From a list I’m on (names withheld):

On Thu, 2002-10-03 at 16:54, … wrote: Something I don’t think many computer buffs realise is that most of us don’t have the time to go exploring another operating system, and to become familiar with all the issues surrounding it.

Response (R)

We have usually have a couple of spare linux desktops here are work, and anyone who comes in and need to do some computing usually gets dumped in front of one of these machine. So far no one has complained and most problems are minor and resolved without intervention.

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I get the same thing with professional astronomers. They have written something in Linux, or even something in DOS, and imagine it to be of benefit to the amateur. It goes down like a lead balloon.

(R) Actually the reason why many of these high quality applications aren’t written for Windows is because it’s Windows that goes down like a lead balloon, and often it goes down a couple of times a day ;-]

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I know a number of people who are very savvy in the computer world. They usually loathe Microsoft, and readily point to the benefits of abandoning their system. What they are *not* usually savvy about is that the time and resources for this are only a possibility for the computer buff. Indeed, if it were otherwise, no doubt the authors of viruses would set about menacing those other operating systems instead.

(R) Actually the reason why virus writers don’t target other operating systems is because the amount of effort involved for such little return is not worth it. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the fact that Windows is more common, but instead about technical issues like security. Put simply, it’s incredibly hard to write a virus for Linux that can reproduce.

The reason why I advocate ceasing to use Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Outlook is because Microsoft use a technology called ActiveX that dramatically simplifies the job of spreading viruses by giving unnecessary access to email and address books. All the virus writer needs to find is a hole in the armor and the job is done. Other options like Mozilla and Eudora don’t use ActiveX and there for are inherently more secure. Even given the open source nature of Mozilla, there have only been two security holes found and neither have had now exploits. IE can’t even compete with this. The current bugbear virus is an example of a virus that finds a hole in Windows and then uses ActiveX to reproduce.

It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to install Redhat 8.0 and this includes office software. Yes, there is a small learning curve to switching, but not as much as you might expect. Compare this to the next time you get infected with a virus and have to waste time notifying others, reinstalling you operating systems and software (you do reinstall after being infected don’t you?).

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I have been beta testing Windows based software for some time now. I’m utterly sick of it. It’s taken me years to understand Windows and I’m still learning. The thought of moving to a new operating system and having to start from scratch? My response would be, “Forget it!”

(R) Sounds like you’ll continue to enjoy the joys of Windows.

Strangely, you sound like me five years ago. I thought Bill Gates might be the second coming, actually laughed when my dad told me about someone running another operating systems call Leenucks. Two years later, after getting sick of the constant reboots and reinstalls and generally spending too much time fiddling to keep Windows running I tried Linux. Needless to say … :-]