Just to add to what Ashik has said: A distribution like Debian has almost any kind of software you may want to use, and the entire set of Debian packages come in something like ten DVDs (I don't remember the exact number). Even if you have to buy all of them, it would cost you much less than just a Windows CD that contains nothing but the Operating System. But I have to admit that it could be a headache if you don't have an Internet connection and want to install some rare application that is not available in the distribution. But such a situation would be very rare especially when the Internet is becoming more easily available by the day. Moreover, think of such a situation with Microsoft Windows: either someone has to give you an illegal copy of the software or you will often not even know about such applications! In the Debian distribution, for instance, you will see applications that most Windows users may not even dream about. Just take a look at things like Freemind or Kdissert, for example. Or the hundreds of educational applications.
Moreover, it is not correct to compare MS Windows with GNU/Linux feature by feature. One has to so an overall assessment. For instance, it is very interesting to use MS Windows because you have interesting things to do like defragmenting your hard drive(s) frequently, scanning for viruses every day, reinstalling all the software once in a while, getting thrills while using external storage devices because of the threat of viruses and so on. Well, these are not available in GNU/Linux. The system becomes very boring because it goes on working without any problem, even continuously for months together. And you also feel totally outdated once in six months when you see that the software has gone much ahead of what you installed six months back. Hope this helps as a defence to your friend's attacks. Best Sasi -- V. Sasi Kumar Free Software Foundation of India http://swatantryam.blogspot.com -- "Freedom is the only law". "Freedom Unplugged" http://www.ilug-tvm.org You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ilug-tvm" group. To control your subscription visit http://groups.google.co.in/group/ilug-tvm/subscribe To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For details visit the google group page: http://groups.google.com/group/ilug-tvm?hl=en
