Copyright (c) 2002 Toby A Inkster.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
This essay is geared towards desktop computer users rather than server administrators.
1. Introduction
What's your favourite flavour of ice cream? Mine would be a rich dark chocolate fudge. Yum. Some people prefer raspberry ripple. Others like mint choc chip. There are even a few who prefer pistachio, although I can't stand that flavour!
Operating systems are like ice cream. Sure, they're not as cold. They don't melt. They don't get your hands sticky. But one operating system can't please everyone, so it's a good idea to try a few before you settle on one. Of course, you don't have to settle on just one — like a virtual neopolitan, it's possible to install more than one operating system into a cone... errr... computer.
Here are some reasons you might want to try getting your tongue around that rich dark chocolate fudge we call Linux.
2. Linux -vs- Windows 95/98/ME
These versions of Windows are all roughly the same. The differences are mainly cosmetic. Here are some advantages Linux has over these versions of Windows.
2.1. Linux is Cheap
Linux can be downloaded off the Internet at no cost. Alternatively it can be bought pre-packaged from a lot of shops or by mail order. Generally when you download Linux you shouldn't expect any technical support from the company. If you buy a pre-packaged version then you can expect a comprehensive instruction manual and good telephone and e-mail support.
Most software for Linux is available in a similar fashion. There are good Linux office suites, browsers, e-mail clients, multimedia players, instant messengers and so on available on the Internet for free download.
Of course, most people get Windows included with their computer, so Windows seems free too.
2.2. Linux is Fast and Stable
Linux uses your processor, memory and hard disk more efficiently than Windows. This means that your computer will probably run faster with Linux. Certainly, it won't run more slowly!
Because Linux is based on UNIX it is very modular — it is composed of independent components that you can add and remove as you please. This means that you can disable features that you never use, freeing up the memory and disk space that they'd normally use. Try doing that with Internet Explorer in Windows!
Linux is also relatively bug-free. Sure, there are a few minor glitches in there, but they are usually very difficult to trigger. This means that a typical Linux system can run for more than 6 months without being restarted.
2.3. Linux is Secure
All operating systems have the occasional bug that can make it easier for crackers to break into your system, but Linux tends to have far less than Windows. When they are found, they are generally fixed within a day or so and the update can be downloaded for free.
There are also very few viruses for Linux. Even if you did get a virus, there is a limit to how much damage it can do. This is because Linux is a multi-user system. A typical user doesn't have permission to make important system changes, so when a virus is run by a normal user it can't do that much damage (of course, it could still delete all that users files, so it's still important to backup your data regularly).
This same system makes it impossible for another user of the machine to read your files unless you give them permission — so your system is not only safe from the crackers out there on the Internet, but also from other people who use your computer.
2.4. Linux is Open
The entire source code for the operating system is available to be downloaded off the Internet and used. While non-programmers can't really do much with the source code themselves it does give them several advantages.
With Windows, if you want a feature added you have to ask Microsoft. Unless you're a large corporation that buys thousands of copies of Windows, they'll probably ignore you — it won't be to their advantage to add the feature. With Linux, because you have the source code, you can pay any good programmer to add the extra features you want.
If Microsoft went bankrupt tomorrow, there might never be another version of Windows again. On the other hand, if a Linux company went bankrupt, people would still be able to continue improving the software because they have the source code.
No price hikes! :-)
2.5. Linux Isn't Made By Microsoft
Microsoft have used some pretty ruthless business tactics to muscle their way to the top of the software food chain. If you would prefer not to support these business methods, then Linux is a way to avoid giving them money.
Now, here are some disadvantages of using Linux, but also some reasons why they might not be very big disadvantages at all.
2.6. There Isn't Much Software For Linux
There are a lot more software packages for Windows than for Linux. There is no Microsoft Office for Linux (although with the help of a product called "Crossover Office" it is possibe to get the Windows version of Office to work in Linux!). There is no Adobe Photoshop for Linux.
However, for most areas of computing there are high-quality alternatives to these applications. I mention some of them here, but bear in mind that there are about 8 different competing office suites for Linux, a handful of graphics applications, a plethora of browser and email clients and lots more software too!
Instead of Microsoft Office, we have OpenOffice.org. Openoffice.org is a complete free office suite (including a word processor, spread sheet, graphics application and presentation application) which can read and write documents in Microsoft Office file formats. It is easy to use and full of features. If you'd like to try it, there is also a Windows version available.
Instead of Adobe Photoshop, we have The GIMP. There are a few features in Photoshop that the GIMP is missing, but there are a few good features in the GIMP that Photoshop doesn't have! All in all, the GIMP probably comes out at 90% of the quality of Photoshop (although at 0% of the price!) but is easily better than most other Windows graphics applications.
Instead of Internet Explorer, we have Mozilla. Mozilla is a great free browser with built-in chat, mail and news. It also has a lot of features that Internet Explorer lacks — a password manager, a cookie manager and the ability to block those annoying pop-up windows.
Instead of Outlook Express, we have Ximian Evolution. Evolution is a free e-mail client, designed with an interface familiar to Outlook users. It also includes a lot of intersting new features.
Instead of Forte Agent, we have PAN. PAN is a Usenet news client, for reading and posting messages to news groups. Its interface should be familiar to users of Agent. There are some features it lacks (notably, posting binaries) but many great extras to make up for it (it's great for downloading binaries, for example).
Instead of RealPlayer, we have RealPlayer. Yes, Real Inc makes a version of their omnipresent media player for Linux. Macromedia make a version of Flash for Linux. Opera make a version of their browser for Linux — so do Netscape. AOL make AIM for Linux and Yahoo make a copy of their instant messaging software available for Linux too. There's even a version of WinAmp available for Linux, although I prefer XMMS to play sound files.
There aren't many games for Linux. We have Linux versions of Quake and a few others familiar to the Windows world. Transgaming also makes it possible to play a lot of Windows games on Linux. Also, there are a bunch of games written especially for Linux. If you're a serious gamer though, you'd be better off buying a games colsole like Sony's Playstation 2.
2.7. Your Hardware Might Not Be Supported
Linux supports a lot of computer hardware, including some that Windows doesn't — for example PowerPC, SPARC and MIPS processors; and USB 2.
But a lot of hardware doesn't work with Linux. This is mainly the fault of the hardware manufacturers — they tend to only make Windows drivers, leaving Linux users to write the drivers themselves! It is wise to not buy from these hardware manufacturers.
Some common hardware that Linux might have a problem with includes ADSL modems (Acatel Speedtouch modems are supported though, so are ADSL routers), internal WinModems (Lucent Technologies' modems tend to be supported, but might need a bit of tinkering to get going) and WinPrinters. Unfortunately, WinModems and WinPrinters often aren't labelled as such by the manufacturer.
2.8. Linux is Hard to Use
Linux is probably still a little bit harder to use than Windows, but the gap is closing little by little every day. Linux today is considerably easier to use than it was five years ago. On the other hand, Windows' interface has hardly changed at all. So Linux is catching up!
This complexity is usally because of how customisable Linux is — there are so many different options and configurations. Overall though, the benefits from customisation generally outweigh the complexity issues.
After a few days of regular Linux use, you should be able to handle all the common stuff — web browsing, sending e-mail, word processing, etc — just like you were doing in Windows. Some of the more complex system administration tasks — installing software, changing network settings, etc — take a little longer.
However, just because something takes a long time to learn, doesn't make it a Bad Thing. When did you first start to learn to write? Probably when you were about 4. But you probalby had childish handwriting and bad spelling until you were about 14. It took you 10 years to learn to write with a pen! Learning Linux will take you a lot less time.
2.9. But Everybody Else Uses Windows
Didn't your mother ever ask you what you'd do if everyone else jumped off a cliff? You probably claimed that you'd jump off too, right? Didn't you? Didn't you? [Ed: stop badgering the witness].
My point is that just because everyone else runs Windows, that doesn't mean that Windows is better for you. MacDonald's is the biggest chain of restaurants in the world. Is it the best?
2.10. Summary
To summarize, Linux is cheaper and faster than Windows as well as being more open, secure and stable. On the other hand, you might have some hardware that Linux is unable to support or you might need some software that doesn't have a Linux alternative. Linux is a lot more customisable than Windows, but that advantage comes at the price of ease of use.
It is a good choice if you like to tinker with computers, if you like to be different, if you're a cheapskate, if you hate Microsoft or if you need raw unbridled computing power! It's probably a bad idea if you're not very familiar with computers, own unsupported hardware or if you're Bill Gates. :-)
3. Linux -vs- Windows NT/2000
Windows NT is Microsoft's "professional" version of Windows — in other words an operating system they think is actually fit to sell to important customers. Windows 2000 is the media-friendly name for Windows NT 5.
It is somewhat more stable and secure than Windows 9x, so maybe my remarks about stability and security don't apply as much to these versions of Windows, but the others certainly still hold.
4. Linux -vs- Windows XP
With Windows XP, Microsoft has finally merged its two flavours of Windows (the NT and 9x varieties) into just one product. This gives home users a lot of the advantages of the professional version of Windows — for example multi-user capabilities and a somewhat more stable operating system.
However, despite the improvements Windows XP still doesn't quite match Linux' legendary stability. Nor is it anywhere near as efficient — it is possible to use Linux on an Intel 386 computer with 8MB of RAM, running off a floppy disk. Windows XP on the other hand needs a Pentium II processor and at least 128MB of RAM are recommended (running it off a floppy disk is of course an impossibility!)
Linux still has the advantage of being free (in both ways) whereas Windows XP is an expensive proprietry product.
The merging of two product lines creates additional problems too. If you're running a business, it is unlikely that your computers need a built-in media player and instant messenger, but Windows XP has both of these and you can't uninstall them.
5. Linux -vs- Classic Mac
Apple have stopped making Classic Mac, switching to OS X instead. Newer programs coming out will no longer work in Classic Mac, so realistically you're probably going to have to make a switch soon.
Instead of switching to OS X without question, consider switching to Linux instead. Either way you are going to be learning to use a new UNIX based operating system.
Linux can run on PowerPC-based computers or older Apples with the Motarola chip. Linux and Mac OS (Classic or X) can even co-exist peacefully on the same Apple computer.
6. Linux -vs- Mac OS X
I'm really not sure of a good reason to convince you to switch. OS X is a very good operating system (It's about time! Mac OS had been festering recently.) Early versions had a few issues, but since 10.1 the operating system has been very stable and very polished. OS X can even run most Linux programs (after a recompile). There are really only two reasons to consider the switch.
6.1. Openness
Linux is open. This is very nice if you like to tinker with your system. I explain this more in the Linux vs Windows 9x section.
6.2. Hardware Platform
Linux allows you to ditch proprietry hardware. Apple make some very nice hardware, but it's very expensively priced. If you switch to Linux, then you can use the same software both on your current PowerPC and Motarola based computers and cheap Intel based ones that you can buy in the future.