Quote:
Originally Posted by BWinmill
How ironic, seeming as re-learning the UI is a common criticism of Linux.
Yet I do agree. While my approach to Linux is probably quite different from yours, I have found that it allows me to build upon existing skills rather than learning new skills. To give you and idea of what I mean, I have been using the much maligned vi editor for nearly 20 years. (The editor itself even predates my birth.) Every year I get better at using vi, and I'm more than willing to use newer implementations of it to gain access to more powerful features. Even though I am using a different implementation today, the skills that I learned 20 years ago are still valid so I am becoming more effective at using the software. Since vi is entrenched in the Unix world I am also confident that this skill building will continue for decades to come. I can make similar claims for many utilities that come with Unix systems.
The other nice thing about Unix is its nearly universal nature. If I know how to use a userland feature on Linux, I can probably use it in OS X. It is also applicable to varying degrees on my Android and Kobo devices. Yes, there are going to be some changes (GNU vs. BSD vs. Busybox) but the basics are all there.
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But I don't have to learn a new UI for the Linux that I use. I don't have to upgrade, unless I want to. With a copy of the repositories for Linux Mint 17 (all 60+ GBs) I can install it on machines for the rest of my life (as long as they run x86 archetecture). Shucks I'm still running 30 year old Atari 800 software (under emulator), I've only got 30-40 more years left, I'll get along...(And use those skills I am bulding, plus all those old ones of XP which I still use (as a virtual machine, of course).