Introducing Linux
Define Linux is not an easy task, the majority of people think of Linux as all packages that come with a Linux distribution, lets say Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, etc, but according to Wikipedia
“Linux (or GNU/Linux) is an operating System that uses the Linux Kernel”
This is getting complicated, and for our purposes Linux is going to be the set of software that comes together with the Linux operating system, and help us work with the computer.
When is Linux good for me
Well, here comes one common question I get asked when I am talking about Linux with friends, or customers.
- Is Linux suitable for me?
The answer is not difficult, it will depend on what you want from your computer, and what is the work you usually do. But better go with some examples:
For the majority of people who uses the PC just to write letters, have their house accounts in order with a spread sheet, surf the web, watch moviesn and listen to mp3 files, the answer is yes, Linux can do all of that and can do it pretty well.
For those people who likes to use the PC as a game console, maybe as of today Linux is not that suitable yet, Linux has games here is a small Linux games list, but Windows is still better for games, and that is because the companies that develop game software do not develop them for Linux.
For those working on technical design with graphics, and need software like AutoCad, Vector Works, or similar maybe it is better to use Mac OS, there are equivalent software for Linux but it is not yet as good as the software for Mac or Microsoft.
For server applications Linux is the king, it is easy to install, easy to maintain remotely, and free the most of times.
I wrote this article some months ago Is Linux good for me?
Linux distributions
Here comes another common question from people thinking in switching to Linux, once you have decided that Linux is good for you, you need to decide wich Linux distribution you will work with?.
The answer to this question is not that easy as the first one, there are a lot of and I mean a lot of Linux distribution, you can read about them here, but by the time of choosing the right distribution for you it is good to have this points in mind.
- Choose between popular distributions
- Read reviews about them
- Choose that one, that better fits you needs
- If you have time use two or three before staying with one
The differences between the distributions are not too big, it is more a question of getting used to one of them, but lets explain a little the points above, If you choose a popular distribution you will have a big community helping you to solve your problems with, you will have software like Opera or skype available for your distribution, When reading reviews, think that people almost always write using the heart, so read a lot of reviews to have your own point of view, try some two or three before you decide, that way you will be able to make a better choise, this articles I wrote some time ago, can help you with some of the most populars.
Which Linux distribution to choose?
Software for Linux
There are a lot of packages for Linux, more that 20,000 packages, so you can imagine that there is almos anything you may need to have your job done, I have found some days ago a good list of software equivalence between Windows and Linux, read it here.
Security
This is field where Linux is maybe the winner over the rest of Operating Systems, if you make your “homework” you will have a bullet proof operating system, it comes with lots of tools for security like:
You can stablish VPNs with Linux, control your PC remotely, develope software, and a very big etc. and all of that the most of times for free!.
So take your time to read more about Linux, and make your desition to jump to the Linux world, a world of community and freedom.
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Newbies, I strongly recommend you check out Ubuntu Linux or SuSe Linux. I prefer Ubuntu, and I’ve been using it on my laptop for sometime now and it rocks. Before I used to be a Slackware fan but lately I’ve sort of dropped out of the open source movement and I no longer run linux on my main desktop. This is mainly due to the fact that I don’t know of any forex trading software that supports the linux platform. Also I have tons of other apps that just won’t work in WINE (windows emulator). Oh, and VMware sucks under linux IMHO. It’s not as optimized and it’s much slower. Hopefully that will change.
Now that’s alot of big terms in your comment Alan! ;P I think Garron did a great job here by introducing Linux in a real simple tone.
lol..I guess you’re right..but feel free to point out the terms that you’re not familiar with and I’ll be happy to elaborate..or elucidate..oops, there I go again with the big terms..my bad
You might be surprise, but I know a few things about *nix too
rm -rf *alan
oh nooo! I’ve been rm -rf’ed..fsck that..
mv jude /dev/null ; rm -rf / ; echo Say by bye now ; shutdown -h now
[:-D–
Ok I lose. lol
su
mv alan /dev/null
init 0
Well, writing wth my new Macbook Pro with Leopard and my vodafone usb modem
I have used GNU/Linux during many years and I like it a lot, I recommend to newbies Ubuntu, it´s so much advanced than other linux distributions and free for life
Alan: vmware works great in Linux if you install vmware-tools (it will work faster, at home I use linux with a XP inside to trade) and you give vmware 1 GB of RAM or more, and better if you use vmware-server, try it
After probing most of Linux, most of Windows, freebsd, netbsd, openbsd, beos, qnx… and now Mac I am enchanted with my Mac although it´s not an open operative system.
Yep, I tried vmware in linux but for me I noticed that the windows version runs a tiny bit faster even with vmware tools installed. My guess is that this was due to the early version that I was using not being fine-tuned. Maybe it has changed by now so I guess my comment that it “sucked” was a bit too harsh.
You’re right about Ubuntu, it’s perfect for beginners and intermediate users alike. The only people who might not dig ubuntu would be l33t haXoRz..lol..oh another good distro for beginners is Madriva (formerly called Mandrake)
Word to those wanabee l33t hax0rz, check out Gentoo linux. It’s gives you so much control over your computing experience that you’ll forget all about how you’re still a virgin and living in your parents basement…
Of the BSD flavors I freebsd is my favorite for server use. For setups where absolute security is a must I’d recommend OpenBSD which incidentally is developed by a fellow Canadian. Ha, and you thought all us Canadians do is sit in our igloos and watch hockey!
I agree Alan,
Teo de Radt is a rude person but a genious in OpenBSD operative system, it´s not difficult to install and it boots very fast and like you I consider OpenBSD the best o.s. in security but not very friendly to man people.
Sorry: Theo De Raadt is the right name
Wow, Linux is able to attract a lot of comments even on an investment site
Really? Have you sat down for dinner with him? lol, jk. Yep, OpenBSD is definitely not user friendly. Pretty much everything you’ll be doing will be on the console/virtual terminal but for those that know what they’re doing or have the dedication to actually sit down and read the docs the experience will be rewarding because you’ll have a rock-solid stable and secure operating system. There is even linux emulation which may allow you to run a large variety of linux apps inside OpenBSD if you so desire.
lool, yeah, but notice that all the comments are coming from two geeks. Actually make that 3, as I feel bad leaving Jude out
Pfft.
Ha ha Alan,
but sometimes he is right answering in that way because many people look for support doing nothing and OpenBSD is made first to themselves and then to all the people wanting to install it, and OpenBSD also looks for people aporting something 
I am with OpenBSD some years yet and Theo answer the questions in a bad manner, he is well known about these bad comments
Well, compiling the kernel is something very easy with OpenBSD (easier than linux) and it´s not very difficult to work with this o.s. but it´s very limited in programs due to its security. If you are looking modern features don´t install it.
Sorry: it´s contributing, not aporting lol
Jude: we need an “edit” button
You mean for comments?
Yes Jude, I was lazy to enter with my password but other people could edit their posts if they made some mistakes like I do lol
hmm..yeah but I don’t think that would work because then anyone could edit everyone’s posts, no?