Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
Let me start off the story here with the past. I was, in the beginning, a diehard Windows user - not only with desktop machines but also with servers. I have owned several servers that were running Windows NT, and later Windows 2003 server, using IIS for the web server software. I have used Windows 3.x, 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, 2000 and XP for my desktop OS systems. Even when my servers were networked to other servers, I ran Windows while the other servers in the network were running on Linux.
I did defend Microsoft and Windows right and left - against all attacks on them by others who thought less of the company and the operating systems it produced. But, even then I did from time to time dabble with Linux. I attempted to install Redhat once, and failed at that - the install was highly complex, and it didn't work afterwards. So I returned to Windows. I wouldn’t try Linux again for several more years.
My second attempt at using Linux was with Mepis, I had a thing for the egyptian theme. It installed wonderfully, and I did it as a dual-boot option so I didn’t have to fully give up my beloved Windows OS and applications that I loved so much. But of course by this time I had already begun some tech support for Linux servers at my job, and I was beginning to see the difference. Needless to say, like a n00b, I hosed my Linux system and when it came to having to reinstall from scratch, I again opted to shelve Linux and reclaim the hard drive space for Windows.
My third and final attempt came shortly thereafter. At this point, I was using both Windows and Mac OS X, but Mac OS X didn’t let me easily install anything from source code. The differences between Darwin and other *nix systems was too great, and it would require too much editing of code. I was also using Windows less and less. My server had already been switched from a Windows server to a Linux one just a couple of years back. Cost was lower, and I had enough information to know what I was doing. So I gave up Windows for Linux. installing Ubuntu Linux - again choosing a Debian variant as I did when I previously used Mepis. And, of course, my Linux server was running Debian itself. It was familiar and even seemed friendly to me.
This was about 3-4 years ago. I haven’t looked back since. I sold my Macbook - great resale value in a Mac. And now I have replaced every bit of software I used to use on Windows and Mac with something freely available in Linux. Most software is in the repository already as a binary file. Some, of course, I have installed from source with little or no difficulty. And now I constantly read more on the command-line and evangelize the simplicity, ease, and low cost of Linux to anyone who will listen. And even to some who will not.
Linux provides everything that I need in an operating system for both the desktop or server environment. And at a fraction of the cost that Windows or Mac can offer. Using a desktop environment, even someone who is totally used to Windows can make the switch to Linux. In fact, even a person who is not technically inclined can do it. Linux really is easy to learn. It has options for those power users, far more options than Windows will ever have, via the command-line. But that’s not necessary for a general user who is going to surf the web, check email, and play some games.
If you are considering Linux, I suggest strongly in checking out the site “Why Linux is better” located at http://whylinuxisbetter.net - it has a ton of information available on that subject.
You can always ask me about Linux; I will be happy to show it to you. I can even provide you with a live CD so you can try out Linux without making any permanent changes to your system. You will be amazed and wonder how Windows or Apple are able to remain in the computer business with Linux out there, and it is a rising force.