There are economic good times and economic bad times.
When times get tough and money’s tight, it’s good to have Linux on your PC.
It’s like driving an electric car as gas prices shoot through the roof.
You aren’t completely unaffected, but you do have much less stress.
Why, you ask?
On Linux, for the most part, finances aren’t part of the equation.
Virtually all Linux distros are free to download and come with free, continuous software updates.
The same is true of the vast majority of programs.
you’re free to make the case that time is money.
Even if you view life this way, this isn’t a weakness of Linux.
If you’re juggling multiple jobs, you might not have room in your schedule for such a thing.
Your Current PC Will Run for Longer
Linux isn’t something that comes pre-installed on computers in big-box stores.
In the process, they typically extend the life of their machine.
Running Linux means you’re free to expect to use the computer for as long as you want.
This makes each PC purchase a more dependable investment.
And if times are hard, you could put off making hardware upgrades for longer.
This opens up a world of options.
In many parts of the world, PCs are no longer the luxury product they once were.
Now we find ourselves on our fifth or sixth machine.
You might be surprised how well a 10-year-old PC can spin up the latest versions of Linux.
eBay and other retailers are filled with second-hand PCs available for purchase.
These machines are available for substantially less than a brand new one.
Older PCs come with the perk of being more likely to have mature, stable Linux support.
That said, there are no guarantees.
Check Linux support for whichever model you’re considering.
Plus there are otherthings to keep in mind when buying a used PCregardless of the OS.
Some require you to pay an ongoing subscription.
On desktop Linux, you’re free from having to deal with this at all.
When you download an app, you generally receive the full set of features all at once.
Some have undergone radical redesigns, or injected unwanted ads and tracking, as the result of an acquisition.
To understand the state of software, you almost need to understand the market.
Who is competing against whom?
Who is doing well, and who might go underwater within a few years?
Linux offers a great deal of insulation from the market.
Consider Canonical and Ubuntu.
When Canonical deemed Unity and Ubuntu Touch commercially nonviable, it abandoned both projects.
And if you want to use a phone running Ubuntu Touch, you might do that too.
These web apps are easy to charge a subscription for.
And they may integrate better with cloud storage than local storage, another service that you pay extra for.
While Linux servers technically power most of these web apps, the Linux desktop follows a different trend.
Most Linux programs run on your local machine.
They interact with files that you save on a local drive.
Whether you turn to a flash drive, a local hard drive, or a dedicated home server.
Physical storage has dropped in price substantially, and prices continue to fall.
Linux Makes Good Financial Sense
Linux is what we call a good investment.
It’s free to acquire and free to maintain.
It provides you with access to other free programs that can help you make more money.
