Major new worm poses serious threat worldwide (Attack?)

Linux rarely costs nothing. There are usually numerous hidden costs associated with running it. Sure, you can download it for free but if you don’t have a burner you either have to go buy one or you have to buy the Linux discs or have someone burn you a copy. Only a fool operates a computer without a OS on disc.

I have three computers in my apartment and can’t run Linux on any of them because of hardware support. My server has a Cisco ADSL NIC that has no Linux driver. My primary client has a Nvidia GeForce 3 with no Linux driver. And my laptop has no LCD support.

It would cost me hundreds of dollars to install Linux in my home, although I have a great Linux server at work. EVEN if I actually bought a MS OS I’d still be ahead of the cost of Linux. The fact is that computer geeks rarely end up paying for their software. I think the last time I paid for a MS OS was 3.11.

Furthermore, Linux doesn’t support a host of programming languages…many of which are favorites of crackers, like VB. And, with Linux, forget gaming, which is a pastime of many crackers.

Linux has it’s strengths and, in certain circumstances, is the perfect OS but, it’s actual general usefulness and convenience is still far more narrow than Linux zealots like to admit. Much like Macs.

Linux rarely costs nothing.

That's a good point to make. Someone once said, ``Linux is only free if your time is worth nothing.'' That said, someone who is familiar with Linux can still get up and productive faster than someone who is familiar with Windows.

There are usually numerous hidden costs associated with running it. Sure, you can download it for free but if you don?t have a burner you either have to go buy one or you have to buy the Linux discs or have someone burn you a copy. Only a fool operates a computer without a OS on disc.

``Only a fool...'' I hadn't really considered that before. It's never really hampered me before, but I can kinda see your point. That's why there are Linux CDs available at places like www.cheapbytes.com and www.linuxmall.com for about $5.

I have three computers in my apartment and can?t run Linux on any of them because of hardware support. My server has a Cisco ADSL NIC that has no Linux driver. My primary client has a Nvidia GeForce 3 with no Linux driver. And my laptop has no LCD support.

Cisco: that's a bummer. There are TONS of other DSL solutions, of course, but I could understand your desire not to mess with what's working. :-)
nVidia: http://www.nvidia.com/us/nn/pg000014.htm
laptop: what is it?

This just demonstrates that the problem is that some vendors will neither (a) develop drivers for Linux, or (b) release technical specs so others can develop drivers for Linux. It's a Catch-22: vendors won't develop Linux drivers until Linux is more profitable and widespread on the desktop; Linux won't be widespread on the desktop until it receives more vendor support. And the user loses.

It would cost me hundreds of dollars to install Linux in my home, although I have a great Linux server at work. EVEN if I actually bought a MS OS I?d still be ahead of the cost of Linux. The fact is that computer geeks rarely end up paying for their software. I think the last time I paid for a MS OS was 3.11.

Um, so where do you get these free Microsoft operating systems?

Furthermore, Linux doesn?t support a host of programming languages?many of which are favorites of crackers, like VB.

VB is a favorite with crackers because they are developing WINDOWS cracks! Why go through the trouble of learning a real programming language like C when you can fake it with VB and get the same results on Windows boxen? (BTW, *Visual* Basic is just an extension of BASIC, which is certainly available on Linux. If you are interested in a visual extension of BASIC for Linux, check out Phoenix Object Basic at http://www.janus-software.com/. Also note that VB for Linux is in the works, or so I hear.)

Anyway, programming environment is another place where Linux really makes sense. Free compilers are available for nearly every language ever invented or conceived. How much does Visual C++ cost? ;-)

And, with Linux, forget gaming, which is a pastime of many crackers.

http://www.lokigames.com/ -- I do okay playing Unreal Tournament, Quake 3 Arena, Heavy Gear II, and Descent 3. Just a sample of the games available through Loki Entertainment.

Linux has it's strengths and, in certain circumstances, is the perfect OS but, it's actual general usefulness and convenience is still far more narrow than Linux zealots like to admit.

Linux is still less of a consumer-grade operating system. (I'm admitting it, and I'm not even a zealot!) However, one of its strengths that EVERYONE should be interested in (especially consumers) is security. The problem is that there still isn't a good, widely-available Linux distribution that locks everything down by default. (RedHat comes close in 7.1, but (a) they still ask the user (it shouldn't even be an install option!), and (b) they still start all sorts of network services by default.)

Ah, well...

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