us | ||
+ | * Control | ||
+ | * Cost | ||
+ | * Community | ||
+ | as three strong reasons **for** Linux. | ||
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+ | There are some more: | ||
+ | * Linux runs well on old hardware on which Windows refuses to install (and Apple wants you to buy their hardware -- bring gold bricks) | ||
+ | * Given the choice of distributions (" | ||
+ | * Linux distros usually install with a fairly complete set of software (office suite, communications, | ||
+ | * Generally the way in which Linux works makes it less vulnerable to malware. Nothing is totally immune, but most Linux users don't bother with antivirus software unless they share files with Windows users. | ||
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+ | ==== When is Linux not indicated ==== | ||
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+ | There are some occasions where Linux does not work well (but see Work Arounds below): | ||
+ | * Any application requiring DRM (Digital Restrictions/ | ||
+ | * borrowing library books | ||
+ | * reading e-books or audio books from Amazon (Kindle) | ||
+ | * watching some video services, including some of the online services of TV channels | ||
+ | * Tax preparation software that is run locally tends not to work. ?? list of what does and doesn' | ||
+ | * Software written for other operating systems, particularly Windows | ||
+ | * ?? others | ||
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+ | ==== Work Arounds ==== | ||
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+ | Linux users and developers are quite resourceful, | ||
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+ | === Virtualization === | ||
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+ | You can run another operating system UNDER Linux. QEMU, VirtualBox and VM Ware are three software systems to facilitate this. Of course, you have to have a working version of the OS you want to run, but quite commonly one has the license to use the version of Windows that came with one or other machine that one owns. Virtualization tools are evolving rapidly. | ||
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+ | === Emulation === | ||
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+ | **WINE** (WINdows Emulator) will run quite a lot of Windows software more or less satisfactorily. Some applications that work well enough that they are worth mentioning are | ||
+ | * Irfanview (??link), a rather nice graphics tool that is easy to use and supports the JPG Comment field so images can be captions **within** the file. | ||
+ | * PAF (Personal Ancestral File), the Mormon' | ||
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reasons-linux.txt · Last modified: 2018/03/20 19:48 by jcnash