I switched to Linux because I couldn't afford Windows 7, does that make me a bad Linux adopter?

Posted by ardouronerous@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 36 comments

I'm from the Philippines, and back in 2012 my PC's hard drive failed. After replacing it, I needed an operating system, but my old Windows XP installer CD was already damaged.

At the time, downloading Windows ISOs wasn't really common here because internet speeds were painfully slow. Most people got Windows from computer stores that sold physical installer discs, and a copy of Windows 7 cost around ₱8,000 (about $190 back then). I simply couldn't afford it.

So I started looking for alternatives and discovered Linux. I found Xubuntu 12.04, saw that the ISO was only around 700MB, and downloaded it immediately. I watched YouTube tutorials on how to create a bootable USB and install it, and I managed to get everything working.

I've been using Linux ever since and haven't gone back to Windows since 2012.

The thing is, I didn't switch because I believed in FOSS or because I had strong opinions about software freedom. I switched because Linux was the option I could afford at the time. If Windows had been cheaper back then, I probably never would've tried Linux in the first place.

Does that make me a bad Linux adopter?

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Creative_Bedroom_448@reddit

Honestly that’s one of the most normal reasons to switch to Linux. A huge number of people got into it because old hardware, licensing costs, or piracy headaches pushed them there first. Staying on Linux for 13 years after that says way more than why you initially installed it.

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SomnambulantPublic@reddit

I had been an on-and-off user of Linux, using live bootable CDs, dvd's and then thumb drives after having tried and failed running FedoraCore4 very early on.

I was happily using a bootleg 'Blue' Windows 7 edition, until one day circa 2013-14 Microsoft decided that it would lock me out and refuse to boot to the desktop, just display a short message on an otherwise black screen that my copy was illegitimate and that was that.

I was right peeved with their heavy handedness. Luckily I had some live CD or DVD around and managed to rescues my files from the drive. But from that day on I ran exclusively Debian, starting with Wheezy, as my daily driver at home.

For almost a decade I didnt own anything running Windows, until I was forced by a combination of formal studies and my employer locking down our work laptops forced my hand.

I run dual-boot these days, but I love that it doesn't matter how niche or bespoke what I want to do is, Linux both permits and trusts me to do it, even if I brick it

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I_Dont_Think_Im_AI@reddit

It's a piece of software, not a religious movement. You use it because you want to use it for whatever reason. Some people might eat at Chic-Fil-A because it's got some strong "christian values" or whatever, but I'd be willing to bet that most people who eat there do so because they like the food.

This is coming from a guy who DOES have relatively strong personal beliefs about software. Just because I have those beliefs doesn't mean everyone has to have them, or that I'm 100% right all the time.

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ardouronerous@reddit (OP)

Thank you.

Linux does feel like a religion sometimes, especially reading some of the threads.

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I_Dont_Think_Im_AI@reddit

I'm relatively old by internet standards.

One of the things I've learned over the years is that social media and marketing have made people think that anything makes you part of that thing's community. There's nothing wrong in finding common ground with other people who like or use a thing you use, but you don't have to, and there's nothing wrong with you for not being part of a fandom or community.

Honestly, I feel like the idea that there needs to be some type of kinship over largely commercial things like using a piece of software or owning a particular video game console, or enjoying a particular movie franchise, is kind of sad.

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marcellusmartel@reddit

No. But what kind of attention hungry nonsense is this?

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ardouronerous@reddit (OP)

Not attention hungry, I'm just curious what people thought.

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EchoFieldHorizon@reddit

What would you have done if everyone here said, “yes, you’re a terrible Linux adopter. You’re required to install windows.”

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ardouronerous@reddit (OP)

Thinking everyone is trolling me.

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EchoFieldHorizon@reddit

We’re just not sure what you expected people to say

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mediumwetsock@reddit

You really need validation from random internet people on whether you’re a proper linux user?

Just use the damn OS font overthink it

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devdruxorey@reddit

That's literally what I thought when I read the title. That's a pick-me worthy comment lol

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TraditionalMetal1836@reddit

Define painfully slow.

Are we talking about less then 2mbps?

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ardouronerous@reddit (OP)

According what I've been told, downloading Windows 7 ISO would have taken 2 to 3 hours. Yes, it was slow, and YouTube videos buffered a lot, so we had to wait for buffer time to play videos. Nowadays, our Internet speed has gotten faster and cheaper.

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True_Human@reddit

I switched because Microsoft crippled an anime evening with a buddy back in university via a forced Windows Update. I use a fedora based distro and run everything Windows through Steam (not really FOSS)

Any reason to adopt Linux is valid

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jsabater76@reddit

It is one way to get started. No worries. Enjoy the ride.

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DonkeyTron42@reddit

Yes. The main reason to switch to Linux is because you have an inferiority complex and feel the need to flex on everyone who uses another OS or Linux distro. This goes double if you're an Arch user.

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AKostur@reddit

No, why? You adopted Linux because it solved a problem for you. That’s all you need.

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Rumpled_Imp@reddit

No, not in the slightest. You found it and used it because it served your needs. What greater compliment could an OS have?

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shogun77777777@reddit

Honestly, wtf are you talking about?

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lego_not_legos@reddit

So circumstance pushed you towards open source, and it turned out that you liked it? Don't feel shame over inequality. What proportion of an average income in the Philippines was that licence? How many people in wealthier countries would have done exactly the same thing had their licence been the same proportion of their income?

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SunderVane@reddit

Hell no it doesn't.
You think that's bad? I paid $300 for Windows 7 back in 2011 because I didn't know any better. Who's the bigger chump? :D

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CompetitionUnable501@reddit

You don't need to have a specific reason to use linux, or need to have strong opinions of FOSS/Software freedom. I'm glad linux worked for you when windows didn't

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BortGreen@reddit

Being free is always a strong point of Linux

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

Free and free

Basically a win win situation

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EvilVim@reddit

Nope. I'd say there are few bad reasons to use linux.

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imperfect-29@reddit

wtf is bad adopter, the reason can be anything why does it even matter 😭

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Square_Attention8461@reddit

Unfortunately yes. The FOSS police will be repossessing your OS and 10 demerits will be noted on your record.

Stallman will visit for a personal beating while Linus pretends not to watch from the special chair.

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You're fine

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