So 38 people voted for Linux in the best OS poll, which kinda surprised me and made me curious who you guys are. Post here if you use Linux! Maybe what distro you use, how you got introduced to it, why you use Linux, etc.

I'll start...

I mostly use Ubuntu, though time to time I mess around with Fedora and OpenSUSE. Linux labs at school run Fedora Core 7 (ancient...).

I'm a 4th year Computer Science and Engineering undergrad at UCLA, and I got introduced to it through school. I took a lab where they introduce you to software developing using Linux, the CLI, and open source tools/technologies like python and gdb.

I remember when I first installed Ubuntu, I was really surprised it had a lot of programs I'd used before with Windows like Firefox, VLC, and Skype. As I kept using it and got as familiar with it as I was with XP, it just felt more natural and less convoluted to me.

As a side note, the lab's professor is pretty heavily involved in the open source community. If anyone's curious, he maintains tar, bison, wrote diff and some coreutils programs, designed tz data, and has submitted countless patches to projects like emacs, gcc, and the list goes on and on.

So what about you guys? I know there's like Soleron with his "pm me about Ubuntu" sig; who else?

You mentioned me, but I'll post anyway.

I would say I'm a casual user of Linux. I know enough to be able to help some people install it, and I use it regularly, but I don't really contribute to it as I don't know C/C++.

I just decided one day that I would install Linux because I was annoyed at Vista taking control away from me and for programs with basic functions (like converting media formats) being £20 closed-source applications on Windows but free and three clicks away from installation on free OSs [since then a lot of those applications have had Windows ports].

I wish it was acceptable in the wider world to use Linux of one's own choice. So if every common software package supported Linux and every peripheral at least let the community maintain an open driver for it. Part of that is it becoming more popular, but it won't be until those changes are made. I don't see it breaking that cycle unless major OEMs make Linux an option on most new PCs (not just special Linux models that are overpriced and hidden away on the website) and then promoting it as cheaper than Windows or requiring fewer resources or getting a lot less malware, all of which could persuade people if they knew.

Linux is suitable for 90% (EDIT: a significant proportion) of computer users (the internet, e-mail and MS Word type), but the only users who are aware enough to know about it are those tied to Windows by their work (Needing Adobe or Microsoft tools) or video games.

This is complete linux fanboy BS. I tried to install Ubuntu for a couple friends and they both HATED it. One of them couldn't get their digital camera to work. the other couldn't get his ipod to sync reliably. Needless to say it is not suitable for computer illiterate people who just want to do a few basic things in my experience. As anecdotal as that is, osx and windows are way better from a user friendliness/ease-of-use perspective. The paid software bit in your post is kinda silly as the only paid software a casual user needs is Word, which is available for all OSes in the form of OpenOffice.

I use Linux at work.

I use Windows (various versions) mostly for desktop/laptops, and mostly Linux for servers. Mainly Centos. I spend most of my time with dozens of ssh sessions open to different servers.

Everyone on this site uses Linux indirectly, as this site runs on Linux.

I've always considered partitioning one of my HDDs and throwing in a Linux install, which distro should I go for?

OK, reduce 90% to whatever appropraiate figure. I don't mean people with digital cameras or iPods. I mean people who literally use it for e-mail, web browsing and word processing alone, like my grandma.

As I said, peripheral support is lacking. NO alternative OS besides Win or Mac has a hope of improving this, it's impossible to fix. It's not like if the OS was better made or there were more developers/money then the problem would be fixed. Look at the Linux Driver Project, it got hundreds of developers signed up to improve Linux drivers and willing to do so for free but it didn't work since manufacturers refused to release hardware specs.

Anyway, I don't really care whether the whole world uses Linux, I just want it to be acceptable (in hardware/software support terms) for me to use it.

I use Linux since Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, the key factor that drove me to use it was Windows Vista, it took about 3 minutes to start on my laptop, while Ubuntu did the same in less than 50 seconds.

I have been using both since then, but i preffer Linux for mostly Web, however, Windows is still needed with my printer, and some peripheral as you have said.

Honestly i think the only way to suppor Linux is buying Dell Ubuntu products, that´s our only chance.

^ That'd probably be the best, as it'd get other OEMs to offer Linux boxes, though it might still be priced higher cause of the Microsoft Tax. But really, just installing and using Linux helps, since there are companies that track OS usage, and I'm sure hardware and software companies pay attention to that much like the videogame industry pays attention to NPD numbers.

Jefforange89, I've PMd you if Soleron hasn't already.

Count me in. Ubuntu.

My boyfriend forced me into it a few years ago. I certainly had problems at first getting my ipod & digital camera working on it but it all runs smoothly now. He's a complete tech geek and can get anything running on anything.

I bought my parents a Dell laptop with Ubuntu and they have no problems using it.