Since its
introduction in 1991, Linux has grown to become a much appreciated
operating system capable of solving daily tasks for users in many
areas. Linux is the most used web server operating system in the world out numbering Windows servers online by millions of servers. Here are several reasons why Linux may be right for you:
- Save
Costs
Most Linux flavors
are free. But this not applies to the operating system, many
application packages like office suites and databases come with it
for free. See the section on OpenOffice.
- Open
Source
All source code is freely accessible; there are no
secrets, no proprietary ties, no license fees. See The
Open Source Page. This is especially important for government
and military operations that want to ensure that there are not
hidden code in the applications they use that can be used for
political reasons.
- Fast
Linux
is fast, and will run on lesser hardware than many other modern
operating systems. Your old 486 can do something useful again with
Linux.
- Stable
Linux
is stable. It normally doesn't crash. A Linux server can be up for
hundreds of days.
- Transparent
With
Linux, you can always find out what the system is doing, and why.
All configuration files are in plain text. Linux will do what you
ask it for, no more, no less. It doesn't do magic stuff behind your
back.
- In
rapid development
Linux develops from day to day. Often you
can get bugfixes within a few days from when the bug was reported.
You can, however, also choose to run a stable version and only
upgrade when security problems are found, or when a major release
takes place.
- Many
programs
There is a great amount of software available for
Linux, for free download on the Internet. Furthermore a wide variety
of commercial software is available if your needs aren't satisfied
by the free software.
- True
Multi-Tasking
Linux provides the ability to run more than one
program at the same time. Linux also supports multiple processors as
standard.
- Born
on the Internet
Linux has been network enabled since the very
beginning. Networking and Internet tools are built into the system.
Linux is the leading operating system for Internet servers.
- X-Window
System
Linux comes with an excellent window system called X,
as well as several Window Managers where you can set up your
preferred look & feel, virtual desktops, window behaviour etc.
- From
super computer to handheld
Linux can be used on a wide range
of computers, for a wide range of purposes. It can be used as a
webserver or file server, a firewall, a desktop computer, in a
cluster of PC's making a super computer for scientific calculations.
It can run on Sun Sparc, MIPS and Alpha processors, PowerPC,
handhelds and much more. Linux has even been ported to a wrist
watch!
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