by Don Hildenbrand

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: August 17, 2010

I love Linux! Yes I do! I love Linux! How about you?

Oh, you're not quite sure yet? I can understand that. Linux has a reputation for being a bit dark and mysterious. That reputation is somewhat deserved, though recent upgrades have made Linux a bit more user friendly than in years past.

To help you decide whether Linux is right for you, let's look at some of the things Linux does right, and some of the things that need just a little more work. After pondering these points, you may have a better idea of whether or not you wish to try Linux for your self.

THINGS LINUX DOES RIGHT

LINUX IS EXTREMELY STABLE

If you've used Windows for a number of years, or even just for a short time, you've probably become used to those strange, un-explainable crashes and lock ups. No matter what you're doing, or even when you're doing nothing at all, all of a sudden the PC stops working. You have to reboot. And maybe later, reboot again. Windows Vista was "supposed" to stop these errors from occurring, but sadly, they still remain a part of the Windows computing experience.

Linux, on the other hand, is an extremely stable operating system. Circumstances when the operating system completely crashes are very rare. Linux has been used to run web servers that must run for months or even years at a time, and these servers run by Linux rarely crash.

The reason for this is because, unlike Windows, the "kernel", or core components of the OS, is isolated from the other parts of the system. Yes, the sound server may crash, or even the graphical interface, but whereas with Windows you would have to restart Windows completely, in Linux the kernel just keeps on going. The sound or video system can just be restarted, and the core system has been running all along. Applications may crash, but there's no need to restart the PC, most of the time. If system stability is very important to you, than Linux may be for you.

LINUX PROVIDES EASY INSTALLATION

Though installing Linux and its applications used to be a nightmare that made Freddy Krueger look like Santa Claus, this is an area that has made tremendous strides in the past few years. Unless you are attempting a dual boot situation, such as having Windows and Linux on the same PC, installing Linux now requires little or no technical knowledge. With most distributions (versions) of Linux, installation is as simple as inserting the CD into your CD drive, and starting the PC. Follow the prompts, and the installation process is as fast and easy as

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