A few weeks back I wrote a post on my blog page about this topic, and put some questions to my readers to know what everybody thought about it.

I received a number of good responses, and so rewrote that post as an article (this one) so everyone can know more clearly what lies at the back of our minds when we use GNU/Linux as a home user.

The questions I put forward were:

1. Why does a common home user who has little knowledge of the technicalities of the Operating System he/she uses (for example Windows, Mac OS or in that matter any other operating system), have any reason to switch from the above Operating Systems to GNU/Linux?
   
2. Is Linux easy for an average home user to use?
   
3. Is it because Linux is free and people don't want to pay for a Commercial Operating System?
   
4. Is a home user worried about his/her system security and bothered by viruses or spyware?
   
5. Does Linux have more eye candy than other Operating Systems?
   
6. Does Linux offer a lot more innovative tools than other Operating Systems?

Starting with my own reply to these questions, I found that the biggest reason for me to switch from Windows to Linux was because it was something "different", something "unique" and "more interesting" than Windows. Especially since I was fed up with how Windows looked.

I have tried to compile and summarize all the basic reasons which play a role in how we as Home Users use Linux. They are as follows.

Open Source Spirit

When a home user switches over to GNU/Linux, the major idea behind this change is enjoying and supporting Open Source freedom. People want to use Freeware. It's free for everyone and follows the philosophy of the free exchange of ideas between everyone.

They are tired of paying for software or using pirated copies if they can't pay or don't want to pay. They would prefer to donate to Open Source softwares projects rather than paying for commercial software. The easy access to Open Source Softwares is attracting home users the world over and the free support from Open Source Communities is a major plus point as well.

Ease of Use

It takes some time and understanding for a home user to learn to use a GNU/Linux distribution since it is different than Windows in many ways. Many projects are developing Windows like Linux distributions (Xandros, LinuxXP) for beginners and home users but mostly it's a different pattern than Windows.

GNU/Linux is getting much better with time and home users are getting better opportunities now using GNU/Linux at their home computers with less effort. Graphical front end tools are making it easy to install, configure and use currently available GNU/Linux distributions.

Eye candy

KDE, Gnome, IceWM, JWM, XFCE, Enlightenment. There are so many Desktop Environments and Windows managers to choose from for a home user. Indeed GNU/Linux does offer a huge variety of eye candy to home users which no other Operating System offers and for sure eye candy is important along with security and stability.

Everybody, including kids, teenagers, adults, the elderly, men and women, have their personal likings and choices of desktops, window managers, themes, wall papers, fonts, and icons. GNU/Linux satisfies these requirements up to the best available levels.

There is also Beryl, Compiz, XGL, AIGLX and so much more eye candy available as well. So why not enjoy these facilities when Open Source people are trying to make computing more enjoyable for home users?

System Security

PC Home Users running Windows are always victims of Viruses, Spywares, Trojans and other Malware. They suffer everything from data corruption to data loss, computer slowdowns, frequent formatting and spamming of their inboxes.

GNU/Linux offers system security that is resistant to all known potential threats like those mentioned above by default if one doesn’t login as root and uses a firewall. Additional security is available in the form of Open Source anti virus programs.

Open Source Games for Kids

I've always had a hard time finding free Educational & Fun PC Games on Windows for my 6 year old daughter. The available games were either trial versions or pirated on CDs from local market.

GNU/Linux offers free Fun and Educational PC games for kids. Frozen bubble, TuxPaint, TuxTyping, Tux Racer, Potato Guy and huge variety of other games which come on all major GNU/Linux distributions for kids of all ages.

Distributions like EduPup, GioveLUG, JUXlala and other Linux Distributions like these are a very good alternate for kid's computers.

Great number of innovative tools

A Desktop GNU/Linux Distribution offers all the essential tools a home user will need. A single CD version of Linux offers a lot more tools at install time than Windows ever will which enables a home user to have a fully functional Linux system almost out of the box. The DVD versions will include the needed tools if anything extra is required.

The GUI front-end Package Managers (Synaptic, Yemex, Smart Package Manager, and Pisi) included in almost every distribution allows a home user to easily update and install any new software they want from huge repositories, and the updates and packages are free to download and install.

Linux is fun, freedom and fortune!

GNU/Linux is simply awesome for everybody and especially for home users! Yes there are problems here and there, but one can work out these problems and get a nice looking, stable and secure system that works efficiently for the home user and comes with the flavor and freedom of Open Source. I am lucky to have GNU/Linux on my home computer and I am enjoying it every moment.