Linux Tech Support

So when considering a vehicle purchase, I imagine most people consider the support they’ll have for it should something go wrong.  What type of warranty does the vehicle have?  How old is the vehicle?  Can I fix any minor/major problems that may arise?  If I do have to bring it in for work, how much will it cost?  How long will I be without my vehicle?  All these things are important and play into the equation of a vehicle purchase.

Much should be true with ones Operating System.  When something doesn’t work with our operating system, it could range from a minor inconvenience to a major production stopper.  If we need assistance with these, it’s nice to get help.  With your PC, you have a choice.  Windows or Linux.

Microsoft Tech Support

Now you’ve spent a wadful of cashola on your OS.  Even if it is pre-installed on your new PC, you paid for that within the purchase price.  With that purchase, you get a level of tech support.  Likely a good portion of your afternoon will be spent listening to the nice on-hold music.  If that’s what you are willing to put up with, then this just may be what you want.  As long as you know beforehand what you’re getting into, then there’s no disappointing surprises.  The same goes for the alternative.

Linux Tech Support

For some flavors of Linux, there’s tech support much like the above.  These of course have a price tag.  I am not complaining.  There’s a cost associated with such, and so it’s only right to charge for services rendered or promised.

For most of the others, you have the largest free tech support in the world.  In fact, it is the world.  Okay, just the Linux world, but that’s worldwide.  There are a number of linux forums where you can post your questions or problems and most likely get a helpful answer.  Sometimes you end up getting more than you bargained for with a plethora of information.

A couple of great sites are www.ubuntuforums.org and www.linuxquestions.org.  The members of these forums are mostly willing ready and able to help assist with any question or dilemna you may have.

Choices

Many people use Windows out of familiarity, it’s the only thing installed on new PCs (not true these days), or because it runs all their neccesary programs.  Aside from specialty programs designed for specific purposes that some business need, most of what can be done in Windows can be done in Linux, yet much cheaper.  Some people don’t want to have to deal with the intricacies of their computer, they just want it to work.  That’s fine, but for those who want to know more about their PC and its operating system, don’t be afraid.  With Ubuntu, installation and removal of programs is a snap with the synaptic package manager.

Not sure about Ubuntu?  Try it out with no changes to your PC.  Download the .iso file and burn it to a CD-ROM and then boot from the CD and find how easily you can get around.  You’ll be amazed.