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Linux is an awesome operating system. From the added benefits or extra security and stability to the simple point of being a free alternative to Windows. Linux is definitely a great operating system. However, it isn't for everyone. Linux used to be known as the operating system for geeks and coders. But thanks to Microsoft and the birth of their lovely little Vista operating system, many people decided it was time for a change. And with this new increased community of Linux user's came the need to improve user-friendliness and software compatibility. Now Linux is a very acceptable alternative to the everyday Windows computer user.

With this being said, there are still some things that make Linux a little clunky for the everyday user. Sometimes, not everything works out of the box quite like it should. You may end up having to compile binaries (depending on the distro used), or you may have to hunt for certain drivers. Whereas, with a Windows machine, most of the time everything works much like it should from the get-go. If you are the typical computer user (meaning most of your tasks involve web surfing, email, and office type functions), Linux is probably a very viable alternative for you.

However, if you are a gamer, you may want to hold on to Windows for a while longer. Most games available to Linux users are GNU licensed games meaning, yes, they are free. However, they may not exactly be of commercial quality. There are some alternatives like Cedega and Wine. But the games may not run quite as they should. I live in a split household. I have a Windows box, and Linux box. Why? The Linux box is my playtoy. I can alter things on it and further my knowledge of how the system works without endangering needed data. My Windows box is used for things like games, and digital art (both are areas where Linux lacks a bit). Does this mean that I will never go straight Linux? Of course not.

Eventually, I would love to migrate all of my computer tasks and functions into Linux. However, it will be sometime before this happens due to Linux still not accepted much by commercial vendors and their existing software. Linux can be used for instant messaging, web surfing, listening to music, and even watching movies. For most people, that is all they need. And for the most part, Linux can do all of these tasks just as well, if not better than Windows. So in closing, I'll state that Linux isn't for those who expect a quick and easy working solution. But for those looking for a satisfying computing solution, give Linux a try.

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Matthews.
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