Try Linux and Keep Windows or OS X
I am not ashamed to admit that I am not an operating system monogamist. I don’t use just one operating system and I don’t think anyone else should have to either. I regularly use Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu Linux. It is just more fun for me that way, and that’s what computers should be, fun. In this article, I want to show you how you can learn more about the Linux operating system.
The Linux operating system has always had a fanatical following among the “geek” culture. There are literally hundreds of different varieties or distributions of Linux, with DistroWatch.com tracking 358 as of this writing. The idea of a “distribution” can be confusing at first. Simply, different individuals, organizations or businesses take the core Linux code and add things they want to it. It is somewhat like going to a car dealer and ordering all the add-on accessories you want. All the car customers have a Chevrolet, but they can still be different from each other.
Among its advantages are that it is more secure than Windows with practically no instances of viruses or spyware in the Linux world. It is available in many different languages, thus adding to its appeal worldwide. Most Linux distributions can work better on older computers than does Windows XP, Vista or Mac OS X. Its biggest advantage is that, for the most part, all Linux distributions are free of charge.
Because of the many different distributions, Linux does not present a “unified front,” helping to keep Linux on the fringes of the more mainstream computing world. However, in the last few years a number of distributions have come to the forefront, and have taken aim at the everyday computer user. . . in other words, you and me. Of these, the Ubuntu distribution has made the greatest strides into the mainstream.
The most recent release, version 7.04, whimsically called “Feisty Fawn,” is extremely easy to use, pretty to look at, very secure and loaded with added software applications for most any task. And the best part is that it is completely free to use. Ubuntu, as are all flavors of Linux, is open source software. This means it is in active development by a worldwide community of developers and users who are volunteers. This is true of the vast majority of Linux software as well, like Audacity, which we talk about a lot on this site.
Perhaps the best part of Ubuntu is that you can try it without having to install it over your current Windows operating system. It is available as what is called a Live CD. This means that the complete OS can run off of a bootable CD, allowing you to see and test the features before deciding to do an install. A bootable CD or DVD simply requires that you have the disc in your optical drive when the computer is turned on. If the computer is set to boot from the CD or DVD drive, then it will boot up a complete Linux operating system from the disc. Even better is that these Live CDs are available free of charge from the Ubuntu website via the ShipIt service. That means you don’t have to download anything, you can just order a CD and try it out to your heart’s content when it arrives.
To learn more about Linux, visit the online magazine, TUX Magazine. Although it is no longer in active circulation, all of its issues are available as free PDF files for download. Its content is designed for newcomers to Linux and we found the content perfect as an introduction to the power and ease of use of Linux. We have used a number of different Linux distributions and I encourage you to try out a few to find what might be best for you. Among the others we recommend are Fedora Core, Linux Mint, Mandriva, Linspire and openSUSE.
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