Open Source : Share & Flourish

[Cool G5]

An article which I published on my blog which I feel the forum members should read. A bit lengthy though.
In a glimpse its about;

A story of a boy who started loving Linux & appreciating Open Source.

Source

Adopting Open Source was the decision I took solely as per my heart. It was not forced upon me by anybody. It received appreciation from some while others continued saying I have gone mad. But I am happy with my decision as it came from within my heart & was not a forced/influenced one. Open Source also is a phenomenon which should not be forced. I have seen many die hard fanatics going overboard & create OS wars which are an utter waste of time. These are known as fanboys. They exist for every OS – Linux, Mac or Windows. However most of the people don’t know that a person will follow/preach a particular product only when he is thoroughly satisfied with it. You cannot force an individual to use Linux. You need to make him/her understand the pros & cons without being biased.

Right from the outset, I had decided that I won’t ever force Linux on anybody. This time around I was surprised as how one of my friend – Rigved Samant got impressed with Linux. Beginning the New Year, I wholeheartedly devoted my whole drive to Linux wiping out pirated Windows XP. The friend in this story used to pay occasional visits to my home. Every time he used to arrive, he used to catch me up sitting in front of my computer fiddling away with Linux. We used to perform our regular tasks such as browsing the web, sharing pictures, downloading from web etc. The only difference here was he was able to get to know Linux in general. As time passed, he started asking me some queries. His interest piqued further then he started asking me to share the medias of linux distros with him. Though he didn’t installed them but he used to try out (Live Environment) every release be it Alfa, Beta or Final with me. There were times when he used to download the distros as soon as they got released & then provide me the same.

One day the same friend called me. To my surprise he asked me out as how to install Ubuntu on his system. He was clueless about the partitioning part. I explained him on the phone as he performed the same on his computer. We hung up after a while & then later after half an hour or so he again called me up to tell that the installation was successful. I was glad upon hearing this. From then, he developed a unique interest in Linux. The levels are so high that he has started criticizing some aspects in windows. He is enjoying using Linux to the hilt.
The other day while chatting I asked him the reason behind his sudden interest in Linux. He pointed that it was the ‘Choice’ which Linux offers is what he likes. He even praised the fast development cycle of Linux & also appreciated the idea of Open Source project wherein people contribute round the world. The different way of computing is also another aspect of Linux which he is proud to use. He has started exploring different things under Linux & in the process he is always getting to learn something different, something new. He further added that adopting Linux was his own choice & that I did not play any role in enforcing it on him. These words relieved me as I was now totally sure that I did not force Linux upon him unknowingly. When asked upon whether he will use Linux fulltime, he answered “It’s not what he pondered upon”. But going at the moment, I wouldn’t be surprised if he someday ditches Windows once & for all. Now he looks up to me as a mentor & I am all ready to provide him with the required assistance in his Linux voyage. This is Open Source – Share & Flourish.

[pr.itdude]

^^ roughly same story here........, im loving it (linux) , but i hav dual boot now...!!!

[Vishal Patil]

the installation part is same as mine.. lol

[krishnandu.sarkar]

Me too....!!

Use dual boot with XP and Fedora.

[Cool G5]

At-least a few people replied. Seriously this forum is dead.

[Rahim]

^You should be grateful they replied to your post : while mine is ignored most of the time

[hellknight]

I've been using Linux and now I'll take the RHCE Exam.. also learnt OpenSolaris, Mac OS X, FreeBSD (well, almost) with the help of Linux

[phuchungbhutia]

Hi i want to know about open solaris . . If it uses deb pack or something else . . I want to do some programming in java and its been some years i did any . . Plus i need to know if its any better than ubuntu . . Or should i go for ubuntu instead . .

[hellknight]

Well.. Linux and OpenSolaris are different... OpenSolaris has GNOME but has different package format but uses the same Package Manager GUI... you shd try it.. but not recommended over Ubuntu...

[thewisecrab]

@a rahim
I've checked out all the articles you've posted, though I didnt have the time to post my comments on them

@OP
I previously had a Ubuntu +XP dual boot (for like 8 months) till I had to format the Ubuntu partition to get more space on my almost full HDD

It was really smooth and fun while it lasted though

[Cool G5]

@Rahim - Yep. I know but its time this forum needs an overhaul. A fresh start, a fresh batch of active members. We're the only one left in Open Source section.

@phuchungbhutia - Install Fedora from DVD(select programming tools while installing).

[hellknight]

@phuchungbhatia.. and the Fedora DVD has Netbeans support.. so you can start working on Java ASAP!!

[pr.itdude]

Originally Posted by Cool G5

At-least a few people replied. Seriously this forum is dead.

True........but kaha gaye sab......??

Originally Posted by a_rahim

^You should be grateful they replied to your post : while mine is ignored most of the time

its not true........im ur fan yaar....u r the one who helped me to get into this Open business....

[Cool G5]

^Was that a serious question???

[j1n M@tt]

Nice long story Cool G5

btw I love linux...and learned the beginning from guys here in TDF, especially Praka123 and FilledVoid and all helped me a lot. But I think those old members and all left here.

I just use linux for fun and out of my enthusiasm to learn ...I can't get serious with it because of the nature of my work I'm a web and GUI designer, and I need Adobe creative suites and other tools which only works in Windows...and for programming I prefer Windows itself, except for Java projects. I find WAMP better than LAMP....because it is easy to code php along with the design works than switching between Windows and Linux.

[Cool G5]

Originally Posted by j1n M@tt

Nice long story Cool G5

btw I love linux...and learned the beginning from guys here in TDF, especially Praka123 and FilledVoid and all helped me a lot. But I think those old members and all left here.

I just use linux for fun and out of my enthusiasm to learn ...I can't get serious with it because of the nature of my work I'm a web and GUI designer, and I need Adobe creative suites and other tools which only works in Windows...and for programming I prefer Windows itself, except for Java projects. I find WAMP better than LAMP....because it is easy to code php along with the design works than switching between Windows and Linux.

Yes, I can understand. Some tools are better supported on Windows. Sometimes switching becomes a headache. Virtualization is no solution too.

[Ecko]

Using Linux with Dual boot till i get used to it
Still long way to go 4 linux & ubuntu looks a healty option

[Dark Core]

I love Linux more than Windows, but still I prefer dual booting - may be some other time I will switch completly to Linux

[gopi_vbboy]

Lol nothing new...half of my friends turned to linux the same way u said...seeing my usage of linux at my home...the things that impressed them was its fast,virus free,visually better expirence than xp and at last free of cost...n some ppl like to watch p*rn in linux....

but when it comes to gaming win is inevitable for me n also them

[Cool G5]

Originally Posted by gopi_vbboy

n some ppl like to watch p*rn in linux....

Didn't get the logic here? To hide the recent history from their sisters or something?

[ico]

I use Linux as my primary OS ahead of Windows.

Windows is only there for a little bit of gaming and performing firmware upgrades to my mobile or taking back-up.

Edit:
Many of my friends have also started using Linux when they saw me using. They may not be using it as their primary OS, but they do realize the advantages offered by Linux.
eg. my friend had an ancient old scanner and he was not able to find it's driver. I installed Ubuntu in his computer, and the scanner worked perfectly fine with XSane.

[gopi_vbboy]

Originally Posted by Cool G5

Didn't get the logic here? To hide the recent history from their sisters or something?

somewat like that only..lol...i jus gave an example

[prateekajfa]

Your ideas on open source are highly appreciable and I myself have tried it , but to be honest for the fun of it and the knowledge every experience and by far the most the satisfaction(for having been able to do it) of installing linux as a standalone,multiboot,live or through vmware brought along with it.
But now that u are talking about ditching windows and using just linux,I have a question for you.
I enjoy playing games like Crysis,CoD4 etc on my system,use nero and use software like guitar pro and Norton 360 on my windows....keeping all this in mind will it be prudent on my part to switch to linux for reasons far extended beyond fun and be in the pragmatic horizon of mine.
RSVP
-----------------------------------------
Posted again:
-----------------------------------------
[QUOTE=prateekajfa;1160037]Your ideas on open source are highly appreciable and I myself have tried it , but to be honest for the fun of it and the knowledge every experience and by far the most the satisfaction(for having been able to do it) of installing linux as a standalone,multiboot,live or through vmware brought along with it.
But now that u are talking about ditching windows and using just linux,I have a question for you.
I enjoy playing games like Crysis,CoD4 etc on my system,use nero and use software like guitar pro and Norton 360 on my windows....keeping all this in mind will it be prudent on my part to switch to linux for reasons far extended beyond fun and be in the pragmatic horizon of mine.
RSVP[/"...what dont kills you make you more strong"QUOTE]

[Cool G5]

^Offcourse you shouldn't switch to Linux if you need some softwares/games which run better on native windows.
Earlier I use to game but not now, so it doesn't matter if I use Linux.

[desiibond]

For me, the aspect of using linux/unix and windows is entirely different.

I am like a split personality for these.

Work:

I am clearcase admin. I just hate windows at work. I curse it every hour. I curse it when a user says that he/she is having issue with clearcase and using windows. 99% of the time, I use the classic command line interface and linux GUI.

But I have to use windows because there are many apps that work only on windows.

Home:

I am a gamer and watch TV everyday using tv tuner card. I tried lot of times to make atleast the TV tuner to work. Even bought a new tv tuner but I was left cursing linux fo notbeing able to provide the one application that can drive TV tuner card that has as standard philips chip on it. Forget about gaming. This meant that I could not use linux at home.

maybe, in the future, when I stop gaming and when I buy a separate TV, I may give Linux a second try at home.

But for now and next few years, it's windows at home and linux/solaris at work.

[Cool G5]

Same with me desiibond. Currently my home PC has been dead so for timebeing on sister's laptop which runs on Windows Vista. My home PC had Fedora & Ubuntu in dual boot which I enjoyed using in tandem.

[gary4gar]

Good Post, The nutshell is User should be given power of choice rather than blindly enforcing an OS on him/her. but its not often the case; like here in India; windows is literally forced on all laptop buyers. you just can't buy a decent laptop without windows.

I am not saying that every laptop should be bundled with Linux instead; but atleast user should be given a Alternative.

A Power of choice! a chance to choose

But no, it does not happen due to Monoply of M$

[saqib_khan]

^^ Yes, 100 % true, user should be given the choice whether to install Linux or Windows. He/she can also dual boot, like me. If I want to surf, I use Linux and if GAME, then Windows.

Hey, anybody noticed this. I think my internet works fast in Ubuntu as compared to Windows XP. Somebody here noticed this ? Or is it just me ?

[desiibond]

now that I have to do a project on LAMP, I will be extensively using linux at home too.

currently downloading RHEL 5.

What do you guys say? is this the best distro for LAMP (full fledged forum using phpbb)

[Cool G5]

@saqib_khan - It's not just for you but I too can experience the fast internet speeds under Linux. I think it is due to freedom from those updaters which run automatically under windows.

@desiibond - No idea. But RHEL 5 should do fine. I have heard CENT OS to be good to be set up as a server. Maybe you can try that. Both are based on RPM.