Free Software: Why Does it Exist? - Comments Page 2

I have a older netbook that I run Puppy Linux, Bionic Pup 8.0. I had Windows 7 then Windows 10. It ran like crap. Puppy is free and a lightweight O/S for older laptops and computers.
I also use the free versions of Malwarebytes on my Windows 10 desktop and CCleaner on desktop, phone and tablets. Good stuff man...

Doug Allston, uninstall Malwarebytes, install Advanced SystemCare (ASC), reinstall Malwarebytes and run scan. Click to ignore anything re ASC (there will be quite a few). Malwarebytes will then ignore ASC. I’ve done this on all my laptops with no problem.

I tried using Linux to avoid having to eventually move from Win 7 to Win 10. I was able to set up Cinnamon Mint Tara on an old laptop (for practice). But I am not computer tech savvy and realized it would take hundreds of man hours to actually get it working. Eg. just getting the wi-fi to work was daunting. The free Linux help people sent answers that were filled with acronyms I didn't know and references that meant nothing to me. I could hire a pro and spend $$$$$ teaching me the fine points. It just was not worth it. Any future glitch and I would be on my own. Instead of 1000 'distros', why doesn't one of the geeks who write Linux programs, just make one that mimics Windows so average users like me could use it?

Another motivation for free software is the desire to see others benefit from what one has coded.
Many years back when I was into Flight Simulator, I wrote for myself a prog to help me zero the settings of joystick, rudder and throttle before "flying".
Mentioned it on a FS mailing list, and the code ended up published in a list posting, for other listers to copy and paste, and use for themselves.
Quite satisfying, especially the Thank You emails...