Why choose Linux ?

You heard talking about Linux - or not - you wonder why some people choose this free system while you pay in a way or another for Windows^TM or Macintosh^TM
I will explain you why even someone rich and/or capitalist can prefer a free system to the ones by Microsoft^® or Apple^®.
 
First, I would like to thank you for your curiosity - I guess the percentage of the population having such questions in mind is unfortunately as poor as the performance of a Windows or Mac.

# 1. INTRODUCTION

# 1.1 What is Linux ?

Basically, Linux is an operating system for your computer, which means it is a software work to use your hardware machine (for now we can tell the same about Windows or Mac OS)
 
Technically and legally, Linux is just a part of an operating system called kernel, because « Linux » itself does not contain any program around this kernel.
An « operating system » (OS) is a kernel + some programs.
 
A « Linux distribution » IS an operating system as it contains the Linux kernel along with many programs including one or more graphic interface. A graphic interface is a program like any other, running on the kernel, which displays windows, buttons, desktop, and all graphic elements on your screen. You can choose among tens of graphic interfaces for Linux because many programmers decided to develop them. It allows you to select at boot time either a light interface to save performance for other programs, or an awesome 3D interface to feel in wonderland.
 
Linux is free and open-source.
Open-source means the source code is public - as you will see in the next section, it is far from being a detail and this is most of the reasons why Linux is so powerful.
When you download Linux for free on kernel.org all the files you get can be opened in a text editor to see how Linux is made - Of course, that possibility allows you to customize it: make your own Linux system.

# 1.2 The power of the open-source

As explained above, open-source means the source codes of the programs are public (with conditions depending on the license of the work)
 
Why an open-source program will always have a big advantage ?
There are 2 principal reasons why an open-source program will always be more powerful than this same program, not open-source :

1. CUSTOM COMPILATION
 
« Compile » a program is transforming the source code into executable file(s).
 
Every computer, and every user is different.
So what do you think happens when you compile a source code the same way for every computer of everyone ? (i.e. Windows or Mac OS)
 
Compiling a program is extremely customizable, especially for its optimization.
A compiler is the program that compiles your programs (which by the way, has been compiled one day too...)  When you compile a source code into an executable (a program or your kernel), you can i.e. tell the compiler what kind of processor you have, how much memory, what possibilities you want to enable or disable for this program, and so many options that can make of your executable, something extremely optimized for your machine and the way you use it.
 
There are tools to help you compiling a program, which means you do not need to be a programmer to benefit of these advantages.
 
NOTE: of course, if you use pre-compiled programs or kernel with your Linux, you loose this wonderful advantage and it is really a pity for you.

2. CONTRIBUTION
 
If the source is available to billions of people on earth, then it gives the chance to millions of programmers to look at it and suggest improvements and corrections to make it always safer and more effective.
While the whole planet is working for free to improve open-source programs, only tens of programmers work on their closed programs.

# 2. LIES

# 2.1 Linux lies

I have often heard « Linux is complicated » or « you have to be a programmer to use Linux »
 
I am a programmer - but my mother is far from this - she never remembers when she has to click with the right button or the left one, double or simple click, and her eyes became wide opened when I shown her there was a scrollable thing between both buttons.
After a few months of mess with the Windows pre-installed on her laptop, I finally decided to remove it and install Linux instead. She was thrilled ! « everything is fast » she said, « it does not mill anymore! » (the mouse pointer which turns when you wait)
 
It is true that you need knowledge if you wish to benefit 100% of the wonderful performances of Linux. If you compile all open-source programs yourself (the right way) you will get a performance you have never seen before - but we usually reserve this work for servers because we want them 100% safe and efficient, not 99.
By using pre-compiled programs, you will benefit of 60% of the Linux potential, which is already 3 times a Windows and twice Mac OS.

# 2.2 The Microsoft conspiracy

DISGRACE :
In most of the countries, it is almost impossible to buy a full physical PC computer without paying Windows. This is forbidden by the law of many of these countries because it forces you to buy a software product (program) when buying a hardware one (machine)  It is like entering in a store to buy a vaccum and you realize you cannot buy it without a diesel generator, just because it requires electricity - They do not let you the choice to simply use your home power or a solar panel.
The only solution to buy a machine without paying the Windows license is to build your own (which is anyways the best way - but not everyone knows how to do it)
 
Surprisingly, it seems some governments have not been corrupted by this huge Microsoft dictatorship. In most of Latin American countries such as Argentina or Brazil, you can choose between Linux and Windows in PC computer stores ! (if you choose a Linux you will pay less and get more performance)
 
THE « WINDOWS TAX » :
Computer manufacturers are tied up by Microsoft who forces them to sell a very high percentage of their products only with Windows installed (which you pay)  If they refuse, they will pay a higher price for the licenses. Because the customer does not know how much costs the Windows in the computer he is buying, he would simply choose another manufacturer, thinking this one is more expensive.
You know now how Bill Gates became the richer man of this planet - there is nothing about software performance, just marketing and contracts (read the article on Wikipedia for more information)
People sometimes try to get refund for the price of Microsoft softwares included by force in the computer they bought, which they finally never used. These procedures are long, complicated, and cost tens of dollars (CD shipping, letters) - they are unfortunately rarely successful unless you decide to make a big legal action. Also, once you opened the computer package, it is difficult to prove you have never used the software product, as it is a virtual product.
 
For Macintosh it is different because Apple is not only the software creator, but also the hardware constructor. Even if Linux can be installed on a Macintosh machine as well (and so many others including Amiga, many cellphones and even your Nintendo, Wii or Playstation) it is harder to explain you want just a part of their creation, and how much both parts cost.
 
WHEN YOU CHOOSE (or not) WINDOWS, YOU PAY A HIGHER PRICE FOR 2 REASONS :
1. you pay Windows and other licensed softwares even if the price is never displayed (around $150 per computer)
2. you have to buy a bigger computer because Windows is a slow operating system (your computer is faster than you think)
 
So I would lie if I do not tell you that to me, Microsoft is evil.

# 3. PERSPECTIVES

# 3.1 Running on Linux vs Being Vegan

I often compare running on Linux with being Vegan (I am both)
To me, being Vegan is being free and healthy to access the supreme performance of your body - I would say exactly the same thing for Linux - read my article on why and how to be vegan as an athlete

EATING ANIMALS	RUNNING ON WINDOWS / MACINTOSH
I eat tasty meat so I absorb antibiotics, ammoniac, all kinds of toxic things then I buy more dangerous antibiotics when I really need them	I buy a Windows or a fashion Ibook / Ipad / Ipod / Iphone so I use only their proprietary formats & protocols then I am forced to keep buying expensive softwares and products
I eat milk to get calcium I cannot digest milk as an adult so I cannot get the calcium from milk but I can absorb the antibiotics inside	I buy a software to protect my Windows Windows is not safe so I cannot protect a bad bedrock by running a program above it but I can slow down my computer with it
I participate to kill animals who lived/died in terrible conditions I could eat pieces of a tree which grows more when I cut it I believe eating a sick animal can be healthy	I encourage programming of software sources sealed in a cage I could encourage open-source programs by use or donation I think a team of programmers can beat millions of volunteers

# 3.2 The reasons why people use Windows / Macintoch / Linux

In most of the case, the only reason why someone uses Windows or Mac OS is because he/she never used anything else. They use them because they have always used them.
 
We can now wonder why they have always used them.
Obviously they did because they never changed.
It finally leads us to the conclusion that it was a very brief « choice » with large space for a suggestion as they were using a computer for the first time.
 
So people using Windows usually do because all people around them did (i.e. friends or because they learned with it)  For Mac OS, it is either because they learned with it, because it is used at their work, or simply because it is fashion (which also means following the crowd)
 
Finally, who ever made a choice ?
 
We now understand that, even if using a particular operating system should be a choice, it is not for most of the people who use Windows or Macintosh - Marketing and contracts are those who made the choice for them.
 
For Windows, you can see by reading the above section The Microsoft Conspiracy that contracts were definitely the key of this « choice... » The average people just cannot buy a computer without paying for Windows, even if they plan to install Linux on it. So imagine someone who does not know what really exists - the chance for them to choose Linux is simply null.
 
For Apple, marketing and the nice design of the box containing the electronic components make you think they are one year early on the technology. The fact is marketing and design just make the product more expensive, not more efficient.
If you really want a crazy design, choosing Linux is far from being a problem - but usually, ignorance of Macintosh users makes them very stubborn, and that fact is impossible to admit for them before you place a Linux computer in front of their nose.
 
The only marketing Linux has is the viral one because it is a non-profit project - that is why using Linux usually is a choice.

# 4. WHO USE LINUX

# 4.1 Film industry

In the last 10 years, the film industry started to move to Linux - most of the movies, especially animation movies and visual effects, are now created on Linux.
It is also true for video games, mostly created with Linux... to run on Windows (Microsoft must be thankful for this)
 
Dreamworks was one of the first film companies to move from Macintosh / Windows to Linux, with Stallion of the Cimarron in 2002 and the Shrek movies. They announced have bought thousands of desktop PC computers and PC servers to run on Linux. Disney, Pixar and others also mostly use Linux. Weta Digital has one of the largest data centers for visual effects, which they used for « The Lord of the Rings » and « Avatar » of course all powered by Linux.

# 4.2 Hosting servers

The extremely large majority of websites you visit are hosted on PC computers running with Linux.
 
Google uses Linux to run their thousands of computers - Because Linux is open-source, they were able to make their custom version of Linux.
Amazon announced it has become difficult to find a computer not running on Linux in any or their departments. They also explained that switching to Linux has greatly reduced the costs, not only because it is free, but because the same performance can be obtained with less powerful computers.
MisterBark.com is running on Linux :-)  I own a dedicated server where I have configured and compiled my Linux along with many open-source programs.

# 4.3 Other organizations

The list of organizations using Linux would be very long to establish, but it is famous that most governments of the world use Linux, many post services, banks, universities, the army, the aviation control centers, etc. In fact, we realize the organizations who cannot accept a mistake did not really have the « choice »  The sens of logic just forced them to use Linux.
 
Also, these people do not need friends or marketing to help them choosing what is the best for them - they just thought.

# 4.4 Conclusion

As you can see above, despite of its cost (free) using Linux is not a matter of budget - film industries and serious organizations can pay Windows or Macintosh, a hosting project can include a few thousand dollars for Windows licenses.
 
As you may know, Bing belongs to Microsoft - do not think Bing is running on Windows computers... it is just impossible.