Roku is a tiny box that turns your TV into web stream enabled device.  This means that for under $100 you can connect your existing streaming subscriptions (Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, etc.) to your big screen in your living room.  But aside from being a really nifty little gadget, Roku's strong presence in the media streaming device market tells an interesting story.  The guy that brought us the DVR, Anthony Wood, decided that Linux was the best platform for the Roku back in 2002.  It is definitely not the only thriving tech gadget that is Open Source down to the kernel, and that is certainly helping to keep its consumer's wallets happy.  The big story, however, is the Netflix-Linux compatibility, which is leaving many people scratching their heads as to why other Linux devices are not supported.  Some may find it surprising that Microsoft is to blame!

So you love the warm and fuzziness of Mac OS X, or you can not imagine a world without Microsoft Outlook by your side, or maybe you are an Adobe Creative Suite ninja.  You are supporting proprietary software, but you can still be an Open Source enthusiast.  In fact, most of the proprietary software products are influenced heavily by community driven software projects.  For example, Linux holds Windows and Mac to a standard simply by offering a free alternative OS.  Open Source gives software consumers a voice with which to say "We already know how to do that, what else can you do?".