Thread: Why Linux?

I know I'll probably start a flame war here, but I just wanted to ask anyways.

I'm a newbie when it comes to Linux, and am currently in the process on installing RH 8 on a computer, but I want to know:

What advantages, besides not being a pawn to MS, does Linux have over Windows?

I would have to say that the biggest advantage is the flexibility of Linux. You can have a full 2.5 gig Linux install with all the bells and whistles: 4 or 5 different desktop environments, GUI eye-candy, free web and ftp serving programs, etc, or you can slim it right down to just a command line running a router.

If you have a computer that you know is going to be dedicated for one purpose, you can completely customize all of the software installed on that system for that purpose. I remember two guys did a custom install of a Linux distro that allowed the computer to route packets and serve files via apache that was a whopping 13 MB install for the OS.

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

Flexibility is a big win. So is the security model. Cost is an advantage, particularly for servers.

No offence, but I would strongly suggest not putting RH8 on, but use a current distro such as RH9, Mandrake 9.1 or SuSE 8.2. There's a surprisingly large usability different between them.

There are many advantages, but the one that does it for me is control. 0=God, or to put it another way:
Root. God. What's the difference?
I work on W2K Advanced Servers, Solaris servers, Linux servers and Netware servers. I hate when some service in windows crashes and I am not allowed to kill it (RPC server anyone?).


For home use it is more fun if you think computers are fun. You can learn a lot about computers just by playing around in Linux unlike windows (which will take away your powers and opportunities to explore).
I remember that someone around here had a sig that read:
"Why Linux? It's the best OS. Why Windows? It's the best Nintendo" and to me that pretty much sums it up (although you can exchange Linux with any *nix in that one).

The most important thing is that it should be fun!!! Though, it might take a few tries before you 'get it' you will soon love the opportunities offered by a real OS.

Linux is like a book with all you can open and read anywhere. Windows is like the last chapter where the story ends. A window user doesn't have to know how things work that is done for you by Microsoft. They also want to think for you and charge you money for it.

I think on this thusly, Linux gives me the power to control my system in any way I choose. I want two soundcards for 10.2 speaker pwnage, sure! Three video cards for surround-view Quake, no problem. Making a supercomputer in your basement using a stack of old P4's you rescued from the local landfill so you can see your name on top of some protein folding chart, crunch away my friend! Your own DVR without paying licensing fees to TiVO, step right on up! That is the key, Linux is yours! The computer is yours! The power and responsibility is in your hands, no one else’s.