I found this blog entry, "Confessions of a Linux Fan: 10 Things You Might Want To Know Before Switching Over To Linux", and I could not help but react. I am not saying that the list is entirely true nor am I saying that it isn't. Here's my take on the blogger's list.

1. Going against the mainstream always takes a little bit more effort. This is not unique to Linux. Even the simplest operating system installation, e.g., Mac OS X, is made complex when you start veering away from the defaults.

2. This is related to the above. Any "proper" OS install requires extra effort. The thing is, the default partition is almost always what the manufacturer thinks is optimal for all. Only the experienced knows how to properly organize his/her data into several non-standard partitions. Again, this is not unique to Linux.

3. Learning the command-line may be a bane to most. Did you know that some of the settings needed for Mac OS X requires Terminal access? Example: "sudo defaults write com.apple.ichat AutoAcceptVCInvitations 1". Just proves that learning the command-line is not unique to Linux.

4. Any software that is beta and, therefore, not yet included for mainstream release takes extra effort. The awesome eye-candy that you see being shown on Linux are still in beta. Until it is included as part of the release package, then don't expect it to be easy. Example: Safari 3 beta on Mac OS X. It renders other add-ons useless and breaks a couple of other WebKit-based applications. Requires extra effort to make it work.

5. Peripheral support is another story. I think this is due to the criminal act committed by Microsoft. Nothing else we can do here. However, peripheral support is slowly improving.

6. Installing anything from source requires research. No self respecting user should compile, install and use an application from source without doing research. Again, not unique to Linux.

7. Lack of third-party alternative applications. This is true. However, this is not unique to Linux as well. I guess this is also related, in a way, to no. 6 above. Market-share dictates commercial software development companies to release applications on specific applications.

8. Choice is both a good and a bad thing. Personally, I'd rather have more options than none. Would you have preferred to have only MS Internet Explorer as the only browser supported on Microsoft's OS? Or have only Konqueror as the only KDE web/file browser? I don't know with you but, again, I'd rather have options.

9. Securing an OS requires extra effort and this is not unique to Linux alone. People "think" that Windows is secure but it pays to have an anti-virus installed, a firewall configured, etc. In addition, you need to exert extra effort to keep your anti-virus database updated. Unique to Linux?

10. Windows thinks that all its users are intelligent that is why it gave them full admin access at the onset. Look what happened? Linux thinks that its users are intelligent, too - but it gives users limited privileges, at first.