Re: Fw: [seul-edu] Why use Linux?

[Thomas Tempé <thomas.tempe@insa-lyon.fr>]

On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 16:44:50 -0800
Emilio Gerardo Milian <egmilian@gene.com> wrote:

> 
> I am trying to get a list for my students why they should learn Linux.
> This is a list that I made, can you think of adding more reasons?
> 
> Emilio
> 

I think you emphatize too much on the paycheck.
Are you just recruiting the greedy  ones among your students?

I believe that the most important reason why you should user Linux is for the sheer FUN of it. But of ccurse, it's hard to see that in a school (mandatory ) project, where each new difficulty is a burden rather than a chance to learn more.

Second to this is the Free Software culture (not open source. Open source is just a downgraded version for the corporate bureaucracy, which leaves out the community and most of the fun part ;) which enables you to have access to any tool or documentation you may need. And if it doesn't exist yet, hell, then write it yourself. THAT is a fun and rewarding experience. Compare that to the M$ world (or the proprietary software world), where you sometimes don't even have the right to use a program for other purposes that what it was sold for.

Linux gives you control over your machine. Total control. That's something you just cannot understand if all you have seen is Windows.

Linux is the fruit of an engineers culture: you have to spend the time to learn it, but once you've got it, you gain so much more time.

> 
> WHY YOU SHOULD STUDY/LEARN ABOUT LINUX:
> 2) Leaning it and using it has a nice effect on your paycheck, making
> double as regular windows users. Shortage of users and law of supply and
> demand enables Linux/Unix users to get paid more than windows users.
> 4) WINDOWS is designed for the lowest common denominator to be stupid
> proof. Yet it still crashes.

Two arguments in one.

> 5) Unix/Linux was designed by programmers for smart computer users.
> Linux was created for NETWORKING AND THE INTERNET in mind, not as an
> afterthought.

You may want to add security.

> 8) Unix/Linux users have more self-esteem of their knowledge, level of
> competency, job level.
> 12) If you think UNIX/LINUX is too hard to learn, that's OK, that's less
> competion for UNIX/LINUX jobs, which  means more pay for us. Believe me
> I don't mind you NOT learning LINUX!!
> 13) In the next few years, there will be more work being done on web
> based applications, and less on software you install on your pc. Guess
> which WEB SERVER has 60% of the INTERNET MARKET?
> (In case you don't know the answer: APACHE LINUX SERVER) This means more
> work for UNIX/Linux staff not less work.
Good point. But The 60% are for Apache, not for Linux.
> 14) becuase it is free, OPEN SOURCE, and it is better, more stable than
> WINDOWS. You can legally copy it and give it to your friends if you want
> to. So if you are tired of paying the MICROSOFT UPGRADE TAX every year,
> then get LINUX, it  is a no brainer.

Good point, especially if the upcoming .net makes it near-to-impossible to use your buddy's CD.
You may want to refer to Free Software instead of Open Source.
True, I've listened to Richard Stallman. But as an afterthought, I realize that he's right to point out the difference. 
It's about the same difference between as the crusaders and the saints: both have the same tool (religion), olny for the crusaders, the very soul/meaning of the religion has been rippped off.

> 15. If you SOON want to buy a house , car, and enjoy life, why work for
> less when you can get top $$ with UNIX/LINUX.  
> 16) BECAUSE YOU ARE SMARTER THAN THE OTHERS, THAT'S WHY!!!  AND YOU KNOW
> IT!!!
Good point

Have fun,
-- 
Thomas Tempé

Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One. Only it's his light bulb when he's done.