What is Linux?

Linux is an alternative operating system with a choice of several graphical user interfaces (Xwindow managers). The power of Linux with one of the more mature Xwindow managers will rival anything available for either the Macintosh or IBM Compatible PC's.

OhMyGod Not Unix!

Unix was developed in the mid-1970's when minicomputers and mainframes were the norm in the corporate world, and PC's were still a dream. Unix is still found in the corporate and educational worlds, and in today's client server internet networks.

A few of the drawbacks of Unix historically have been it's inaccessibility outside the context of the corporate or university environments, also the hardware requirements for Unix are bit much for the typical desktop PC.

A brief history:

Linux began life at the hands of Linus Torvolds, a student at the University of Helsinki, in Finland. Originally Linux was a bare bones system allowing Linus the joy of programming the kernel (Linux core). As other programmers began to become interested in Linux's kernel a team of programmers grew and the base software for a complete operating system soon emerged.

In March of 1992, version 1.0 of the Linux kernel was released marking the first official release of Linux. Linux continues to evolve as the preeminent Unix-Clone operating system for personal computers.

The Linux of today provides a truly multi-tasking, multi-user operating system on modest personal computer hardware rivaling the power of mid-range Unix Systems.

While Linux has made great strides in installation, configuration and hardware support there are some that contend that Linux is not yet ready for the desktop. A 3D Multimedia gaming machine may not be practical on Linux(yet), but a powerful and more importantly stable workhorse is. Ever get fed up with those "Blue Screens" when you're working on something that just has to get done now?

How expensive is Linux?

With all the capabilities provided by Linux one might expect the operating system to be expensive. On the contrary, the Linux kernel is distributed under the GNU General Public License developed by the Free Software Foundation. This special license promotes the open distribution, and more importantly the open development of Linux, and applications for Linux.

Where do I get Linux?

Linux Sources

There are many distributions of Linux. Many are freely downloadable from the internet. A fast connection and a download manager is recommended as you will be downloading something on the order of a 600+ Megabyte CD-Rom image. Note that a downloaded CD-Rom image must be written to a CD-R(ecordable) to be useable.

CD-Roms of popular distributions can be purchased for as little as a few dollars, while "Packaged Versions" with manuals and some period of vendor support can also be purchased.

Where can I get Help?

Help sources.

Note that while the download and inexpensive CD-Rom only distributions lack vendor support you can find the answer to most questions in the documentation included on the CD-Rom, this usually includes the "How-to's" and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), as well as the vendors installation and users guides.

Another good source of information is the vendor's website and there are quite a number of web sites dedicated to supplying the answers to some of the common problems encountered by the "Linux Newbie".

If you can not find the answer to your problem within the supplied documents or on some of the assistance oriented websites there are a growing number of Linux oriented news groups (usenet). Personally I have found that scanning the news groups usually turns up someone posting the exact question I have. So "Lurking", (that is reading the newsgroup and not actually posting) usually does the trick.

What about Applications?

Application sources.

There are a surprising number of applications for Linux that have been released under the GPL. Sun recently made the StarOffice Suite freely available via download. Just for example this web page was created with WebMaker 0.8.5 and Gimp 1.0.4-5 on a RedHat Linux 6.1 system, tested on an Apache 1.3 web server and ftp'd to the "real" web server, all with a single desktop PC. Total cash outlay for software... under $2.00 for the recordable CD.

Gimp is the Gnu Image Manipulation Program. Think of it as PaintBrush on some kick butt steroids. ;^)