Once in a while, a good idea pops into someone's head and that person decides to act on it.

I say this because I have recently discovered a new product called "Lindows" which is a first generation of software that attempts to bridge the gap between Linux and Microsoft's Windows.

It's far from perfect.

There are also other alternatives, such as using an emulator within Linux to run Windows or vice versa.

But the fact remains that someone did it.

It should concern all of us that there is only one major operating system for use on personal computers these days.

(Apple fans, I'm sorry, but there are just not enough of you. However, let's just wait and see how the new iMac performs.)

I always felt the Linux developers of the world were not doing enough to promote their product and sometimes weren't collaborating enough to develop a worthy competitor to Windows.

It is sad to see a product with such potential be so rarely used.

But what's interesting is that Linux is gaining popularity.

Some people are beginning to view it as a useful and usable alternative to Windows in certain environments.

With security concerns about Microsoft software being heightened by many recently discovered security problems (such as the universal plug and play security flaw which leaves multiple versions of Windows open to attack via the Internet), I'm not so sure that it should be the only widespread choice for American consumers.

Even those who use the automated Windows Update feature have been running into problems.

Various patches and updates that have been released from Microsoft can cause the systems to become unstable and certain device drivers (the software that enables your computer to "talk to" the various components of your computer) to stop functioning.

Linux is gaining momentum as a more reliable and less expensive alternative in both government and business.

One such case is Largo, Florida.

The city recently switched all of its city government computer systems over to Linux and succeeded in doing so.

It should serve as a role model to other such organizations facing rising computer costs and the need to update their systems.

If you think this city's undertaking is an accomplishment, the Korean government has recently announced that it too will adopt Linux for installation on almost a quarter of all the systems used for their governmental needs.

The country will save almost 80 percent on costs compared to the purchase of equivalent Microsoft products.

Stories abound about Linux being used as a solution in the business world as well.

Within the past month, IBM announced the new Z series mainframe server. It is the world's first to use Linux as an operating system and IBM's first not to use its proprietary mainframe operating system.

Even in educational research, Linux has been chosen as a proven tool with which to perform tasks such as calculating numerically intense equations and statistics.

Penn State has it's own cluster of computers running Linux called LION-X, which does just that. It's exciting to see so much growth happening with the Linux operating system.

But I am not promoting the downfall and demise of monopolistic Microsoft.

Rather, I am encouraging the development and deployment of working alternatives.

This is why I am so enthusiastic about seeing an operating system such as Lindows being worked on and developed.

Maybe someday, as alternative operating systems catch on and Microsoft software security flaws plague the planet, we will not be trapped into using software that does not meet our standards.

Maybe we will be able to choose whichever operating system we would like to use.

Competition is good, compatibility even better.

Let's hope for the best.