Techguy's Computer Corner

 Bill Gates is hated by a lot of people. He's the richest man in the world and of course there will be those who are envious and jealous of his success. Some people call it greed but hey, he's a business man. He has changed the world the way we know it and the way we do business and share information. Although I don't always agree or like some of the alternatives he has presented us, for instance multiple versions of Vista, I still consider him our modern day genius. Of course there will be those who will be out to derail him. Linux is one of those efforts.

 Based on the premise that software should be open source and freely distributed, the desire to use Linux as an alternative operating system in the personal computing arena is gaining momentum - the DESIRE is gaining momentum. The desire is obviously there, but while Windows has traveled around the world several times over, Linux has just finished tying its shoes. Most of the problems people encounter with their personal computers running Windows they bring on themselves by visiting places in cyberspace they shouldn't be, or not knowing better by opening attachments in emails from strangers, or by not having their computers up to date with the latest security patches, or by not having anti-virus software installed and up to date. Keeping a computer up to date has been made easy with automatic update functionality built into them. And none of that would even be an issue if it weren't for the coders out there writing malicious code designed to wreak havoc on your computer. But rather than blame the problems on those types the finger gets pointed at Bill Gates for some reason. It's almost like you buy a new car. It's a beautiful car and it runs great and starts up every day and gets you where you need to go every day. Then one day someone puts a boulder in the middle of the road and you smash into it with your car. Now you're blaming the car maker for not making you a car that can avoid that situation. Or you get into an accident and get hurt and you blame it on the car but if you only wore your seatbelt you would have escaped uninjured. Somewhere some of the onus has to fall on the enduser.

 Linux has its place and has found it in the technology sector mostly in servers and is also used in embedded systems such as handheld devices and routers. As of spring this past year it is estimated that Linux holds 13% of the overall server market while adaptation to the desktop has only reached 1%, compared to Microsoft's overwhelming dominance of owning over 90% of the market. The reason for this is simple - there simply isn't enough hardware support and software applications out there for a mass migration to Linux. Much to the disappointment of a handful of people it will be years before Linux will ever have a fighting chance of overtaking Microsoft as the mainstream operating system - and I would be surprised if it ever does. At this stage in the game MAC has a better chance at achieving this. Although Linux may work for some, most who use it on their desktops still need to depend on a working Windows installation. The more you do on your computer, the less likely Linux will work for you at this current time. What do we have to gain by going to Linux in its present state? Nothing - but we have everything to lose.

 My guess is the closer Linux gets to Microsoft the more someone out there will want to profit from it. I can't imagine down the road this continuing to be a freely distributed product. To supply the world with what it would need from Linux to replace what we can do in a Microsoft operating system would take an effort of epic proportions, and to think for a second the resources needed to accomplish this monumental task would continue to donate their time is unfathomable. Aside from that the software scums of the earth who waste their God given talents on writing nonsense software designed strictly for destruction will start turning their efforts to thwarting Linux. It hardly seems fair and is nothing short of plain ignorance to compare Windows and Linux and say Linux is safer and more secure than Windows when there isn't anyone writing destructive code targeting the Linux operating system yet. It's not that it's impossible and that it can't be done and that Linux is impenetrable, there just isn't anyone doing it yet. If you were going to rob a bank would you choose to rob one with little or no money in it, or rob the one that contains the mother load? If the day ever comes Linux is even remotely close to Windows that will change and then we can bitch about how Linux sucks. 

 I was originally planning on using this blog strictly for Linux discussion. I was planning on running this operating system through the mill to see what it can really do or can't do. I was thinking I'd be posting my test results for weeks and months to come. Unfortunately it didn't last more than a day because it wouldn't even install on two of the three computers I tried to install it on. That was enough for me to abort my efforts and it convinced me what I thought all along - that Linux just doesn't have it yet. I eventually got it installed here on an older computer and I will probably leave it on there and putz around with it from time to time and monitor its progress, but as it stands it can't replace all that we can do on our Windows machines. This isn't just my opinion, this is a plain fact. I don't dislike anyone who wants to use Linux, all the more power to them, but I do despise the ones who insist on bashing Windows and who prey on naive individuals trying to convince them to install Linux on their computers, that Linux is better, Linux is easier, Linux is more secure, and anyone can use Linux, all for the sake of their cause. 

 The decision is yours should you choose to listen to these types. The results you will get are unpredictable. If you're going to experiment with it I strongly suggest you use a different hard drive other than the one your current operating system is on in the event something doesn't go right. If you choose to use your current drive I highly recommend you back up your personal data before hand and don't forget your mail files and address book. Make sure you have a way to reinstall your current system. Most computer makers don't include restore cd's anymore so you better be sure you know how to restore your system should something go wrong. If all else fails, you can always bring your computer to my shop once they've messed it up for you.