I was once an Apple guy, but that was pre-Mac. I loved the Apple IIs
openness and hated the Mac's locked down closed approach. I left for DOS and
never looked back. Now I am a hardcore Linux guy for the same reasons that I
loved the Apple II. I love the idea that it is open and free. It takes me
back to my roots.

Unfortunately many people grew up with the locked down mentality because
they came to computing through the Mac or Windows. They do not feel what I
feel because they have never experienced it.

If nothing else Linux is a breath of fresh air. I love that it is
alternative. I love that it is free and open. I love that it is community
based. I love that it is something that I can change and become part of. I
love that it is so diverse. I would not change a thing if I could. Most
people do not get that.

They approach things form an entirely different perspective. They see one OS
as best because it gives uniformity. I see uniformity as mediocre and bland.
They would rather have one distribution, one package management system, one
desktop environment, etc. Choice boggles their mind because they have never
enjoyed it. It is like a prisoner must feel walking out of solitary
confinement and being placed in a shopping mall where everything is free.
You face overload and don't know where to begin.

But, the thing is that there is no rush. Take your time with Linux. It is
changes quickly, but it remains fundamentally the same. It won't go away. If
you use GNOME, KDE won't disappear as a choice because many others use it
and support it. If you use Ubuntu now there is nothing to say that you won't
try Fedora at some future point. Fedora is going nowhere. The idea is to
start small and learn as you go along.

I think that Linux is a perfect fit for most people and especially for those
in the third world. It should be part of every government at all levels
because tax payers should not be subsidizing Microsoft or Apple when there
are free and open alternatives.

I hear Microsoft apologists say that Linux is communistic, but it can't be
if it is free and open. Communism is about being closed and locked down
which is what Windows and Apple OSes are all about if you think about it. If
you read the Microsoft license then you see that you have no choice. You buy
Windows but never own it. Microsoft owns it and you just get squatter's
rights.

Linux is Microsoft and Apple's biggest threat because it offers freedom of
choice. They cannot stand that or live with it. that is why they do
everything that they can to pressure OEMs not to offer Linux as a choice and
they churn out so much FUD about Linux. Most of their litigation against
Linux based companies, Tom Tom, Motorola, HTC etc. isn't about winning a
settlement or getting money. It is about spreading fear. If you use Linux
then Microsoft or apple will come after you. As long as they can raise that
boogie man then they can stave off their demise.

Linux is the future. Free and open is the future. Collaboration in
development is superior to closed shop development. People are just
beginning to see that. Even Microsoft is showing signs of getting it. There
are people in the company that are progressive, unfortunately none is named
Steve Ballmer. He is Microsoft's biggest weakness. Company insiders
recognise that. A recent survey of Microsoft employees showed that they are
bullish about the company but not about their CEO.