So I'm sure you've heard the word Linux floating around at some point. Maybe you've heard that it's another operating system like Mac or Windows, but you never really bothered to learn more. Perhaps you've heard the name of the most popular type of Linux, Ubuntu, floating around in Daily Kos itself.
Linux desktop-users are not a large contingent in and of themselves. At last estimate, they were only 1% of the entire computer market. However, this was double the previous estimate, and other signs across the globe have pointed to Linux on computers growing even faster.
Let's go over the fold.
So, what is Linux?
Linux is an operating system, much like Windows and Mac, that differs in a few ways:
- It is completely and entirely free, unlike Mac and Windows, which cost money. (In Mac's case, you have to by a Macintosh computer as well, a regular PC won't work.
- Linux is 'open source'. This means the underlying code can be change and redistributed by anyone with the knowledge and the desire.
A Brief History of Linux
The underlying kernel of Linux was created by Linus Torvalds, in 1991. The name comes from his name Lin(us), and U(NI)X, another open-source operating system. Linux was created using the "GNU" tools of the MIT Professor Richard Stallman, and as a result is sometimes called GNU/Linux. Once the kernel was created (diagram blow explaining how kernels work), it was released to the public with the GNU tools, making a completely free and open operating system. With the internet making this all possible, the call went out to programmers and others to develop. Created by a small team of dedicated programmers, and a much larger audience of programmers doing it for fun in their spare time, Linux has continued to flourish and grow.
How Kernels Work:
A much more detailed explanation here. Here is a summarized diagram of the History of Linux and its relation to Mac OSX and Windows.
Distro? Distribution? Flavor? Type? What?
There are dozens of different kinds of distributions of Linux.
What is a distribution?
A gross over-simplification would be to say that Linux is the underlying code that the computer sees, the programming language (like Java or Python or Flash, etc.), and the distribution is the thing on top that you see. (Of course, it's more complicated than this, read more here.)
Distributions contain the GNU/Linux code, plus
- A Window Manager/System, basically the little 'windows' of programs and applications on your monitor.
- A Desktop Environment, more on this below.
- And a Package Manager, basically the administrative tool that lets you manage and control your computer. It lets you keep your computer updated, administer specific things like the display, and download things like a web-browser or a word-processing program. (It's a bit more complicated than this, but not overly-so. Learn more here.)
A Desktop Environment is basically how the computer looks and is set up. I've included some pictures of the most popular choices, GNOME and KDE below. There are more, but these two are by far the most popular.
KDE 4.0:
KDE 3.5:
GNOME 2.20:
Right. So, a distribution is just a type of Linux. So what are my choices here?
Like I said before, your choices are almost unlimited. A glance at a list of Linux distributions will reveal many choices.
However, there are certain distributions of Linux that are much more popular than other ones. These include distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, Open SUSE and Mandriva.
Ubuntu in particular, the operating system I use, is the most newbie-friendly, UbuntuForums.org being the place to go for any questions, with a community more than happy and willing to help anyone.
So..why would I switch to Linux? What's in it for me?
Well, first of all, Linux is a full-fleged free operating system. That means it comes with a web-browser (Firefox), an email client (various), a full-featured replacement for Windows Office (OpenOffice.org), a movie player (Totem, Kaffeine, Elisa), a audio player (amaroK, Rhythmbox, Banshee), among hundreds if not thousands of others. Best of all, it's all free and easy to get! All you have to do is open the package manager (see above) and click a checkbox.
Some people just enjoy learning something new (this is the reason I switched), and others switch to Linux because there are no adware, no spyware, and no viruses. From a layman's point of view (from DarkHack at UbuntuForums.org:)
The first reason Linux is safer is because the kernel has a firewall built in, unlike Windows. The second reason is that the operating system is programmed in such a way that programs cannot self propagate. Meaning they can't attach themselves to others, or spread through the system. It's hard (near impossible) to hide a process from the process table on a Linux system too, unlike Windows. Linux also requires one to be root to do any serious damage. The third reason is because Linux users are generally more aware of security and don't go around opening "Britney Spears and Paris Hilton Having Sex.exe" in their email. We can also install programs from the package manager instead of needing to download stuff from sketchy websites.
Also, there are the people who switch because of eyecandy far advanced beyond Macintosh and Windows...Compiz-Fusion, eyecandy that is sometimes practical, sometimes just fun:
Here is more about what Linux is and if it is right for you. It doesn't cover some of the reasons why some people don't switch to Linux.
I would advise you to not fully switch to Linux, or to dual-boot (more on this below) if you are a gamer, or if you use software that only works in Windows or Mac. (and is not supported by WINE, a sort of emulation layer to let Windows programs work in Linux.)
I'm interested. How can I get started?
First of all, I would recommend Ubuntu for any beginner, because of the easiness of installing, maintaining, and the superb and large community.
You have a couple of options: wubi and dual-booting.
Wubi, more info available here , is a program that lets you install Ubuntu INSIDE Windows, like a program, letting you play with and get used to Ubuntu. There is some reduced performance inside Ubuntu in Windows, but it shouldn't be terrible.
Or, you can dual-boot, which lets you run both Ubuntu and Windows on your computer, separately. In order to do this you need to get Ubuntu, here (You most likely want the desktop edition, and the x86 version) and burn it to a CD, information on how to do this here here.
Then you can follow these directions for XP.
These directions for Vista.
These directions for Mac OS X
Now on to Top Comments...
dopper0189 submits:
A brilliant idea from AnotherMassachusettsLiberal From the the the diary rescue from Sat May 24th.
Land Of Enchantment notes:
About the "Chevy truck" factor from rf7777 in Hoomai29's diary about polling for the upcoming Montana primary.
brillig sends in:
This comment by skywaker9 in DarkSyde's Mars Phoenix Live Blog: Success! explains where I wish my tax dollars were going...
watercarrier4diogenes laughs at Sardonyx:
In tonight's Diary Rescue, nonnie9999 showed us a hilarious movie poster about the McCain/Bush fundraiser in Phoenix that's been cancelled or moved to a smaller venue because it looked like the protesters would outnumber the attendees. sardonyx' comment was 'dead on target.'
sardonyx slips this in at the last minute:
I was shocked to see Dallasdoc displaying a gap in his nutritional knowledge when he thought he'd described the worst food to eat; needless to say, many people downthread proceeded to educate him...and if you read the thread, you can expand your knowledge (and waistline) too.
My Choices:
writerswrite comment about Gettysburg in JeffLiebers hilarious (as always) diary provides for another good addition to his diary.
This hilarious thread started by nviedprincess takes about various terrible commencement speakers at Kossack graduations.
Reepicheep asks the question: How Many Republicans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? and garners all kinds of hilarious responses. (OrangeClouds115 backs me up on this)
And I would like to make a small shoutout to billysumday's hilarious diary Sincere Apologies to Hillary and Bill Clinton because it slipped off the list too fast.
Thanks to BeninSC for tonight's top mojo.
Top Mojo except for search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments:
1 The electoral math is not complicated by ShadowSD - 176
2 Please pass this link around by Lauren S - 150
3 That's a Fox News Employee by Steven R - 146
4 This should be career-ending by GN1927 - 140
5 Please Rec this by foxsucks81 - 136
6 made me cry too. by revgerry - 135
7 Thanks Jeremybloom -- grassroots organizing by noemie maxwell - 133
8 Whoa. NOW he's concerned about disrespecting her? by Sharon Jumper - 130
9 He's nearing Geraldine Ferraro status by dsharma23 - 110
10 The Party elders ae speaking. It's over. by FishOutofWater - 106
11 Yep, on the ground here in WA state... by seattlegirl - 102
12 Video by turneresq - 99
13 I cry seeing these students getting diplomas from by panAmerican - 98
14 Wow! The picture of Teddy's son has me in tears by CocoaLove - 95
15 does the constitution apply to our government???? by pfiore8 - 86
16 I want an apology by LivinginReality - 85
17 It must have made an impact by davidkc - 84
18 The Clinton campaign has the patent on victimhood by deben - 83
19 I'd love for her to get a serious visit from them by barath - 82
20 The guy's a leader. by haruki - 81
21 My sister and I were there! by lincat - 80
22 Can You Say Hillary Clinton (R-KY) or (R-WV)? by Jimmy Crackcorn - 78
23 Before they scrub the site by Steven R - 76
24 We will work harder by glutz78 - 75
25 By the way by Lauren S - 75
26 She knows she's in trouble re: the comment by linnie - 74
27 I hope he's right about SDs making their decision by dansac - 73
28 Here's the thing... by sick of it all - 71
29 Patience, Young Butterfly... by Jimdotz - 71
30 a point Hillary should remember by JLFinch - 70
Top Mojo no holds barred:
>1 Tip Jar by LithiumCola - 503
2 Stop This Delusion Jar by Mash - 481
3 Tips and rec's by Brit - 463
4 Tips for Satire by Larry Madill - 410
5 someone contact the secret service by foxsucks81 - 374
6 Tips by turneresq - 360
7 Tip Jar by ROh70 - 351
8 Tip jar... for those late nights/ early mornings. by jeremybloom - 326
9 I'm REALLY sorry... by JeffLieber - 325
10 Is Prince correct... by Magnifico - 296
11 Seeing Patrick Kennedy by Drdemocrat - 261
12 Tips/Recs for Getting Hillary to cut the shit out by dansac - 246
13 Please Recommend by Steven R - 210
14 Tip jar by Kitty - 195
15 The electoral math is not complicated by ShadowSD - 176
16 Three-strikes laws are terribly injust by jeremybloom - 154
17 Please pass this link around by Lauren S - 150
18 That's a Fox News Employee by Steven R - 146
19 This should be career-ending by GN1927 - 140
20 Please Rec this by foxsucks81 - 136
21 made me cry too. by revgerry - 135
22 Thanks Jeremybloom -- grassroots organizing by noemie maxwell - 133
23 Whoa. NOW he's concerned about disrespecting her? by Sharon Jumper - 130
24 Good luck by DarkSyde - 129
25 He's nearing Geraldine Ferraro status by dsharma23 - 110
26 The Party elders ae speaking. It's over. by FishOutofWater - 106
27 Charbroiled Tip Jar by Sam Loomis - 105
28 Yep, on the ground here in WA state... by seattlegirl - 102
29 Tips/Recs to the Obama Family!!! by icebergslim - 101
30 Video by turneresq - 99