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An operating system is the basic software that you need in order operate a computer — without it, your computer will not work. If you’ve used a computer before, odds are pretty good you used a closed-source operating system like Windows. That’s because most computers out there are sold with closed-source operating systems (also called proprietary software) already installed.

But at Free Geek, the computers we use and grant out to non-profits run a different kind of operating system. Linux, the OS we use, is open source. So what does that mean, and why does the difference matter?

Proprietary software is licensed such that the end user receives software he or she can use, but that’s all. Open-source software is licensed such that the end user receives that software, but also the source code — which is the information that tells the computer what to do. There are many types of open-source licensing models, the most common of which is the GNU General Public License (GPL). The basis, or kernel, for many open-source operating systems is called Linux.

Everyone is free to use and modify software licensed under the GPL. So if you’re using an open-source program and you don’t like the way it works, you can learn how to change it — and it’s totally legal for you to do so. With proprietary software, on the other hand, the only people who can modify or even see the code is the company that owns it. If the software writers of the owner-company are not available to fix the problem, the user is out of luck.

Because anyone interested in a particular software project can access and improve the code of open-source software, that means developers can fix bugs and security flaws more quickly — and they work around the clock to find them, rather than waiting until enough customers complain.

So why does Free Geek distribute open-source software on its machines, and why does open source matter to us? Most people don’t have the time, patience or inclination to become open-source developers. We don’t expect that most of our adoption volunteers and grant recipients will stay up all night debugging their web browsers. But we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to do so, rather than shake their fists if a problem occurs. We also believe that users shouldn’t have to wait a matter of years — and pay a heap of money — for improved versions of their software if an upgrade is available.

Which brings us to another, very practical reason we love Linux. Proprietary software costs a lot, and it’s often illegal to make copies of a closed-source operating system or proprietary program you’ve bought. Not so with Linux, and that’s why we can afford to give it away. And sometimes, in order to upgrade a proprietary operating system, you need to buy a new computer as well, because the new version will not run as well on older, slower hardware. The open-source model allows for great flexibility, so Linux can actually run on any machine of any speed.

You also don’t have to be a computer whiz to use Linux. Most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, which Free Geek uses, employ graphical interfaces (GUIs) that are as easier to learn as (if not easier than!) the popular proprietary operating systems you may be more familiar with. And every new adopter takes a three-hour class on the basics of operating their computer before they take it home. We also offer many classes on how to better use your FreekBox. Also, if someone using one of our FreekBoxes, with Linux installed, has a problem, we do provide technical support.