Yes, lynx, you can haz Linux.

Ubuntu 10.04: Lucid Lynx was released this week. As a popular flavor of Linux, a free and open alternative to Windows and Mac OSX, Ubuntu has developed a cult-like following among computer geeks. I myself dabbled in its dark arts while studying in England. What can I say? I was young, foolish, and feverish with (open source) passion. That fling ended (as many do) upon return to America. I found my Mac OSX reinstall disk and wiped Ubuntu from my iBook’s memory. I’ve even used Windows Vista and 7 on my newest laptop. But upon hearing about Lucid Lynx, I eagerly installed it on half of my hard drive, and I’m in love all over again. My name is Sibo, and I have an Ubuntu addiction…

1. Linux and its software are free. Granted, Windows and Mac have their share of awesome freeware. But a lot of freeware is developed for Linux first and later ported to other operating systems. As a result, X11 freeware such as GIMP or Inkscape work more smoothly under Ubuntu than under Windows. For essential programs that are Windows-only, Ubuntu programs can run a virtual installation of Windows.
2. Ubuntu software and drivers are dead-simple to install. Lucid Lynx comes with the Ubuntu Software Center program, from which you can install virtually any Ubuntu program with one mouse click. Uninstalling a program is just as easy. This makes trying out new programs very simple and addicting because we’re lazy. The effect of its unified simplicity is comparable to that of the iPhone App Store, Xbox LIVE, or the Amazon Kindle Store for mobile apps, games, or books, respectively.
3. Linux is rock-solid. A high school classmate’s computer was hacked, and it now regularly messages me links to adult websites. Too bad he wasn’t using Linux. Linux doesn’t allow any programs/viruses/spyware to be installed without the user entering their password. Unless you store national security secrets on your computer, no one is going to be hacking into your computer. Also, I’ve yet to experience a blue screen of death or infinitely spinning hourglass with Linux.
4. Ubuntu is productive. That’s not surprising, given that Ubuntu is largely developed by programmers for programmers. Computer programmers are like Olympic weight-lifters, only instead of using HGH to push themselves to greater max weight or reps, programmers use caffeine to maximize their productivity. And with Ubuntu, mortal computer users like me can profit from their productivity enhancements. Ubuntu productivity boosters include virtual workspaces, Gnome Do, and built-in custom global hotkeys.

Give Ubuntu a try! I currently have it dual-booting with Windows 7, in case I need to switch back for some reason. Alternatively, if you burn Ubuntu to a CD or USB stick correctly, you can actually run Ubuntu for a test drive without installing anything on your hard drive. So what’ve you got to lose besides costs, frustrations, viruses, and inefficiencies?