Poll Question for August: What makes Linux users go back to Windows?
August 3, 2008 by Clair Ching
Filed under General
Some users get dissuaded by Linux and there are a number of reasons. It could be because of the user interface, the lack of applications that run on Linux which are compatible (or have compatible file outputs) to their Windows counterparts. There was a time that I had to use Windows because the client’s software all run on Windows and they gave me only Windows installers because that was what they had. There are also some games that run on Windows only so my sister’s back on Windows for the sake of enjoying those games.
How about you? Please feel free to answer the poll on the sidebar and comment here as well. 
I must use Windows to run my Canon LIDE 60scanner as sane seems to be broken in Hardy. But it’s my sister’s Windows, not mine!
It is the lack of some types of software. There is no professional video editing stuff. Audio is a bit better, but one has already o be a huge enthusiast to switch from Nuendo or Vegas to Ardour. And then, it is not a complete replacement.
There is also no good Flash authoring software.
Other thing is, many people have made their first steps with Win. No matter how Gnome or KDE are similar to Win’s environment, they find it hard to switch. And they don’t want to RTFM. Especially for tings they already know how to do in Win.
I’m running Ubuntu 8.04 and would like to have it as my primary platform (Dell Latitude D610, standard specs – 1Gb ram)
Why I keep my WinXp Pro laptop around?
* Cisco VPN for work
* Can’t find Exchange client as effective as Outlook 2007
* IE6 for CRM & other apps. (IE thru wine crashes)
* BlackBerry Desktop Manager
For the most part, I think we need a few more key business apps that are transparent to IT admins at Enterprises.
This allows employees to try out other platforms & push/request support for non windows platforms.
Thank you,
Dave, IE throung Wine crashes, but IE4Linux http://www.tatanka.com.br/ies4linux/page/Main_Page is working great.
Visio is my last app, I can do diagrams in dia but cant exchange with other win users
Office docs don’t always look right in open office but thats M$ fault I guess
Hard to map citrix drives and printers to linux client