I have been using linux for over 3 years. Now that I look back at it, I have mixed feelings of using linux. On one hand I am happy about things which I have found, learnt and over a period of time experienced. My first install of kubuntu 6.06 on my amd64 laptop to my current install of ubuntu 8.10, I can see so much maturity in linux desktop/laptop whatever you want t say. I sure feel happy that linux system has matured and has become very userfriendly. The other day I was at my friend's place installing linux on his laptop, and I was pleased with how linux (might be a ubuntu usability feature) recognized the printer and configured it for me even without touching anything, no add hardware, no cd required. That was one of the most wow moments of my life where in I could see my friend appreciating the usability features of linux. I am also happy looking at the number of software updates I do not have to keep. I being a geek and always experimenting with latest and greatest I used to keep downloading winamp, firefox and tons of other softwares and installing them to keep the updated. This is no longer the case, well atleast not searching independently. I just update the ubuntu version and I kind of get latest and greatest of all the software. I do not have to hunt down the net for latesst version, I just type some command (I prefer that) or open up synaptic and I am all set. So, over all I am very happy with my system.
On the other hand, I miss out those games which are windows only... I know I know there is wine but still it is not capable enough to play all the games. I loved playing Age of Empires, Caesar etc... while I am able to play Caesar with wine, I was not able to make AOE work. Also, the company that I work for has all its internal application drenched with MS stuff. This does not allow me the flexibility to work on my linux computer in office. Also, I do hate linux some times when things go all messy, and I am not able to figure out wtf I did wrong or what has messed it up... but I do feeel happy when I do a clean install and I am all set with some minor tweaks...
Overall it has saved me time ... I would say naahh due to my company policies of using properietary softwares... but I have learnt a lot... so much so that I always try to spread the word of using open source eg. ubuntu, open office etc to my friends and there are some friends who are pretty darn satisfied with ubuntu installs I have done for them...
