I needed a good way to explain software freedom to people who have little to no computer experience (possibly parents or grandparents, kids, stay-at-home moms/dads, etc.), so I created the following blog post. Many of these people could benefit from free software, but aren’t going to learn about it through mainstream media.

Philosophy, not a subject that is normally associated with software, is actually major component of the current revolution in software.

Linux, just the mention of that word can spark an endless debate between Microsoft Fanboys and Linux Junkies. This debate or as it has more appropriately been called, war of words, has been going on ever since the inception of Windows, and will most likely continue until one completely abolishes the use of the other. Alas, this article isn’t about the age-old war of Microsoft vs. Linux, instead it is meant as more of an introduction to the world of Linux and what it can and can’t offer.

Linux already powers everything from supercomputers to mobile phones. Google runs more than 10,000 Linux servers. Amazon.com switched to Linux and saved a cool $17 million. The French National Assembly has started using Ubuntu on more than 1,000 computers. Since the blockbuster movie "Shrek," the DreamWorks studio has been using Linux to render its 3-D graphics and special effects.

GIMP is an open source graphics editor. Often erroneously referred to as "The Gimp"...