50 Reasons Why I Love Linux

I love Linux so much I made a list of 50 reasons why I love it so.

1. I can extract something with one command without opening a separate program.

2. I can print a document without opening it.

3. I can update all applications with two magical words, apt-get upgrade.

4. Its free

5. Its free as in beer.

6. Its more secure than Windows

7. I can run on pretty much any hardware.

8. It is highly scalable… I can install it on a 486 or a dual core.

9. Help is readily available and free of charge.

10. Well documented

11. No need for some obscure knowledge base

12. A standard help system that is actually useful (man)

13. Powerful CLI

14. Many of the best programs are available for Linux for free. ie. Apache, MySQL, ProFTPd, SSH, OpenVPN. You would have to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for Windows programs that accomplish the same thing. On top of that you will have to pay for support

15. No need to call a tech support center in India to activate your fully legal OS.

16. Linux can be configured to run without a GUI for max performance. This is especially useful for servers. Other operating systems don’t have this luxury.

17. It doesn’t ask me if I am sure I want to delete something….twice

18. Many of the programs are configured with a simple config file. This makes editing much easier than navigating through pages and pages of tabs and radio check boxes. You can even structure your config file with your own comments to make editing easier for you. Change something often? Put it near the top. If you switch something on and off often and it is buried behind 9 gui screens it might take you 10 5 times longer to switch it.

19. Linux will actually give you a reason why something had an error.

20. Linux wont tell me that my automatic updates are turned off every single minute of every day.

21. When I update Linux it won’t turn on a firewall automatically without my permission (Windows XP SP3 does this) and turn on services I had previously set to disabled.

22. Linux pretty much forces you to be a “non-administrative” user.

23. You can unmount something really fast with one command. Instead of double clicking on a silly icon navigating through all the USB devices plugged in select the right one only to find out that the device you are trying to unmount cannot be unmounted at this time.

24. Depending on the distro it is a lot easier to install than Windows.

25. Linux detects and installs more drivers for my hardware than Windows.

26. Linux comes with drivers for my onboard Sata where Windows XP does not.

27. Linux comes out with a new kernel constantly. Windows comes out with one once every couple years.

28. With Linux we can compile our own kernel so we don’t have to a wear a one size fits all hat.

29. You can choose which type of desktop environment you want.

30. You don’t have to worry about spyware, viruses, or worms. Even if they were prevalent they couldn’t be installed unless you did it yourself.

31. When you “end a task” in Linux it actually works.

32. You can check your CPU’s temperature without installing any software.

33. The command line auto complete feature works the way you expect it to.

34. To list the contents of a directory I only have to use two keys instead of three (ls vs. dir).

35. Linux’s CLI actually ads value to the OS.

36. I can build a computer myself and still get a good price on the retail version of Linux (free).

37. I can control my computer remotely with SSH. Windows comes with remote desktop which was not encrypted last time i checked. It also was slow and supports only a few connected users unless you pay Microsoft more money for a terminal server.

38. Linux tends not to hide details

39. I can see the OS uptime without installing some Microsoft power user program.

40. Linux comes with a program that will eject my CD-Rom. This comes in handy when making automated CD backups and other scripts.

41. Linux passwords cannot be cracked in seconds like Windows.

42. I can print an entire directory of pdfs with ‘lpr *.pdf‘. In Windows you would have to open each with Foxit Reader or the bloated Adobe Acrobat.

43. You can have really cool desktop effects that rival even OSX effects.

44. You can choose a filesystem that better fits your needs. With Windows you have two options old out of date crappy NTFS or even more out dated FAT32.

45. If you loose your Linux CD or don’t feel like downloading one you can get one mailed for free (ubuntu).

46. It supports more than 3/4gb of ram without updates and hacks.

47. You can get all applications you need without opening your browser or getting out your wallet and many times they are better than commercial solutions.

48. It doesn’t crash… ever… Its so reliable companies have used it as dedicated router firmware.

49. You don’t have to pay more money for multiple connected users.

50. When there is a security exploit I can expect a patch the next day not the second Tuesday of every month.

Source : 

http://www.marksanborn.net/linux/50-reasons-why-i-love-linux/

If Linux was the most used system in the world…

(This article is a translation and adaptation of one text that was written in portuguese language that I found here.)

I understand problems passing from Windows to Linux which was declared by one individual. I felt I should experiment Windows too, since all of my friends are telling me all the time how great it is.

I went to the Microsoft site to download it, but it was not available. I was frustrated because I spent quite a time uselessly trying to find a download link, so I decided to ask my friend and he told me where I can buy it.

I took my car and drove myself to the mall, where I found a shop that sells software. I asked the seller for a windows OS and he asked me which version I want.
- “I want the most complete distribution”, I said proudly. 
- “599 euros please, pass to the cashier”, he said, putting the box into the bag.
I swore and left the shop swiftly.

One of my friends gave me a copy of Windows XP, but told me not to tell anyone. I thought it was a bit odd, because I copy my Linux distro all the time to give it to my friends. Whatever…
I took the CD, inserted it into my CD drive and restarted system and waited for the Live CD boot. That didn’t worked. Only thing CD asked me was to install it. I called my friend over the telephone and he told me that Windows XP cannot be booted from CD,

OK, I have decided that I will install it. I followed instructions from the screen, but I got nervous since it never asked about other operating systems installed. I know whichever Linux I install, it always asks about creating new partition or other related questions. I returned my call to the friend and he told me that Windows XP eliminates all and any operating systems that is already installed.
Well, OK, I restarted my Linux and backed-up all data before I returned to install my Windows copy.

Installation was quite simple, save the part when it asked me about serial number where I needed to type bunch of letters and numbers. My friend was now pissed off that I call him all the time and he came to my home, and typed his number inside.
He repeated that I should not say anything about this to any living soul. He went, and I restarted computer to give it a first run.

I was shocked when it let me change system configurations without asking for root access. My friend now swore when he heard my voice again over the phone. He told me that root access was given at initialization. I found how to create another user with no root access and I logged in. Then I realized that if I want to change something, instead of asking me for root password, I needed to log-off and log-in as administrator (which is name here for root). With this, I realized that there are so many people who log as administrator and I started to feel creeps.

OK, time to work. I went to Start -> Programs, to open a spreadsheet application, but I couldn’t find any. My friend told me that Windows does not have any of those applications by default and that I must download from internet.
“Oh”, I thought,” this is basic distribution of Windows”. I went to “Add/Remove programs” in control panel, just like in Linux, but there were no programs to add. It just let me remove programs. I couldn’t find a button or menu item that me allow to install applications. This is odd!
I phoned my friend again, and he told me that I need to find by myself applications that I want to install, so after Googling, I found OpenOffice.org application to download and install. Now I could finish my work with a spreadsheet.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t have fun at all. I don’t understand this technology well. Why there is drive A, and then drive C, where is drive B? This was certainly some basic distribution. It didn’t include any applications to boost my productivity and I had to waste my time to look for them. My friend told me that I need antivirus application as that does not come with distribution either.

I do not understand what computer virus is. How can dead object get an infection?!

I found using this windows distribution very difficult. It might possibly be good for some people that understand computers, but for me, no thanks. I am going back to my Linux.

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