If some one (Windows User, non-techie) asks you, what is Linux and Why go for it? What would you answer?
Need a technical answer.
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4You're asking for a technical answer for a non-technical person? Kind of contradictory isn't it?– heavydMar 17, 2010 at 17:57
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lol, by a technical answer, I didn't mean, it's detailed intricacies, but a high level technical overview of Linux.– zengrMar 17, 2010 at 18:01
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Well, my my nontechnical answer to a non-techie asking why to go for Linux would be: Don't– NicholazMar 17, 2010 at 19:01
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Have you tried Wikipedia?– ceejayozMar 17, 2010 at 19:04
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1@zengr No, it wasn't. Wikipedia gives a perfectly good explanation of what Linux is and what its advantages and disadvantages are.– ceejayozMar 19, 2010 at 12:51
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2 Answers
Linux is a generic term for any distribution running on the Linux Kernel. There are many 'flavours' (distributions) such as Fedora, Ubuntu and Debian. It is an free and open source alternative to Unix.
It is used for servers and desktop PCs alike.
Generally, it is more complex than windows, but runs a 'similar' to Mac OSX (which runs on FreeBSD, essentially.)
If I was to explain WHY they should go for it, it would really depend on what they wanted to use their PC for. Also, Your OS is less of a consideration than the applications you install.
With that in mind, if they wanted it for run-of-the-mill use such as writing documents and surfing the web, I would point them to OpenOffice.org and Firefox/Chrome then explain that with Linux, they can do practically everything they do on windows, without have to spend hundreds on software.
Linux is an operating system, like Windows and Mac OS X. Linux is typically used for running servers, but techie users will use it as their main OS.
