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Last week one of my friend asked me, “If Linux is really that good, why people keep using Windows?” It’s really a good question and I think a lot of people out there have the same question. In this post I don’t want to list how Linux is better in a lot of areas compared to Windows because it will be such a long post. Just take a glimpse at http://www.whyLinuxisbetter.net/, this site summarized some reasons for you to try Linux. Instead, we will discuss why changing behaviour (and keeping them) is difficult for lots of people. We will discuss this with NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) approach and with more specific example on the difficulty to move from Windows to Linux.

This post is not an attempt of attacking Windows. Because I think Windows (still) has certain point over Linux. And I am also still using Windows for some working-related issue. So my point is I am not against Windows!

First I would like to take you to NLP environment. What is NLP exactly? You can find the global description about NLP here . One of underlying principle of NLP is the map is not the territory and people react based on the map - not the reality.

This epistemology by Alfred Korzybski prostulate that there is no such thing as objective experience. People do not really react or behave according to the reality, but in fact they react based on beliefs they have built over time about reality. Just one example: 1 hour felt like just 15 minutes when you enjoy something. But with the same time it might felt like 2 or 3 hours or even forever when you are in a boring class with a boring topics and boring professor . See my point? The time is the territory, it’s the same for everyone but how each people react to it is varies. Each people react by the map on their prior belief. So how can we take this to further application?



Ok, it’s like this. Wait… I just think of another example… Why for some people it is difficult to start doing sport regularly? While for other it’s really easy and they seem to enjoy doing sport all the time. It is impossible for us to keep doing a behavior when we associate this behavior with some kind of a torture or other discomfort feeling. Remember old saying No pain no gain? If deep inside your mind you still thinking that sport is a torture or pain, than no matter how hard you try, no matter how good the gain,you will never be able to doing sport regularly. You will find yourselves quitting time after time. The same example can be applied when we try to lose weight (Diet).

The only thing that possible is to associate doing sport with something that is really fun and creates excitement for us. Sport = fun! Remember the feeling of accomplishment when you just finished your sport session. Remember how good is the feeling when you are doing sport, when your feel sore in every muscle. Remember how relax it could be when you’re doing sport. Remember how nice people you train with. Remember how your friend praises you when you accomplished something in sport. Remember how your friend supports you, even when you made some mistake during team sport. Use this map instead of using the map that say sport=pain. Get it?

The same thing happens when people try Linux. They always associate Linux with something difficult, something complicated, something not practical, etc. There are so many excuses that I have came across. Why choosing Linux when I can also download Windows for free? Why bother yourselves when you can use Windows and live easily? Why is it difficult just to find the right driver for my hardware in Linux? And several other whys.

I don’t blame them… really I don’t, because sometimes for me Linux also makes my life more difficult and complicated . But instead of putting a negative map, I will put on a “happy map” on reacting to this situation. I will recall how proud I am when I can solve a problem challenge in my Linux machine, even when it is just a simple one like installing a driver or installing a software. I will recall how proud it is to be a member of a big Linux family. I will recall the feeling of accomplishment when my Linux-related article can help other Linux user. I will recall how relief it is when I can find a free software instead of have to pay for the same software under Windows. Even when I say: “I am a Linux user!” I feel happy and proud.

Back to the question at the beginning, I don’t exactly know the answer. It could be that people don’t know the advantage of using Linux yet. It might be that they already know but don’t want to try for certain reason. Or may be they already try Linux and facing the challenge described in this article. Anyway, have you try Linux? If you haven’t you could start with using Linux live CD. It is a linux system that runs from CD. With this CD you can try Linux without install it in your system so it won’t cause any trouble with your old system. Most of Linux distro now provide live CD version. Try one from Mandriva or Ubuntu. If you happen to be in the neighbourhood I would be happy to copy one for you .