Honestly, the biggest thing keeping me in Windows is that whenever I've tried to switch, I invariably end up with some questions and head to IRC, Chat Rooms, etc. to ask people. The flames and insults I get for being a newbie are incredible. I really don't care enough to deal with that while I'm figuring out the intricacies.
Other than that, it's mostly games. Though there are a few other things... Photoshop, Office (Openoffice is close, but not quite close enough), Outlook (this is huge..), etc. I've got a linux box I use for a PHP server, and I've tinkered with it from time to time, but it's not my primary OS.
The flames and insults I get for being a newbie are incredible.
I agree. You should see some of the flames I get posting here, except they are all from Microturds and others who have nothing better to do than troll slashdot. Those IRC twerps are nobodies. Copetent people ignore trolls and do their best to help out the ignorant. Don't let them make you run screaming into Bill Gates' waiting embrace.
I keep seeing Photoshop mentioned. I've yet to use all the features the GIMP has. Have you tried it? You might look into the win32 version [gimp.org] of it the next time you feel compelled to buy an new photoshop. The authors don't claim it's a replacement for photoshop, but it does what I need.
Outlook is huge and I'm sorry that you have to use it. My little Handspring Visor showed me how many useful features Outlook is missing despite it's size.
Just offer to pay your irc buddies whatever microsoft support costs you, and I'm sure you'll no longer be flamed or insulted, but thanked and perhaps even worshipped a little.
Well, that's the thing. I don't have to call Microsoft support. It's easy enough to browse around the GUI, and sooner or later I'll stumble across the setting I'm looking for even if I've no idea where it is.
In linux, this is impossible. Even once I know what file in what directory a setting exists in, it may not be there. It seems routine to have to create a new file or add a line with a new setting. It's a lot more difficult to come at this without prior knowledge and experience of what settings are valid and where. Browsing through a GUI to find a checkbox or drop down is much easier.
Skip IRC and chat rooms. These people are not only unhelpful when it comes to Linux, they are unhelpful and full of four letter words in general. That's why parents hate their kids hanging out there.
If you want to learn to use Linux, the best thing you can do for yourself is consult http://groups.google.com early and often. Every question you can think to ask has already been answered there any number of times. You can plug in your problem and get your answer instantly from one of the developers, rather than from some chump in a chat room.
It's an incredible tool that too few users know about.
I've had quite the opposite experience, being amazed at how welcoming and helpful the linux irc channels are. Of course there's the occasional asshole or even channel full of assholes, but it's no more common than it is for Windows software. Just look at how much Mplayer got/gets bashed for being assholes to newbies...
If you use the #linuxhelp and #linpeople chat rooms on freenode and get flamed, let me know, my email address is in my user profile. I give support there regularly and only rarely see people get flamed, and when there is flamage it's invariably because those people were themselves being assholes. Note: a few of the more experienced people are happy to help newbies, BUT you have to appreciate that they can be busy so you might receive terse answers, ie
"Er, hi, I'm a newbiew, and I was wondering if anybody knew the answer to my question"
is a bad way to start... but
"How do I extract a.tar.gz file?"
"tar xzvf foo.tar.gz"
is clearly what you're looking for.
Life would be so much easier if we could just look at the source code.
-- Dave Olson
Probably the flames I get from linux users mostly. (Score:5, Insightful)
Other than that, it's mostly games. Though there are a few other things... Photoshop, Office (Openoffice is close, but not quite close enough), Outlook (this is huge..), etc. I've got a linux box I use for a PHP server, and I've tinkered with it from time to time, but it's not my primary OS.
Re:Probably the flames I get from linux users most (Score:2)
I agree. You should see some of the flames I get posting here, except they are all from Microturds and others who have nothing better to do than troll slashdot. Those IRC twerps are nobodies. Copetent people ignore trolls and do their best to help out the ignorant. Don't let them make you run screaming into Bill Gates' waiting embrace.
I keep seeing Photoshop mentioned. I've yet to use all the features the GIMP has. Have you tried it? You might look into the win32 version [gimp.org] of it the next time you feel compelled to buy an new photoshop. The authors don't claim it's a replacement for photoshop, but it does what I need.
Outlook is huge and I'm sorry that you have to use it. My little Handspring Visor showed me how many useful features Outlook is missing despite it's size.
Re:Probably the flames I get from linux users most (Score:2)
Re:Probably the flames I get from linux users most (Score:2)
In linux, this is impossible. Even once I know what file in what directory a setting exists in, it may not be there. It seems routine to have to create a new file or add a line with a new setting. It's a lot more difficult to come at this without prior knowledge and experience of what settings are valid and where. Browsing through a GUI to find a checkbox or drop down is much easier.
Note I said easier, and not better.
Best place to get Linux help (Score:2)
If you want to learn to use Linux, the best thing you can do for yourself is consult http://groups.google.com early and often. Every question you can think to ask has already been answered there any number of times. You can plug in your problem and get your answer instantly from one of the developers, rather than from some chump in a chat room.
It's an incredible tool that too few users know about.
Re:Best place to get Linux help (Score:2)
Re:Probably the flames I get from linux users most (Score:2)
Re:Probably the flames I get from linux users most (Score:2)
"Er, hi, I'm a newbiew, and I was wondering if anybody knew the answer to my question"
is a bad way to start... but
"How do I extract a .tar.gz file?"
"tar xzvf foo.tar.gz"
is clearly what you're looking for.