| Most people purchase computers to run programs - | | | | - The vast majority of computer users are computer |
| whether it is to send email, browse the web, meet | | | | neophytes and beginners. |
| friends of girlfriends on msn messenger, do office | | | | These computer users purchase computers with the |
| work or just play solitaire. | | | | operations system Microsoft Windows or the |
| People buy computers to use programs for their | | | | Macintosh Operating System installed on their new |
| functionality not to run operating systems be in | | | | computers. These people could not install the |
| Microsoft Windows, the new Microsoft Vista product | | | | Windows Operating system and the device drivers |
| , the Mac Operations Systems or the various Linux | | | | necessary if their life depended on it. How the |
| Operating Systems - be they Ubuntu Linux , Mandiva | | | | situation of a Linux is based computer any different. |
| , Knoppix or Debian. | | | | It is only a matter of time until new computers come |
| At the heart of most computer users is functionality | | | | preinstalled with the Linux operating system. Imagine |
| and usability. It is as simple as that. It is an interesting | | | | if Henry Ford had been told not to build new cars |
| situation that the Microsoft Corporation controls the | | | | since there were few good roads available in |
| vast lion's share of the computer operating system | | | | America. |
| market. Indeed it even has a major share holding of | | | | 4) My Computer Hardware Just Works Under |
| the next player in line - Apple with the Macintosh OS | | | | Windows |
| (Operating System). | | | | 5) Again untrue in many cases and soon to be less of |
| What are the issues? | | | | an issue as more and more computers will come |
| 1) Linux is not really free. Linux, in its various flavors | | | | preinstalled with a Linux operating system. Already |
| or distros, is given free of charge, whether it is on a | | | | Dell Computer (which was a Microsoft stalwart) is |
| cd, DVD or downloaded. You can install the program | | | | selling Linux based laptops. Interestingly the response |
| on your own compute or various computers , at no | | | | to the Ubuntu Linux dell notebooks is quite positive, |
| charge to yourself whatsoever | | | | If you think Linux hardware compatibility is an issue |
| This is in direct contrast to a commercial product | | | | try upgrading to the new Microsoft Vista from your |
| such as Microsoft Windows or the new Microsoft | | | | previous Microsoft Windows product. You will find to |
| Vista which you to purchase a boxed version or a | | | | your surprise that few if little of computer hardware |
| valid license which comes with most computer | | | | are supported. You may have upgraded to the new |
| systems purchased. This license which comes on | | | | Vista and found you have either no sound, good |
| most new computers as a matter of course could be | | | | video or even internet connections via your network |
| referred to as the "Microsoft Computer Tax" and is | | | | adapter device or wireless network adapter. And try |
| not an option you can forego, to reduce the | | | | undoing your upgrade to get back to your working |
| purchase of your new compute - whether or not | | | | windows version - it cannot be done. |
| you wish to use another operating system such as | | | | Lastly you may say I run Windows since all of the |
| Linux. | | | | programs I use are available only on the Windows |
| Linux is given free of charge to install. This is not a | | | | operations system - since that is the dominant player |
| shareware or time limited version of the product | | | | in the market. You may well surmise that since |
| which requires a registration fee after a period of | | | | Windows is the more than dominant player in the |
| time. | | | | computer OS market that software developers write |
| If you require product support or training commercial | | | | their product almost exclusively for the windows |
| organizations do exist which will charge you for | | | | operations system and that market. |
| support of that product or for training or both. | | | | This is true. If you are using a specialized product for |
| Indeed it can be said that Microsoft itself charges for | | | | your job, industry, situation or preference you may |
| product support, Symantec the antivirus / security | | | | well be locked in. |
| organization charges for basic support by product, | | | | In the end most people buy and use computers for |
| subscription fees - sometimes automatic subscription | | | | functionality and use. Most people use their |
| fees and 900 phone number and charge card "Priority | | | | computers for internet browsing , communication - |
| Support". | | | | whether it by email or messenger services (M.S.N. , |
| Indeed you would not expect your local school or | | | | Yahoo , Skype , Eyeball Chat) , downloading and |
| technical college to provide computer and compute | | | | burning music and in more than many cases for |
| software training free of charge. | | | | playing nothing more than computer games such as |
| 2) Linux is complex and will force you to learn the | | | | simple solitaire. |
| Linux command line, | | | | In these cases the functionality of Linux and its |
| Not true simple as that. The various Linux distros all | | | | program base easily allows for this. Indeed many of |
| have GUI (Graphic User Interfaces) just like Microsoft | | | | the cutting edge programs and computer services |
| Windows, Windows used to come as command line | | | | come out of left field by computer software |
| DOS. Windows users use pull down windows to | | | | developers and enthusiasts whose preference of |
| operate the software. So can and do most Linux | | | | Computer Operating System is guess what - Linux in |
| users | | | | its various forms. |
| 3) Compared to Windows , Installing Linux is Difficult | | | | |