maybe that was some weird dream I was dreaming, huh? Like I said ‘It’s all about perspective.’ or like Parliament Funkadelic asked, back in the day, ‘Can you get to that?’

One of the most useful things about Linux is that it’s not tied to a single platform. While Windows will only run on Intel machines (or clones thereof) and MacOS is only at home on Apple computers, you’ll find a Linux distro for just about anything. The x86 version will just about install on a humble 486, albeit without a usable GUI, which makes it ideal for turning older machines into servers, but it is also perfectly capable of squeezing every last drop of performance from the latest Pentium IV. There are also flavours available for Motorola 680×0 processors (Amiga and Atari ST), Sun Sparc workstations, Advanced Risc Machine processors (Acorns), Power PC machines (iMacs etc), MIPS R3000/4000 machines (Silicon Graphics workstations) and also full blown mainframes like the IBM S/390.

The openness of the Linux kernel – as well as the dedication of hardware enthusiasts – is the reason behind this platform promiscuity, but the result is that you can extend the life of an old machine while still using up-to-date software. Linux is also quickly becoming the world’s system of choice for embedded applications such as DVD players, personal information managers, media terminals and Internet access devices.