c'mon anurag, u should have got it that this poll is meant mainly for the newbies in the linux domain

. most of the poll options dont apply to experienced users like you.
now to defend my options in the light of ur arguments
GNUrag wrote
technomode wrote:
the close tie between linux and the open source movement
Linux kernel was written way before the OpenSource movement started. Linux kernel is a part of the GNU Project. Any link up between linux kernel with any movement should not be a reason to adopt an OS.
that's a fact. but it is also a fact that you cant deny the impact linux has had in the free software movement. perdon me if it sounds crude, but the OS itself is the most importsnt software in the sysytem, and can anything have greater impact if the OS itself is classified as a free software?
let's face it, most of the people who start using linux dont know what open source is all about. but as they continue using it and get access to the thousands of cheaper and/or free alternatives of costlier applications, some of them may feel the urge to continue using them to promote the use of these free softwares, may be as a sort of a protest against these organisations. i specifically mentioned microsoft, because when you spell "piracy" or "essential costly software" the first thing that comes to your mind is windows.
technomode wrote:
you hate profite making organisations like microsoft
Its not only about Microsoft..... Kids who are quite new to this domain might mis-understand that all this is being done to defeat Microsoft and Bill Gates. However this is far from true. GNU Project was started in 1983 to create a free world... which was dominated by biggies like IBM, Novell, SCO, AT&T .... and many others. There was a Unix war being batteled between all of them, resulting is patent lawsuites being filed and allegations being made. GNU Project was started to end all this chaos.... Microsoft along with its flagship Windows OS came in existance very late....
Strangely todays kids know only about Microsoft and think its only a Microsoft vs Linux debate. which is far from true
again you got me wrong anurag

.as i said, i specifically mentioned microsoft here because most of the new linux user's dont know the philosophy behind the GNU project.What they know is that they are doing something that will help the future computer users by forcing software giants(specifically microsoft) adopt a new policy in their software licensing.
technomode wrote:
linux means geek,and you like showing off(plz,no harm meant.just click nd forget)
Show off.... who do i show off to ... My family ? they wont understand anything about Linux , so no point in showing off to them..... My friends at office ?? everyone is using Linux / Unix .... who do i show off to .... they no more than me...
i admit, i could have been subtler. what i meant is that you need not feel you are a genius, you are a superman, but let's face it, there's nothing daring in running a wrapped up application like windows for maintaining your sysytem. on the other hand, when people begin using linux, they can feel that it is something different.it is not like they are being spoon-fed with something that has already been prepared by someone else, but they have to DEVELOP whatever it is they are using.they have the ability to make it behave EXACTLY the way they want it to. deny it or not, if you feel this, you are bound have a feeling of accomplishment, that you are into something different,something separate from this world of msconfig and gpedit and norton antivirus and so on.