I think its time I called the RSPP (Royal Society for the Protection of Penguins), because some of you guys must really be abusing Linux, I have 2 machines here running that haven't been reinstalled for 2-3 years they just keep on going. I've upgraded the versions and all my application and data are available immediately after upgrade. I had to did into the forums to sort out the wifi on my netbook in earlier (8.odd) version but that work straight away now. My oldest install (OpenSuse 9) is probably over 6 years since it last had a boot CD near it.
@Iggy
Everything with a programmable processor (not necessary Micro) must be a computer, since when did available IO dictate whether a machine is a computer or not? A phone or a watch or even a central heating timer if it contains a programmable processor is a computer. Otherwise the server under my desk which only has a power lead and a network connection could not be called a computer as I can't use it without access to another device that does the IO.
Gaz
In the broadest sense you're correct, but I'm not accessing the internet or using other apps on my thermostat. I'd love to close that whole argument by redefining what I meant from computer to personal computer (which, oddly enough, wouldn't include your server unless you're the only one using it).
And I'm glad you've had such a good experience using Linux. I assume that once you find a distro you like, that the experience you've had is not uncommon. Over the last several years I've seen enough improvement in Linux that I may dedicate at least a hard drive on one system to it.
While I am a MorphOS user, I'd readily admit that Linux is perhaps the only really large open OS/kernel in existence and its success is impressive.