I grew up using Windows. My first computer was a Tandy from Radio Shack running Windows 3.1. I remember how cool I thought my family was for owning one. Over the years we upgraded of course, but always within the Windows family of products. Only schools seemed to use Apple computers, I didn't know anyone who had one of those at home growing up. It wasn't until high school that I even really began hearing of people using Apple or Linux computers on a regular basis. Those seemed scary and foreign to me, as all I had ever known was Windows.

Fast forward about 10 years now and you'll hear a lot of folks with very strong opinions on PC (Windows) vs Macs (Apple). The one you probably don't hear about a lot is Linux. With some of the newest Linux releases stepping up their game, Linux is not a very real contender in the operating system market. It also has some really big advantages. For one, it is open source software. That means programmers from all over can look at the code, tinker with it and make it meet their specific needs. Hundreds or programmers, if not thousands to correct bugs, meet user demands and roll out a usable product faster. Oh, and did I mention, that it is free? That’s right, almost all open source software is free. So not only can you download and install your operating system for free, but most of your programs as well! Just about any program available on Windows or Mac has an open source version ready to be downloaded by Linux users.

Linux comes in many versions or distributions. Each has their own strengths and quirks that makes them well suited to a specific task or type of user. For the average computer user, I would highly recommend Ubuntu (pronounced EW-BOON-TO). Ubuntu is very user friendly and offers many familiar features from Windows or Mac operating systems. Icons can be saved to the desktop as shortcuts to often used programs, Applications are also listed in the menu at the top of the screen along with recently used places and System Administration Tools. Ubuntu systems can be setup to allow multiple users, so each user may customize his or her experience. Really anything a computer used can do on a Windows PC or Mac, they can easily do on Linux, and probably cheaper!

So shop around the next time you buy a new computer. Remember that there are more choices available out there besides Windows or Mac. Many netbooks now come pre-installed with a form of Linux, and Ubuntu Laptops can be purchased from Dell over the phone (but not online at this time.) Explore your options, you may find what you grew up with is no longer the best fit for you.