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Microsoft Windows, for all its warts and imperfections, is still the operating system of choice for the vast majority of PC users.  Computer users have come to accept occasional system slowdowns and crashes as a normal part of the computing experience.  Since most computers are sold with Microsoft Windows already installed by the manufacturer, many consumers never learn that there are many other operating system options available to them.  For many, particularly for those with older hardware or who desire more control over their computing environment, the open source Linux operating system is a viable alternative.

For years Linux has been known as a plaything of geeks and computer nerds, and not something for the average computer user.  However, many versions of Linux have been created in recent years that are designed to be used by those who have never experienced an alternate operating system.  The installation process has gone from a tedious technical affair that required the user to know intricate details about system hardware to a graphical setup program that automatically detects most hardware configurations.  The old Linux command line interface, with its arcane appearance and mysterious and obscure suite of commands and operators that once struck fear into the heart of many a computer novice, has been superseded by slick looking and intuitive graphical user interfaces.  Of course, the command line is still there for the hard core power users, but the average user can install and use Linux quite well without ever having to see a command line terminal.

So now we know that the average computer user CAN switch from Windows to Linux.  Of course, the fact that something can be done alone is not enough to justify doing it.  What does the average user have to gain by switching?  The first obvious benefit of running Linux is price.  While a single copy of Microsoft Windows can run more than one hundred dollars, and all of the application software that a typical user needs can cost one thousand dollars or more, Linux is free.  While some vendors charge for their specialized versions, the base distributions of Linux cost absolutely nothing.  On top of that, all of the software is free as well.  And business users need not fear the loss of popular word processing and spread sheet applications–the Linux equivalents are every bit as functional as their Microsoft based counterparts.  In fact, most Linux office systems can read and save files in popular Microsoft formats.  And, again, all of this costs nothing.

Another reason that someone might be tempted to switch to Linux is that most Linux distributions consume fewer system resources that Windows.  This means that older computers that struggle to even boot under Windows can become powerhouses under Linux.  In fact, many people who make the switch for the first time do so precisely for this reason. 

Those who are tempted to switch to Linux but are nervous about making the jump can take advantage of certain unique versions of Linux that can boot and run entirely from a compact disk.  Running an operating system this way is certainly slower than running from the hard disk, but running this way can give the user an idea of what working in a Linux environment is like.

It appears that Linux has finally progressed to the point that it can serve as a real and viable operating system alternative.  As with any software, there is a learning curve involved when one comes to Linux for the first time.  However, the learning curve is not as steep as many people think and is becoming shallower every day.  At long last, PC users have real options when choosing their operating system software. 

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