I have always had a fascination with desktop Linux. After all, it’s sleek, fast (usually) and being Open Source, the various Linux distros come with lots of free software. I sometimes think of it as “Mac light,” but Mac fans will probably disagree with that description.

The Problem

My problem with Linux has been that there is so much configuration to do to get certain computer peripherals to work properly. I have especially had this problem with audio, video and playing DVDs. Seems like it is hard to find a distro that will perform all of this functionality seamlessly. There are some paid Linux distros that offer this support, but then you might find other issues, including that your laptop’s internal wireless won’t work because it is configured for Windows, etc. I know Linux is much more secure and you don’t have to deal with all of the issues facing Windows: spyware, viruses, trojans, etc. Of course, a good virus checker, firewall program and related software also takes care of that. It is a fact of life that Windows is so mainstream. It allows you to seamlessly use so many applications, especially business-related applications.

So, what’s the answer? Linux can be fun and enjoyable to use. Is it advisable to have a “dual boot” computer? Or is staying with the total practicality that Windows currently offers a better option?

It’s an interesting question.

http://geoff-caplan.com, email geoff@mail.org