By: Rob Reilly
Contributing Editor
Why do I use Linux?
As Linux seemingly approaches mainstream status, I’ve pondered
that question for the last couple of months. Also, why doesn’t
Linux click with my friends, neighbors, family, and others?
While shaving this morning, my hand slipped off the bathroom
counter and I bumped my head.
Suddenly I understood…It’s because of Unix.
It All Started With Unix
Back in my college days, I liked the interactivity of the Unix
command line. My computer dungeon mates appreciated it too.
Mind you, these were pre-IBM PC days.
With the invention of the personal computer, instantly,
everybody had pseudo-cutting edge calculating power on their desk.
But, if you weren’t involved with some flavor of Unix or Sun
machine, computing was limited to a single-user/single-tasking
experience in the form of DOS, Windows, Apple, or even a
TRS-80.
Toward the late 90s, everybody got connected and jumped onto the
Web. Lately, all types of applications have appeared via a browser
and network connection. Tabbed browsing came out a couple of years
ago, but I’ve seen few outside of the Open Source and Linux
community using the feature regularly.
Shazzam, Gomer…most users have missed out on any real
multi-user, multi-tasking computing experience.
Linux just doesn’t fit their perceived model of a computer.
Multi-User, Multi-Tasking Desktops?
Successful users today create documents, calculate numbers, send
emails, listen to music, and watch videos using the one-user,
one-machine personal computer paradigm.
But, think about it.
If you’ve grown up with a traditional PC being what it is, how
could you possibly value a multi-user, multi-tasking machine when
it’s never even been on your radar?
Maybe we’ve missed the Linux desktop boat, simply because users
are unaware of the hidden benefits provided by that type of
operating system. No obvious new benefit, so why switch?
Would a regular user ever want to serve Web pages from his
laptop? How about a MySQL database? Is there any situation where a
PC user would want to turn accounting on and track his login time
and activities? Why should a regular desktop user ever care about
logging into another machine, in the office, remotely?
Those things are taken for granted in the (whatever)NIX
community. In a single-user, single-tasking context, these
questions make very little sense. Furthermore, how can these
features be effectively used to solve a businessman or everyday
consumer’s problems.
The Linux desktop is a great solution, that’s looking around for
a problem(s) to solve.
Differentiate
Several big things jump out at me that differentiate Linux from
other operating systems.
Multi-user, multi-tasking automation
Ask your friends or customers about the advantages of a
multi-user, multi-tasking system and then think about their
response. What multi-tasking desktop benefits are not currently
being exploited? Backups, file consolidation, and system monitoring
are just a few of the things to automate. Don’t forget the shell,
cron, and all those tools that are built into virtually every Linux
distribution. Many of them have no analogue in other operating
systems.
One distribution installation on multiple
platforms
How convenient is to to use one DVD to build all your desktops
AND your servers? Menus, partitioning, and installation scripts
become standardized with very little trouble. Seems like a small
business or home sysadmin’s dream come true. This stealth benefit
definitely doesn’t show up in other OSs.
Indoctrination of our ‘Youts’
As we speed into the early 21st century, it pains me to see
‘youts’ growing up in what has evolved into a mostly
desktop/browser window computer world. Many adults are wringing
their hands over the universal loss of competitive math, science,
reading, and writing skills. A single Linux CD offers a computing
toolbox that is unrivaled, for learning.
So why do I use Linux?
Because I was fortunate enough to use Unix years ago. Those guys
at AT&T created a model of computing that has been perfected in
the Linux and Open Source community.
It simply satisfies my multi-user, multi-tasking, multi-machine,
and multi-desktop lifestyle.
Rob Reilly
Contributing Editor