Although that's a 1.6 point gain since March 2003, compared to Windows, which has almost 87% of the desktop market, it's nothing. Linux still has a long way to go before it's nearly as prevalent as its competitors. So why do we use Linux?
Well, there are a number of reasons. It's Free (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) and Open-Source Software (FOSS) and we believe and support FOSS. Many of our volunteers are active in the FOSS movement, they help others with FOSS software, write documentation, attend conferences and deliver presentations, and some even contribute code. Others enjoy Linux for more technical reasons believing, whether true or not, that it's a more superior operating system or that it allows for greater technical learning. Basically though, ByteWORKS is a volunteer operated organization, so it's what we believe in and wish to promote. Needless to say, the price point works in our favor too.
There are also more practical reasons. Microsoft Windows is everywhere: in schools, libraries, companies, homes, mobile devices, cars, etc. A person will be hard-pressed to avoid it entirely. Despite this, Linux is growing. Historically, it's had a huge percentage of the server market share. Every time a person does a search on Google, they're using Linux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_platform#Current_hardware). Thus, if a person wants to get in the tech business, become a software engineer or a network administrator, having Linux under her belt will be a definite advantage. It will help her access additional opportunities. Our students will get Microsoft Windows experience no matter what. We offer them a competitive advantage by teaching them Linux.
In the following weeks, several of our volunteers will post entries to this blog about their experiences and stories with Linux and our students. So come back and read more.
Sean Burns
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