Once, the mysteries of running any type of IT application lay in the hands of a mere few. The corporations that grew up capitalized on the relatively high levels of ignorance among the general population. The key to the success of the monolithic Microsoft lies in being able to predict the users’ wishes and shortcomings. Ensuring that manageability is not a deal-breaker means that clients stay on board for the long haul. Any new Operating System was bound to have a tough ride breaking into a market full of already-satisfied customers.
Linux tried to do just that. Collaboration is the distinguishing feature where the Linux phenomenon is concerned. The growth of Linux has been both exponential and salutary, if slower than was at first predicted. Salutary, because it shows that an alternative approach can work and may one day become the norm. Rather than a corporation, Linux is a community. It is the freedom that people have to make use of, to adapt, modify, and then pass on to others any or all of the source code which sets the Linux philosophy apart. IT initiates and enthusiasts have slowly but surely been adding Linux to their personal stable of utilities. Few nowadays simply run a single PC. Most of us have hardware dedicated to specific purposes. Those in the know are in a position to take the best bits from everything that is available.
Innovation is one thing. The other side of the coin is practicality. Just how easy is Linux for people to get their heads around? Linux doesn’t suit everyone. Ordinary users, posting their testimonies on techie forums, hold a range of views. One contingent is in favor of Linux as an OS, appreciating its low consumption of resources. This benefit is felt a lot less keenly these days, however, with RAM being far less expensive than previously, and capacity therefore less of an issue. Some state frankly that it is not user-friendly enough for the average user, citing installation as one of the obstacle courses to be endured, along with attempts to upgrade or add new software.