What Do I Gain?

No operating system is perfect, and nothing comes without some hassles, but as time goes on, Linux is getting closer and closer to perfection . These days, Linux is even easier to install than your old operating system, and you don't have to reboot time and again as you load driver disk after driver disk. I won't bore you with everything I consider an advantage but I will give you a few of the more important points.

Security

Say goodbye to your virus checker and stop worrying. Although Linux is not 100 percent immune to viruses, it comes pretty close. In fact, to date, most so-called Linux viruses do not exist in the wild (only under tightly controlled environments in proof-of-concept labs). It isn't that no one has tried, but the design model behind Linux means that it is built with security in mind. Consequently, viruses are virtually nonexistent in the Linux world, and security issues are dealt with quickly and efficiently by the Linux community. Security flaws are well advertised. It isn't unusual for a security hole to be discovered and a fix created within a few short hours of the discovery. If something does present a risk, you don't have to wait for the next release of your operating system to come along.

Stability

The stability of Linux is almost legendary. Living in a world where people are used to rebooting their PCs one or more times a day, Linux users talk about running weeks and sometimes months without a reboot. Illegal operations and the Blue Screen of Death are not part of the Linux experience. Sure, programs occasionally crash here, but they don't generally take down your whole system with them.

Power

Linux is a multitasking, multiuser operating system. In this book, I concentrate on the desktop features of Ubuntu Linux, but under the hood, Linux is a system designed to provide all the power and flexibility of an enterprise-class server. Linux- powered Web site servers and electronic mail gateways move information along on the Internet and run small to large businesses. Under the friendly face of your graphical desktop, that power is still there.

Money

It is possible to do everything you need to do on a computer without spending any money on softwarethat means new software and upgrades alike. In fact, free software for Linux is almost an embarrassment of riches. In Chapter 8, I'll show you how to install (or remove) additional software on your Linux system. You won't believe how easy it is.

Freedom from Legal Hassles

When you run Linux, you don't have to worry about whether you've kept a copy of your operating system license. The GNU GPL, which I mentioned earlier, means you are legally entitled to copy and can legally redistribute your Linux CDs if you wish.

Keep in mind, however, that although Linux itself can be freely distributed, not all software that runs on Linux is covered by the same license. If you buy or download software for your system, you should still pay attention to the license that covers that software.

What Do I Lose?

Nothing ever seems to be perfect. By moving to Linux you gain a great deal, but I would be doing a disservice if I did not mention the disadvantages.

Hardware and Peripheral Support

The hardware support for Linux is, quite honestly, among the best there is, and Ubuntu Linux's hardware support is among the best in the Linux world. In fact, when you consider all the platforms that run Linux, its hardware and peripheral support is better than that of the Windows system you are leaving behind. Unfortunately, there are some consumer devices designed with Windows specifically in mind. Consequently, certain printers or scanners may have limited support under Linux because the manufacturer is slow in providing drivers. That said, the vast majority of standard devices work very well and you aren't likely to run into too many problems.

On the upside, you'll find that where you always had to load drivers to make something run in your old OS, Linux automatically recognizes and supports an amazing number of peripherals without you having to do anything extra or hunt down a driver disk. Furthermore, the Linux community is vibrant in a way that few businesses can ever hope to be. If you have your eye on a hot new piece of hardware, you can almost bet that some Linux developer somewhere has an eye on exactly the same thing.

We'll talk about devices and device drivers later in Chapter 6.

Software Packages

There is a huge amount of software available for the Linux operating system. Amazingly, most of it is noncommercial and free for the download. There are thousands of games , tools, and Internet and office applications available to run on your system. You don't have to go far either. Most modern distributions come with several hundred packages on the CDs, more than enough to get you going, working, and playing without having to look elsewhere. Once again, much of the software out there will cost you nothing more than the time it takes to download it.

And installation? With the Synaptic package manager included with Ubuntu, you'll be asking yourself why it wasn't this easy to install software in your old OS!

On the other hand, commercial, shrink-wrapped software, including those hot new 3D games at your local computer store, are still hard to come by. As Linux grows in popularity, particularly on the desktop, this is starting to change.

There are ways around this issue, however. For instance, you can pick up a package called Cedega that lets you install and run Windows games.

A Step into the Unknown

Let's face it. For some, moving to Linux is a step into the unknown. Things won't be exactly as they were with your old operating system, and for the most part, this is a good thing. You will have to do a little relearning and get used to a different way of doing things.

Even so, if you are used to working in your Windows graphical environment and you are comfortable with basic mousing skills, writing the occasional email, surfing the Web, or composing a memo in your word processor, moving to Linux won't be a big deal. Your Linux desktop is a modern graphical environment, and much of what you have learned in your old operating system can be taken with you into this new world.