Why I Use Linux

I am not a programmer. I am not a developer. I couldn't tell you the first thing about writing code. To me C++ is almost a B on a report card and Python is something you don't want wrapped around you. But I love Linux. Some people think I'm some kind of computer guru when I tell them that I use Linux, or they look at me sideways and ask me what exactly I'm talking about because they've never even heard of Linux. So I thought I would write a little piece to explain why I use it and what I love about it, as well as how easy it is to use for those with any sense of computer adventure at all. I'll also run through some of the downsides (everything has downsides, come on).

Let me start by explaining what it is that keeps me away from Windows or Mac systems whenever possible. I can sum up a lot of my disdain for these two in one word: proprietary. Both of these systems are hell-bent on forcing you to use their (usually costly) proprietary software systems, from media to office suites and everything in between. I don't blame them for doing so. After all, they are not non-profit organizations, so the more things they can sell the better. More power to them, I am a big believer in free-markets and capitalism. But there are better alternatives out there for most types of software, and they are usually free. Let me just address a couple specific cases that grate my nerves more than most.

iTunes
I detest iTunes. Absolutely hate it. Yes, I know, I am an outcast, a know-nothing loser. How could I hate the most beloved digital music system known to man? It is the epitome of proprietary. Unless you are fairly savvy, you fall into the endless black i-hole of downloading your music through iTunes (in M4a format), loading it on your ipod or iphone, and carrying it with you to play through your i-car's system, hook it up to your friend's i-stereo, or use it however and wherever your i-life takes you. But if I hear a song I like on it, I can't transfer it to my Zune or Sansa or Blackberry because it's a protected and proprietary file. So, so frustrating. Yes, there ways of getting past this, but these are hurdles even I don't like to jump. Another point in case: I work in the cellular industry. Most phones play digital music now, but I cannot count how many times a month I get people who have bought a new phone asking why they can't play their itunes songs on their phone. If you buy your music almost anywhere else, you can play it on whatever you like and share it with whoever you want. And don't lecture me about sharing music, either. I know all the arguments about DRM etc, but they are all crap in my view. So there.

Microsoft Office
Another issue that really gets under my skin is Microsoft office. Please, for the love of God, please tell me why, why, why anyone would pay a couple hundred dollars or more to get an office suite that can be had for free in the form of OpenOffice? Not only does it do everything that Microsoft office does and more, but it is also completely compatible with it, and allows you to save your docs, sheets, etc in .doc or .xls formats, even in the version you want (excel 2003, word 95, etc.), so that your idiot friends who refuse to see the light never have to know the difference when you send them a file. My daughter was required to take a course at her University in Microsoft Office 2003. What? That's right, not in office software, but specifically Office 2003, and was required to purchase the software for the course. This, my friends, is what they call a racket. I don't blame Mr. Gates. He and his crew are marketing geniuses, and I blame the University for this insanity, but it still gives me a bad taste in my mouth for Microsoft. Onward.

Opensource
Now you can use OpenOffice and any number of alternative media players/downloaders in both Windows and Mac OS's, so how does that bring me to Linux? I'll get there shortly, but first let me exhort the praises of opensource software. Opensource, in a nutshell, means that the software is (usually) developed by and updated by a group of computer geniuses who just want to come up with a good piece of software and share it with everyone. Then if some other computer genius gets it and says "Hey, I could make this better by...", they are free to do so and distribute it again. What a great system. There is opensource software out there for anything you need, and many times the programs are better than what you could buy at your local Best Buy or through, say, Norton's website. You just have to go look for it and download it. For instance, anybody out there use Adobe Reader for your PDFs? Try Foxit. Sure, Adobe Reader is free, too, but it's a huge bloated piece of software compared to Foxit, which does the same and more, and faster. There are hundreds of examples like this, and I will probably write a post with some links for you to other stuff, but for now you get my point.

Finally, the Point
Okay, so I've given you a brief backdrop to some of the many issues I have with Windows and Mac, now let me get on to the point of this article: Why I love Linux. Now I am not some Linux guru, as I have already stated. I have not tried all or even many of the myriad of linux distributions out there, and there are lots. I use Kubuntu linux, and I used to use Ubuntu. These are two variations of the same theme. These OS's are free to download from here, and they fit on a cd which is bootable. This means that you can download it and try it out before you install it just to see if you like it or not. One thing you'll notice after you run or install it is that there is a part of the menu called Add/Remove Programs. This is a little different than the Windows control panel item of the same name. It has a very long list of programs to install for whatever you need to do, and the list can be expanded by adding more repositories (I'm not going to get into any technical or how-to issues here). Suffice it to say that it's pretty darn easy to find what you want and install it, whether it's a photo-editing program, a scientific calculator, a virtual planetarium, or a video game, they're all there and much, much more. Just click to download and start using. Easy! ...for the most part. As I said, I'm no computer whiz. However, I do appreciate a challenge and I'm not a complete dummy when it comes to them. I will let you know on the front end that there are challenges with Linux that you may not run across with the others. It may take an extra step before you can initially play your mp3's or videos. You may have an issue with your printer that takes a bit to figure out. There are programs you can't run on it, like itunes (a plus for me), or the desktop manager for my Blackberry (arrrgghh), without having to jump through some hoops. It is not a perfect system by any stretch of the imagination, but to me the challenges are well worth the results.

The two main advantages for me are cost efficiency and not needing to run and update virus protection . The OS is free, upgrades are free, new versions of the OS are free, the software you use is free, etc. And... you have a slim to none chance of getting a virus or spyware. It just doesn't happen. Partially because of the way the OS operates, and partially because nobody writes viruses to attack Linux computers. So no more paying for Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, or having them as one more program to keep running and taking up your RAM. But if you did get something, or if something got screwed up and your computer stopped working right, or at all, then what? Well, if this happened with your Windows or Mac system, you're paying Best Buy, Apple, or some local outfit a considerable wad to get it fixed and running again. Assuming it's not a hardware issue (hard drive goes bad, etc), in which case your screwed no matter what you're using, you will be up and running again in no time and with no cost if you're using Linux. Just pop in the cd you used to install it originally and start over. Download your programs again and voila! Just like new. BTW, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to install a linux system (this includes reinstalling all the extra programs you had), with just a few questions you have to answer (time zone, etc) vs. hours of painful waiting and clicking to install Windows (if you even have the disk to reinstall it yourself). I upgrade my system twice a year, usually (when they come out with new versions). I just back up all my files on an external hard drive or on DVDs regularly(which you should be doing as well), and copy them back onto my computer after upgrading.

The bottom line is this: if you're savvy enough to find your way around a computer, try out linux. It's free and it's fun. If you're still using Internet Explorer instead of Firefox, baby steps.