What's so great about Linux?

Question

What are the advantages of using Linux over Windows? It seems most things are made for Windows or Macintosh... can you run Windows programs on Linux..? What can you do with Linux that you can't with Windows or Mac?

Answer 1

The most obvious advantage is price. Aside from the cost of maybe burning a CD, Linux is free of charge.

Linux is also free to use. There is no 25-digit alphanumeric license code to enter. There is no "Linux Genuine Advantage" to accuse you of being a software pirate. If you want it, you use it. No restrictions

There is new malware for Windows systems seemingly every week. Linux doesn't have that problem. Windows viruses and trojans bounce right off of Linux systems. The term Linux Virus is, almost, a contradiction in terms.

And then there is the available software. Imagine a system where you never had to pay for software. You just chose what software package you wanted, then your system downloads and installs it for you so it's immediately ready to use. No sending your credit card number over the internet, no driving to CompUSA, no buying a retail box filled with more and more ads, no additional license code to punch in, etc.

Linux has ways to run Windows programs (using Wine), but I'm not sure about Macintosh programs. Since Macs are moving to Intel processors, that should be a possibility though.

Granted though, Linux is not for everyone. In my own experience, Linux has never gets the latest games, or the best video editing software. But what Linux does do, it does very well...for free.

Answer 2

if you never want to fight another virus then linux is for you. Yes most software is made for windows and so are most viruses. Linux is simply secure right from the start and it stays that way. If you want to run windows software like games and such you may need both OSs but I never ever surf with windows I only use it to run programs that I cant do in linux under wine and linux is free compare that to the MS stuff

Answer 3

Its free, its customisable and the possibilities are endless... Need i say anymore?
Its more secure, it comes in thousands of different versions all catering to a different market. You dont even need to install anything to run linux on a PC!
Can you run windows programs on linux? Most yes, using software similar to Wine. What can you do with linux that you cant with windows? Your only limited by your imagination, not a multinational monopoly that decides whats best for you

Answer 4

I'd like to address this from two angles:
1. The computer you give to your coworkers/kids/grandparents; and
2. The box that does five different jobs at your office.

1. If I had a coworker that just did documents, spreadsheets, databases, and general office mgmt stuff all day, Linux would be the bomb: hard to break down, hard to break into, no spyware, no viruses, and the hardware runs longer: my overhead is cheaper. My kids can't install crud, my grandparents can't their drivers because they don't remember putting all those files there (and so untidy!), etc. It just plain works better for most stuff.

2. It needs less handholding to do more. I can use one box as a: file server, intranet, backup server, and company PIM server. It automagically syncs files when my sales reps come back to the office. It backs up the contacts on their cellphones, for pete's sake! Show me a Windows box that does all of that well and cheaply!

Answer 5

the biggest benefit of Linux from a programmer's point of view is that that's completely open. With domicile windows and Mac, once you write a software, you may desire to assume that each and each call to an API will do what you assume it to do. If it would not, then your in problem. If there's a computer virus interior the API, you may desire to touch the developer and wait numerous months for them to restoration it. If an identical element happens in Linux, you are able to easily see what's faulty and fasten it your self. From a consumer's point of view, the reward of Linux incorporate its heavy concentration on risk-free practices and its customizability. With domicile windows, you very nearly constantly use Explorer as your pc ecosystem (pc, the identify bar on domicile windows, and so on). With Mac, you mostly use Finder. With Linux, you may desire to apply Gnome, KDE, XFCE, Fluxbox, or anybody of numerous different pc ecosystem. you may make the pc look like domicile windows or Mac or the rest you like without resorting to important hacks.

Answer 6

Linux is that Beryl thingy. Just go for Mac, run Windows using Apple Bootcamp and run Linus directly with the powerpc version of Linux.

Answer 7

I run Linux and Windows on the same machine. Macintrash is insignificant (in fact Apple never could get MacOS working so they just ripped off FreeBSD to get OSX). Anyways, Linux is free and works -- best point.

Answer 8

I also have one of my puters dual booting Ubuntu and XP.

Linux is free, and many versions are "window-like".

But you are right...some desirable things won't run on Linux. Games, mostly.

However, for basic household stuff: Ubuntu automatically loads Open Office (like MS Office -- only free), and there are lots of free programs such as photo editing (Gimp) that are built for Linux.

Answer 9

Linux is more stable.... You can't crash or hack a linux box like you can in windows and, well, mac just sucks it don't need anymore help....

Most if not all is scriptable.... There's like ZERO viruses in linux....