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While browsing through Linux Community on Google+ like I usually do I once again saw a post with a link to an article 10 reasons to switch from WinXP to Linux, and this time around I couldn’t resist to comment it. Below is what I have to say about this topic.

Let’s take a look at these reasons from my country’s PC users’ perspective.

1. Windows is also free. You can download it from warez sites or torrent trackers, or you can ask some “computer boy” you know to install you pirated copy of Windows. You can argue that Linux is free as in freedom, but the thing is, people don’t care about that. As long as it’s free (as in free beer) or cracked it’s good enough for them.
2. A lot of people don’t bother with security. They install antivirus (free or a cracked one) or ask a “computer boy” to do it for them and don’t think about viruses. Some don’t use antivirus at all.
3. WinXP has pretty low system requirements.
4. Windows is easy to use because everybody uses it, so there’s no need to learn something new. Windows users are extremely inert.
5. “Computer boy”. Or insert CD that came with your device, Next, Next, Next, Finish; repeat until everything works. Some noname or rare devices work correctly only on Windows.
6. There’s a lot of themes for Windows. Also repacks like ZverCD look pretty good out of the box.
7. The only point that’s applicable for users I know. Although they still would rather ask the same “computer boy” to install everything needed for them.
8. People don’t update their system. Besides WinXP support is over so no more system update routine. What? Is it not secure? Read point #2.
9. Games. You can say whatever you want, but gaming is Windows’ prerogative. There’s a lot, a lot, a lot more games that only work on Windows. Besides you can’t run games you downloaded from torrents on Linux.
10. Solutions posted on forums maybe less straightforward, but they work way more often than complicated solutions for Linux problems. If something doesn’t work, there’s a “computer boy” to fix or just reinstall your system.

Before you start throwing rocks, rotten eggs and grenades at me let me say you the following first. I do not agree with what I wrote above. I don’t like how my country’s users treat their computers. Points in the article are absolutely valid, but they mean nothing to users who don’t want to think, and that is an overwhelming majority of users. Life is more like I just described and that is sad.