Live CDs of various Linux distributions are frequently given away as a way of promoting Linux. It’s a great idea, but there is a problem.

Suppose you have never heard of Linux and someone hands you a CD and gives you a short explanation about what it is and how to use/install it. You go home with the CD in hand and put it in your computer. Upon rebooting, you discover, as you were told you would, a new operating system – Linux. You play around for a little bit and find that everything works a little differently, but it is not hard to get used to. You are thinking about installing it, but you aren’t quite ready to take the plunge, since you don’t really know anything about it or how it works. What you want is a way to use Linux without full time, without changing anything on your computer.

What I have just described is a near-ideal situation in which someone who has never-before touched Linux becomes interested in it. The situation does not, however, end up with the user installing Linux. Why? They are looking for a way to use it full time before they commit to it. Right now, the only ways to use a full Linux system (with the ability to save files, install applications, and so on) without committing to it are to set up a dual-boot system or use Wubi. A dual-boot system is risky and sometimes challenging to set up, though. Wubi installs are great, but what if you don’t have Windows or don’t want to install anything at all?

The solution to all of this is LiveUSB drives. Basically, a LiveUSB drive is just like a Live CD, except that it is done with a flash drive. The advantage of this is that the user can save documents and applications on to the flash drive, along side the OS. The great thing is that flash drives are not even that expensive anymore. Four dollars will buy a retail 2GB flash drive from Newegg. That is still a lot more expensive than CDs, but it is not bad.

By giving away LiveUSB drives instead of Live CDs, people would have a much slower transition to Linux avaliable to them, making them more likely to eventually install and use Linux.