[smoore]

this is a case of, "If you have to ask....." People that need linux already know why they need it. I'd say you don't, off the cuff.

If you want to check it out find a knoppix ISO image and burn it. It's a live linux distro that's all on one CDROM. It's slow to load (CDROM, after all) but you can at least see what all the fuss is about.

BTW, there is LOTS of software for linux, it's just different software. Network stuff, programming stuff, etc. Linux is light on video/audio editing, choice of office apps, 1st run games, things like that.