I know Linux has its own team of enthusiasts, but I want to highlight the monetary and environmental perks of using it. If you are using Windows, there are many reasons to switch to Linux. Namely it is:

• Energy saving
• Virtually virus-immune
• Completely free
• More customizable

An article featured on NetworkWorld here found that when running similar processes on Linux and Windows operating systems, Linux (particularly Redhat) performed more efficiently:

“Our tests point to Linux as the winner of the green flag by margins that topped out at 12%. But we must note that our results are full of stipulations imposed by our test bed, and as the more truthful car advertisements might warn — your wattage may vary.”

However, in reality, when running Linux you likely will not be running similar processes to Windows. You can chalk up these additional eco-benefits:

Anti-virus: Most people who use Windows constantly have an anti-virus program running in the background. This is necessary because Windows’ closed-source nature requires Microsoft to leave a “hole” in the program to patch up their mistakes, leaving it vulnerable. Linux, being open source, doesn’t do this. Almost all Linux users will tell you there is no need for anti-virus software. And that software uses energy (and likely costs money).

Customization: There are myriad Linux distributions to choose from. Some are rather resource intensive with lots of bells and whistles, while others are the bare minimum. The point is you can basically choose what you need. Linux is friendly towards the minimalist.

Nothing is obsolete: Microsoft does not limit its bully tactics to contracts that require Windows being packaged with Dell computers, or to integrating Internet Explorer into Windows’ functionality. They also engineer ridiculous incompatibilities into new Office programs so that if you linger with an older version, you are out of the loop. Linux doesn’t do this: being open source, its volunteer programmers strive for compatibility. If you ditch Windows, you can get along much better with an older computer. Thus saving on power consumption, costly upgrades, and their environmental impact.

Bonus: Change your mental software. Basic functions in Linux aren’t hard, but people are becoming crippled without Windows. MSI found that many people have no computer literacy without Windows (article here):

“They start playing around with Linux and start realizing that its not what they are used to,” Andy Tung of MSI told Laptop magazine in October. “They dont want to spend time to learn it so they bring it back to the store.”

Don’t be so dependent I say. Are you more comfortable adjusting to software from a bully like Microsoft, or from a bunch of people who created it for the sake of providing free software to the public? It’s a little different, but I think its good to change up your routine a little.

Going forward: Before installing, learn how to properly partition your hard drive. I am not the person to explain because I accidentally wiped clean 100% of my Windows baggage. However, if you can follow simple directions you will probably do better than me. This is the only point where you can seriously go wrong.

Next, find a distribution you like. I have toyed with LinuxMint, ZenWalk, Ubuntu, Knoppix, and SimplyMEPIS distributions. All I can offer is that for me, ZenWalk seems to be the right combination of simplicity, speed, and user friendliness. Just download, pop the disk in, and install it to your (successfully) dedicated hard drive partition.

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