“This weekly article will chronicle the misadventures of a Linux
Newbie. I will comment on different tutorials, programs, and all
that contributes to my Linux evolution. I welcome interaction from
readers and will share their mutual experiences as we go along.
When I contemplate my arrival as a Newbie I often think of
it in mythological terms similar to religious conversion, loss of
virginity, or sacrificial rituals. Linux vs. Microsoft is a classic
David vs. Goliath story. Linux is the underdog of operating
systems, the common man fighting for free, open source code.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is widely regarded as a monopolistic
hegemony straight from the Dark Side in Star Wars.
However, there are good reasons to be concerned about equating a
software operating system to a mythological level. Is my choice of
operating systems really a choice between good and evil, Linux vs.
Microsoft? After all, what “good” is Linux if the average Newbie
can not easily install and configure it? Personally, I have wasted
far too much time trying to get DOS/Windows to work. Why do I want
to struggle with a new set of Linux problems if Windows marginally
meets my needs already? It is the content of my work that is
important, not the vehicle used to create it.”