hello everyone. I'm basically a windows user with only recent knoppix exposure to linux. After running a basic search on google for my new laptop I'm finding alot of people talking about Fedora Core 4 on an HP zv6000 or zv6015us. What is the big deal? Why are people buying the $1400.00 laptop that I purchased and then (in some cases) wiping out the hard drive to install Linux? I really am curious? I have XP on my zv6015us and don't understand why people would go through the trouble of dealing with having to get this and that driver all for the sake of running Fedora. I happen to be a new and fully commited web developer and do realize the strength of open source for the future. But honestly, is it really worth all the trouble? I have a desktop that I can rely on running my Design/Development applications so I would actually consider following some of the actions that others have taken with their similar laptops. I just need to know what I am gonna be able to do that windows is not offering me now? Why should I take this step? What are the benefits? I love venturing into the unknown so it's not that I'm afraid to take the step. I really just want to know the benefits. Why Linux? My laptop was basically purchased for visiting clients and selling my services. I guess I could still do that with Linux. I really believe that Linux followers have reason for such a strong, growing following. Question again, why? As for developing, internet exploration, server capabilities, experience, etc..... please feel free to contribute as much as you can. I live in Mexico and am really one of the very few in my region really even attempting this linux move. Even other "computer" technicians have minimal knowledge of the actually using linux. How can I guarantee my future continued success by starting to implement Linux Now? --- I will be waiting for replys all week long and reading all of them so that I can make informed reliable decisions. --- Gracias a Todos

There are linux distros which are not hard. Linux is more stable, and sometimes more useful. Yes, WinXP prof. are good, and i think that deleting them (when they are pre-installed, you paid for them) is stupid. But you can put linux near windows ! Why not? And one more : there is more free applications for linux - ex. Platform for developing C++ ? M$ Visual C++ ? - 3000$ Kdevelop + gcc - free !
Also linux is more secure. It cant be hacked as fast as windows - On Win computer, with no (not MS) apps you have a virus in 8 minutes

Well, as a web developer myself, ok, so my official title is webflunky, I like linux for bluefish, the best html editor i have ever used, like notepad but with syntax highlighting, plugin to make tidy work in it, quick buttons and wizards that are actually useful and heres the big one, makes good human readable code!

not to mention that its free, is stable, and just plain works. It takes some getting used to, but remember when you first switched from dos to windows 3.1? that took some getting used to, learning the intricacies of it, but over time you'll get it if you stick with it. Security is big too, those malicous exe's and stuff that you get in email attachments, not a problem, they can only work with wine or somethin similiar...

The original design of the page isnt mine, but i maintain it and have reworked them so they work cross browser and cross platform, link below...

oh, that page is only mine to deal with will the next contest, this is a national rocket contest that my club is hosting, sometime after august 05 i relinquish control of it... <-- for the archives...

Scott McNeely

www.naram.org

How about I'm running Fedora Core 4 with SELinux (Security Enhanced linux) enabled as well as the standard iptables firewall. To use your example, I can walk into a prospective client and be fairly unconcerned about whether their network security and/or virus prevention is sufficient. Also, Linux and Linux applications tend to be standards based so there is a very low probability that anything I might implement on the linux box will be incompatible with any other environment.

BTW, I'm typing this post on a zv6015us running Fedora Core 4 (x86_64). I keep Windows XP (home edition) on a 10GB partition just in case there is something I can't do with Linux.

thanks for the replies. i still want to know though, how linux is gonna enable me to do more? i have no doubt that it has some type of value above windows. what are these benefits, values, and capabilities? all i seem to find is that there are more hack type tools available. i'm interested to hear from professionals that make a living off of computing. how does linux enable you to profit? how does linux enable you to sell more? any more input...