Linux vs Windows | Google vs Bing

Today I was reading the technology news and one of the articles I read really made me think about the very uphill battle that Linux has on the desktop.

I am a Linux user and am constantly promoting Linux to users that I feel can be fully satisfied by Linux's present desktop state. I don't recommend for people that have let themselves get locked in with iTunes and DRM, nor do I recommend for people that heavily depend upon robust audio or video editing. Still, I use Linux and am very proud of that fact. I believe in the ideas behind OSS and the importance of CrossPlatform software. Well, I digress... ;)

Anyway, the article I was reading was about acceptance of Bing as a search engine. One particular point gave me pause for thought: "All of [the search users surveyed (12)] were also asked to rate Bing on certain criteria, including its search performance and graphics, and Bing won out. But those remaining Google users still didn't want to switch. Comfort was the main factor."

This really illustrates JUST how resistant people are to change from what they are familiar with and a very real reason people are reluctant to change. Change was easier for me because I was already using many open source programs... so my applications stayed the same for the most part. That spells for a measure of familiarness in Linux.

No, I am not a Bing user or supporter. I am quite happy with Google and will remain with Google because it meets my needs, is fast, and I don't have a shit-load of advertisement. It is clean and simple in design. This is exactly one thing that attracts me to Linux. It is practically devoid of advertisement -- unlike the Windows world. Won't always be the same as Linux gains popularity and more "traditional" apps such as Yahoo Messenger that always incorporate adds, but there will always be other options. :)

A few idle thoughts:

a. Perhaps open-source applications on Win/Mac are a means to transition for Linux. Sure, it eased my change to Linux, but the other offerings aren't there to articulate "why should I change". For me, I knew why, but for the common user... why should I? What would be the "killer" reason to move people over?

b. Resistance to move to Linux: From my perspective in trying to move people over, there are several reasons and they almost always are applications. Top of the list is a true, 100% compatible office solution OR lack of MS Office. Most of the time, OOo works great for me, but Presentations give me the biggest problem and some advanced formating in word documents. I have yet to encounter macros, but that would also be a problem. Address this single application and you overcome one huge hurdle for acceptance by the general populace. Then there are other applications: video editors, audio editors, and Photoshop to name a few areas/apps. This is why my son wont move over (Audio Editors that Work) and my Dad won't consider (Video Editors). My wife is extremely dependent on MS Office and the installation under Wine didn't fully win her over.

c. Interface: Well, I love my Gnome. It is configured the way I like and it works great. I miss it tremendously when I am at work and have to use Windows. Still, a distro that emulated XP's interface and control pannel could present a great way to move people over and bridge the familiarity gap. This would have to be coupled with working basic functions of the OS and working a lot more like windows. Not something I would like, but something that would help bridge the gap. A thought about Linux and for those that would "flame" me for this part of my post. When I first changed to Linux, I preferred KDE 3.5 and disliked GNOME because KDE 3.5 was much more familiar to me as a windows user. The wonderful thing about Linux is the ability to install multiple Desktop Environments and log into any of them and still access your files and programs and configurations. This feature gave me an ability to try something different with little pain. Before I knew it, I was a GNOME user and very happy. So, I think if the Linux community REALLY WANTS wider adoption, working for a transition environment will bring people over much easier.

Well, it is an uphill battle. Linux is moving forward like a glacier... steadily and unstoppable.

I am proud to be a linux user and continue to evangilize others to its grand benefits. Benefits that I believe greatly overcome its shortcomings. Just have to get people to break out of their comfort zone so they can realize that they can live a better digital life. :)