Why Use Linux?

More than a decade has passed since Linus Torvalds put his operating
system code on the Internet, and millions have been putting Linux to good use.
It’s been a while since Linux was viewed as a “toy operating system” used only by
geek computer hobbyists. Big corporations, colleges, governments, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and everyday users are all turning to Linux to boost productivity at a low cost. If you’re still thinking about whether to join them, here are a few good reasons:

• Linux puts you in control of your
  computing environment. Although much of the buzz around
  “free software” revolves around cost (and
  we’ll get to that argument in abound in the Linux
  space. If you’re not happy with the way one application
  works, there’s usually something else out there that
  can make you happy. Most applications are a lso endlessly
  customizable, so if there’s an annoying feature included
  as default, you can always turn it off or modify its
  functioning.


• Linux is inexpensive to install,
  run, and update. Unlike proprietary operatin systems, you can
  take the DVD from this book and install openSUSE on as
  man computers as you need to. Configure Linux individually for
  your file server routers, web servers, and desktops. All
  these systems will run crash-free with little maintenance required and
  (if you like) automated updates that don’t even need user
  intervention to install.


• Linux is ready for the desktop.
  Nearly everything you can do on a Windows machine can be done on
  openSUSE, from creating professional office documents and
  presentations to getting files on the Internet. It’s also not
  that hard to get used to after you’ve made the
  switch. When Grandma is running Linux, she’s less
  likely to see error messages and crashing programs, too.


• Linux is a rock-solid server
  performer. The operating system (OS) made its first impression as a
  fast, secure, stable, scalable, and robust server OS. The current
  kernel easily handles multiprocessor machines, gigabytes of
  system memory, and terabytes of data. Most enterprise-level
  applications have Linux versions. Although this bookdoes not cover the
  Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES), openSUSE serves as a
  proving ground for new enterprise applications to be included in OES.


• Linux thrives in a variety of environments.
  Linux drives many personal digital assistants, laptops, desktops, and
  specialized computers. You can put your ancient 486 processor to work
  as a router or file server with openSUSE. It also runs on AMD 64-bit
  Opteron processors, and did so for a year before 64-bit Windows XP was
  released.


• Linux offers a royalty-free development
  platform for several operating systems. Because of the
  open-source development model and the high-quality, free tools
  available to developers, anyone from 13-year-old budding programmers to
  massive development shops can produce quality software relatively
  inexpensively.


• Linux now offers big player support. Although
  the Linux community is still the best place to go for support when
  things go wrong, the presence of IBM, Novell, and other big companies
  in the support space can make even the most uneasy bean counter relax a
  little.

These are just a few good reasons to use linux. I was a previous windows user, until I learned how easy linux is to use, and how much help there is out there if you need it. Windows users, don't be afraid to make the switch to linux. You could do like I did, and start with a dual boot system that had Linux and windows on it. That way, if you want to use windows, you just boot to windows. If you want to use Linux, you boot to linux. I will be posting a tutorial regarding dual boot windows/linux systems on this blog very soon. Bookmark this blog and check back frequently.

By the way, openSUSE Linux and Ubuntu Linux are excellent for beginner users all the way up to advanced users. They are both good distros to start with if you are new to Linux.

-jtrag