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We have been hearing a lot of buzz in the market as of late about cheap computers! (I don’t know a single educator that isn’t looking to save a buck or two.) With the recent launch of the gOS $200 Walmart Computer (which is ALREADY sold out) are we actually on the verge Linux finally becoming mainstream? (I won’t even get into how much I like an operating system that has a bunch of Google links built into the launch bar… my dream machine… )
Well, to be honest, it is tempting to me, and I am certainly leaning that way. I have been using Linux for about a year on and off as one of my main computers (in fact I am researching and typing this blog on a Ubuntu installation). I recently recommitted myself to using open-source software in my home as much as possible (Steve would be so proud (not THAT Steve)). What, if nothing else, do we as educators want than to spread knowledge as far and wide as possible. We already have thousands of people working on these operating systems and they are so easy!
One quick techie example. I needed to burn an .iso of a CD the other day. I downloaded the image on my PC only to realize that it was a new installation of Vista and I didn’t have a CD burning program on there yet. Ugg… okay, I’ll go to my Mac (my main machine right now). Once again I was thwarted because I couldn’t connect to the network drive to download the image. Ugg… okay… how do I do this in Ubuntu? Quick Google search… oh, that’s easy. Connected to share no problem… and really… right-click and select write to disk? Wow! I feel like I need a Staples “That was Easy” button.
Yes, I had to look up how to do it the first time. Yes, there is a learning curve, but really… does it get any easier than right-click and select? No additional software needed?
So enough rambling. Will Linux become mainstream? Who can say… it will for me. That’s one more converted over. 
p.s. I edited the image above with GIMP… free! No expensive Photoshop needed! Ah… I feel like I saved a million dollars today.
