[willismichael]

I've been a Linux enthusiast for eighteen years. I started off trying to evangelize it to everybody. At some point I switched my opinion to not recommending it, while still using Linux on all of my home desktop/laptop machines.

I have never quite been able to express why I insist on using Linux while at the same time I don't recommend it to other people until I read this comment.

[marcodiego]

I almost never recommend linux. People will have problems regardless of the OS, they will hardly find help to solve their problems if they are using linux. Then someone will arrive and blame linux for the problem and then, the user form now on will avoid and bad mouth it.

These days I only recommend linux for people I know they can handle it AND will have some fun learning how to handle it. Or on the "gramma" computer case where usage scenario is very well defined.

But I still find it fun that people get impressed about how it is possible to efficiently use the computer. For example, copying a file to/from a keychain and unmounting it with a single command and with just a few more touches on the keyboard I can open and start editing the file. For people who expect intrusive warnings when an usb drive is plugged in and lots of clicks to find and copy files, doing all that with a few keystrokes is impressive.

Another trick I use to impress more seasoned users and even developers is the cycle of "apt-get build-dep", "apt-get source", configure, compile and run. People get so impressed that they consider start using linux.

But yes, if you really like it, you'll find people for whom you can recommend it.

[webmaven]

Neal Stephenson's essay "In the Beginning was the Command Line" might resonate with you as well. It's got batmobiles and tanks and people who break into your garage to upgrade the tanks when you aren't looking.