Open-source software movement presents a viable alternative to commercial operating systems. Linux-based operating systems are freely available and a competitive option for computer users who want full control of their computer software. Thus, it is relevant to inquire on how the open-source movement might influence user technology switching intentions. The current study examines user intentions to switch to a Linux-based open-source operating system. Using partial least squares modeling, we examine the influence of inertia, (i.e., status quo bias), benefit loss costs, incumbent systems habit, procedural switching costs, sunk costs, social norms, and uncertainty costs, on perceived need and behavioral intention. We find that Perceived Need and Behavioral Intention (β = 0.691, p < 0.001) exhibited the strongest relationship followed by Social Norms on Perceived Need (β = 0.508, p < 0.001) and Uncertainty Costs on Inertia (β = 0.451, p < 0.001), with small effects from Incumbent System Habit and Perceived Switching Cost on Inertia as well. As cross-sectional research, no causal interpretations are permitted. Modelling user switching intentions can help facilitate user service design and software documentation efforts by concentrating on user needs. Overall, we find that the results support inertial effects and the influence of social norms on perceived need and users’ switching intentions. Implications of these findings are also discussed.

开源软件运动为商业操作系统提供了一种可行的替代方案。基于 Linux 的操作系统是免费提供的，对于想要完全控制其计算机软件的计算机用户来说，这是一个有竞争力的选择。因此，有必要探究开源运动如何影响用户技术转换意图。当前的研究调查了用户切换到基于 Linux 的开源操作系统的意图。使用偏最小二乘模型，我们研究了惯性（即现状偏差）、收益损失成本、现有系统习惯、程序转换成本、沉没成本、社会规范和不确定性成本对感知需求和行为意图的影响。我们发现感知需求和行为意图 ( β  = 0.691, p < 0.001) 表现出最强的关系，其次是感知需求的社会规范 ( β  = 0.508, p  < 0.001) 和惯性的不确定性成本 ( β  = 0.451, p  < 0.001)，现有系统习惯和感知转换成本对惯性也一样。作为横断面研究，不允许任何因果解释。通过关注用户需求，对用户切换意图进行建模有助于促进用户服务设计和软件文档工作。总的来说，我们发现结果支持惯性效应和社会规范对感知需求和用户转换意图的影响。还讨论了这些发现的含义。