Why I use Linux

I'm a geek, I readily admit this. I love all things geeky: comic books, video games, sci-fi, and of course computers.

I enjoy almost all aspects of computers; building hardware, troubleshooting problems, giving people advice, working on them, playing games. However, I don't like Windows. Windows is how I make my living; removing virii, repairing BSOD's, and in general fixing the headaches that Windows causes.

I use Linux because I don't understand why people use an operating system that to operate safely requires you to buy an anti-virus, if it's needed shouldn't it be included? If you bought a car would it be acceptable for them to require you to buy the seatbelts seperate, and then you had to pay every year for a new subscription to the belts?

I use Linux because it's Open Source, so instead of the programmers of one company fixing bugs 7 years after it's first reported Linux bugs are able to be fixed by anyone in the world and generally are patched within hours of them being found.

I use Linux because there is no entry fee to play. Linux can be downloaded for free from a number of places. Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Fedora. In many cases you can actually download the .ISO file and burn it to a CD and start your computer to run from the CD to test Linux without making any changes to your currently installed system. Linux is easy enough for beginners, and robust enough that geeks can delve deep into the guts, get their hands dirty and they system comes back for me.

Stress outlets

I don't deal with anger and stress well. I get that from my father who has fought his whole life with stress and anger issues.

Over the years I've had numerous outlets to help me focus this raw energy from the stress into outlets other than anger. I feel I've wrestled the monster down quite well, and most people who didn't know me 15+ years ago don't know that I wrestle this particular demon on a daily basis and just below the surface it's constantly waiting, even today for a chink in my armor.

In late elementary school and early middle school my buddy and I used to bike to each others houses, or to the mall (which was ~10 miles) and play video games such as Super Mario Brothers, Mortal Kombat, and Street Fighter.

In late middle school and early High School I did karate, tried to rodeo and played video games such as Duke Nukem 3d, Doom (1 and 2,) and Rise of the Triad

In late High School I did a number of plays, worked a physical job (grocery store,) chased a girl who's now my wife, and played Command and Conquer, Red Alert, and Warcraft.

And so on, and so on, as you can see there's always been a physical element and video games. Until now, I still have physical things, such as playing with Alex, house work, and the charity I'm struggling to get off the ground.

The problem is the video game side of things. There's a couple of problems on the game front actually. First is time, I have a family and feel guilty going downstairs to play while they are home and awake, even if Heather tells me it's ok. Second is me, you see I use Linux on my computer rather than Windows because I don't like what Microsoft stands for. However most games are made for Windows, and while they will run with some hacking in Linux, I feel guilty buying something that doesn't work natively on Linux and thus in-directly supporting Windows. There are a few game makers who make their games directly for Linux, but they tend to be of a genre that I don't care for, such as First-Person Shooters.

I have noticed that my stress level is higher since my gaming has decressed but I'm not sure exactly how to correct this problem, but I'm hoping that either game companies will soon embrace Linux or I'll find another outlet for stress to deal with my agression. Suggestions of either Linux-friendly games or alternate directions are always welcome in the comments.

I declare myself a whore

Today I announce I'm a whore.

I've decided that since Microsoft assumes all of their customers are criminals until the customer proves they aren't I'm doing the same. No longer will I be giving out knowledge for free, I'm a professional. To everyone who has relied upon me for Windows advice, the free ride is over. I'll still be happy to help you, but it will now cost you $20 an hour. There are no exceptions, sorry Mom, Adam, Dad, Steve, etc. I'm done supporting your habit of reinstalling an the exact same Operating System that was giving you trouble before without compensation.

I know this seems either self-centered or greedy, or both, however I've told each of you numerous times that Linux will do what you want/need it to do, is free, doesn't get virus', is more secure, and is generally faster. Yet like an addict you go back to your drug of choice. For those that even try by using dual-boot between Linux and Windows, you get free help because you're trying. I'll still support hardware issues such as a RAM upgrade, but as soon as I need to change ANYTHING in the OS is when the meter starts running.

Am I wrong for doing this? Leave a comment if you think I'm a cold-hearted bastard or I'm right on the money.