Years ago, when I got acquainted with Linux, I was annoyed. I wondered why anybody would be willing to learn how to type all those cryptic commands and perform mysterious operations just to work on a computer. Gradually, I learned to appreciate its unexpected virtues. These days, it’s the environment where I feel most comfortable. Some will say, however, that BSD (another flavor of free Unix) is even better.
What are the advantages of an open source operating system? I would list them in two main categories.
Personal benefits
For the Linux user, those days shopping for anti virus, firewalls and similar security software are over. Trojans, bots and similar are things of the past. In a complex and hectic world, that is one less problem to worry about. You will not have to suffer all those false alarms from your “security suite” interrupting your work.
Speed notoriously increases, especially in intensive tasks, like image processing or number crunching. The computer boots faster and many programs, including Microsoft Office, typically run better.
Stability becomes the rule. In a well configured system, computer crashes are a sporadic phenomenon.
For scientists, there are plenty of excellent programs available for download. Most of the tasks that would require thousands of dollars in proprietary software to implement, can be currently performed with efficient and reliable open software.
Environmental benefits
Using Open Source products supports a number of small companies all over the world, even in very poor communities. It promotes development of resources that will be used by a greater number of people and that will help reduce poverty. Many of our brothers and sisters in the world who are less fortunate will have access to current technology thanks to massive participation in the Open Source movement.
Open Source directly helps green computing. This will reduce global warming and pollution in general.
Finally, as a form of social therapy, the Open Source movement promotes unselfish collaboration without political or ideological boundaries. In a world troubled by greed and hatred, this effect in itself constitutes a priceless tool.
The Brain Shop 