I keep wondering why Linux keeps getting the “red-headed step-child” routine when it’s so obviously not just some passing fad waiting on it’s time to end. Makes no sense to me. I can understand why M/$ fan-boys trash-talk it. They obviously like their bloated, insecure, slow-loading Windows machines and see nothing wrong with them what so ever. That and that’s all their companies use so they have no choice.

I on the other hand, use my Windows laptop for business purposes and for some personal reasons like the vacation my wife and I just got back from. I also use my Linux desktop for many things too like publishing to this blog, my volunteer work on several forums and a host of other things that I find it much more useful for instead of the laptop. My desktop runs Ubuntu 8.04 and has so far not let me down once. Admittedly, neither has my laptop yet but Windows being Windows….it’s time will come. But back to the topic: Why diss Linux?

Zale Dowlen reports that Consumer Reports didn’t mention Linux even once in an article about computer security:

Consumer Reports just published an article in their September 2008 issue regarding computers and online security. The articles was all Windows based, except for one minor mention of the Mac (which had to do with how insecure Safari, the standard Mac web browser, is). Not one time did I find an acknowledgment of Linux.

Did Linux do something wrong? In a word, no. Linux is doing things right. Linux having 1% of the OS market has something to do with it’s inherent security I’m sure but still, the continued trashing of this wonderful OS is just childish.

Let’s tick off some features for comparison just to see why:

1. Cost: Linux (most distros): free | Windows/Mac: over $100 depending on version.
2. Downloadable Apps: Thousands free | Windows/Mac: Most will cost you. Some are free.
3. System load time: Linux: less than a minute | Windows/Mac: over a minute
4. Hardware requirements: Linux: will run on most any PC | Windows: needs lots of RAM/CPU | Mac: will run only on it’s own platform.
5. Applications: Linux: comes with more applications right out of the box than any other OS out there. | Windows: Trial ware installs of Office that will cost you out the wazoo. | Mac: decent selection out of the box.

Now I’m sure that someone out there will take offence to my short list above but it’s not meant to be a complete list. Agreed, there are features of each OS that the others cannot duplicate or do as well but my point is this: Why keep dissing Linux when it obviously doesn’t deserve it?

I’m thinking jealousy. You get more with a Linux OS than you do with a Windows one for example. I don’t own a Mac so I can’t comment about what all comes with them. I’d have to consult my daughter as she’s the only one that has one in our family.

I’ve a suggestion for the Linux bashers out there: If you haven’t given it a decent chance, you have no opinion other than to say you gave up too soon on it. You had to learn Windows or a Mac. Did you give up on them too? I think not. So either learn the ropes in Linux so you have a valid point when you try to trash-talk it or just sit back and enjoy being led around by the nose with what you have now.

Linux isn’t for everyone just like Windows or Mac’s aren’t either. Use what works best for your needs and leave the trash-talking to the ones who’ve at least given it a decent try.