Why Choosing Linux Makes Sense
By: Andrew Orr

There exists an underground surge of opposition to that beloved Windows operating system everyone so nonchalantly uses. Many people have gotten fed up with all the crashing, all the pop-ups and spy ware, and all the sluggishness associated with Windows. To many, Windows is ‘it’, the only operating system they know of and therefore the only one they think they will ever use. There are a few dedicated Mac users here and there but most just grin and bear putting up with Windows. However, there is a vast community of computer users, most of them having unhealthy obsessions with computers, who think there is a better way. That better way is called Linux. Linux is an alternative operating system to Microsoft’s Windows. It is completely separate from Windows and no program designed to run on Windows will work directly on Linux. It’s like the center of a bagel; Windows is the normal bagel and its programs are like the butter. Take the center of a bagel (Linux) and try to put butter on it and it will slide off, especially if you toast it. (There’s an unwritten law that says you can’t cut open the center of a bagel) However, bagel centers fit quite nicely in cup of dipping sauce such as caramel or honey. Try dipping a full bagel in a small cup of sauce would result in catastrophe. What I’m trying to say is that Linux has its own vast set of programs that will only run on Linux, and like butter compared to caramel sauce, the Linux programs are generally a whole lot better than the windows ones. What exists is a large community of avid Linux users, most who simply hate windows for one reason or another and this essay will attempt to explain the benefits of using Linux in least of using Windows, especially for a home environment. It is geared towards those already using windows with little of no knowledge of Linux.

Security is one of the most pressing reasons why windows users should make the switch to Linux. Linux, by design, is very secure. The Linux kernel is based on UNIX, which was one of the first truly multi-user operating systems. Windows on the other hand is not multi-user at all. The latest desktop Windows release, 5.1, known to most simply as Windows XP, along with the upcoming Windows Longhorn are purely single-user environments, which merely simulate the functions of a multi-user system. In this way, all windows users are by default given administrator security clearance, which basically means that they can do anything they want to on the computer, regardless of if it will infect your computer with viruses, delete important system files required for windows to run, or otherwise cripple your computer beyond repair. This may be required for some uses, but for normal home computer users, this is not very smart at all. A virus or malware (software designed to be malicious), when used by a windows user (on purpose or otherwise), can do whatever it wants to your system because you are logged in with administrator rights. Installing annoying ad banners, Trojan programs, data loggers, and basically anything you can think of that you wouldn’t want done to your computer. Linux on the other hand has restrictions on what a normal user can and cannot do. Therein lies the power of Linux. A user can be restricted so much on Linux that they cannot even do simple task such as listening to music or browsing the world wide web, while at the same time allowing another user to be able to do whatever he or she pleases with administrator rights. Normally, general users are not restricted very much, but are just not able to do things such as mess with important system files, not allowed to implement changes that affect other users, not allowed to have things run automatically on startup, etc. The thing with Linux is that every program made for Linux is designed to run perfectly fine when a user who has never ran that program before runs it. After the initial run, the program then stores the user specific settings in special files in the user's home directory. If a program decides to stop working or somehow starts messing up, or if it is found to be infected with a virus etc, all the user has to do is delete the settings directory in the user's home directory and its back like brand new again. The user cannot modify the original program, only the settings that the program makes, therefore the program itself cannot become infected with a virus or other malware, and if worst comes to worst with the user's programs settings, the user can simply delete all files in their home directory and everything is okay again.

Another reason to move to Linux is the benefits of it being free software. Free in this case doesn’t mean cost, but rather means having no (or very generous) restrictions on its use, distribution, etc. Linux and almost all the programs available for it are all open source, free software. This means that the end user (you) is able to modify it to his/her will. Since the source code is available, if a certain function does not perform the way you like it, you can change it to suit your individual needs. Similarly, if the program lacks a feature you would like implemented, you are free to add to it. These additions or changes you can then make available to the Linux community via such websites as sourceforge.org and freshmeat.net. Also, if a program is buggy in that it doesn’t quite work the way you want it to, or just doesn’t work at all, you can fix or improve it yourself, and then make your fixed app available to the community. On the other ear of the corn, Windows or even Mac OS, is all closed source or non-free software. Only the internal developers have access to the source code, and therefore only they have the power to make changes like fixing bugs and implementing new features. They are required to sign a nondisclosure agreement that prevents them from sharing the source code or even information on how it is coded with others. When people find bugs in windows, they can submit a bug report to Microsoft, but in most cases, the windows developers either won’t fix the bug, or will wait months before releasing fixes for it. With Linux you have a huge community of developers all around the world all working together to make their programs the best they can be. Any time a new bug is found, within days, hours, sometimes even minutes, the bug is patched and a new version of the software is released. Linux and its software is a massively collaborative effort and its goal is not to make money, but rather to make their software work for what they need it to do. In fact, Linux and all its programs are completely free (this time I mean free as in no cost – free beer) and most people writing Linux and its software receive little or no compensation at all for their efforts. People contribute to Linux and open source or free software because they believe in free software and dislike the restrictions imposed on proprietary software. Thousands of people around the world are working on Linux at this very moment and because so many people contribute, Linux and its software is virtually bug-free, and feature-rich.

Scalability is another important aspect of using Linux. Linux systems can be cloned limitless times without paying more money for licensing fees. For home users this means you can install Linux on every computer in your house for $0. If you where to install windows, legally on every computer in your house, you would be paying $199 for each computer, the current price of Windows XP Home. In a business environment, you would be paying $299 for each computer running Windows XP Professional. While scalability may not be an important factor in a home computer, in the business world, where companies can have hundreds of employees all needing an operating system on their computer, this cost can really add up. Think of this; Our school currently has over 100 computers, all running various versions of windows. Using Windows XP Home base price, $199, this equates to over $19,000 just to pay for the operating systems. In contrast, if you were to install a popular Linux desktop such as KDE, the cost would be ZERO dollars. The savings on a large company would be astounding.

Support for the software is a big deal, especially with not-so-technical home users. Getting support for Linux is simple easy, and best of all, free. There are a number of websites, chat rooms and message boards, with lots of very smart people willing to help you solve your computer woes for free. They do it because it’s something they have a passion for. People who love computers, love computers, and they love to share their knowledge to try to get more people loving computers. If you can ask a question on a website message board, chances are there’s someone who has had that problem before, or knows how to fix it just waiting for someone like you to post the question. In Windows land, and with other proprietary software, you only get free technical support for a limited time, and often it is of little or no help to you. Companies like Dell, Microsoft, and even Apple have the goal of making money in mind, so they outsource technical support jobs to people half way around the world in places like India and Pakistan, simply because they can get away with paying them a fraction of the amount you would have to pay someone to do it in North America. Half the time when you call the support numbers you get someone who can barely speak English who doesn’t really know what they are doing, and after a month or so, you actually have to start paying for this ‘service’ if you need help. Linux users are not in it for the money so their help is sincere and really is helpful.

Linux itself refers to the kernel or core of the operating system. Since the Linux kernel is open source, many hundreds of companies, individuals, and communities have taken that kernel, modified it in countless ways, and have packaged their own versions of Linux which they are then either giving away free or trying to sell to people. What this means it that you can shop around when you’re looking for a Linux distribution. There are hundreds of flavors of Linux out there. Distrowatch.com is one of many websites which try to index all these distributions. Currently DistroWatch has 395 distributions in its index. That’s a lot of shopping around to do. And if you don’t like any of them, you are free to make your own distribution tailored to your exact needs. With windows you have one company, one distribution, one choice. Windows users have no choice but to accept what Microsoft offers.

Linux itself is evolving at an astounding rate. Just a couple years ago to today is a vast improvement in many factors from ease of use to hardware compatibility. And it will only get better. Look at windows a couple years ago. Windows XP, the current “top of the line” Windows operating system, was originally released in 2001 (October 25th to be precise) and since then has undergone no change whatsoever. The latest release of a Linux distribution happened between the time you started to read this and now. Literally every minute Linux is being updated with newer features, bug fixes, better hardware compatibility, etc.

Linux is an amazing operating system with an unlimited number of uses. It isn’t for everyone, but most who have given it a good healthy month or two of effort haven’t gone back to their Windows counterparts. The only real benefit of using windows as far as I can tell is that everyone and their pets use it. The user base is huge and so if you find a computer anywhere in the world, chances are its windows and you will know how to use it. This philosophy is faulty by definition though. It’s like following a trend or doing as the Romans do. You might make everyone else happy, but you, yourself are being just like everyone else, simply a small fraction of a whole part of which you probably don’t really belong. Being unique is important and people must understand that in order to survive as human beings we must continue to evolve and not be swept into a massive trend that will forever hold us in it’s grasp, sucking every sweet drop of blood from our over sugared veins before it finally lets us go over a deep chasm where escape is near impossible. Linux is the next step on the computational evolutionary ladder. Help advance humankind by pulling up your hundred dollar cow flesh boots and taking grasp of the next rung on that ladder. You may have to leave almost everyone behind, but on the next step up there exists people with a much more profound envision of life itself and I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed by their cocktail parties.