10 Major  Reasons To Switch To Linux
Author: Max Rubin

1. It Doesn't Crash

Linux has been time-proven to be a reliable operating system.
Although the desktop is not a new place for Linux, most
Linux-based systems have been used as servers and embedded
systems. High-visibility Web sites such as Google use
Linux-based systems, but you also can find Linux inside the
TiVo set-top box in many livingrooms.

Linux has proved to be so reliable and secure that it is
commonly found in dedicated firewall and router systems used by
high-profile companies to secure their networks. For more than
ten years, it has not been uncommon for Linux systems to run
for months or years without needing a single reboot.

2. Viruses Are Few and Far Between

Although it is possible to create a virus to target Linux
systems, the design of the system itself makes it very
difficult to become infected. A single user could cause local
damage to his or her files by running a virus on his or her
system; however, this would be an isolated instance rather than
something could spread out of control.

In addition, virtually all Linux vendors offer free on-line
security updates. The general philosophy of the Linux community
has been to address possible security issues before they become
a problem rather than hoping the susceptibility will go
unnoticed.

3. Virtually Hardware-Independent

Linux was designed and written to be easily portable to
different hardware. For the desktop user, this means that Linux
has been and likely always will be the first operating system to
take advantage of advances in hardware technology such as AMD's
64-bit processor chips.

4. Freedom of Choice

Linux offers freedom of choice as far as which manufacturer you
purchase the software from as well as which application programs
you wish to use. Being able to pick the manufacturer means you
have a real choice as far as type of support you receive. Being
open-source software, new manufacturers can enter the market to
address customer needs.

Choice of application programs means that you can select the
tools that best address your needs. For example, three popular
word processors are available. All three are free and
interoperate with Microsoft Word, but each offers unique
advantages and disadvantages. The same is true of Web browsers.


5. Standards

Linux itself and many common applications follow open
standards. This means an update on one system will not make
other systems obsolete.

6. Applications, Applications, Applications

Each Linux distribution comes with hundreds and possibly
thousands of application programs included. This alone can save
you thousands of dollars for each desktop system you configure.
Although this is a very small subset, consider that the
OpenOffice.org office suite is included as well as the GIMP, a
program similar to (and many people say more capable than Adobe
Photoshop); Scribus, a document layout program similar to Quark
Xpress; Evolution, an e-mail system equivalent to Microsoft's
Outlook Express; and hundreds more.

For the more technically inclined, development tools, such as
compilers for the C, C++, Ada, Fortran, Pascal and other
languages, are included as well as Perl, PHP and Python
interpreters. Editors and versioning tools also are included in
this category.

Whether you are looking for Instant Messaging clients, backup
tools or Web site development packages, they likely are all
included within your base Linux distribution.

7. Interoperability

More and more computers are being connected to networks. No
system would be complete if it did not include tools to allow
it to interoperate with computers running other operating
systems. Once again, Linux is very strong in this area.

Linux includes Samba, software that allows Linux to act as a
client on a Microsoft Windows-based network. In fact, Samba
includes server facilities such that you could run a Linux
system as the server for a group of Linux and Windows-based
client systems.

In addition, Linux includes software to network with Apple
networks and Novell's Netware. NFS, the networking technology
developed on UNIX systems also is included.

8. It's a Community Relationship, Not a Customer Relationship

Other operating systems are the products of single vendors.
Linux, on the other hand, is openly developed, and this
technology is shared among vendors. This means you become part
of a community rather than a customer of a single manufacturer.
Also, the supplier community easily can adjust to the needs of
various user communities rather than spouting a "one size fits
all" philosophy.

This means you can select a Linux vendor that appears to best
address your needs and feel confident that you could switch
vendors at a later time without losing your investment--both in
terms of costs and learning.

9. It's Not How Big Your Processor Is...

Because of a combination of the internal design of Linux and
development contributions from a diverse community, Linux tends
to be more frugal in the use of computer resources. This may
manifest itself in a single desktop system running faster with
Linux than with another operating system, but the advantages go
far beyond that. It is possible, for example, to configure a
single Linux system to act as a terminal server and then use
outdated hardware as what are called thin clients.

This server/thin client configuration makes it possible for
older, less powerful hardware to share the resources of a
single powerful system thus extending the life of older
machines.

10. Linux Is Configurable

Linux is a true multi-user operating system. Each user can have
his or her own individual configuration all on one computer.
This includes the look of the desktop, what icons are
displayed, what programs are started automatically when the
user logs in and even what language the desktop is in.

And lastly no Bill schmendrick character telling you what you
can and cannot do.


About The Author: Max Z. Rubin Agricultural Chemist Linux as
well as vintage computing http://www.vintagecomputermanuals.com
http://www.badgerlinux.net