Do you own a Linux machine?
Almost everyone has heard of Linux at some point. Most of you know that it is right at home in backend servers and enterprise prodution. It has even made a big leap into the desktop enviroment with the introduction of Unbuntu. As a whole people who have little knowledge of Linux see it only as a backend, server os. Little do they know that; Linux is showing up in the strangest places. Not strange to me mind you; knowing the strength of the Linux OS and it’s capability to run in such a small amount of memory space.

It is Linux that drives most of the Lottery terminals in your local convenience store. Your HDTV is most likely run by Linux. Phones, PDAs and the like. It is now reguarded as the OS of choice by many manufacturers of electronic toys, video, remote controls and telephone equipment.

The only way to find out what is running your device is to look in the small print in the product manual. Rather fitting since one of my favorite sayings in the Linux circles is RTFM. Heh, Read The Fucking Manual to see if it’s Linux.

So why the secrecy?

Simply put; brand recognition. The product makers can use Linux without fear of having to pay royalties and without having to place the Linux name where it can be seen. This way it is thier product that becomes well known without anyone stealing the thunder.

The bottom line

Linux was written by programmers, for programmers. It can and does maintain it’s reliability and it’s stability from this fact. It has long been the choice for use in a production environment where its stability is relied on the most. Linux is built on open protocols and does not have to answer to corporate heads who have an “angle”. The benefits of a worldwide open source is much more attractive to manufacturers of consumer products. Typically, Linux wins. Also Linux is cheap to run, cheap to modularize and easy to secure. It’s flexable and supports a wide range of applications. Why would it not be the choice? So? DO you own a Linux machine? Yes, you probably do.

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