So, Why Linux?
It has almost been a year since I replaced my main operating system (Windows, like most guys) with Linux. And I have to tell you, the only regret I have is why didn't I give Linux a chance right away. A few years ago, a friend invited me to check out and install Ubuntu but I let it pass. For some reason it didn't “wow” me enough. What caught my eye last year were distros using KDE as desktop environments (Mageia 4 that time). It looked so modern, it had features you won't see in other operating systems and customizability seemed without boundaries. And so my research on Linux distributions began, reading articles and watching videos and demos online. After a couple of weeks I bought a new laptop, chucked the preinstalled Windows OS and installed Linux. So what's with Linux? What did I see in it that I didn't see in Windows?
THE UPSIDE :)
HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE
I said it once and I will say it again. There are even Linux distributions so highly customizable that no two installations can be exactly the same.
I was a big fan of BASIC and DOS in the 90's. And I have to tell you, I wasn't that happy when Windows was introduced in my mid-high school days. It didn't let you tinker with its components that much and that's what I was missing somehow. I can say that I became a kid again when I started to use Linux.
Linux has over a hundred distributions, four main desktop environments to choose from (and I am talking about the main ones, there are more!), with so many ways to tweak each one!
SECURE
This year's PWN2OWN contest (a hacking contest) revealed 5 security bugs for Windows. None for Linux and Mac (though Mac had a couple for their local browser Safari).
There was also an instance in recent years that competing hackers were able to put down Mac and Windows but not Linux.
One of the main reasons why I ended up watching Linux videos is because of an article I read saying viruses won't be a big problem in the OS.
One of my laptops during that time was beginning to significantly slow down due to malware and viruses. It's not even two years old and it had an antivirus installed. Well you guessed it. I chucked Windows 8 and installed Linux. Currently, it is configured to dual boot Fedora 22 (Gnome) and openSUSE 13.2 (KDE with fullscreen menu) so I can make use of its touchscreen. I can say that I am very happy with it compared when it had Windows 8 installed.
Viruses aren't completely absent in the Linux world but it is very unlikely that you get one as well.
LIGHT ON RESOURCES
I have read a number of articles with Linux beating OSX in its own hardware platform in benchmarks. This is also true in Windows systems. Linux is like Windows in steroids. I have revived a couple netbooks that had Windows 7 Starter preinstalled and are now virtually unusable due to extreme slowness. I just installed light Linux distros in them and now they're VERY usable again!
Linux is light on resources – CPU, memory and hard disk space. It also uses a very efficient filesystem so your computer can easily retrieve files and information from the hard drive.
HARDWARE SUPPORT
Modern Linux distributions support computer hardware out of the box and there is no need to install additional drivers. You might come across some video (ATI/Nvidia) and wireless LAN driver issues, but this usually happen if you are using a newly released hardware. Installing a Linux distro with a newer Linux Kernel usually works. Almost everything (at least in my experience) is just plug and play. Linux can also read most filesystems, making dual boot a good option if you do not want to completely uninstall your current OS.
PRODUCTIVITY
Ever wondered why Linux is the preferred OS for bigtime servers? Why film studios choose to install their proprietary programs on top of a Linux based system? Why scientists study outer space with the help of a Linux based super computer? Combine all the items above and you get your answer. Linux usually comes complete with an Office Suite (yes a free, non-trial one) upon installation. It has numerous programs for image, audio and video editing as well. You can also easily install say, MS Office or Adobe Photoshop if you are having a hard time getting familiar with these software.
THE DOWNSIDE :(
Modern gaming. Developers usually create PC games exclusively for Windows. You may need to wait for some time until someone in the community figures out how to properly run it in Linux.
Newly released hardware (Intel Broadwell processors for example) might have compatibility issues with the OS (which usually means poor system performance) during the first few months of its release. But like I said, It's all good once a newer Linux Kernel with support for that hardware gets released.
Though video cards work natively with Linux generic drivers, having proprietary video drivers for them will boost their performance. AMD/ATI and Nvidia have extended their support for Linux but these drivers are not readily available for latest models.
THE BOTTOMLINE :)))
In my case, I have a desktop configured to triple boot to Windows 7 and two different Linux distributions. I exclusively use Windows for gaming, nothing more. All other programs, I run in Linux.
I no longer see the point of making Windows my “main” operating system. Heck, I might even uninstall it someday as I already own a handheld and a home console for gaming purposes. The 2 non-gaming laptops in our place no longer have Windows installed and they're happy.
Contrary to popular belief, Linux does not have a steep learning curve. There are a bunch of Linux distributions out there designed for beginners and believe me, they're easier to use than Windows!
Also, it has come to the point that people can no longer make proprietary applications (eg MS Office) as excuse for having Windows installed in their PC's.
I'll continue supporting Free and Open Source Software as long as I have a working computer.
I have no regrets switching to Linux and in my opinion, every computer not used for extreme gaming should have Linux installed in it. It is that GOOD!
(hmm, I think I'm starting to miss malware, viruses and the dreaded BSOD's…. NOT!)
