What got you into Linux?

I started back in the mid 90's with Redhat when it was still free to get the updates. I'm not one to OS hop and only used a few different OSes over the years:

Redhat
Fedora (didn't like the idea of reinstalling every 6 months)
Centos
Sabayon (Todays Laptop)
Gentoo (Todays desktop)
 


Nice choices, we'll have to swap notes in a different arena, with a relevant Subject Title.

Cheers

Wizard ... keep this input coming, I enjoy reading it (nice one, [Admin] Rob ;))
 
I was a windows guy, like most everyone else. I got into computers in the late 1980's, and actually was part of a team that computerized a major corporation in the early 1990's. Of course this was still the "DOS" days, and I enjoyed DOS. We stayed with that through DOS 6.0 and Windows 3.1. Windows, though, wasn't my first GUI. In 1991 or 92 I played with IBM's OS2 operating system. We had built our first in house office network using OS2 on the file server and DOS on the workstations. It worked pretty good! Then came Windows 95, then 98, ME, 2000, NT, XP, Vista, (I'm still surprised I remember all these version names:eek:). Due to the nature of my work I was married to Windows. It was required to run Rockwell software to program PLC's, and there was also other computer in my business that their programming software required Windows. I had heard of Linux at this point but I was also listening to un-knowledgeable naysayers. About the XP was getting slow (post Service Pak2), I started looking around, and actually tried Mint Cinnamon 13(?) I believe. I didn't put much effort into it and then, Windows 7 came out and they were using an "open market" way of developing the system. Of course I jumped on the band wagon, joined the "Beta Test Team" and became a fan. Windows 7 was a very good operating system for it's time, like NT and 2000. Then Win 8 came on the scene. I looked at it, tried it, said yuk and turned my back on it. Of course we all know the failures of Win 8/8.1 and that drove the development of Win 10. Of course most my friends were ready to take the plunge, they had their little white windows icon in the task bar and were ready for the release date, and it was free! That didn't smell right to me. At this point I had become a very jaded Windows user, so I chose to research Windows 10 development, and what I found out shocked me! The telemetry, the hidden switches, the right to steal your files, removing programs from your computer that weren't compatible, etc. I blocked Windows 10 from all my machines and went to Linux Mint and made Live DVD's of all their versions. It was Version 17.0 at the time. After testing them in a live environment I settled on Cinnamon again, and stuck with it. I've had very good luck too because I've had few problems and haven't had to learn as much as I should have at this point. I am now running Mint in a dual boot environment with Win 7 on 4 machines. Now that I'm retired I don't know how long I'll keep 7 on those computers. I don't use 7 except to update virus and malware software now, so it's probably going to get canned soon. I also don't update 7 because Microsoft has gone to rolling updates for 7 and 8. That means you can't select which updates you want, and they have slipped the telemetry crap from Win 10 into 7 and 8. I have always refused Microsoft drivers, I believe in manufacturer only drivers. I've seen far too many machines 8 balled in this forced update debacle.

So there you have my TLDR story of arriving at LINUX, and yes I AM a fan boy!
 
In 1991 or 92 I played with IBM's OS2 operating system. We had built our first in house office network using OS2 on the file server and DOS on the workstations. It worked pretty good!

I wish IBM had done more to make OS/2 to make OS/2 a house hold name. The reason Win95 came out is because OS/2 run windows 3.1 programs better then 3.1. :)
 
For me, I was interested in the Internet and got a job at a local ISP about 20 years ago. They sold shell logins and I quickly fell in love with cli. Didn't take long for me to replace win 3.1 on my old Packard bell with Red Hat 3.0.3 that I borrowed from the Admin. 12 or so floppies later I was in heaven.

You?
I was fed up with Windows telling me what to do and treating me like a child - I don't want all the blinking things on there now. I just wanted something that was friendly to use. You know do the things you want without the bloat the security flaws and the constant updating. So I started looking around and came across Mint and that suits me and what I need and I like the look and feel of it
 
Microsoft has sucked since even before Vista! :D But it was the abundance of Windows viruses in the mid- to late-1990's that got me first looking at Linux, although it was still awhile longer before I could actually make it install and run adequately. And even longer before I switched full time.

But I'm much happier now.
And much saner too?:D
 
I wish IBM had done more to make OS/2 to make OS/2 a house hold name. The reason Win95 came out is because OS/2 run windows 3.1 programs better then 3.1. :)
I still Have a CD of OS/2 V4.51 here. The Robots that I work on, the older ones that is, used to use it for man / machine Interface control. It was sometimes trying to get it to communicate on a Windows network (SOMETIMES??) don't you know!o_Oo_O Also, many of the older ATMs ran OS/2.
 
First time posting...

I only just got into linux about a month and a half ago. I've been a mac guy my whole life, not religiously but mostly just because its what I grew up using. Every since El Capitan, I've become more and more annoyed with OSX. I hated El Capitan so much and then I tried the new macOS sierra. It was so bad that I was astonished to see I was holding on to El Capitan (despite the fact that I hate it). My macbook was already feeling bogged down with all these extra features that don't actually improved the user experience. So I decided to go out on a limb and install a dual boot of Ubuntu on my machine and have been addicted ever since. I now only boot into El Capitan for musical purposes. Since I do a lot of live keyboard performance, I rely on Mainstage 3 and Max MSP. As soon as I can find a better alternative, I figure I'll have nothing tying me to macOS anymore.
 
First time posting...

I now only boot into El Capitan for musical purposes. Since I do a lot of live keyboard performance, I rely on Mainstage 3 and Max MSP. As soon as I can find a better alternative, I figure I'll have nothing tying me to macOS anymore.

Hi @The Alien Thing

Here's a couple of reading references - I am not a muzo but some of our Members are, so start a thread about music under Linux (don't reply here or else we'll derail @Rob's thread) and some of the right people may swing by.

https://alternativeto.net/software/max-msp/

https://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?t=15766

Enjoy Linux - I do, morning noon and night ;)

Wizard
 
Welcome @The Alien Thing and @ShowMeRon !

I'm sure @JasKinasis will have some music tips for you when he gets a chance to say hi, or if you post a new Linux/music thread. He is an extremely knowledgeable on many topics, and music is one of them. And since I can barely play the radio, I guess this is a good time for me to move along. Cheers!
 
I tried to install Win 10.0 pro before ever getting to the code input I received an error message and the install was kaput.

I still have lots to learn about Linux but so far its fabulous![/QUOTE]

My eye opening moment was when I upgraded to windows 10 and it locked me out of my own Bios!

I used windows for specific games over the years and regret never spending time learning Linux. Career change pushed me to re-evaluate what I want to do. Always love computers so I began my journey learning coding and fell into the python void. As most developers release things on GitHub on either mac or Linux. I decided to make the change. It's been good because I've stopped gaming which is really an addiction for no real reward.

So really my journey with Linux started about two years ago on my Daughters old laptop. Tried to dual boot Ubuntu/ windows failed miserably every time. Never did I click till recently, that win7 is bios and the ubuntu download must have been UEFI. Such is life.

Recently on coding forum, I met a guy who loved Linux Mint. After spending the day learning about sha256sum and get the download checked. I am now windows free on laptop and loving the ease of Mint.

Next plan is to kill window RT on old surface I have. Loved reading all your journeys :)
 
For me, I was interested in the Internet and got a job at a local ISP about 20 years ago. They sold shell logins and I quickly fell in love with cli. Didn't take long for me to replace win 3.1 on my old Packard bell with Red Hat 3.0.3 that I borrowed from the Admin. 12 or so floppies later I was in heaven.

You?
Started using Linux when "free" upgrades on both computers started with the forced upgrades and such.Distro hopped til I discovered Ubuntu 16.04.Being a not too techie almost geezer,I like stuff to just work,so Ubuntu is great for me.I never bothered with the dual boot thing.Too much tinkering for me.Its been linux all the way since June 2016.I must admit,I still miss my Adobe Lightroom;its the only program I have found that it user friendly enough for me and does everything I want.I dont miss the outrageous price tag and having to buy another copy whenever I get some new(er) hardware.
 
@ReginaBob

Welcome on board mate, more and more of us oldies taking up the Linux flag every day.

If you've read this thread you have already read a little of my path, but #30 where I reference alternativeto.net might assist you re Adobe products, if you have not already found it.

Just Google using keywords "alternative to adobe lightroom" and see how you go?

Cheers and as my friends know I will say at this time of the week

avagudweegend

Wizard
 
I tried to install Win 10.0 pro before ever getting to the code input I received an error message and the install was kaput.

I still have lots to learn about Linux but so far its fabulous!

My eye opening moment was when I upgraded to windows 10 and it locked me out of my own Bios!

I used windows for specific games over the years and regret never spending time learning Linux. Career change pushed me to re-evaluate what I want to do. Always love computers so I began my journey learning coding and fell into the python void. As most developers release things on GitHub on either mac or Linux. I decided to make the change. It's been good because I've stopped gaming which is really an addiction for no real reward.

So really my journey with Linux started about two years ago on my Daughters old laptop. Tried to dual boot Ubuntu/ windows failed miserably every time. Never did I click till recently, that win7 is bios and the ubuntu download must have been UEFI. Such is life.

Recently on coding forum, I met a guy who loved Linux Mint. After spending the day learning about sha256sum and get the download checked. I am now windows free on laptop and loving the ease of Mint.

Next plan is to kill window RT on old surface I have. Loved reading all your journeys :)[/QUOTE]
Glad you like Mint I use it now and have installed it on both mine and my wife's laptop, she loves it to unfortunately she has to use one application on Windows as they won't (the supplier) don't have a Linux alternative for it and I can't find a way of using it in Mint. You do know you can boot Mint in UEFI don't you? I have my bios set for that and it works perfectly - enjoy your Linux life as much as I am doing
 
I started with Linux because of a shell account on Freebsd that I got with a dial-up ISP, I used it and was loving it...then I was kicked off my ISP for "suspicious activities", who knew (insert innocent shrug) that I wasn't suppose to cause core dumps for fun, the strings command and core dumps were entertaining....anyways, I was with out shell! :( so next day was new ISP and RH4.2 installation day so I got my shell :) that was in 1995... and on and off Linux user ever since.
 
Wonderfully uplifting, all of the above :)

In particular, @Ptahhotep :

Glad you like Mint I use it now and have installed it on both mine and my wife's laptop, she loves it to unfortunately she has to use one application on Windows as they won't (the supplier) don't have a Linux alternative for it and I can't find a way of using it in Mint. You do know you can boot Mint in UEFI don't you? I have my bios set for that and it works perfectly - enjoy your Linux life as much as I am doing

Can you share with us ... not here, perhaps (don't want to hijack Admin @Rob 's thread ... but perhaps in a thread titled eg "Alternatives To - in Linux" what the app is? One or more of us may have some viable alternatives for her to try?

It might become a feature thread in a number of areas, with newcomers to Linux as well as established Users.:D

Think about it, I am just brainstorming :rolleyes:

Wizard
 
I started with Linux because of a shell account on Freebsd that I got with a dial-up ISP, I used it and was loving it...then I was kicked off my ISP for "suspicious activities", who knew (insert innocent shrug) that I wasn't suppose to cause core dumps for fun, the strings command and core dumps were entertaining....anyways, I was with out shell! :( so next day was new ISP and RH4.2 installation day so I got my shell :) that was in 1995... and on and off Linux user ever since.
Does sound like fun, bahaha. What is a core dump?
 


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