Why Microsoft should be glad Linux exists.

Some might be confused by my title but read on. My adventures into Linux encouraged me to become a more active participant in the Trinidad & Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) and Trinidad & Tobago Linux User Group. Realistically, both groups are the same set of people. TTLUG hosted a meeting this past Saturday. A couple of my friends and I went. The topic: Live CDs of Linux. The first 5 minutes was a little history of Linux Live CDs (which was a little inaccurate but we’re all human), the rest was practically an inefficient slide show. The host simply demonstrated multiple distributions and commented about their possible uses. He was probably doing his best but when I looked around, everyone seemed to be proficient computer users who already knew everything that was beingdemonstrated. Because of this the meeting was pointless.

Any how, on our way to the meeting we were invited (more like nagged) to a sweat but we had a problem. Our laptops were running Linux. We (at least me) had not gotten WinX to work. By extension, the only game that was being played at the sweat would not be able to run. So we decided not to go. Why? It didn’t make sense to wipe out my Linux [that I worked so hard to install]…well that was what I kept telling myself.

The meeting came and went and guess what? I really didn’t want to spend the whole of Saturday night fighting with Linux, especially after that not so hot Linux meeting. So “bye-bye Linux and off to the sweat!” I didn’t like the distribution anyway. Hopped over to the sweat and re-installed Windows XP. That was it. I knew where to get drivers; the game installed without any hitch and the networking was as simple as plug and play. It took about 30 minutes collectively for the entire operation. It may be argued that I was accustomed to Windows. Well it’s true. I am! Sue me. It’s not that I haven’t given Linux a fair chance. I think I have. In fact, everyday I fight with new problems hoping to encounter the reason why thousands or even millions of other people use it.

Anyway, Linux is a mixed can of nuts. It has a very wide selection of software, installs on almost every platform and has wide selection of distributions to choose from. Here lies Mr Linus Torvalds brain child’s problem. Everyone can modify (pervert) his creation as they see fit. There are so many versions that it is hard for any one person to get a handle on everything “Linux”. The best anyone can do is to learn the common stuff and pick a distribution or two to stick with. What a fine pickle I got myself into. I only had a few distributions to work with. All had their good points and many bad ones. The lack of standardization has really screwed Linux over.

A similar comparison would be PC architecture. Practically anyone can build a PC once it runs x86 code. This has lead to PCs being synonymous with unreliability. I attribute this instability to the mixing of good and bad (or all bad) hardware. Most people with a serious computer related task typically use another platform. Firms like Sun, Apple and IBM build proprietary Workstations and Servers which enterprise sized company use. Why? These firms have absolute control of how the computer systems are built. That is, from growing the silicon, to etching the circuit board, to housing the components and finally, developing the operating system with stability and performance being their foremost concerns. They know exactly what needs to be done and how to go about doing it. Linux is like a PC and (dare I make this analogy) Microsoft Windows is like an Apple PC. Anyone can take the Linux core and do as they please once it adheres to the GLP License. With Windows, Microsoft has the first and last say, well, maybe not in Europe but hopefully you see my point.

Microsoft details how to go about developing programs and drivers for their operating systems. They also handle migrations and patches. The only edge Linux really has is the hordes of techs and programmers that contribute to its development. This diversity is working against them as well. So from a cost of ownership point, only an enterprise class business has the ability to run Linux. Why? They can spend money to investigate various distributions of Linux, train support staff and implement the OS. With Windows, Uncle Bill has done the ground work for us and manufactures have bought into it. From the certification of administrators, to testing drivers, to software development, Windows has almost everything covered. Where Windows falls short is their platform dependence on x86 architecture. We see signs of this changing but not anytime soon. So where does this leave the common man who thinks about buying a computer? With Windows! Why? Because when he buys a computer, it must work! If he wants some software to do something, it should be simple to install and work. He doesn’t want to recompile his kernel because, the last kernel had a security flaw or he bought a new video card. If his PC doesn’t work, he wants to know that he can call a tech to fix it. All these things and more, pave the way for Windows.

Linux is Microsoft’s main competitor, seconded by BSD (a distant uncle of Linux) and both thus far have proven to be a major pain in the ass for most users and even some techs such as myself. There are the exceptions to the rules. People willing to give up some functionality or are UNIX savvy, can and do thrive in such environments. For the rest of us, Microsoft Windows is the best solution. Its easy to use, has great driver support and the greatest software selection as far as I know. Even the open source community develops software for Windows. Ever since the release of Windows 2000 (followed but its over weight brother Windows XP), Microsoft has had a stable OS that could go head to head with the rest of OS’ out their. It maybe pricey but it works and works well. I’ve seen newbies try Linux and run away crying with cash in their hands for Windows (that was a dramatization but not an exaggeration). For that reason Microsoft should be glad Linux exists. What better marketing could you have?! Think about it. The only OS to come close to an easy to use interface and (at the time) easily implemented driver support was BeOS but it went the way of the Dodo bird (Palm)! For Linux to have a fighting chance, its got to get the Apple interface.