Good question! I have a longish answer for you, and please bear with me while I explain it, because at first it will seem like I am recommending Windows instead of Linux.
Because most of the software that runs on Linux is free and open source, you can find versions of this software already compiled for Windows. For example, the webserver Apache can be downloaded and installed on Windows, as well as the relational database server MySQL, and lots of mail servers as well, and on and on. For a good, but incomplete, list of free and open source software that runs on Windows, see http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/apps/en/bestlist.html. So, if Windows can run most of the same software that Linux can, why use Linux at all? Well, for programmers and server administrators, it is not a question of software capabilities, but a question of openness and flexibility. In other words, I can do more with Linux than I can with Windows. Of course, there is a learning curve with Linux, but anything worthwhile takes effort. For example, instead of relying on Microsoft's Internet Firewall included with WinXP, I can download and install a free firewall for Linux, and then learn how to configure it to do a _lot_ more than I could with Microsoft's Internet Firewall. For example, I could write a rule that says if somebody is repeatedly trying to hack into my Linux box, I can block any further traffic from that IP address. To do the same on a Microsoft box would require buying software. Probably expensive software. The same goes for mail servers. Trying to block spam with a Microsoft only mail server requires $$$. The Linux way is _free_, not only free as in beer, but free as in speech as well. This means that I am free to make my own solutions and do with them as I please, even to share it with others. Granted, you may not want to take the time to climb that learning curve, but the popularity of Linux shows that many do. I personally like having control over my computer with the only limitation being my brain and time in gaining yet more control and capabilities. Think of Linux as being like a really big Erector set or a huge box of Legos, and Microsoft Windows as a vending machine with one of those cranes in it. With Linux, you can build whatever mechanisms and toys you want and share what you build with others. And likewise, you can download and use what others have built as well, and even modify and improve what others have built, and then reshare your improvements. With Microsoft Windows, you put your quarters in and choose from what is available in the vending machine's bin. Sometimes the crane doesn't quite work, requiring more quarters to be spent. And then, you can't fix the crane, because the box is welded shut. ;) Sure, it saves time to buy the stuff, if what I need is available, and if it works. I am not an anti-Microsoft zealot; if it works and makes sense for the user/business, then great. BTW, I am a Microsoft C# programmer where I work, but don't tell anybody. :) But for my personal use, I prefer using tools like Linux, because I can learn to build my own tools to solve the problem at hand, which gives me back a lot more than just buying a solution outright. Now if only Half Life 2 ran on Linux... John --- Tim Sullivan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have this spare computer at the house and I am > looking to put a server os > on it. I am wanting to put Linux on it. So my > question is.... What can Linux > do that windows can't? I know about the security > Issues, cost issues, and I > am not a programmer so those things are not a > consideration at all. I am not > trying to put down Linux at all just curious to see > what the difference is > and why Linux would be the better os to use. > > > > Tim > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com
