Should You Use Linux? By Tony Thompson This document will hopefully help you decide whether or not to install linux on your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There are many reasons to install Linux on your home PC. Maybe you want to try out some SuperMegaCoolSimParticle v0.08 software. Maybe your friends/neighbours/TA's/whatever have told you that linux is a very clean, powerful, tighta - um - tight system. Maybe you just don't like Microsoft products. Some of these reasons are good, some of them aren't. Good reasons to switch over are: - You like computers, and want to try something new. Linux is flexible, creative and cutting edge in a lot of ways. It is also more configurable than most operating systems. And there is always something new to learn. - You enjoy writing software, and you're comfortable with a text interface. Linux is a stable development platform that comes with many of the tools that you'd have to pay for under other systems. Linux comes with compilers, interpreters, debuggers, etc. - You prefer the Unix operating system. Linux is most definately a Unix derivative system. You can get a lot more control over your computer, with a wide array of software tools at your disposal. - You like more pain. Linux can be confusing, convoluted, tempermental and arcane as it can be flexible, creative and cutting-edge. These are two sides of the same coin. Some reasons that need to be re-thought: - You dislike Microsoft products. In itself this isn't a good reason. It takes far less effort to adapt to the complexities of Microsoft products than it does to learn Linux. - Friends have told you to try Linux. If Johnny jumped off a bridge would you? Jokes aside, Linux is vastly different from Windows and MacOS. Your friends have at least had some time to adapt to it. Also their needs in an operating system may be different. Make a decision based on your needs. So what's good about Linux? Linux is a programmer's operating system. Almost all programs come with source code, so if you dislike a program you can change it. It comes with a full set of development tools. It also has powerful system software freely available such as: - Web Servers Apache, a common webserver for Linux powers almost 40% of the internet. IBM distributes a version of it. - Databases (Postgres, MySQL) Both of these databases can handle database into - Publishing software (LaTeX, TeX, PostScript, etc.) - FTP servers Last, but not least, Linux is a multiuser system. You can have multiple people logged into the same computer at the same time. So, what's bad about Linux? Linux is not easy to use for a beginner. It is not as easy to administer or maintain a Linux system. Even those who have used Linux and Unix for years still haven't experienced all of the details of sysadmining. Hardware support in Linux is typically behind the rest of the industry. If you have an atypical piece of equipment, be it a soundcard or touch tablet, it may not be supported yet. Conclusion: Deciding on Linux is a major decision. Novices should steer clear. If you have only ever used Windows 95 or 98, be very wary of using Linux - it is vastly different in nature. Linux requires you to be comfortable in all aspects of computing. You must be comfortable with programming and administration just as much as with application software. Or you can learn _very_ quickly. Keep in mind that at the University of Guelph there are computer labs you can use that are maintained by professionals. If you need Linux for coursework, but don't feel comfortable in installing it at home, that's always an option. Another suggestion is to try out linux in the labs before making a decision. Get a grip on some commands, talk to people, and learn how to get help before taking the plunge. Tony Thompson Last Modified Thu Jan 28 21:40:11 EST 1999