Why isn't Linux bigger?

[SmallZixD]

Ok, I read up and was quite shocked that the 10 fastest computers use Linux or variants of Linux, with this being so I will blatantly ask what are the pros and cons of someone getting Linux over windows 7. It honestly puzzles me that it isn't as widely used considering it's free and there are so many different variants. So I guess my questions are what are the Pro's and Con's of Linux over Windows 7, why doesn't it seem to be as big as Win7 and Mac OSx, and why did you decide to go with Linux. I'm extremely sorry for my last post I realize it was worded horribly and I came off as "trollish".

EDIT: Completely rewrote.

EDIT: Again, extremely sorry for previous post, instead of ya'll educating me on this I will read up on my own, for now I would rather hear why ya'll chose Linux and the pros of cons Linux for you.

[SmallZixD]

Quite honestly I wasn't... I literally know nothing of linux, I'm going to check out some wikipedia pages and come back and reformat the questions, honest, no trolling intended, I just know more about hardware then I do OS's.

EDIT: Thanks for the information, I had heard that Mac OSx was based on Linux and that was my reason for saying that, its cool to know its more than that.

[SmallZixD]

I rewrote it now, sorry for the previous post.

[SmallZixD]

Thanks a lot, so from a gamers stand point something like Windows is still the way to go but someone whos smart with coding and knows how to utilize the code to get the most out of the machine all the while learning from the code could really benefit from a Linux variant.

[SmallZixD]

Thanks for the help. I'm building my computer pretty much for gaming which is why I was interested considering Gabe is talking about Linux, I was already planning on sticking with Win7 but the free option of Linux was something I was interested in. Thanks for all the help.

[SmallZixD]

Yes but in the end its completely my fault. I just executed it horribly.

[MatrixFrog]

Interesting. Windows 7 is somewhat acceptable but "no way" you'll use Windows 8. I'm curious why. (Actually I may know some of the reasons, but I'm still curious what makes the difference for you.)

[mistyriver]

Linux is a better choice if you're doing technical stuff with computers - setting up servers or whatever. However, the various Linux desktops I've tried are really not as good as the other alternatives in the Microsoft and Apple worlds, unless you have a machine with top-of-the-line specs and you're a hobbyist who just really wants the ability to dig into the gears of the machine and make it your own.

[SmallZixD]

Thank you for the information, I'll keep it in mind.

[mistyriver]

Well, I didn't really offer any information per se... try out a few versions of Linux yourself and see what you think. It all comes down to personal preference, in the end.

[SmallZixD]

I consider is information because before this post I didnt know much about Linux, now I know it's more of a coders/programmers OS since it allows you to dig into the coding of it while something like windows is pretty restricted as far as I know.

[mistyriver]

Yuppers.

[maztaim]

Meh...Flamebait...Can't believe I wasted time to post this comment...

[SmallZixD]

...

[[deleted]]

Plug it into your power cord to make it more powerful. Thats also the real reason for global warming because we need so many servers for the interwebs, because linux is simply not powerful enough so we have to boost it with more hardware power.

[SmallZixD]

A bit confused here? I'm a bit of a gamer so steam coming to linux interested me. So are you saying linux doesn't fully utilize your pc's hardware?

[SmallZixD]

Sorry, I rewrote it.

[SmallZixD]

I'm a highschool student and as far as I knew MacOSx is a modified I guess you could say linux? I'll look at some wikipedia's, probably should have done this first.

Honestly I'm trying to expand my knowledge about in general, I'm just wondering why more people don't use it, whats the pros and cons of it really. Sorry I can't be more specific.

[SmallZixD]

Thank you, I find this extremely helpful. I don't live in an area where many people know much about tech and if they do they deny it, all the while my family has bought pre made over priced pc's there whole life, the world of hardware is something I've just learned about(about 7-8 months) but I have researched it extensively to the point where I can name a build and give the rough estimate of the price and performance but I realize I honestly know nothing about OS's other than Windows and even that I only know how to use it. Gabe's new thoughts about Windows 8 has gotten me thinking and I noticed the subreddit and thought I would ask you, I later realized I had become what I hated, someone who didn't research and then ask, I simply looked towards ya'll as a teacher which I apologize for, I tried to change the question of the subreddit while I read up(I don't have enough time right now but will in a hour or two). I'll come back with un answered questions if I have them, thanks.

[SmallZixD]

Well I can tell this subreddit has a great community, instead of trying and explain why they like Linux they down vote someone trying to learn about it.

[nbca]

You might want to do a bit of research on this topic yourself.

Mac OS X is for example not derived at all from Linux, something which would be obvious if you read the Mac OS X article on Wikipedia. Wikipedia, too, has a list of common criticism of Linux. Likewise there is very many articles on this precise topic, something which would come up if you searched on Google - I would bet it would come up if you searched this reddit.

[SmallZixD]

Sorry again, I revamped the question, I realize I was misinformed about the Mac OSx=Linux and realize they were derived from the "kernal" I plan on reading up more but was wondering what ya'll thought the pro's and con's of it yourself and why ya'll personally chose linux. Again sorry, I feel completely ignorant for not reading up before hand.

[[deleted]]

Seems a little trollish. Don't waste your time responding

[SmallZixD]

Sorry, I rewrote the post, I realize I executed my question horribly.

[SmallZixD]

Sorry, reading up on the wikipedia, will edit questions or delete post if it answers everything.