Linux Haters = Good Publicity

Bring on the Linux Love HATE

While passing through the internet, in search of information, I came upon the Linux Hater's Blog and I laughed. The arguments were weak at best, the foul language strong, and the responses fun to read. I was amazed how it went on and on and on, with only breaks taken to catch breath. At first, I do admit to being fired up, he did a good job of setting my blood on fire, but I took a moment and realized that this shit was helping the open source community.

Most people hate change, challenge, and concern. The average person does not want to spend their time doing any of the three because they do all three all at once at work. Windows is suppose to provide the ability to use computers seamlessly without any of the three Cs remotely cropping up. XP has thus far been the best achievement by Microsoft in this endeavor. With over 70% of the market share of desktop users having at least one copy of XP in use, this achievement was only topped by Windows 95's 80% market share back in the day. XP SP1 was stable, lite weight (compared to Windows ME), and fairly secure. Yet, Microsoft failed this goal with Vista and soon with Windows 7. It was a back track that has sent users into the arms of the *nix (Unix, Linux, Mac) community in flocks.

Now, here in the Linux community, we do not hate the user; we hate the corporation. While some questions do send a prompt retort from the community ("What is the best distro for 'hacking'"), most of us tire day and night to give answers and fix problems - after a full day at work. Now if you choose to use Windows, that is your choice, but the question is - Did you choose Windows, or did it choose you. Do you see it that there is no other possible choice? That the applications that you must have are "only" available on Windows? Have you considered all your options? Microsoft would say yes for you in all three questions. They constantly attack, propagate against, and demoralize any possibility that there is anything but Microsoft. For this we hate them, but not you, the user.

The biggest difference between Linux and Microsoft is not the price, the look or the usage, but the philosophy that it was founded on. Linux was born from the academic world with one purpose in mind - community driven, computerized perfection. Windows was born from the minds of business mend with only the prostitute of profits. Originally, DOS stolen with out paying royalties, the Windows GUI (graphic user interface) was pirated from Xerox, and so many of Windows features were borrowed from the Unix/Linux community without due credit. Our community is here to make a difference, and we are always coming one step closer to our goals. We never back track and never stop. Every success is a step, every failure a leap.

But if you choose to use Windows, it is your choice - we just want to make it all better.

--The Student

You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it's for our own good, yet we're the criminals. -- The Mentor

Why Tux FTW?

Why hackers bother with Linux

When you get into the hacker world, you learn that Windows is a consumer level piece of shit. Even the "all knowing" government has stopped using Windows directly on any of there systems (they will use it virtually, but with a Linux/Unix back bone). How Windows has survived with their poor software design for so long is a matter great hacker debate. Whether it is the fact that Microsoft controls the game market, or that they appraise the Aztec Gods by sacrificing one of their many virgin Employees.

Once you step into the realms of computer hacking, software coding, or any other technical field, the only time Windows is used is when it is necessary to work with Windows only customers. You'll find forum upon forum of gripes targeted at the back of Billy's head, whenever someone has to program a Windows app. Even the Elitist Steve Jobs and his Christ-like following have their systems based on freeBSD - aka Unix - and while there is compatition to create the best OS, Unix and Linux are built - origionally - by academics for academics. For my baby steps, my Mentor immediately pointed me to Ubuntu - the baby king pin of the Linux world.

Upon downloading, ripping, and inserting the DVD, I found a had just taken my first step into a new world. Even the live-cd environment worked like a charm. I most impressed that I was actually inside the OS even though I hadn't even installed it to my hard drive. I've always hated that long, sore wait while I installed Windows. Not only did it look bad while it intsalled (terrible resolution settings), it was slow. But Linux, HO-LY SHIIIT! Not only did it install in about one third the time, you can partician and repartician the hard drive, you have soooo many options to choose from it was almost mind bogglying (it still is for any one over the age of 55). Windows free living is so Epic!

It was done in a flash, and I was starting up Linux for the first time - sweeeet! Then, wtf? The sound didn't work, and the resolution was no longer smooth. What happened to the live-cd buttery goodness? Then I quickly came to realize that the reason why hackers use Linux is to get thier asses pwned. It took three weeks to get the video drivers working correctly - my Mentor installed a program that did it for me. It took me another six weeks to bitch slap the sound drivers into submission - it would have taken less if I had realized what kind of sound card I had (me == idiot). When I, I alone, conquered the sound driver a feeling over came me of pure joy. I pwned Linux, it was now mine to own - to control! That is why hackers use linux. Yes, there is the ease of not having viruses or malware. Yes, there security options that make it a fotress of steel (that's before work on it!). Yes, it makes you more of a kewl, 1337 nerd. But really it comes down to ownership. No, I didn't create the skin for desktop. No I didn't "hack" the driver source code. No, I didn't write the code for the kernel. But I did follow an online guide, and I got it to work when it "normally" wouldn't. It is now mine. That Linux on my hard drive is now MINE. What do the Windows user do? Put up a kewl background up? Change the start up screen with another program? Remap the keyboard short cuts? Give me a fucking break. When you spend hours searching for answer, trying out shit that might fuck up your computer, recompiling source code to get an app to work - then you can say you did something, then you can own your OS. And yes, we brandish our work as a mark of distinction. We learn something every time we use our OS, were not lazy bastards that play solitare and call it work.
--The Student


You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it's for our own good, yet we're the criminals. -- The Mentor