Why did I install Ubuntu?

So, my old HD died (literally old.... five years). So I installed a 10gb partition of Ubuntu 5 and a 30gb partition of Win2k.

...now, why did I bother with Ubuntu? I'm an up-and-coming Software Engineer, second year at college. Should I be, like... using it? I can't think of anything I need to use on Ubuntu that I can't just use Win2k for.

This isn't a joke post. Seriously. Why should I bother with Linux?

Uh, I know this will be painful, but I really recommend that after you've played with Ubuntu for a week that you then run through Linux From Scratch (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/). Make sure you hammer out every issue in the system (don't cop out), and keep an eye open for security.

Once you have your own LFS installed, set up your own instances of Apache, exim or postfix, MySQL or Postgres, and write a few CGI programs in PHP/Python/Perl/Ruby. Muck around with ethereal and snort, etc.

Once you've done all that, you'll have an idea about most of the relevant things. It'll take you most of your summer, but if you want a crash-course, this is the best way to go...