Open Source Society

These days there is a lot of talk about how disappointing the latest incarnation of Microsoft’s operating system has been. There are all sorts of complaints and gripes, which have been hashed out enough that I don’t need to repeat them here. A lot of people are complaining that this is going to drive people to using Macs in droves. So far I haven’t seen this to be the case. Most people are simply choosing to stick with XP, or downgrade back to it. There have been a few losses to Mac, but I hardly think it’s enough to call a mass exodus. For right now people seem happy to stay with XP for the time being.

That won’t be true forever, however. Eventually users are going to go looking for an operating system that can take advantage of advances in hardware and that has a slicker looking interface. For some people this is going to be Mac OS, but those people are in for quite a bit of culture shock. Coming from a Windows environment, Mac OS is very different, and be extremely difficult to adjust to. So should they wait for Microsoft to come out with its next OS in five to ten years? No!

Linux has a nasty reputation as being unfriendly to new users. This was very true until recently. Over the past two years Linux has gone a long way towards becoming even easier to use than Windows or Mac OS. To make things better, Linux desktops like KDE can be configured to behave exactly like your previous OS right down to the number of mouse buttons to recognize. Beyond that Linux offers far more options to customize and modify the look, feel, and behavior of your whole system to your exact demands.

The hardest part about a new operating system is the installation, and figuring out where things are.  Some distributions make this easier than others.  By far the easiest distributions for those unfamiliar with Linux are (K)Ubuntu and OpenSuse.  The Buntu distributions are geared towards new Linux users, and OpenSuse is focused on being a good all-around desktop OS.  Both distributions have a relatively painless install process and dirt simple configuration.

But is Linux the right choice for you?  If you use your computer purely for playing games, the answer is probably not.  There are quite a few games for Linux, and ports of some popular games, but Windows pretty much has the game market cornered.  However, if you are a software developer, a web designer, a writer, a music or movie lover, a massive emailer or web surfer, a digital shutterbug, if you use a computer in your office, or if you use a computer at all, Linux is perfect for you.

Look, you’re really got nothing to lose.  If you’re still using XP download and try a Live CD without touching your existing data.  Vista users thinking of going back to XP should give Linux a try first.  Linux has better security and a much better-looking interface than Vista, without the annoying access control prompts every five minutes and impossible to navigate configuration.  Once you take an hour or so to get used to the new way of doing things, I think you’ll find that Linux removes a lot of the headaches Windows users suffer from, if for no other reason than the fact that all the software you need to do just about anything you can imagine with your computer is built into Linux and completely free.  If you get stuck or have questions, there is a huge community of other users who are more than willing to answer questions and lend a helping hand.

If you want to try Linux, but you have some questions before you make the switch, send me an email.  I am more than happy to personally answer any questions about Linux or any other open-source software, and eventually I’ll put together a Linux Newbie FAQ. What are you waiting for?  Start enjoying your computer!