I've been 'in' computers for quite a while. I've tried a number of different operating systems on PCs. My favorite OS in the mid 90's was IBM's OS/2 Warp. But ever since I tried an open source OS properly called GNU/Linux in '95, I was hooked. It has many advantages over certain proprietary systems (ex. Microsoft Windows). The code is open, it was built from day one as a multi-tasking, multi-threaded, multi-user networked system. It is free from most of the virus issues that plague Windows. It is infinitely customizable. It supports and interacts well with a huge number of hardware and software platforms (including Windows). And it is available at no cost. But before I go any further, Are there any folks here at cre8Buzz interested in alternative operating systems? If anyone has questions about switching to Linux, or just trying it out (there are Live CDs available, so you can keep Windows while you try Linux), I'd be happy to answer questions.

Peace.

I have tried Linux on and off since '95, starting back then with Slackware 3.0 and more recently RedHat and Ubuntu . As I only support Windows at work, I keep going back to Windows in the end.

I have to say that I was impressed with the ease of installation and hardware support these days, just like installing a Windows OS.

Ian

Slackware was my first, too. It was the Linux distro in those days. I think the installation is even easier than Windows now. There are two areas that are always an obstacle for less experienced users: partitioning and drivers. These areas are difficult not because of any inherent flaw in Linux, but because of the Microsoft stranglehold on the desktop.

If you are installing Linux on a box of it's own, partitioning isn't any different than a Windows installation: it happens without user intervention. It's only because many users are installing on a Windows box and wish to dual-boot, that the Linux installer has to shrink the existing NTFS or VFAT partition and create other partitions for itself. This is usually done flawlessly, <b>provided the user has some idea of what is going on</b>. I would suggest that anyone who thinks this is a defect of Linux try to install Windows in a dual-boot config on a PC where Linux is already installed and see how well Microsoft handles that. ;-)

The second issue, driver availability, is due to the lack of response of hardware manufactures to demands from the Linux community for support. Let's face it, it takes time and money to develop drivers and most companies can't justify investing in a driver for less than two percent of the desktop market, especially if they will be pressured to release the code as open source. As Linux desktop usage grows, this will change. Indeed, it has already begun. Check out the rivalry between nVidia and ATI for producing the best driver support for Linux users (especially the hardcore gaming crowd).

Unfortunately, businesses are notoriously slow to adopt "new" technology, even when it will save them time, money and the hassle of the Microsoft malware machine. So, those of us who support Windows users must use Windows as well. That is why I no longer support Microsoft products. I will offer help in migrating to a superior platform, be it GNU/Linux, BSD, Mac OS/X, or Solaris. But I will no longer waste my time and effort supporting a system of the clueless, by the clueless, and for the clueless. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;-)