Reply #4: Several reasons, thank you for asking! [View All]

* Open-source. This means others can look at and modify/improve upon the source code. This can lead to improvements from one person that another couldn't think of. This also means that you're not enslaved to the corporate manufacturer of the closed-source program to wait for a fix, assuming they bother to fix it. Microsoft is notorious for forgetting about worthwhile repairs and improvements and instead are throwing in lots of new features, 90% of which you'll never ever use. That is beyond stupid and irresponsible.

* Speedy - apps and games run muck more quickly under Linux than Windows. QUake 3 and Unreal Tournament can be played in Linux at the highest of resolution settings using yesterday's technology while it runs MUCH slower on the same exact hardware. With today's hardware, Linux literally travels at warp speed!

* No registry. The registry in Windows is a large configuration file containing EVERYTHING. One little corruption and it's time to reinstall. Registry cleaning products can only go so far. And it is impossible to compress the registry once lines are removed from it. Again, it's more sheer sloppiness on Microsoft's part. If people knew how sloppy Microsoft was, I doubt they'd still be in business. Yes, they are that pathetic.

* Reliable file systems. ReiserFS is a more stable file system than NTFS. NTFS was promised to be robust and reliable and fragment-proof. On the contrary, it fragments FREQUENTLY and I've lost many a file because it is NOT robust. I always shut down properly, even after a program crashes. I still end up with chkdsk running and data getting "fixed" (which ruins it) or simply wiped.

* Secure. Unlike Windows' security, it's much harder for a standard Linux user to go around changing settings and deleting files that they're not allowed permission to have. Operating system files are kept seperate and are appropriately handled in Linux. It's just another messy shambles in Windows.

* Microsoft also supports TCPA. They use the guise of fighting piracy to support TCPA (trusted computing) but if you read more into this (www.thermodynamic-online.com/me/optionalpolitics.html) you'll see it's out to dominate and restrict freedoms, especially to potential whistle-blowers. TCPA is for businesses to trust each other. Individuals and moral citizens be damned.

Windows is sloppy hapzahardly written crap, pure and simple.

Linux exists, runs on existing hardware, is free for the adventurous or costs a very small amount of money for those who don't want to download everything off the net. I'd rather pay to get the distribution disc myself. SuSE contains the most bang for the proverbial buck and gets the highest ratings in UK and European articles.