I am often asked "Why do you use Linux / Open Source software?" The tone of the inquiry is always interesting, and sometimes amusing, ranging from curiosity to astonishment.

   So many other people have written and spoken so eloquently on this subject that I can't imagine adding much. I will simply add my voice to the rapidly growing number of users.

   I use Linux and Open Source software because I have found it to be faster, more secure, more stable, more versatile,  more efficient at fixing bugs - and just generally more fun to play with - than proprietary software.

  It is my sincere belief that the Open Source / Linux community has done far more to make the Web accessible to all persons than any private company or interest. As a  person with disabilities, I value these efforts and acheivements.

  To me, the Open Source / Linux community embodies the spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and inclusion, and a celebration of the power of collective human creativity. I can feel proud to be a part of a community, and not just a passive software consumer.

  The fact that it is a less expensive (and often no-cost) option seems almost miraculous to me. If you have not investigated Open Source and Linux options for yourself recently, I would strongly urge you to explore the possibilities.

Keri McKenzie

July, 2004

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Linux / Open Source Links

• Article: Why Open Source Software? by David A. Wheeler - "This paper provides quantitative data that, in many cases, using open source software / free software is a reasonable or even superior approach to using their proprietary competition ..."

• Blinux Project - Project devoted to improving the usability of the Linux operating system for the user who is blind

• Braillespeak - A Braille and Speech mini-distribution of GNU/Linux

• CivicSpace - CivicSpace is a free open-source software platform for grassroots organizing and civic activity. It allows individuals and organizations to build online communities that communicate effectively, act collectively, and coordinate coherently with a network of other related organizations and communities.

• Debian GNU/Linux - One "flavor" of the Linux OS

• DesktopLinux.com - Using Linux on enterprise and end user desktops

• Everything Linux - Linux resources galore

• Free Software Foundation - Home of the GNU Operating System

• Gentoo Linux - a special flavor of Linux that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need

• The GNOME Accessibility Project - A suite of software services and support in  GNOME that allows people with disabilities to utilize all of the functionality of the GNOME user environment

• Knoppix - A bootable CD for exploring Linux without a hard installation --  also an excellent rescue disk.

• Linoleum - Linux programming resources

• Linux Accessibility HOWTO - Comprehensive information about Linux OS and accessibility

• LNX-BBC.org - a miniature Linux-based GNU distribution, small enough to fit on a CD-ROM that has been cut, pressed, or molded to the size and shape of a business card.It provides a portable rescue system or temporary workstation OS for any system with a CD-ROM drive.

• The Linux Counter Project - See how many people have registered voluntarily for a worldwide "census" of Linux users, and where they live.
  

• The Linux Kernel Archives

• Linux Online! -  Information about Linux OS 

• Mozilla.org - Home of Mozilla Suite and Firefox browser

• NewsForge - The online newspaper for Linux and Open Source information

• OpenOffice.org - Home of the open source office productivity suite

• Open Source Web Design - A showcase of open source web templates and web design

• Open Source Initiative - Detailed information about open source software

• Palm Open Source - Open source resources for Palm OS PDAs

• Ubuntu  - A newer linux distribution with visual prompts and instructions built in to the GUI.

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One of my favorite Linux Humor pieces...

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on ...

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

 

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

 

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself. When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"