It’s never too late to learn Linux. Sure, it’s been around for over twenty years, but the good news is that Linux has yet to hit its peak. Every year, the number of users continues to grow and there’s no sign that it’s going to stop any time soon.
Whether you’ve been putting off Linux for years or you’re just hearing about it for the first time, there are ample reasons to start today. Want to try now? These resources will get you started.
Why Learn Linux?
Linux isn’t for everyone. If you’re tied to Windows for some reason or another, then stick with it. If you don’t have the time or energy to learn a new operating system, that’s fine. However, you should know that there are real benefits to switching to Linux.
Open source philosophy. Linux is one of the most famous instances of open source software and a prime example of open source as a viable model for business. Without open source, we wouldn’t have Firefox, Apache, MediaWiki, BitTorrent, or any number of other products that we use on a daily basis. Using Linux is one way to show your support of the open source movement.
Linux is free. Even if you don’t support open source as a philosophy, you can at least appreciate the movement for its tendency to produce free software. Windows costs upwards of a few hundred dollars. Mac, over a thousand dollars. But Linux? Not one cent.
Linux fits your specific needs. Windows and Mac are designed as lowest common denominators, which often results in a bloated system that can do a lot of things but doesn’t excel at any particular thing. Linux has hundreds of variants (called distributions or distros) and each one is designed to fill a particular niche. Choosing the right distro means using an operating system that’s perfect for you.
Job prospects. The world is moving towards greater technical literacy and the number of businesses adopting Linux is growing, particularly when it comes to networks and servers. Who administrates and maintains those systems? Who develops the software? By learning Linux, you could be setting yourself up for a job in the future.
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