Why Linux?

[Ted Goranson]

Please, this is an honest question:

A couple years back I installed YDL 2, but - as I already had working 
Macs, I could find nothing to do on Linux that I could not do better 
on Mac OS X.

I am getting ready to reinvest in linux. I WILL do this, if for no 
other reason than I want to keep an awareness of what's going on. 
Here is my question:

Assuming that:

- I already have fully loaded Macs (which means for instance that I 
already have Office and Photoshop so don't need applications that 
emulate them) , and

- for me the difference between free and what software costs is 
trivial if it helps me be more productive, and

- that speed hasn't been an issue for me

... concerning pure productivity, what might I look for in Linux?

Here are tentative opinions I have garnered:

- DIVX playing is superior even on the same hardware

- If I am developing open source products or using open source 
development tools, I'll find better support. This will be true for 
instance for PHP and Python but not necessarily JavaScript, or any of 
the C variants.

- If I want to do programming in a non-mainstream language (like 
Haskell) Linux support will be superior (to Mac).

- If I want to explore alternative desktop and user interface 
metaphors instead of simulations of the WIMP Mac (or windows which is 
the same thing), then Linux is the place. (But then, what?)

- If I want to live in emaxen, it will be more complete and 
integrated in Linux.

- If I want to do music and movie filesharing, Linux is better (more 
options and safer)

- The Linux community, and particularly the Linux/Mac community is a 
great culture to be a part of and that alone will elevate my quality 
of life

Do I have this about right?

Best, Ted
-- 
Ted Goranson
Advanced Enterprise Research Office