Linux is Ready for Mainstream

In recent years there has been a small change in desktop computers. Users that are getting tired of Microsoft and their proprietary technology are slowly converting to Linux. Linux has been improving rapidly, and is coming to the point where it's ready out of the box for consumer use.

Manufacturers like Dell, sense a demand for the Unix based operating system, and have started offering it. There are many distributions of Linux, tailoring to specific needs. And Linux has evolved. You no longer need to know how to compile the kernel, or how to partition your hard drive. For the average home user, the Linux Desktop is starting to be just as easy, if not easier, than Windows.

After I began to use Linux, every time I needed Windows, I was becoming increasingly annoyed. I saw Windows Update for what it was, slow, redundant (think Windows Genuine Advantage), and inefficient. When you install an update, Windows has to be restarted. And damn, if you choose not to, those messages to reboot harass you until you go insane. Not to mention, Windows Update mostly updates Windows itself, there aren't very many other things that use it. Move over to Linux, where they have package managers, and there auto update will check for not only operating system updates, but application and package updates as well. The only time you have to restart Linux is when you patch your kernel.

Open source technology is coming to the main stream. It is easily accessible, and its ease of use is increasing. If you don't believe me, google open source switch. Many governments and business's are looking for ways to benefit from open source technology. There are even other industries taking advantage of the open source way. There are open source car ideas(1) (2), and even a gold company took advantage of mass collaboration to find gold (crowd sourcing).
By the way, as I said before, if you can get a hold of Wikinomics, it's is an interesting read.