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OK, so most of these programs are good. Good at what? That's what I'm asking. <Snip>
What can Linux actually do that I can't do now perfectly safely? <Snip>




Actually, it appears you are doing an excellent job of protecting your computer assets. You employ the proper tools and procedures and you restrict your Internet surfing to governmental and big name commercial sites which undoubtedly go to great lengths to keep their sites safe for both legal and economic reasons.

As for me, I once repeatedly asked myself the same questions you are asking about Linux. Like you, I kept my Window's PC locked down and only visited sites known to be safe. Fortunately for me, a friend of mine talked me into giving it a try just to see if it was all hype, so I installed it on an old machine and surfed every viral laden site I could find. I even captured numerous viruses in the process but none of them trashed the OS. Bottom line, I took a chance and now that I have found the freedoms I mentioned ealier, I can let my curiosity and research into how things work lead me into the darker areas of the Internet where I definitely would not want to take even a fully armed Window's PC. Like others, I am not convinced it is 100% safe, but at least now I am not afraid to go into a dark room if that room may contain some information I seek. For example, at the present moment, to better defend my WiFi connection when I use it, I really would like to know how Aircrack and some other tools work to defeat protected WiFi connections. This means I may again be visiting some dubious areas of the Internet.

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Most of what I read about Linux is basically what JBlatz said, it boils down to he can't stand Bill Gates and wants to stick it to him. Ok, I get that. He mentioned he hates doing the Windows update dance. It does it at 3am automatically. Big deal.




Please don't misquote me.
I said "I like the freedom of not having to have Gate's permission to install the operating system on my Internet PC." which is a far cry from "he can't stand Bill Gates and wants to stick it to him." Like you I have to use Windows for many activities both at home and at work, especially Excel (VBA) and other Window's programming tools. I would be at a loss without them so definitely I don't want to stick it to Bill Gates. I use Linux primarily for one purpose, the Internet.

I said "I like the freedom of not having to download Windows updates to keep my Windows PC secure" which is not quite the same as "he hates doing the Windows update dance." I don't mine the updates and I understand the need for them, but I have found that without having to add them to my Window's PC that I can more or less keep that PC's OS in the same pristine condition it was in when I first built the machine and installed Windows. I have read stories of a Window's update harming the system and Av updates doing damage (just yesterday I read an interesting article about the McAffee fiasco http://therealedwin.com/2010/05/17/how-linux-saved-a-fast-food-giant/ ), but fortunately, since I neither have to run Window updates nor AV updates, I don't have to worry about such things on my Window's PC.

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Can it run all my DAW programs especially Real Band? Does it use an open source audio editing program that's better than Adobe Audition? Can it create MS Office compatible files so if I do some work at home I can put them on a thumb drive and open them up at work? Can it run video editing programs that are better than VirtualDub for free or Vegas Studio at a price?




I don't use Adobe Audition, VirtualDub, or Vegas Studio because I don't have those products. I haven't tried Real Band either. I can say Open Office will open my xls files, but the included VBA code is a no go because that is designed for Windows and its data structures. Personally, I use my Window's PC for those things which Window's does best which is almost everything and Linux for the one thing it does better, safer surfing. By the way, for any "newbie" wishing to experiment with Linux, I urge you not to dual boot or any way mix the two in an installation. Sometimes it is easy to make mistakes. Instead, install the Linux Os on an old or second PC all by itself. If you bork the installation, it makes for an easier do-over.

JBlatz