Free to choose: the real power of Linux

The Linux operating system has emerged as a competitor to both Microsoft Windows and commercial implementations of UNIX. Linux provides a robust, stable computing environment on a variety of architectures including Intel X86, SPARC, and Alpha. A significant number of desktop and server applications have been ported to Linux. The number of companies willing to provide fee‐based technical support for Linux continues to grow. When combined with Linux’s low initial purchase price, such factors offer a compelling reason for libraries to consider Linux as an alternative to commercial operating systems.