Linux on the test drive

You have just passed your driving test and got your full driving license.
	You are fed up with Windows and want to try a new operating system.
You go to the car dealer to buy a new car, and the manager offers you a test drive.
	You go to the Linux distribution web site and see the Live CD option there.

You agree to try!

You sit down in the car, and it refuses to start the engine until you shut the door, fasten the seat belt and say your full name and address, after the manager tells you the correct sequence of operations.
	You cannot boot from Live CD, because it requires some special boot-time parameters, which you are initially unaware of. Finally, you find the correct parameters somewhere on the Internet.
You put the shifter in first gear and release the clutch. The car is still motionless. That's because you need to have a special adapter between your boots and the pedal. The manager finds the necessary adapter in the warehouse.
	You start your new operating system, but cannot connect to the Internet. That's because there is no driver for your specific network card. You must find the necessary driver on the Internet.
Finally, you're on the move. You select second gear, third, and then see a red light. You push the brake pedal, but the car continues to move. You are in a panic. The manager says that you can put your foot out of the door to stop the car.
	Finally, you're connected. You try to run one application, and it works OK. You try to install another application from the repository, and it is there. But the third, and most critical application for you, is not there. You realize that the only way to get this application is to compile it from source. .

Are you scared by this perspective? If you're a beginning driver, or user, then you are!

Finally, you can't stop in time, and the car crashes during your test drive. Or hangs on the edge of the cliff. You sit in the car motionless with your hair turning white.
	Finally, your Live CD run crashes. Or hangs. The only way to revive the computer is to push the Power button.
And still the manager tries to convince you that this is only a test drive, and your real car will be different and much better. .
	And still the community (fanboys) of this particular Linux distribution tell you that everything works fine in the installed version. .
Will you buy the car? If your answer is yes, then you are very likely to be a suicidal person.
	Will you install that Linux distribution? If your answer is yes, then... Just read the phrase one line above.

Why should a Linux Live run be any different from the test drive of a new car?

Also to read: Why do I do Live system reviews?