| By Maxwell A. Rubin | | | | computer neophytes and beginners. These |
| Most people purchase computers to run programs | | | | computer users purchase computers with the |
| - whether it is to send email, browse the web, | | | | operations system Microsoft Windows or the |
| meet friends of girlfriends on msn messenger, do | | | | Macintosh Operating System installed on their new |
| office work or just play solitaire. People buy | | | | computers. These people could not install the |
| computers to use programs for their functionality | | | | Windows Operating system and the device |
| not to run operating systems be in Microsoft | | | | drivers necessary if their life depended on it. How |
| Windows, the new Microsoft Vista product , the | | | | the situation of a Linux is based computer any |
| Mac Operations Systems or the various Linux | | | | different. It is only a matter of time until new |
| Operating Systems - be they Ubuntu Linux , | | | | computers come preinstalled with the Linux |
| Mandiva , Knoppix or Debian. At the heart of | | | | operating system. Imagine if Henry Ford had been |
| most computer users is functionality and usability. | | | | told not to build new cars since there were few |
| It is as simple as that. It is an interesting situation | | | | good roads available in America. 4) My Computer |
| that the Microsoft Corporation controls the vast | | | | Hardware Just Works Under Windows 5) Again |
| lion's share of the computer operating system | | | | untrue in many cases and soon to be less of an |
| market. Indeed it even has a major share holding | | | | issue as more and more computers will come |
| of the next player in line - Apple with the | | | | preinstalled with a Linux operating system. Already |
| Macintosh OS (Operating System). What are the | | | | Dell Computer (which was a Microsoft stalwart) is |
| issues? 1) Linux is not really free. Linux, in its | | | | selling Linux based laptops. Interestingly the |
| various flavors or distros, is given free of charge, | | | | response to the Ubuntu Linux dell notebooks is |
| whether it is on a cd, DVD or downloaded. You | | | | quite positive, If you think Linux hardware |
| can install the program on your own compute or | | | | compatibility is an issue try upgrading to the new |
| various computers , at no charge to yourself | | | | Microsoft Vista from your previous Microsoft |
| whatsoever This is in direct contrast to a | | | | Windows product. You will find to your surprise |
| commercial product such as Microsoft Windows | | | | that few if little of computer hardware are |
| or the new Microsoft Vista which you to purchase | | | | supported. You may have upgraded to the new |
| a boxed version or a valid license which comes | | | | Vista and found you have either no sound, good |
| with most computer systems purchased. This | | | | video or even internet connections via your |
| license which comes on most new computers as | | | | network adapter device or wireless network |
| a matter of course could be referred to as the | | | | adapter. And try undoing your upgrade to get |
| "Microsoft Computer Tax" and is not an option | | | | back to your working windows version - it cannot |
| you can forego, to reduce the purchase of your | | | | be done. Lastly you may say I run Windows since |
| new compute - whether or not you wish to use | | | | all of the programs I use are available only on the |
| another operating system such as Linux. Linux is | | | | Windows operations system - since that is the |
| given free of charge to install. This is not a | | | | dominant player in the market. You may well |
| shareware or time limited version of the product | | | | surmise that since Windows is the more than |
| which requires a registration fee after a period of | | | | dominant player in the computer OS market that |
| time. If you require product support or training | | | | software developers write their product almost |
| commercial organizations do exist which will | | | | exclusively for the windows operations system |
| charge you for support of that product or for | | | | and that market. This is true. If you are using a |
| training or both. Indeed it can be said that | | | | specialized product for your job, industry, situation |
| Microsoft itself charges for product support, | | | | or preference you may well be locked in. In the |
| Symantec the antivirus / security organization | | | | end most people buy and use computers for |
| charges for basic support by product, subscription | | | | functionality and use. Most people use their |
| fees - sometimes automatic subscription fees and | | | | computers for internet browsing , communication |
| 900 phone number and charge card "Priority | | | | - whether it by email or messenger services |
| Support". Indeed you would not expect your local | | | | (M.S.N. , Yahoo , Skype , Eyeball Chat) , |
| school or technical college to provide computer | | | | downloading and burning music and in more than |
| and compute software training free of charge. 2) | | | | many cases for playing nothing more than |
| Linux is complex and will force you to learn the | | | | computer games such as simple solitaire. In these |
| Linux command line, Not true simple as that. The | | | | cases the functionality of Linux and its program |
| various Linux distros all have GUI (Graphic User | | | | base easily allows for this. Indeed many of the |
| Interfaces) just like Microsoft Windows, Windows | | | | cutting edge programs and computer services |
| used to come as command line DOS. Windows | | | | come out of left field by computer software |
| users use pull down windows to operate the | | | | developers and enthusiasts whose preference of |
| software. So can and do most Linux users 3) | | | | Computer Operating System is guess what - |
| Compared to Windows , Installing Linux is Difficult | | | | Linux in its various forms. |
| - The vast majority of computer users are | | | | |