PC World - The past year was a tempestuous one in the world of desktop operating systems, it seems fair to say, with big changes occurring in just about all of the major contenders.
Most notably, we saw a raft of mobile-inspired features being brought onto the desktop, sometimes to a chilly reception among users.
If you're wondering -- or perhaps even fearing -- what other changes 2012 will bring to your desktop, this may be a good time to take matters into your own hands and choose a system that puts you in control.
The system I'm referring to, of course, is Linux. It's probably already on your phone. Here are just a few reasons you should give the free operating system a try on your desktop as well.
Detractors like to refer to Linux's diversity as a fragmentation problem, but in fact it's one of its greatest strengths. Users have countless Linux distributions to choose from, whether it's one like Mint or Ubuntu that puts usability at the forefront, or one like Fedora with numerous enterprise-focused features and extra security. There are even flavors focused on specific industries and niches. There's something for everyone in the world of Linux, and it's increasingly cross-platform as well.
Not only can you choose the particular Linux distribution you use, but one of the hallmarks of Linux is that it's also highly customizable. Don't like Ubuntu's new Unity desktop or Mint's GNOME 3? No problem -- there are many others to choose from, and your pick can be easily installed. There's no vendor lock-in here to dictate how you must use your computer.
A big part of Linux's flexibility, of course, derives from the fact that it's open-source software. That means that no other entity controls the code -- any developer or user can see and modify the code as they see fit. A world of custom tweaks and apps is before you, in other words.
Linux doesn't cost anything, it's true, unless you choose a commercial option with paid support. But it's also free from patents and other restrictions that determine how it can be used. Free and open source is a really good combination, because it means you're in control. The free price is really just icing on the proverbial cake.
There's a reason Linux has such a stronghold in the server world -- many, actually -- but one of the biggest is its reliability. When you're on Linux, you won't even remember all those hours of productivity lost to crashes and downtime.
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