Why try Linux?

If you're new to the "Linux world", this article is going to give you some basic ideas on why you should give it a try.

It's safer

This is - and I hope it always is - one of the main reasons to use Linux. Once you “jump in,” your fears about spyware, adware, Trojans, worms, and viruses will be gone. Not only is there virtually no malware available for Linux but the operating system is very more secure than Windows. Linux has, of course, its own characteristics that make the system more secure but also imposes, both users and programs, behaviors and conditions of use healthier, which further contributes to safety.

It is faster

Linux can be as slow or as fast as you want, depending on the distribution you use, the chosen desktop environment, etc. However, there are some structural factors that make Linux a much lighter system than Windows. For example, the lack of need to use a resident antivirus or antispyware, the centralized update system that prevents each application (read, Flash, Adobe Reader, Java and others) from running its own update tools separately -with the consequent waste of resources-, the practically zero level of fragmentation of the disks that use the ext4 file system (used by default in almost all Linux distributions), the storage of the configuration of the programs in files and not in a registry unique, etc.

Is more stable

Linux stability varies from distribution to distribution. Thus, for example, Debian is much more stable than Arch Linux (which emphasizes permanent updating and the use of the latest available programs). However, in general terms it is possible to affirm without fear of being wrong that Linux is much more stable than Windows. It just doesn't hang as much as Windows does, especially when faced with a heavy workload. This is not to say that individual programs do not crash, but it is very rare that there is no alternative to hitting the reset button, thanks to Linux's incredible process handling. You can always restart the desktop environment (Ctrl + Alt + Backspace) or rest in one of the tty (Ctrl + Alt + F1 to F7) to solve the problem in question without having to restart the machine. In the worst case, it is possible reboot the system safely.

It is portable

Linux can be run from a hard drive, USB drive, or CD / DVD. This means that even if the installed operating system has stopped working it is possible to use Linux to recover your precious files ("my precious"). In addition, it is possible to have a secure operating system in the palm of your hand, allowing you to use a computer without leaving a trace. Eager to try it in the cyber café or hotel machine?

He's a machine resuscitator

If your computer already has gray hair and wrinkles, or if you are the owner of a notebook or netbook that is not going through its best moment, Linux will allow you to dust it off by putting at your fingertips a modern, ultra-fast operating system adapted to your needs. Do not contribute to the generation of computer garbage. The old computer you loved so much can be "resurrected." There is even even mini-distributions for computers with less than 50MB of RAM!

Es free

While not all Linux distributions are free, the vast majority are. Are you still paying a fortune to get Windows faulty and unsupported software? In Linux, not only the system is free but also most of the available programs. No need to keep downloading software illegally from dangerous websites when you can get a perfectly functional free alternative: Linux.

It is free software

Linux not only is it free, but also FOSS. This means that once obtained it can be freely used, copied, studied, modified, and redistributed. It is for that reason that there are so many Linux distributions! This is also true for the vast majority of programs available for Linux and even for the file formats supported. The difference may seem minimal or even boring, but it is fundamental: it makes you understand that the software business is turned "upside down." When you buy proprietary software you are actually signing a blank check (because neither you nor anyone else has access to the source code of that program, and therefore no one really knows what that program does). In addition, you cannot do anything with it, except use it (and that, under certain conditions), unlike what happens with a car that when you buy it you can "tune it" as you want or pay someone to do it, resell it, etc.

It is the best way to learn computing

Really learning how a computer works and not only memorizing the steps to get what you want is not an easy task but it can be a lot of fun. Thus, achieving a certain level of proficiency in using the command line will help you learn the fundamentals of any modern operating system. On the other hand, the huge library of free software that is available in Linux - whose source code can be downloaded, explored and modified - can serve as a basis for experimenting and learning how to write your own programs.

Can be customized until you drop

Linux is about choices. It is not only possible to install new programs or customize the desktop It is even possible to completely replace the desktop environment or even the kernel itself, in case you need one optimized for audio / video editing, for example.

This allows you to achieve desktops of a beauty and simplicity that are impossible to achieve on Windows and even on Mac.