Linux - The Best Way to Increase Girls’ Sexiness Factor
By Alina Popescu on Mar 26, 2008 in Featured, IT & Technology, Software, Tips & Tricks
In case you did not know it, geeks are really, really sexy and cool. And their coolness increases exponentially the moment someone finds it impossible to solve a problem without them. I can guarantee that! I for one certainly had my eyes all starry when my boyfriend made a custom Windows XP CD to have it installed on my Sony Vaio laptop for which Sony decided to provide Vista files only. I cannot even begin to tell you how mesmerized I was when he managed to get Vista, XP and Ubuntu working on the same laptop!Knowing stuff about computers, about the Internet and about different operating systems can definitely turn you into a star. The person everybody calls to ask for advice! Yes, it can be annoying, but that feeling instantly disappear when mere mortals start praising you. And due to prejudice, misconceptions and other things I usually dislike, when it’s a girl that knows all things technological, people can’t stop looking up to her.
If you want to boost your coolness and sexiness by becoming tech savvy, what’s more geekish than Linux! Regardless of the easy interfaces and increased usability and the amazing double-click of windows, when you say your running a Linux distro, people still think of command lines, root, exclusive and complicated stuff.
I started learning stuff about Linux out of need (as you know, I work for AXIGEN and the software we sell is a mail server for Linux distributions mostly; also, for about 7 months, I was their Technical Writer). But during that process, I noticed quite a few reasons Linux is great for girls. And I thought to share them with you:
1. Your Coolness and Sexiness Factors Will Go Wild
Yes, people will admire you more. Half of them will have no clue what you’re talking about, but it will be music to their ears. What’s equally important, you’ll be able to really impress hard core geeks. They’ll stop looking down on you all the time. It won’t be a permanent halt, but it will be a well deserved one.
2. You will always have options
If you simply don’t want to pay for Vista or are tired of Windows OS or Mac, you can try Linux for free. Most distributions come with Open Office and you can give it a try and decide for yourselves if paying for Microsoft Office is worth it.
3. Linux Literate Friends Will Always Want to Teach You New Tricks
When I first started using Linux, I was so happy and proud I had to announce it through an instant message through my IM. I got about three friends offering to show me cool stuff and help me learn faster. They were pouring resources, cool photos and videos on Linux like I never imagined they would.
4. If You Ever Need it, It’s Great to Know it!
Let’s say you have serious computer problem and you could use a Linux Live CD to get things done and possibly recover part of your Windows files. Wouldn’t you love to be able to go for it? I know I would have about a year ago when my computer crashed badly and the Recovery did not go that well. I ended up loosing all my files. Yes, it wasn’t properly partitioned either, I kicked myself for that for months.
5. You’ll Stop Being so Freaked by Viruses
Linux malware is practically inexistent when compared with the millions of threats Windows is exposed to. And even if you get a malicious file on your computer, it is extremely hard for it to take over the OS.
I can’t say I am all Linux. Right now I use both Vista and Ubuntu. I think it’s great to have alternatives and I don’t feel by hart trying to rip my chest open whenever I think of loosing all data. And yes, I feel I am part of a really cool club and always look for Linux groups on the social networks I am actively contributing to. What about you, would you give Linux a try?
Completely agree, Plus if you are experiencing a problem you can post it in a community and get immediate relpy. That is very hard with Windows.
I removed the dual boot as well. I now run only Xubuntu…it definitely increases your sexyness.
Julius | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
In all honesty, Alina, I would love to be more clued in when it comes to Linux. It would be great to have all that technological knowhow at my fingertips!
Well done for taking the plunge and learning something new
amypalko | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Julius! Unfortunately I still need some Windows software and i can’t give it up just yet
But at work I only use Ubuntu and it’s been a very interesting ride up to now 
Amy, it is really a lot easier that you think. Get your hands on any liveCD and you’ll see I’m right. If you don’t have time for it, I promise to show how a linux distro works the first time we meet
Alina Popescu | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
“geeks are really, really sexy and cool”
I wish someone would tell my gf. I tried explaining why the IT expert on a TV cop show last night was making a hash of his forensic examination of a suspect’s PC and I could see the eyes glaze over when she had no idea what I was trying to say
Although, I did meet her when her laptop broke down and she was faced with losing her uni dissertation a couple of days before it was due. I wasn’t so boring then
Andy McKnight | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Hi Andy, well, direct her to this article. It’s written by a girl who absolutely loves geeks
Alina Popescu | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Haha, for the more piraty geeks paying for an O/S isn’t really an issue and yes linux is quite fun and Ubuntu has made it easier than ever, you set up an Ubuntu rig with compiz fusion and show your friends and they’ll orgasm at it’s awesomeness, it just destroys Vistas oh so fancy shmancy Aero interface. But for fixing broken computers, while a live disk is nice, I’m gonna say Hiren’s boot tools ftw, it’s got a million different progs for fixing that which is dead.
That Guy | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Geeks are really sexy and cool; I could never imagine going out with a guy that has no clue on what `iptables` is ;))
Cristina | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
That Guy, I wasn’t trying to promote pirated software over here
And I have to agree, Aero, after rolling around the Ubuntu cube, is not really impressive. I am sure Hiren is just fine, I was pointing out to an easy to use and fun solution. Nothing easier that insert CD, reboot, say your prayers and browse 
Cristina, you are indeed a hard core geek. I hope to be just like you when my geekishness grows up
Alina Popescu | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Alina,
Wow, I am now looking at my techie friends in a whole new light! I value tech savvy and through them have learned just enough to be semi-dangerous. Thanks for the insight on Linux and the perspective on sexy.
Karen
Karen Swim | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Hi Karen, thank you for stopping by and for all your support for this story of mine
I see you’re on your way to increasing your geekness level so you’re getting sexier by the minute 
Alina Popescu | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
I totally agree…girls talking linux get me hot!
If you have windoze programs that you can’t live without, and you’re running Ubuntu, sudo apt-get install wine. You will be able to run windows progs no prob. Eventually you won’t need dual-boot. w00t!
Bold Chad | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Last October my girlfriend Cristina got herself a brand new laptop without pre-installed OS and I was joking about how I would install Linux on it - she wouldn’t believe it. Then I installed XP and Ubuntu in dual-boot, and the first time I showed her the laptop I booted Ubuntu and started to show her how to use it. The poor thing (my girlfriend) looked in disbelief for a couple of minutes at what I was showing her, then you could see by the look on her face that she almost broke down in tears. And then I restarted the laptop and booted XP.
Interestingly she was very intrigued by Ubuntu, especially after I gave her some video-tutorials to look at and configure the desktop to her liking.
After a while she even made an attempt to use Ubuntu as her primary OS at work - by running MS Office on top of CrossOver and by going into a virtualized instance of Windows XP, but things didn’t go very smoothly, especially due to issues with file permissions on her file server at work.
Now she’s back to running Windows XP as her primary OS, but she has Ubuntu there running inside VirtualBox.
Maybe I’ll get Cristina to submit a comment about her adventures in Ubuntu-Land herself - some words of encouragement from you might help
Dan | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Bold Chad, welcome to WOBM and thank you for your feedback! :)I tried cross-over for a while but I have issues at work with access to other servers, logins and other crap that can be a little tricky for a noob.
Welcome, Dan, thank you so much for sharing this story! I would love it if Cristina would stop by and comment, I am sure we have quite a list of common Ubuntu stuff to laugh about
Alina Popescu | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
“You’ll Stop Being so Freaked by Viruses”
I know you make a point in understanding your system may still get viruses, but at the same time, it never hurts to be a little bit paranoid about them. The big problem with viruses, for the most part, is not them taking over your entire system, but instead getting the personal information stored in the parts of the system they’re able to get. Malicious Hackers are less interested nowadays in vandalizing your system than they are about money.
Zixaphir | Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Zihaphir, Linux is not an easy place for a hacker to wander around without the proper credentials. It’s not impossible, just harder
As for being paranoid, I really don’t agree. Viruses are a serious matter, but paranoia does not solve any problem, it just drives you and those trying to help crazy. Take is from someone who’d done technical assistance for an AV vendor.
Alina Popescu | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Hey, one question…
Did i missed something?
Girls here, fear us…barely know what windows actually is.
fear to use their computers…
ahah just one funny thing i would say…
if you happen to like gnome.
ctrl+s allow you to select files with regex…
like humm
julia*.jpg
would select every image that start with julia end ends with jpg.These aren’t real regex. so we can’t get that fancy.
the day one girl tell me something using regex matching. i think there will be tears in my eyes.
Loic | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Loic, thanks for the input! Is that a challenge, cause if I can arrange that I want video coverage of you crying and saying WOBM and Alina are the best. Oh and I also want it posted on a few tiny sites like youtube
Alina Popescu | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Zixaphir, the reason viruses are a problem in the windows world is that you have to have administrator priveleges to install almost every single program you will ever use in windows. Therefore, every single program you install will have access to the windows registry (think about that, and think about what windows stores in the registry). Since 99% of windows users have no stateful packet filtering firewalls, I could write a cool windows program that many would want to use, then have it send me whatever I want from the registry of every machine it’s installed on via the web.
The fundamental difference with Linux is that it grew from a system designed for multi users where root (admin) priveleges are protected at all costs.
Bold Chad | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
I’m very delighted to be the only one at my office who has a dual-boot laptop, and it makes me very proud.
What I like about Linux is that it gives me the opportunity to show off, even if fundamentally speaking I wouldn’t have any reason to do so, but I get away with it being the one-eyed man in the land of the blind as it were.
Everybody at work is so impressed by the fact that I use Linux because they think it is rocket science and don’t realize that at the end of the day Linux is just another operating system just like Windows. But it is a funky and sleek operating system at that.
Because of Linux I have gained the status of “the geek of the team” (in a good way, that is to say I am the first person everybody comes up to when they have technical issues and they are very impressed with my ability to solve those issues).
But I also have a dark side. Unlike other Linux geeks who can’t wait to give you advice and introduce you to the world of Linux, I want to keep Linux for myself and be the only Linux-knowledgeable person at work - have a monopoly so to speak
Cristina Pinguina aka Cristina PenguinGirl | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi there PenguinGirl, welcome to WOBM. Well, it’s a monopoly you should indeed be proud of. The thing I learned about sharing knowledge is that it brings so much back on the long run. That of course, if people are genuinely interested. Even if they don’t share their tips in the same field, there is always a different field where you’re the noob needing loads of help.
Alina Popescu | Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
ahah
well, i don’t know if i would cry for that… or go to make a video of it.
But i would be impressed.
keep it up
Loic | Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
ah and as i’m a french speaker (canada) crying in an other language would look pretty silly
Loic | Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
Well, you could cry in English with a French accent. It always works in comedies
Kidding, but I am pretty sure I can have you impressed in no time if I IM the right girlfriends. just make sure you know your iptabled drill
Alina Popescu | Mar 31, 2008 | Reply
I know all my tecchie friends love Linux. I definitely would need lots of help to install and have it run smoothly for me. I admire the fact you paved the pathway for many and that you’re lifting the benchmark for girls and women who shy away from math.
Thanks, Alina.
Robyn | Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
Actually, installing Linux, if you choose the right distribution, is not at all harder than a Windows install. It might turn out to be a little easier actually
Alina Popescu | Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
Glad to know that, Alina. I’ll look into it. I know the virus problem is hardly a bother when you have it.
Robyn | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
I had a day about 5 months ago when Windows decided to freak out on me and not boot. Not a single recovery tool could fix it either. Just when I was about to give up hope and lose all my files, I remembered my Ubuntu 7.10 live CD could read and write to NTFS. So I pop that in and get my files backed up with no problem. I still run XP on my laptop, but my desktop has Ubuntu installed and more and more open source applications make their way to my computers.
Mike | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
Hi Mike, thanks for stopping by and sharing your story. I think most of us have had similar experiences where everything seemed to be lost. At times, it actually was
Alina Popescu | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
6. The linux avatars with the penguin (that probably inspired the madagascar penguins story) are so cool, i mean adorable and cool at the same time. I just love them.
dan.knows | May 26, 2008 | Reply
Yes, Tux is a cool mascot! To be honest, the best giveaway Axigen has ever had is a branded Tux
Alina Popescu | May 27, 2008 | Reply