My brother ... has been aware of Linux for several years.
Linux has been very popular with computer purists (think people who might work mostly with mainframes and who don't necessarily require a GUI (graphical user interface)) since the late '90s. Linux is far more secure than Windows (by leaps and bounds, actually!) and basically never crashes (except in extremely rare cases), which is one of the reasons it's a popular operating system for Web servers (where clients tend to get really miffed when the server crashes). But the fact that it hadn't had a simple GUI has kept it off of the desktop. But two GUIs that have been developed for Linux, KDE and Gnome, are helping to make Linux more accessible to people without degrees in Computer Science and Operating Systems, and we're starting to see Linux make some inroads on the desktop, particularly now that Microsoft can no longer force - oops, did I say that - of course, I meant to say that now that Microsoft can no longer strong arm - oops, there I go again - I meant to say that now that PC manufacturers have a viable alternative to Windows. Wal-Mart is selling a PC equipped with the Lindows version of Linux. And both Dell and Gateway are offering their customers Linux, Windows or both when they purchase a new PC.
One of the really great things about Linux is that it's what's known as Open Source (hence the slogan "May the Source Be With You") and governed by the GNU GPL FSF (GNU General Public Lincense Free Software Foundation). The entire Linux operating system is free to download from several different Web sites (in what's known as ISO image files) and to transfer to CDs/DVD. (Though, if someone feels they might require technical support, they can also pay one of several companies (
Red Hat,
Mandrake,
United Linux, etc.) for that support and receive CDs and/or a DVD of Linux in the package.) Programs that run under Linux are also free (or can be obtained from companies for a fee for support). The entire idea behind Linux and the GNU is that users should have:
- The freedom to run a program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to their needs (freedom 1). (A reason why you need a program's source code.)
- The freedom to redistribute copies so they can help their neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release their improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). (Another reason why you need a program's source code.)
This goes completely against a proprietary company philosophy like Microsoft's - and actually, has Microsoft quaking in their boots because Linux and the GNU are being embraced by several Asian countries (where most computer hardware is manufactured), and it's making inroads in Europe - even more so now that Microsoft can't force - oops, did I say that yet again?
Well, you get the picture.
And actually, one of my favorite recent magazine graphics is this one:
which was published in the January 1st issue of CIO magazine as part of the article, "Linux Scales New Heights."