What is an operating system anyway? It is, at heart, the piece of software that allows you to use your computer. It makes your hardware work in such a way that you can run software, see video and hear audio and take control with the keyboard and mouse. An operating system is not, in itself, productivity software or games or internet applications but the means by which you can use such programs on your computer.

In this regard, the operating system you use should be dictated by the hardware you want to use and the availability of the software you wish to run. A case in point: whether true or not, it’s generally accepted that the Macintosh has a rich suite of graphical and publishing tools. As a result, many graphic artists and publishers opt to purchase Macintosh hardware, with MacOS, so that they can run these software packages which meet their needs.

Yet, for the bulk of small business and home users the choice of operating system is rarely considered. Microsoft Windows has a massive market share so for many people they have prior familiarity with it and little else. Most all Intel/AMD style personal computers come with Windows pre-installed. And it’d be a rare laptop which doesn’t have Windows bundled. Despite this, there’s no reason to assume that Windows is the right choice for every person, or that every individual would choose to purchase it if the cost of this operating system were explicitly listed and not just factored into the total.

By contrast, Linux is a free operating system. It costs nothing to buy or to use on as many different computers as you wish. An old Windows Pentium III computer that came with Windows ’98 could be given a new lease of life and made to run Windows XP – but this costs money. The two cheapest ways to get new versions of Windows are OEM and academic versions, but OEM versions may only legitimately be purchased with new systems and academic versions may only legitimately be purchased by certain categories of students or educational faculty. For the ordinary man or woman in the street, it’s still a few hundred dollars. Couple this with the cost of Microsoft Office and you’re up for a sizeable chunk of change for every single computer, every few years.

Everyone loves to save money, and to get a bargain. So why do people stick with Windows? Here’s what we think are the top reasons.

Familiarity

As said, Windows is well-known. It comes with computers. Many people don’t know there are options. Or, if so, they think it is just Windows vs Mac.

Most people know what “My Documents” is for. Or where to find the printers’ control panel. It’s true that the problem with first impressions is you only get to make one – which means an alternate operating system can be a risky proposition. If a user can’t find how to perform some of their common tasks either immediately or quickly there is little encouragement to persevere.

Support

Everyone knows someone who uses Windows. You can’t move in a shopping centre without tripping over Windows books and magazines. Even your grandmother uses Windows Messenger and conversation at the average family gathering will inevitably venture into registry tweaks. Yet, if you are not an IT pro, experimenting with an unconventional OS can lead to a feeling of isolation.

Hardware

It’d be rare hardware which doesn’t come with drivers for some version of Windows. Most any device can be made to work on at least 32-bit Windows XP. Vista is a different story, as is 64-bit Windows, and as is Windows’ server editions. But for the moment, it’d be safe to say 99.9% of hardware will run under 32-bit XP.

By contrast, Linux has a reputation in some areas for being deviously finicky. Even though huge gains have been made, video cards and wireless network cards are still a matter of concern as are some specialised laptop components.

Windows-only software

Last but not least, sometimes the software just leaves you no choice. We could all speak about banking websites which mandate “Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher is required”. And one of Australia’s biggest applications – eTax, allowing electronic submission of the annual tax return, with a potential user base of every single Australian adult – comes in just a Windows flavour.

Countering the concerns

Linux evangelists, and the Linux-curious alike, ought to recognise these factors. Migrating to Linux is not merely a matter of persuading people it makes good financial sense alone, let alone matters of ideology. Unless potential users can appreciate how Linux will meet their needs and be sufficiently rewarding from the beginning to encourage further exploration, it is likely to be a disappointing experience.

Therefore, let us address the above issues and then propose a staged conversion to Linux.