Why Try Linux?

Why install LINUX on your computer?
With the recession hitting us all hard, and computers having become part of our daily life, we sometimes wonder how to get our daily fix of Internet and Email, without going hungry...
One thing we can do is Move To Linux...

#1 - Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Suse, etc - are Free, unlike Windows which can range in price from $84 (XP Home) to $189 (Vista Business). A Linux disk will only cost you ONE CD or DVD.

#2 - Linux comes PACKED with all the software you need.

OpenOffice (this is compatible with Microsoft Office and it contains all the same types of programs; a spreadsheet, word processor, presentation creator, etc.)
Games (there are more games for Linux users than Solitaire, Mine Sweeper, and Internet Hearts)
Productivity Software, Educational Software, Entertainment Software...all FREE...

#3 - Linux is EASY to use. If you can use Microsoft Windows, you can use Linux. Linux is compatible with MOST hardware (and more hardware configurations than Windows...no more upgrading your computer hardware just to upgrade your computer's software), and it works on LOTS of OLD hardware. Why upgrade your whole machine at the cost of several HUNDRED dollars to run Vista or Windows 7 when you can continue running your hardware for several more years WITHOUT sacrificing speed or functionality?

#4 - The Linux user community can provide better trouble-shooting and support (FOR FREE) than you would ever get from Microsoft (for $29 an hour), unless you enjoy talking with some guy in Bangladesh who can't even speak English. There are even local communities like "Ogden Area Linux User Group" (OLAUG), "Salt Lake Linux User Group" (SLLUG), and etc. Come on out and see!

#5 - If you need special software, you don't have to be locked into a ONE vendor solution, there are MANY open-source alternatives to just about ANY software need that you need (or want)...many are FREE. Or, you can develop it yourself, or modify something "in house" and get specialized software that does exactly what you want, for the cost of a developer.

#6 - If you are tired of Malware, Spyware, Ad-Ware, Pop-Ups, Viruses, and all manner of annoyances on your computer, and you want a more secure method of holding onto your electronic data,

-AND-

#7 - If you want a stable, useable computer, if you are tired of the "blue screen of death", if you really hate having to re-boot your machine every few days...

Then maybe it is time to think about changing your operating system to something that really works.

If you do install Linux, you will notice that some things are different. The only thing I can do is give you is a little advice:

#1 - DON'T PANIC. If it is good enough for the Hichhiker's Guide, it is good enough for me.
You have, by now, noticed that things are a little different...different is good! Poke around, play with it. You cannot hurt it. Just be aware, if it asks for a password, be sure you really want to do whatever it is that is asking for a password.

#2 - Use It. Open the different programs, get familiar with them. It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE for you to "damage" the system by doing something "wrong", so play around, take it out for a spin, have fun!

#3 - Get Involved. The Linux Community on the web is very large, and you might not even know how large it is around your community.

* Provo Linux Users Group (PLUG) - http://plug.org/
* Utah Valley Linux Users Group (UVLUG) - http://uvlug.org/
* Salt Lake Linux Users Group (SLLUG) - http://www.sllug.org/
* Ogden Area Linux User Group (OALUG) - http://www.oalug.com/
* Southern Utah Unix Users Group (SU3G) - http://www.su3g.org/
* USU Free Software and Linux Club (USU FSLC) - http://fslc.usu.edu/
* BYU Unix Users Group (BYU UUG) - http://uug.byu.edu/
* Greater Utah BSD Users Group (GUBUG) - http://gubug.org/
* Ubuntu Utah - http://utah.ubuntu-us.org/
* http://www.linuxmigration.com/
* http://www.linuxjournal.com/
* http://www.linuxquestions.org/
* http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/index.html
* http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/l1/lesson1a.html
* http://www.tldp.org/
* http://www.ubuntu.com/
* http://www.ubuntuforums.com/

#4 - These references are your support line for when you have questions. Or if you prefer LIVE support, you can use IRC (chat rooms on the web), you can link to the "Freenode" network (http://www.freenode.net) and you will have access to many LINUX related "channels" where you can chat LIVE with people who are familiar with the system, and can provide help for you.

For those a little more technically inclined, who whould like to know how Linux is different (or the same) as Windows, here is a stab at the Linux File System compared to Windows

/ = Root of the OS. (like C:\)
/bin = Binary executables for the operating system itself. (like C:\Windows)
/boot = The kernel. (like C:\Windows)
/etc = Configuration files. (like C:\Windows)
/home = File spaces for individual users other than root. (like C:\Documents and Settings)
/proc = A special-purpose folder for some system processes
/sbin = Binaries that various system "users" execute.
/tmp = Temporary files. (like C:\temp)
/usr = Program files. (like C:\Windows)
/var = Variable-content files and folders.
swap = This is "virtual memory." (like the Windows swap "file")

Some of the other great things you can do with Linux:

Chat Program = Pigeon, similar to Trillian (all chat programs in one box)
Internet = Firefox, Opera, and others. You can even install Microsoft IE...
Graphics = Gimp gives you a ton of flexibility for playing with pictures
USB Compatibility = Most Cameras, Media Players, etc, work with Linux
Music and DVD = Linux has both Music and DVD players, burners and rippers
Games = Several of the Big Name companies make games for Linux, others are compatible via a helper program "CrossOver Linux" by CodeWeavers
Office = You have access to World Class software from Open Office: Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentations, etc.

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LINUX is even great for the Windows Power User, the conversion is cheep and easy:
Desktop Linux For The Windows Power User
Google Desktop for Linux

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There are several people who have gone "cold turkey" and left Windows behind in favor of Ubuntu Linux (or other flavors of linux), Keith Tokash is one such individual. He has a list of the Necessary and Desired programs that you need for Ubuntu (linux) to be happy, it is worth a read!

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This is an article that describes what your PC (Windows Based) can become if you get "hacked" or a virus, or mall ware or spy ware or ad ware... Windows PCs are extremely susceptible to these types of programs, and you have to spend lots of money to fix the security holes, without any guarantee of a true fix.
The Scrap Value of a Hacked PC
Linux compartmentalizes the user experience, so your PC is protected by at least 2 passwords, and none of the programs are interconnected, so if one user profile gets infected, another one can be perfectly free from infection.

Here is another take on Linux:
Linux for housewives. XP for geeks.

And with Schools ALWAYS strapped for cash, they cannot afford new hardware, which Windows requires. Their solution is simple, save money on both ends:
Ubuntu breathes new life into school's abandoned hardware

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Open Source and Microsoft Free
If this guy can move over to Linux, and survive, ANYONE can. The nice thing is, he gives a lot of good advice and tools for the transition.