Giv me 10 reasons on why openSUSE 11 is better than Windows

[69_rs_ss]

iliapi wrote:
> Akoellh;1958914 Wrote:
>> Give me one reason why you need somebody to persuade you?
>>
>> If you _don't_ have enough interest, curiosity and initiative to try
>> yourself, stay with windows.
>>
>> And no, openSUSE is not better than Windows, because Windows is not
>> better than openSUSE.
>
> Goodness....didnt u read the question?....its answers like these that
> make us wanna quit trying other OS apart from what we are used to....If
> you must know, i AM going to switch to openSUSE..what i asked for in
> addition, before i switch, was solid reasoning so as to help persuade
> friends of mine who are in very good IT positions in my country, to try
> out Linux... jeez...All i am trying to do is help people who have been
> blinded by the majority paid-for OSs out there, to open up and try
> something different..and you just aint helpin the Linux numbers grow
> with comments like that...
>
>
Then use it, find it's good points and tell your friends through your
experiences. Some of us aren't on a mission to make the linux numbers
grow, beat out the evil microsoft/apple/amiga/comodore64 empire. We use
what is right for us or what is right for the job, and just because once
person has a belief that something is the correct way doesn't make it so
to the next person. Let these IT people in good positions come to their
own conclusion about what is needed in their corporate infrastructure.
Why would you try to persuade someone to use something over another
without having knowledge about it in the first place?

[VorianGrey]

Originally Posted by iliapi

Goodness......what i asked for in addition, before i switch, was solid reasoning so as to help persuade friends of mine who are in very good IT positions in my country, to try out Linux...

I've found that people who need persuading to try Linux really aren't ready to use it.

[smpoole7]

Originally Posted by ken_yap

One reason is good enough for me: I feel relaxed using Linux ... I don't have to worry about renewing my software licenses

Well said.

The thing about software licenses gets a special mention. If you've ever had to rebuild a Windows system after a hard drive replacement, finding all of the @#$#@ CD and DVD sleeves with their stupid "key codes," and/or having to connect with EACH PACKAGE to "register/activate" the software, takes FOREVER. It's a certified, true-blue pain in the neck.

With Opensuse, if I don't have the CD or DVD, worst-case, I can go to software.opensuse.org and do a one-click install. It's a beautiful thing.

[smpoole7]

Originally Posted by iliapi

Goodness....didnt u read the question?..

Yes, I did, and I answered it. Everyone else here did, too. No offense was intended and you shouldn't take it that way.

I said, "why ten questions?" That was a legitimate question on my part. If I could provide just one reason, if it's compelling enough, that should convince your IT-type friends.

One of the most compelling is cost. If it's an enterprise and you need support, I strongly recommend Suse Enterprise. The cost-per-person is quite reasonable in most cases. Will it fit everyone? That's a complex question that has to be analyzed dispassionately. You have to balance lower cost against the need to retrain/redeploy/recogitate.

Here's the thing: I have really begun to realize that Linux is a whole different mindset. From the F/OSS attitude at the front-end to the 'Nix-style security and architecture underneath, it really, really does require a fundamentally different approach at the enterprise level.

There's a reason why many Unix shops are switching to Linux just to save money. In their cases, it's a perfect fit: a proven operating system with community support that "looks and feels" like the AIX (or whatever) that they've been using for years.

For a Windows shop? Microsoft offers many solutions that just don't work the same. For example, their approach to Active Directory and GPO doesn't migrate instantly and seamlessly to 'Nix, because 'Nix does it differently. You learn to think in terms of users and groups there. But once you train your mind that way, it becomes second nature to create a group called "special" and put only those users who need access to those particular resources into that group. Bang, pop, you're done.

Don't be discouraged by the answers. I appreciate what you're asking and what you're trying to do. If you're switching to Opensuse yourself, one of the BEST ways to convince hard-headed Microsofties is just to let them SEE it once you've got it humming. Fire up KDE and show them the multiple desktops, for starters ...

[smpoole7]

Originally Posted by VorianGrey

I've found that people who need persuading to try Linux really aren't ready to use it.

Very well said. And to the OP: this is what I was talking about. VorianGrey is NOT blowing you off when he says that. He's simply stating a fact.

If your IT friends have been wined and dined by Microsoft; if that's all they've used for years; if they're convinced that Redmon has the answer to all enterprise computing questions, they WILL be hard to convince.

[caf4926]

Linux works for me. But I understand it might not for the next person. You 'Pay your money and take your choice'.
oops; sorry, Linux is Free

I don't need to explain reasons. Linux is better (for me it is). You need to decide for yourself.

[iliapi]

Originally Posted by smpoole7

Very well said. And to the OP: this is what I was talking about. VorianGrey is NOT blowing you off when he says that. He's simply stating a fact.

If your IT friends have been wined and dined by Microsoft; if that's all they've used for years; if they're convinced that Redmon has the answer to all enterprise computing questions, they WILL be hard to convince.

Point taken and accepted...Thank You

[bruce32466]

I've been a Windows user sense win95, but I'm much better now! All kidding aside, for me it was a no brainer. I made the switch and couldn't be happier. Of course, there was quite a learning curve and now that I've been using suse 11 sense it's release I'm well adjusted and love it! Hope this helps.

Bruce.

[dragonbite]

I think it is a valid question, because even as the OP starts using it, people like shooting down anybody who is trying to better themselves. I see it all the time when one person is on a diet and everybody else (consciously? sub-conciously?)try to "break them".

So here's a list of items I see about Linux in general that puts it above Windows. This is based off my my own opinions and experiences and your mileage may vary.

1. Free (as in Free Beer.. beeer.... hmm.... I'm getting thirsty)
2. Frequent updates (that cost you nothing), maybe I should say "frequency of updates you don't have to reboot for"?
3. Is, as far as I can tell, more secure than the Windows versions I have used to date (which is up to XP). My XP systems have been compromized a few times but my Linux has, as far as I know, been effected yet.
4. Reduced requirements of running and maintaining anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware which I need on Windows even with safe surfing practices. Yes, someday this advantage may go away but until then.
5. One-stop updates for all applications instead of each application ping-ing the mothership for updates and who knows what else they are doing! This is not limited to Microsoft either, I don't fully trust Adobe, Apple, AVG or even Google.
6. Looking for updates does not slow the system down to a crawl, or take up all of my bandwidth for HOURS. It plays nice with the rest of the system overall.
7. FOSS works and looks better in Linux than on Windows
8. Customized distributions for specific needs (server, low-memory systems, routers, content filters, etc.). I am able to have a latest-and-greatest version of Linux (secure and stable) on my P3 500Mhz system as well as my P4 2.4GHz system!
9. The ability to test technology out before full-scale implementation without having to post a dime or figure it out in 120 days.
   For example, for a while I was interested in LTSP and was able to set up a server and try it out. I used it, learned about it and kept it for a while until I was satisfied. Or setting up a firewall/router/content filter easily with IPCOP.
10. Linux is centrally integrated in true cross-platform (not "Windows and Apple" cross platform) orientation and has more "good citizen" and "fit Linux into others' networks" in its DNA than bull-in-china-shop Windows (don't know much of Apple).
11. Linux runs on the widest number of systems; it runs on PPC which Windows doesn't, and runs on and with just about all Windows-compatible systems that aren't ordained by Apple.
12. Community!, Community!, Community!, Community! (sung to the tune of Ballmer's "Developers!")
13. Linux has better mascots (animals, clothing, people, etc.)
14. Desktop environments are VERY customizable (even outside the fact you have 3 choices for DEs and more for WMs) and can have thousands of different looks
15. Hardware detection and drivers support has been, IMHO, easier to auto-detect and to find/install/implement (ran into a situation where the driver for the video card had stopped developement at Windows 98 and I was installing Windows 2000. I was lucky to find somebody who did a conversion but other than that I would be SOoL!)

[TimPlaz]

I too am a long time Windows user (as far back as MS Windows 3.1). I recently lost my XP OS due to an flash BIOS upgrade that didn't go as expected. My OS got corrupted. I was forced to reformat. My recovery disks became useless after the BIOS upgrade so I needed to get a hold of an OS. Linux was the answer! It's 100% free and it seems people are quick to give you answers to any questions you may have within the forums and IRC channels. I've tried a few of the different distributions but I seem to enjoy OpenSUSE 11.1 out of all of them, Mandriva 2009 being next. If you really want to leave windows behind, Linux is the way to go.