Linux Lore

Linux is a free Operating System, and a wonderful alternative to Microsoft Windows. It is usually easy to install and manage, especially with distributions that focus on an easy user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions...

What is Linux?

Since you ask this, I will asume you use Windows, or maybe MacOS. You might assume that your computer is Windows, since everything you do runs inside a Windows environment. Think of windows like a big engine, and your computer as a car. You can, without too much expense or time, simply pop in a new and better "enigne" right in your "car". Even better, you can have install a new Operating System, and still use your old one. The two (or 3 in my case) can peacefully coexist on the same hard drive.

Why is Linux better than Windows?

Linux is Free, Linux is Open Source, Linux is secure, There are 10,000's of free programs for Linux...

Don't you have to be a computer genius to run Linux?

No, although the openess of Linux allows you to understand your computer much better, and control how it operates. Think of Linux as a car that does not have its hood welded shut. As the owner of your system, you should have the ability to know what it is doing, and control how you want it to run. Like a car, a Linux system is very modularized into separate parts that can be replaced and customized, allowing you to tune preformance for your needs and expectations, rather than having to rely on how Microsoft's prefabricated software.

There is really a good alternative to Internet Explorer?

Yes, the Firefox web browser is such as better alternative, I am amazed so many people don't know about it. It is faster, much more secure, and has more features than MSIE. It is also open source. Firefox requires no special computer skills to install, and it is incredibly easy to use. Many security focus groups advise users to avoid Internet Explorer, due its many security problems, which allow any website to install programs to your computer, often in the form of spyware, or worms/viri/trojans. Security is a serious concern, and MSIE simply does an extremely poor job at it. Did I mention Firefox automatically blocks pop-up ads as well? Get Firefox at www.mozilla.org.

Why is Microsoft so bad, anyway?

They often make technically inferior products, and force them on thier customers. They have a long history of using "strongarm tactics" to harm thier competition (Such as suing a teenage web designer named Mike Rowe). They subvert open file formats, protocols and products. In general, Microsoft is a very good at marketing and not so benificial to open technology and innovation. Thier most successful products were purchased from smaller companies and marketed very agressively. There is nothing wrong with that, except good design and security come second to marketing.

How do companies or programmers survive if they sell a free product?

Open source embodies the concept of freedom, and allows companies to make money from thier products. Open Source programmers often make money from not only thier products, but support, consultation, and many other ways. Open source programmers often benifit from career opportunities resulting from their work, which hones and demonstrates thier abilities as a software engineer. An open source product certainly gains emmensely due to the exposure it recieves.

What about all my windows programs and games?

There is a fine Linux equivalent for the vast majority of windows programs, often even a better alternative (like GAIM for instant messaging). There are some programs which do not have a native Linux equivalent, however. These programs may be ran using VMware or Wine with varying degrees of success. If you depend on certain windows programs, dual booting allows you to effortly keep Windows on your computer, and allows you to reboot and choose which operating system to load.