Don’t Throw Out Those Old Computers – Use Linux!

The average computer user generally doesn’t know enough about computers to compare operating systems in order to determine which will run most efficiently and provide the most security. Our gauge for what works is frequently determined by what everyone else is using. We live in a world where Windows and Macintosh rule; therefore we tend to not give the Linux operating system a second thought. But we should! Linux is free, reliable and it runs extraordinarily well on old computers with little processing power. It makes sense to use it, particularly if you work for a nonprofit that relies on older, donated computers to operate.

Why You Might Want to Consider Using Linux

Linux is an operating system just like Microsoft Windows and MacOS on the Macintosh. Computer experts know it well and most of the Internet’s infrastructure is managed by Linux servers and computers. Many desktop computer users, however, have never heard of it. There are a lot of benefits to using Linux:

It is free. Windows costs money. So do MacOS upgrades.
It is easy to install. It is every bit as easy to install Linux as it is to install other software. Some Linux installers even allow you to run Linux off a CD, so that you can try it out on your computer without affecting anything else on the machine.
It is incredibly secure. Because Linux is open source, even if there were a widespread virus released today, there would be hundreds of patches released tomorrow - either by ordinary people that use the operating system or by the distribution maintainers. With Windows, you have to wait for a patch from a single company, all the while having to pay extra for virus protection software.
It is extraordinarily reliable. While Windows computers might go a day or a week before needing to restart, people often have Linux systems running for years without fear of the system crashing.
It is very efficient. Unlike Windows and Macintosh, Linux does not require large disk drives, huge amounts of RAM and a super fast processor. It can run incredibly well even on old, underpowered computers. Therefore, while you may not be able to run the latest version of Windows on those donated computers, Linux will run easily and quickly. In fact, Linux is so efficient that it can act as a Windows server more efficiently than Windows can be a Windows server.

What’s Stopping You?

With all of these benefits, it makes sense to use Linux! Some national governments and lots of universities have standardized on Linux for years, but the general public seems a little hesitant. So… what’s stopping people? Here are some of the most common myths and facts about Linux:

Myth: It is complicated and uses all sorts of weird cryptic commands.
Fact: This is true if you install it without a graphical user interface (GUI), but that’s completely your choice. Most desktop users would prefer to install Linux with a GUI since it makes it more user-friendly. In fact, you can customize the GUI to look much like Windows and Macintosh computers, so five minutes of orientation is all you will need to be fully productive.

Myth: Everyone else uses Windows.
Fact: Possibly the biggest concern people have is that, if they use Linux, they will have trouble sending and receiving emails and files to a Windows PC. This is simply not the case. Because email protocols are standardized, email from any computer (Windows, Macintosh, or Linux) works with email on any other computer. Files are no problem either, since Linux supports all the standard file formats. (In addition, consider the fact that Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 are all different operating systems, all in common use, and far from compatible with each other. Yet, users are able to easily exchange files and email despite the Windows operating system in use.)

Myth: There is no support.
Fact: The open source community supports Linux very well. If you need to talk to someone on the phone, you can buy support packages from many different companies, the most well-known being Red Hat.

Myth: Productivity software doesn’t run on Linux.
Fact: It’s true that Microsoft Word and Excel don’t run on Linux, but OpenOffice does. OpenOffice is free and is a productivity suite of software comparable to Microsoft Office. Although we use Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers at Sumac Research, we use OpenOffice on all of them. It doesn’t matter which computer you use - the documents work the same on each. OpenOffice can also open, edit and save Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents.

To learn more or to give Linux a try, visit: http://www.linux.org/.

Sumac is a complete, integrated software solution for non-profits that runs on Windows, MacOS and Linux. It’s also incredibly easy to use, has amazing functionality, and costs a fraction of what other software packages do! For more information on Sumac or for more articles published by Sumac Research, visit: http://www.sumac.com.