[Eratosthenes]

I use Linux a lot and have since about 1998--I'm using it now. I like being able to use my PC the way I want to--not the way Microsoft thinks I should. For me, Linux is a much more comfortable programming environment.

OK, software. There is a lot of software for Linux and most of it is free. The only things that I missed from Windows were poker clients (see below) and some specialized business applications. If your software needs are mainstream productivity applications, web surfing, etc., then you are probably OK with Linux.

I have been playing about 1,000 hands/day on PokerStars under Linux, using Wine. Wine is a "Windows compatability layer" that allows Windows programs to run on Linux. I also run Pokerstove on Linux/Wine. I have not yet attempted to run the Party client under Wine, but will when I feel like playing there again. I'm not a gamer, but I understand that some games work well under Wine.

If you are a computer user and are happy with Windows, then don't bother with Linux. If you want to learn more about computers or take full control of your computer, then consider Linux. If you want to have far fewer concerns about spyware, viruses, worms, and malware, in general, then consider Linux.