Why I love Linux

The world of computing and that outside the house really are so much bigger than I can see and I find that there are plenty of things in the world that help to keep me distracted and insulated from learning about my environment. Linux, however, exists in a very different space. Working with Linux I feel challenged, welcome and encouraged to expand my own understanding about computers and the world of technology at large.

In a world with so many locked doors and a dollar price on everything, I feel I am very fortunate to be able to access a community of people and groups that welcome me to share their knowledge while benefiting from their achievments. I feel that I am a part of something that makes techonology accessible, instead of being a serf dependant on the protection and regime of the M$ castle.

I can not fight much in this world and am at peace not to. I regularly feel the sole of some boot on the back of my neck: if I stand my ground I will live a life fighting. But Linux gives me the opportunity to be free, supported and encouraged. I cant do much to change the world I live in, but Open Source feels to me like a fresh breath of air.

It took me a long time to just get desktop functional without any penguins in my circle to help me break the ice. But I got there, much to the credit of the likes of Mandriva getting so easy to use.