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
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From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Nov 1 13:36:31 2004
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (David Jackson)
Date: Mon Nov 1 13:45:18 2004
Subject: [brlug-general] Linux or Windows
In-Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Tim Sullivan 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
The answer to that is as varied as the person who does the answering.
I will leave the purely hardcore tech reasons to run Linux to other
individuals.
While there are dozens of other good, technical reasons why Linux is
superior, I think that the most important one to me is all about
freedom. Linux is a free operating system. Not just as in beer, but as
in liberty, and speech, and expression.
You won't find Digital Right's Management crap on Linux. DRM is
technology that controls carefully what media you use on your computer
(music, movies, videos, etc.), making sure that you are a legal,
licensed user of that media, and reporting usage to central regulatory
groups. It is pervasive in Windows, and as time goes on, you will find
it more and more difficult to freely access media, as Window's
implements tighter controls. They walk hand in hand with big business
concerns like the RIAA, SPA, BSA, and the other tyrannical capitalist
overlords that run our country.
Linux is a good example of how sharing information (knowledge,
technology, etc.) can be a good thing, and can accomplish great tasks.
It's a community-driven operating system; there are more contributors to
Linux, than there are plain users. But you aren't compelled to do
anything other than just use Linux, to be a part of the community. You
won't find more helpful people, when you have a problem, or more
documentation, than with Linux. And one of the best things about it is
that the developers of the software that you use on Linux are
accessible; real, live human beings with personal interests in making
the software that they share the best that it can be.
And if those reasons are not important to you, then I suggest you
stick with Windows. I'll be glad to answer any other questions you
might have.
Sincerely,
David Jackson
