`fortune`

this is a new entry by $USER
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this is some code a = b - c

this is 
	some pre 
		formatted text
	using tabs
and stuff

foobie blech A random fortune should appear somewhere on this page. I hope.

Following is a list of questions to ask yourself if you are wondering if Linux is right for you. You might be surprised.

1. Do you still use Internet Explorer™ as your web browser?
   • Use Firefox for a week to see why those that know it love it. After it's installed, select "For Internet Explorer Users" from the Help menu to help learn the new features. After you learn to middle-click links/tabs, try Adblock Plus and pre-made filters to remove all of the banner ads from the pages you visit. You'll never go back.
     
     Firefox is the first Free software that many people try. It's a gateway application. You start using it casually with friends and before you know it you're on other Free software like OpenOffice and the GIMP.
   
   
2. Do you use your computer to create and read Word™, Excel™, Powerpoint™ or PDF documents?
   • These document types work fine on Linux. OpenOffice can handle all these formats and more. It runs on Windows™ and Linux, and best of all (you guessed it) it's Free. We use this on the Windows™ box, and my wife and I love it.
   
   
3. Do you watch movies and listen to music on your computer?
   • Linux has lots of great programs for multimedia. Amarok is a great audio player, and MPlayer and VLC can pretty much handle any video you give them.
   
   
4. Are you tired of Windows™ security?
   • Linux is designed with security in mind and, because it's Open Source, you have more than just the original programmers's opinion. With Windows™, you pretty much have to take the word of your software provider. Do you know why Best Buy's™ Geek Squad™ charges between $129 and $299 for "Security" services? Because they can. Windows™ is known for having vulnerabilities and, if you haven't protected yourself, you're looking at $249 to $349 to fix it.
     
     Trusting your computer with Microsoft™ is like hiring a nanny that brings a supermarket tabloid, pack of Marlboros, ball-gags, and 20 feet of rope. Your kids are much better off with Grandma.
   
   
5. Are you worried about how hard running Linux is?
   • This is the year 2007. Linux is not as hard to work with as it used to be. Kubuntu installs from a live cd. My wife installed Kubuntu while browsing the web on the computer, and she isn't a computer person. If you can burn or borrow a cd, you can install Linux. The newest way to install Linux is even easier than this. You can now get Linux install.exe(be warned: "beta" means "mostly works but still needs testing") and install Linux while Windows™ is still running! After you're installed, you'll have the option of running Windows™ or Linux each time you reboot. Even if you run into trouble, you can always go back to Windows™ with a reboot. Over time, these reboots will be less frequent untill you stop using Windows™ completely.
   
   
6. Do you often play PC games such as World of Warcraft™, Counterstrike™, or Halo™?
   • This used to be a problem, but it is actually very easy to install Warcraft™ on Linux with the newest versions of Wine. Not all Windows™ games will work, but the list of games that do work grows all the time. On top of that, many great games are made to run on Linux, and the best part is that they are usually Free. Besides, the best games are released on the console and you don't have to buy another $300-$600 video card every 6 months to enjoy the newest console games. If this still doesn't satisfy your gaming appetite, you can leave Windows™ on half of the hard drive and boot into it whenever you need a fix. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll ween yourself.
   
   
7. Do you prefer to have consumer choice over supporting a monopoly?
   • The evidence abounds of dirty practices by Microsoft™. They work very hard to maintain a monopoly through FUD, lies, damned lies, and statistics.
   
   

This might seem scary, but after you've made the switch you'll understand. Learning to walk hurt a bit, but not many people go back to crawling. Then you learned to ride a bike and found that walking for any distancce was not efficient. Eventually you learn to drive and really open up your travel options.

Learning to use Linux has the same result.

What are others saying about Linux?

http://www.arsgeek.com/?p=1091 Take this with a grain of salt.
http://popey.com/The_Truth_About_Switching This one is more fun, based on a similar article about switching to a Mac. (Link to original Mac article at top of page.)
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS8124627492.html Reasons not to use Linux... ; )
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS3304110264.html ...and part 2.

• More reasons that those who know the difference choose not to support Microsoft™:
  1. 10 reasons to hate Microsoft™
  2. Microsoft™ applies for patent for core BlueJ functionality. (This one happens again and again)
  3. Even more reasons to hate Microsoft™. This one is pretty long, but you'll get the point if you skim through the Q&A section.
  4. Even 13 year olds hate Microsoft™ (This one has a few very good points, despite being on angelfire.com)
  5. 4 excelent reasons to hate Microsoft™
  6. The Halloween Documents (This is probably the biggest reason of all.)