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