Linux users have always vocally encouraged major hardware vendors to unbundle the Windows operating system or offer Linux preinstallation. Although several prominent vendors are beginning to embrace this concept, they only support it on a limited subset of their hardware offerings.

Before we start our journey to Linux land there is one question you need to ask yourself: why do YOU want to switch from Windows to Linux? What do you expect Linux to achieve? You don't want to spend the time and effort learning about Linux just to realize that changing your operating system to Linux does not solve the problem you have or does not deliver the benefits you expected.

The OpenDocument Format Alliance (ODF Alliance) is an organization of governments, academic institutions, associations and industry dedicated to educating policy makers, IT administrators and the public on the benefits and opportunities of ODF. Launched in March 2006, the ODF Alliance now has over 480 member organizations in 53 countries.

There is no doubt that people are leaving Windows, many going to the Mac and some are turning to Linux. This is partly due in part to dissatisfaction with Vista. The reason isn’t important. What is happening to the Linux community is.

What does this have to do with Linux, you ask? Windows 7 ain't Linux, that's what. Yesterday was Microsoft's big day. Windows 7 was released. Did you go buy your copy already? Are you waiting? Whether you have or haven't doesn't really matter but I'm going to give you my five reasons why you should switch to Windows 7 and five more why you shouldn't.

Talking with Microsoft officials last week, I was surprised to hear a key reason for the company getting involved with things like optimizing Windows for PHP: it was the only way to ensure products like PHP work with Microsoft technology at all.

I've been writing a series of blogs explaining that Linux has reason to fear Windows 7, because it may kill Linux's market share. But there's also plenty of reason for Microsoft to fear Linux, which is why Microsoft is looking to Windows 7 as a Linux-killer.

This is just a rant (hopefully it will be regarded as pertinent and non-'laming') on why Windows users try Linux and return frustrated to Windows after several hours or days. I won't praise Linux and the way it works, I won't even compare and say 'here Linux is easier because ...', instead I have a few questions for all of you who blame Linux for not being and behaving like Windows.

The problem of the "Windows Tax" as some call it, is that PCs are being offered by vendors with Windows, for less than systems that have Linux.