Linux 101
Maybe you’re getting sick and tired of Windows? With thousands of viruses and spyware designed to attack Windows OS's, and constant security alerts and updates haggling you; it's no surprise you may want try another OS. So what are your options? Well, you could buy a Mac and use the latest version of OSX. But, Macs are pretty expensive and let's say you can't afford one. What now you wonder? Linux, that's what.
Brief Introduction
Linux is an operating system developed originally on a UNIX-like platform from the 1980s. In 1991, Linus Torvalds developed an open source OS now known today as Linux (Holcombe 2008). What is open source you ask? It means basically that anyone can edit the operating system to improve it further.
The original GNU project developed the kernel used with Linux (based from UNIX). Therefore, Linux is sometimes referred to as the GNU/Linux operating system. GNU also develops components such as software for the Linux desktop environment.
There are many distributions, or distros of Linux. Some examples of popular Linux distributions are Ubuntu, Knoppix, and Red Hat Linux that you can download from the internet onto a CD, and install it on your computer. The best thing of all about Linux is that most distros are free!
Advantages/Disadvantages
Some advantages to using Linux are as follows:1
- Fast
- Stable
- Open Source
- Usually Free
- Small kernel (Doesn't take up a lot of space)
- Can run off older computers
However Linux does have some drawbacks to it:1
- Not a lot of centralized support
- Limited Software
- Considered a "hard" operating system to use. (Ex: Files are case sensitive, KDE Bash/Gnome Terminal)
- Only a fraction of the world uses it.
Tux
Tux is the official Mascot of Linux. You've probably seen him before, and now you know that he represents the Linux OS.
Interested?
I, myself use both Mac OS X, and Linux Ubuntu on a daily basis. Linux's security and customization are what really attracts me to using it. Check out this YouTube video to see a comparison of Vista to Ubuntu Linux:
Windows Vista VS. Linux Ubuntu
As you can see, the customization you can do on the Gnome desktop environment of Ubuntu is pretty cool, huh?
Here's a screenshot of how my Linux Ubuntu desktop looks, and yes I'm partial to Mac. (click the image to view the full size):
So, maybe you're interested in trying out Linux, but don't want to delete Windows? No problem! check out my Dual Boot Windows/Linux page to learn how to run both Linux and Windows on your computer!
Source:
1 Holcombe, Jane, and Charles Holcombe. Survey of Operating Systems. 2nd edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008.
