Many people unfamiliar with Linux may have second thoughts about their ability to accomplish everything they need to on a Linux system. Here we will set the record straight about what you can do on your Ubuntu Linux system, as well as explain many of the inherent benefits. Below is a list of common concerns and questions new Linux users have and our answers.

"I have heard Linux is difficult to use and only for geeks, is this true?"

Ubuntu Linux is designed to be as mainstream and as user friendly as possible. We have customized the operating system and installed software to make it even more so. If you are familiar with MS Windows or Mac OS X then you will feel right at home in Ubuntu. Programs open and close the same way, you save documents from the File menu, and many actions are drag-and-drop or just a button click away. If you do need a little extra assistance, documentation and help is included with most software, we have tutorials and how-to's on our site, many online forums exist where questions and answers are posted, and commercial paid support options are available.

"I use [some program] in Windows, but they don't have it for Linux."

While it is true that many commercial applications do not have Linux versions, there is almost no Windows program that doesn't have one or more free equivalents in Linux. For example, the included OpenOffice.org 2.2 office suite allows you to both open and save documents in Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.). If you have concerns about a particular application you may find these equivalency lists useful:

1. Open Source Alternative - Find Open Source Alternatives to Commercial Software
2. Linux software equivalent to Windows software

"I use [some program] in Windows that I absolutely must continue to use."

If there is no Linux equivalent to the application you need to use or for whatever reason you must use the Windows version of the program, several options are available:

1. Any version of Windows you already have (or purchase) may be installed as a Virtual Machine inside Ubuntu Linux. A fully operational Windows installation can run inside a window in Linux, and you may install whatever applications you like on it and use them normally. A tutorial with full instructions is coming soon, but until then for more information please contact us.
2. The commercial application Cedega may be purchased and allows Windows applications to be installed and used normally inside Ubuntu Linux without having to install Windows. Although its primary focus is on games it can be used to run other Windows software as well.
3. The commercial application CrossOver Linux may be purchased and allows Windows applications to be installed and used normally inside Ubuntu Linux without having to install Windows. Although its primary focus is on productivity software it can be used to run Windows games as well.
4. The free application WINE may be installed and allows some Windows applications to be installed and used normally inside Ubuntu Linux without having to install Windows. A tutorial with full instructions is coming soon, but until then for more information please contact us.

"I am a gamer but they don't have [some game] for Linux."

While more games are beginning to have versions with Linux installers (Doom 3, Unreal Tournament 4), it is true that most do not. Though Linux does have many games of its own, including some very nice first person shooters, there really is no easy way to accept that fact that you just can't play your favorite games on Linux. Fortunately a commercial application called Cedega is specifically designed to allow you to play Windows games on Linux with full hardware acceleration. Interestingly some games even perform better under Cedega than they do on a Windows system. Take a look at their website for more information.

"I'm worried about viruses, spyware, and hackers accessing my personal data. Is Linux secure?"

While arguing the relative security of different operating systems is often seen as a futile endeavor, many security experts agree that as a whole Linux-based operating systems are more secure than Windows. Several reasons exist for this conclusion:

1. Viruses, spyware, adware, malware, etc., practically do not exist for Linux. Like Apple's Mac OS and other minority operating systems, Linux has a smaller install base than Windows. Why would virus writers take the time to code viruses for such a small target? They don't.
2. Ubuntu Linux is open source, which means its programming code is freely available to the public to use, view, modify, distribute, and compile themselves if they wish. Because of this bugs and security vulnerabilities are more quickly discovered (and subsequently fixed) than they are with closed source software (Windows, Internet Explorer, etc.), where only a handful of developers are allowed to see and correct the source code.
3. Almost all of the software on an Eight Virtues PC is installed from the Ubuntu repositories, which are continually updated online databases of software available to the operating system. When a security update is made to any program installed on your system it is made available in the repositories and installed automatically. Consequently your system and all the software on it is always as secure as possible without you having to do a thing.
4. Free antivirus and software is available and may be installed if you wish, though it is usually unnecessary. For more information please ask us.

"My kids use the computer a lot, what if they mess up the system?"

On our support page we describe how to create new user accounts. By creating an unprivileged account for your kids and keeping your own password a secret you have made your PC invulnerable to anything the kids may accidentally (or otherwise) do to it. Your personal settings, programs, pictures, and data files can't be changed or deleted and you don't have to worry about waking up to a system that's slower or no longer working.

"Normally I buy software at the store or download it from a web site. Is it any different in Linux?"

While there is commercial and free software for Linux that you can download from a web site or order online, most software may be installed from the Ubuntu repositories. These are massive online databases of software that are constantly kept up to date and made available to you free of charge. Installing and uninstalling thousands of software applications is as simple as clicking Add/Remove... under Applications on the main menu.

"You have a vested interest in promoting Linux, where can I find second opinions?"

1. After Ubuntu, Windows Looks Increasingly Bad, Increasingly Archaic, Increasingly Unfriendly - The Changing Trajectory of Software
2. Switching from Windows to Linux: an app-centric view
3. The Cathedral and the Bazaar
4. Why Linux is better
5. Five Ways Linux Is Better Than Vista
6. Can Ubuntu Linux replace Windows Vista for consumers?
7. Top 10 reasons Linux pwns your OS
8. Collection of Articles for Free Software Advocacy