I’ve been covering Linux and open-source since 1999 (the year of Prince). During that long stretch, a year hasn’t gone by that I haven’t experienced someone (or a group of someones) still believing the myths that seem to be forever churning about the open-source operating system.
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It would be impossible to calculate the hours I’ve spent trying to help people understand that the vast majority of those myths simply are not true. Hopefully every time I do, someone’s eyes are opened, and they see what they’ve been misunderstanding.
1. Linux requires the use of the terminal
When I first started using Linux in 1997, the terminal was an absolute necessity. There was no way around it. I had to write scripts to keep a modem connected, install software from source, manage users and permissions, and just about everything from the terminal. Sure, there were GUI apps for some of those tasks, but those graphical tools weren’t up to snuff.
That was then, and this is now.
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I’ve tested this myth. I’ve made myself refrain from using the Command Line Interface (CLI) for weeks at a time and never once felt it was something I had to use. How is that possible? The desktop environments and various settings apps have come a very long way over the years, to the point that they’ve become equally as effective as the terminal.
Even with servers, there are now web-based tools like Cockpit that make it possible to do much of what used to be required of the command line. That doesn’t mean you can just as easily skip the terminal when using Linux on a server, though. In that case, yeah, you had better learn CLI. But on the desktop? No.
Do yourself a favor and go a week without opening the terminal on desktop Linux and see how it goes. You’ll be surprised that tasks every average computer user requires can be managed without having to echo >> “Using the terminal.”
2. Linux users don’t want Microsoft-like desktops
I, for one, opt to go a very non-Microsoft route for my desktop environment. But the average computer user who’s spent years (or decades) with Windows and is looking to migrate to an alternative? They need familiarity.
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There’s a reason why the old adage “people fear change” is bandied about… because, for the most part, it’s true. Most people who’d like to migrate away from Microsoft aren’t doing so because they hate the interface. The majority of users don’t care what the interface looks like, only that it works and is easy to learn.
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That’s the very reason why Linux distributions that look like Windows (and MacOS) exist. Developers know that some users simply aren’t going to adopt Linux if what they see is totally foreign to them. The beauty of those distributions is that they lure users to Linux and then allow them to grow from the standard Windows interface. But the important idea is to woo users over with something familiar that’s also better.
3. Linux is totally virus-free
It used to be that viruses didn’t stand a chance against Linux. For the most part, that’s still true. However, it doesn’t mean that Linux is 100% safe from malicious software, URLs, and code. The way I see it is that if your computer is connected to a network, it’s vulnerable. But instead of having to constantly worry about these threats, just make sure you’re installing software from reputable repositories, and don’t click on random links (especially from within email).
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I’ve used Linux for decades and, on the desktop, have never once suffered a virus, malware, or ransomware. I have, on one occasion, dealt with a nasty rootkit on a Linux server, but that’s a different story altogether.
4. Linux doesn’t have the software you need
Consider this – there are multiple routes to installing software, including:
- Standard repositories
- Third-party repositories
- Source
- Snap
- Flatpak
- AppImage
- Wine
- Steam
All told, there is a wealth of apps available for Linux.
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But here’s the thing: the majority of users spend their time in a web browser (6.36 hours a day on average, according to Statista). If we’re talking about a typical workday, that doesn’t leave much time for other applications.
If you need to use MS Office, Office365 works great in most browsers. Do you use Spotify for music? It’s there. What about Slack? Yup. Microsoft Teams? You know it.
The truth is Linux does not lack software. If you do run into a Windows app that doesn’t have a Linux version, you can always try running it with Wine (which is a compatibility layer that allows for the installation of Windows software on Linux).
5. Linux is hard
When I first started using Linux, it was quite challenging. But over the past two decades, desktop Linux has become so easy anyone can use it.
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My father was not terribly adept with computers. When he purchased his first computer, it had Windows 7, and he had nothing but problems. I installed Ubuntu Linux over Windows, and it was smooth sailing. He was able to use it with ease. Part of the reason why he picked it up so quickly was because he was never told it was hard. He went into it assuming it would be easier than what he had, and that assumption proved to be true.
I’ve watched Linux evolve since the early days, and what we have today is exponentially easier than it was back then.
6. Linux doesn’t support many peripherals
I have peripherals that will not work on MacOS. I have peripherals Windows cannot detect unless I track down the proper driver. For example, my Brother laser printer gives MacOS fits, and Windows simply cannot see it until I install a driver, which takes me a while to track down.
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Linux, on the other hand, sees it immediately and works without installing any sort of driver. At the same time, I’ve had scanners that I couldn’t get work, no matter what I did.
The thing about peripherals is that they are all hit-or-miss. Printers are a nightmare. Back when I was doing PC support, I probably spent 80% of my time solving printer problems, and in every single instance, the problem was caused by Windows. Most peripherals were designed with Windows in mind because Microsoft’s desktop OS is the most widely used on the planet. Even so, Windows can struggle to work with some peripherals.
From my perspective, this is a crap shoot, regardless of what OS you’re on. That being said, since 1997, I’ve only had a handful of peripherals that I could not get to work with Linux, and that is a pretty good track record.
