List of Linux adopters

This is a list of companies, organizations and individuals who have moved from other operating systems to Linux.

[1] See also : List of BSD adopters As local governments come under pressure from institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the International Intellectual Property Alliance, some have turned to Linux and other free software as an affordable, legal alternative to both pirated software and expensive proprietary computer products from Microsoft, Apple and other commercial companies.

The spread of Linux affords some leverage for these countries when companies from the developed world bid for government contracts (since a low-cost option exists), while furnishing an alternative path to development for countries like India and Pakistan that have many citizens skilled in computer applications but cannot afford technological investment at "First World" prices.

Cost is not the only factor being considered, though — many governmental institutions (in public and military sectors) in North America and the European Union make the transition to Linux because of its superior stability and the openness of the source code, which strengthens information security.

To some extent, technical competence of computer science and software engineering academics is also a contributor, as is stability, maintainability, and upgradability.

The French Parliament moved to Ubuntu on desktop PCs in 2007.
Edubuntu CD kit
Ernie Ball moved its entire business to Red Hat Linux in 2000, following a licensing dispute with Microsoft .
The IBM Roadrunner , the world's third fastest supercomputer operated by the US National Nuclear Security Administration , uses Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora as its operating systems. All ( top 500 ) supercomputers use Linux by now.