Five Reasons to Use Linux

FOSS Force ^ | 5/28/15 | Christine Hall

[markomalley]

I might be wrong, but I get the impression that my Windows friends — which would be most of the people I see on a daily basis — think of Linux as this incredibly geeky system from another planet. I think most of them don’t understand why I use it and why I don’t just stay in the known world — which to them would be Windows. Paradoxically, however, they do get why some folks use Macs.

Quite simply, most of us use desktop Linux because it’s superior to all other brands, including Windows and OS X — even including Unix and the BSDs. This is a fact, not an opinion. There are reasons why Linux runs a majority of the world’s servers and powers most big enterprises, and in an example of where the trickle down theory actually works, those reasons trickle down (or up — depending on your viewpoint) to the desktop.

Of course, just sticking your nose in the air and claiming superiority isn’t enough to convince most people, so here’s my list of five reasons to use Linux:

1. It’s free: Many people have trouble understanding why this tops my list. They get the part about how it costs nothing, but the finer points of software freedom seem to be incomprehensible to them. When I tell them that Linux users are free to look at and modify the code in any way they want, they shrug it off, evidently thinking that since they’re not code writing computer geeks, then this makes no difference.

   Well, I’m not a coder either, and never will be. But this is still near the top of the list of the software freedoms that I cherish. Why? Because each and every day, people are modifying Linux for one reason or another, usually to meet their own needs, and sometimes those changes find their way upstream and get incorporated into mainstream Linux, improving everyone’s user experience.

   To sum up the notion of software freedom in a nutshell: Free softwre such as Linux is yours to do with as you like, with no restrictions placed on you by any licensing agreement. The only thing you’re not free to do? Restrict the freedom of others.

2. It’s easy to use: This statement will probably have those who’ve never tried Linux scratching their heads and going “huh?”. Not so for those who use Linux daily. These days, the use of most Linux distros and desktops is no more difficult than using Windows or OS X — even easier after you learn a few tricks to make the operating system do what you want in the way you want it done.

   The days are long gone when you had to be a computer expert to sit behind the wheel and run Linux — even though computer knowledge comes in handy no matter what operating system you’re using.

3. It’s stable and secure: Granted, Windows is much more stable than it once was, but stability is still an issue and Windows’ users still must occasionally reboot to correct a stability issue. And it’s true that if you work at it, you can throw Linux into a panic, but I can’t remember the last time that happened to me.

   As for security, any Linux distribution, take your pick, is more secure out-of-the-box than either Windows or OS X, even without running antivirus software. It’s not completely free of security issues — no operating system is — but security holes in Linux are usually not as severe and get fixed quicker than in the name brands.

   Plus, Linux users get most of their software pre-vetted through software repositories and don’t have to put their trust in some download site operated by who knows whom.

4. It runs free and open source software (FOSS): Sure, these days you can install most free and open source software titles on Windows, just as some proprietary titles have been ported to Linux. But running FOSS on Windows is akin to building a castle in a neighborhood sitting close to a dump. Most days will be fine, until the sun comes out on a hot and humid summer day.

   What’s so special about FOSS? Well, it’s free, easy to use, usually stable, and secure and versatile — the same things that make Linux special.

5. It’s versatile: I couldn’t begin to make a list to illustrate the ways that Linux is versatile — at least not one that would be understandable to those who’re accustomed to using a system where there’s usually just one way of doing things — so I’ll stick with the most obvious: the desktop.

   The Windows desktop is pretty much a one-size-fits-all proposition. Not true with Linux, where there are many desktops from which to choose. And these aren’t merely skins or themes, offering a different look but with exactly the same functionality.

   Linux desktops are all completely different from one another, each offering its own user experience. Working with a old machine with a slow processor and not much memory? There’s are desktops for that. Do you have a modern computer with plenty of resources? There are desktops for that. Do you like a lot of whistles and bells and want a computer where absolutely everything can be configured to your liking? There are desktops for that as well. The list goes on.

This is just my list, and it’s nowhere near complete. Maybe you think I’ve left off something important — I probably have. What would you add to this list? Feel free to comment below.

[markomalley]

6. The source code is published, unlike proprietary systems...and you can recompile it yourself. This means that you (or somebody else) can 100% validate that there is no spyware on it (such as the keylogger built into the Windows 10 preview)
7. There are endless number of distributions that you can try. For a sample, see Distro Watch.
8. With virtually every distribution, you can "test drive" it before installing it by downloading a "live" version onto a USB stick or a CD/DVD and running the OS on the USB stick / optical disk. For example, Linux Live USB Creator (or LiLi for short) allows you to create a live USB to try out over 100 distributions.

If you've never played with Linux before, I'd encourage you to download LiLi, create a live Linux USB and try out a couple of distributions for yourself.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'll put on my cynical hat: 2 huge reasons why people use computers are: 1) Games and 2) Pron -- not necessarily in that order.

I think Linux users can surf for Pron as easily as the next guy. But games are another matter. If Linux can keep up with drivers for cutting edge hardware, and if users can just grab gaming SW from Steam, throw it on the linux box and just play it -- that will destroy Microsoft. But we're not there yet.

[central_va]

) Games and 2) Pron

That "Pron" is deadly.

[9thLife]

Five Reasons to Use LINUX Obamacare:

1) It's Free!
2) It's easy to use! No, really! Just dump your insurance company and go on to our website -- sorta like just dumping Windows and booting up Ubuntu!
3) I'd continue, but I'm outta time. Just fill in the blanks!

[Chainmail]

“Pron”? Is this something new we haven’t heard of?

[9thLife]

There are 300 mm + users of Excel on the planet. The platform and application have revolutionized business.

It's only about debauchery and satisfying base motives for some people.

[CommieCutter]

I tried Ubuntu/Linux. (Not sure what the difference is.)

I successfully installed it, and tried to use it on an old Dell Laptop (Vostro 1000). Apparently Dell doesn’t do well with that OS, I couldn’t get the drivers to function correctly..

If I could find a hardware brand that is known to work well with Linux I might try it again.

[FreedomPoster]

Ability to run the Office suite is pretty important. While there are FOSS alternatives, they don’t have 100% compatibility, and that’s an issue for sure.

[rarestia]

Years ago there were some development houses putting out games on Linux. EVE Online comes to mind as one I tried. The problem isn’t so much the engine but the graphics drivers themselves. While nVidia, specifically, is getting better, most high-end graphics cards are not supported in Linux and porting the drivers is a hassle that most companies don’t want to tackle.

[markomalley]

Apparently Dell doesn’t do well with that OS, I couldn’t get the drivers to function correctly..

I've had that problem in the past but they've improved quite a bit over the years.

You might want to try the Peppermint distro. That works well with older machines. I was able to successfully resurrect a first-generation EEE PC as well as an ancient Sony Vaio by using that distribution.

I would suggest that you try playing with LiLi, a software that allows you to easily create "live USB" sticks where you can play with different Linux distributions until you find one that fully works and that you like.

[CommieCutter]

Thanks!

I might try that with an old Acer I have. I’ve since gotten rid of the Vostro.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

It’s versatile: I couldn’t begin to make a list to illustrate the ways that Linux is versatile

Customizing the UI is not "versatility".

Versatility is seamlessly running any application, program or device you need.

Linux has made great strides in the past five years but is in no way "versatile".

Unless the number of installations gets significant enough to attract attention from SW developers Linux will remain a small niche market and Windows/Apple and Android will continue to dominate.

[Stentor]

Posting this running Ubuntu 15.04 on a Dell Inspiron 5520. Everything ran at install. Install was fast. I don’t miss the psychosis that was Windows 8, 8.1, 10 preview. 10 preview is like we threw away the big smelly garbage that was 8 and we only left a few thousand annoying crumbs behind.

[markomalley]

Unless the number of installations gets significant enough to attract attention from SW developers Linux will remain a small niche market and Windows/Apple and Android will continue to dominate.

Don't know if you saw this from last November: Microsoft Open Sources .NET, Saying It Will Run on Linux and Mac. Or this: Microsoft “loves Linux” as it makes Azure bigger, better.

Here's the .net Github

There have been a lot of changes in the past couple of years...

[CommieCutter]

I actually don’t mind Windows 8. But I also don’t want to spend 600-800$ every time I need a new laptop. And using older units with a secure free OS would by a nice alternative.

[ShadowAce]

[ShadowAce]

9. You can update a running kernel without a reboot—as of kernel 4.0.

[RayChuang88]

Two things could hurt desktop Linux:

1. Hardware support is still not as good as Windows for the latest hardware.
2. Microsoft could offer very generous pricing for even new install copies of Windows 10 Home and Professional editions.

[Poser]

I use desktop Linux every day. It is pretty good, but I have to go to command line at least 10 times per year. As long as this is true, I suspect that Linux will not become mainstream. It also has to run Microsoft office pro without having to use some sort of Kluge to make it function. I would also like to see it run stand alone QuickBooks. I’m not really happy with the cloud version.

[Krosan]

I use Windows, but have LibreOffice and it does everything I need.