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When you think Linux for business, you should think Ubuntu. Chances are good that if someone walked into your office right now and peeked over your shoulder, they would see a Windows operating system on your computer. But, did you know that you have a choice of something other than Windows for that computer on your desk, and that you have the same choice for the servers in your data center?

Does dumping Windows for Linux sound impossible? It isn't. And, here are ten darn good reasons that you should.

Do you think Red Hat Linux is just awesome as a server? It isn't. Is awesome as your everything. Red Hat Enterprise Linux now comes with built-in virtualization (KVM) but is Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHEV) about to go to the virtual mat with VMware? If you look at their RHEL video, you'll come away with a resounding 'Yes' to that question. Red Hat purchased Qumranet in 2008 to acquire their KVM-based virtualization solution and SolidICE product based on the SPICE protocol. What does RHEL mean for consumers?

Do you remember a time when Linux was a niche OS? Beyond college kids and a few converted Unix nerds, Linux was something for hackers, Ham radio operators and ivory tower dwellers. No one would ever put a Linux-based computer into a data center. How times and attitudes have changed. Once known as the "little OS that could," today Linux could take over your data center. No bands will play. No tickertape will fall. And, no pomp or circumstance will surround the event. Linux will seep quietly into your data center through the "cracks" other OSes leave agape.

Someone left a comment on one of my posts similar to, "Linux won't be popular on the Desktop until it runs Windows applications." To which I silently responded, "Huh? and, "You've got to be kidding me." We have WINE for running Windows applications and it works reasonably well for those who care to spend the time to work through any problems with it. I don't think the Linux Community needs to spend time on such an undertaking. Is anyone asking Apple to run Windows applications so that it will gain popularity? No? Then, why should Linux? If you want to run Windows applications, run them on Windows.

Are you taking flack for choosing to use Linux as your Desktop operating system? Is it true that, if you speak up for GNU/Linux on the Desktop, you get flamed? I just had a virtual conversation with someone who claims that this assertion is fact. I've never experienced this anti-Desktop Linux sentiment or maybe my memory has failed me. I don't think the Linux Community would take a stand against it. The Apple Community is too glazed over with iCrap to care what we do. But, there is one "community" that might take issue with Linux on the Desktop. Who could it be? I'm having a little trouble coming up with the name, though I think it rhymes with Shmindows.

I know it sounds crazy but the Linux Desktop isn't dead, it's just pining. It's pining for the correct platform--a tablet computer. And, I'm not referring to some cheap imitation tablet that will merely satisfy a few observers and nerdlets who use Linux. I'm thinking of a tablet computer for hardcore Linux moguls. You know, the kind of Linux person who is so into Linux that he tries to carry an egg on his feet through the winter. The kind of Linux fan who carries a wallet-sized photo of Linus Torvalds in her wallet. Linux pines for a true tablet platform that will do Linux justice and vice versa. Does one exist? Not yet.

I've run across ten new Linux distributions inspired by current news stories. Some, of course, are better than others and a few just have no practical use or purpose whatsoever but still are worth a mention. These ten distributions are in no particular order of my preference or relevance. Maybe you've run across some of them too in your Internet travels.

A trek into homonym hell. Follow along while I attempt to convert the converted. This post is a summary of a conversation I had the other day with an acquaintance of mine. It started out with him asking me what I do for a living and ended up with me having to choke back tears of laughter. I hope you have the same reaction although I realize that it might be one of those, "You had to be there" moments.

It looks like Yahoo has reinstated the Linux/Open Source link on their Tech News page. Perhaps it was just a fat-fingered mistake or an accident of some sort that the link was removed from the main link bar but it certainly raised my hackles. And, frankly, my hackles don't need raising over something like this. But, they've put it back in a different location (not a big deal) but at least they've put it back. And, for those of you who either believe that it never left or that my eyesight is somehow to blame, I have screen shots for you.

Yahoo has really done it (or undone it) this time by removing Linux/Open Source from its Tech links list.

Are MySQL's days numbered as the "World's Most Popular Open Source Database?" Could be.

Did you know that businesses don't use Unix anymore? I didn't either until I had an interesting dinner conversation with another computer professional. I need to get out more.

System Administrators (SAs) have a tough job: Dealing with users and user accounts, security, patching, updates, upgrades, disk space, performance and other miscellaneous tasks often known as "other duties as assigned." For some SAs, the day never ends. Despite the challenges, pitfalls and occasional irate user; system administration is a fulfilling job with intangible rewards like no other position in IT. To assist those weary SAs in their quest to conquer their Linux systems, I've devised this list of 12 native Linux system monitoring tools that are always at my fingertips.

Ubuntu might get a lot more press than its parent, Debian, but there's a reason why Debian spawns more Linux distributions than any other parent distribution: Democracy.

What sucks more than the force that keeps Texas attached to the rest of the US? The iPad.

Mark Shuttleworth shares his dream for the perfect Linux. Ubuntu's Lucid Lynx (10.04) isn't out yet but Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu and Canonical, and his team look toward the October 2010 (10.10) release they're calling Maverick Meerkat. On his personal blog this morning, Mark wrote, "It’s time to put our heads together to envision 'the perfect 10'." Mark, himself, has a new vision for the upcoming release already knowing that 10.04 is almost "in the can." His new vision is one of lightness-lightness in footprint, in deployment and in support requirements. A grand vision but can he do it?

When it comes to learning about computers, one operating system has the edge. Productivity, however, is a different story.

Will a mass produced Linux pad ever exist to compete with the iPad? One reader says that there is one but you get a different story when you click "Order."