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For someone who has been using Windows for 14 years, the idea of changing over to another OS, like Linux for example, can be scary. How will I adapt to the new interface? How long will it take for me to get comfortable with it? Why change in the first place when I can use windows with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back? All these questions are natural and have been around for a while now.

So why change to Linux when Windows is serving your purpose so well? Keeping in mind the various factors that apply to today’s environment, including the global economy, here are 5 very good reasons why you should switch over to Linux.

Reason 1: Freedom of Choice

Using Linux is like a being at a feast at the Hogwarts castle, where whatever you wish to eat would appear on your plate. There is just no end to the choices Linux offers you.

Linux offers freedom of choice concerning which manufacturer you purchase the software from as well as which application programs you wish to use. The liberty of picking the manufacturer means that you have a real choice as far as the type of support you receive. Plus, being open-source software, new manufacturers enter the market all the time to address customer needs.

The other great thing is the choice of application programs you get with Linux, meaning that you can select the tools that best address your needs. For example, more than one popular browser or word processor is available for you to choose from, all free and compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

In other words, Linux lets you choose your kernel, your distribution, your window manager; your desktop... the list is virtually endless.

Reason No. 2: Reliability

The reliability of an operating system is tied to the overall cost. That is to say, greater reliability means less time spent on keeping it running. And as a result of a more reliable system, your productivity will increase. That is where Linux steps in, proven to be one of the most reliable operating systems time and again.

According to a study conducted by IBM to test the reliability of the Linux OS in an enterprise environment, the results were amazing. You can have a look yourself on the IBM Linux Reliability Test Page.

Reason No. 3: Security

It’s not impossible to create a virus to Target Linux systems, but the design of the system itself makes it extremely difficult to become infected. Very rarely, it is possible for a single user to cause local damage to their files by running a virus on their system, though it would be an isolated incidence, rather than something that could spread out of control. Additionally, all Linux vendors offer free on-line security updates.

Reason No. 4: Cost

This is what everything comes down to in the end, doesn’t it? And so it is between Windows and Linux. Which is cheaper; keeping in mind the time and cost involved in learning Linux as well? I think this may have been the case with earlier, less user friendly versions of the OS, not today’s Linux. Besides, one would face the same scenario when migrating from XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7, both newer versions of Windows based on technologies newer and unfamiliar to the end-user. The basic look is the same though. You would still recognize the taskbar, start menu, left click and right click mouse functions, notification area, drop down menus, keyboard shortcuts – basically the same things you need to know for any version of Windows. So this removes the first fear – the fundamentals of modern Windows and modern Linux are same as far as basic interface and usability is concerned.

Moving on to the burden on your pocket: I personally think that nothing beats the $0 price tag on every Linux installation, not to mention the $0 cost of OpenOffice, and pretty much every other Linux app you need. Compare that to Microsoft and do the math yourself; in today’s economy I can assure you it won’t take you long to figure out what saves you more money.

In conclusion, people have come up with countless other reasons for switching over to Linux, and Windows supporters have countered as many as possible with their own propaganda of why not to switch to Linux. If you have read this, Linux supporter or Windows supporter, do add your input to the comments sections, adding in any reasons I might have missed or correcting me if you think Linux is not for home users but only for geeks.