Linux Declares Victory Over Microsoft

Linux has been battling against Microsoft for almost two decades now. When Linux made its debut in 1991, very few thought it would ever be more than a vain attempt at a free operating system. Most computer users were dedicated Microsoft users. As Linux developed and popularity grew, Microsoft began to sit up and take notice.

Linux has declared victory over Microsoft after their long battle. In fact, with the exception of the desktop, Linux sees itself as beating everything Microsoft has to offer in other categories. Many of the servers throughout the world are Linux based. A decade ago, many businesses chose to use Microsoft servers, but the cost and maintenance was more than businesses wanted to handle if they could avoid it. Linux provided a more stable, extremely cheaper alternative.

Though "geeks" were the first to dive on board the Linux wagon, many home users decided to give Linux a try. After all, what's the worst thing that could happen by installing a free operating system and free software? Taking a chance on Linux just involved a learning curve and a little time to install. When Live CDs made their appearance, there was no reason not to try Linux. No installation required. You could boot straight from a CD without modifying your hard drive or losing your Windows operating system.

Unlike Microsoft, Linux is open source, meaning the source code is freely available to build upon. This has resulted in custom Linux operating systems geared towards specific groups of users. Microsoft works to appeal to the masses. Linux works to appeal to everyone, from the home user to the most advanced users. How many users can say they were able to tweak any Microsoft source code to better fit their needs?

If users didn't want to give up Windows, Linux was absolutely fine with this. Unlike many Microsoft and even Apple applications, Linux gave users software that was compatible on almost any platform. Not only is the software compatible, but it's free. With software costs seeming to skyrocket everytime something new is released, free alternatives are going to make a huge dent competitors' profits.

Linux now powers many of the most popular consumer electronics as well, such as the Amazon Kindle. Though experts don't exactly believe Linux has completely beaten Microsoft, there is no denying that some version of the Linux operating system or software is almost everywhere now. Linux is a force to be reckoned with as they believe in customization, full user control and compatibility. Microsoft has never been able to compete with those ideas. In the end, Linux and Microsoft both have their place. For most users, a combination of the two works best, making both successful in their own way.

References:

TechSpot.com - http://www.techspot.com/news/43156-linux-foundation-bashing-microsoft-now-is-like-kicking-a-puppy.html