| What
is Linux - a very, very basic
introduction. Linux is an alternative operating system for the PC, i.e. it can be thought of as a replacement for Windows. Alternatives also exist for many of the software packages that run on Windows, such as web browsers, office suites, multimedia tools, image manipulation software and games, although software does exist to enable Linux users to run some Windows software. Linux has become popular due to it's reputation as a secure, stable operating system, and also because it (and most of the software that runs on Linux) can be obtained for the price of the download. This is because Linux and much of the software for Linux are the product of people associated with the Free Software and Open Source movements. When talking about Linux the word "free" is used primarily as in "free speech", i.e. Free software comes complete with it's source code, so that you are free to read the source code, and make changes to the software to suit your own needs, but because of the licenses Free software is released under, your changes must also be made available for all to share. Although this does mean that Free software is often available for "free", as in "free beer" or gratis, for the sake of convenience many users prefer to pay for collections of Free software, known as Linux "distributions", assembled by Free software vendors such as Mandrakesoft or SuSE Linux. Most distributions come complete with extras such as easy install programs and printed manuals. Even if you pay for a distribution rather than downloading Free software yourself, it still represents a significant saving over proprietary software products. You can put more flesh on the bare bones above by following the links below.... Linux Directory - A beginner's guide to Linux Linux Virgins.com - A gentle guide for 1st time Linux users Linux Easy resources with Linux-Easy.com Really Linux - another good source of information for beginners tuXfiles - more help for the Linux newbie Linux Migration - quick help guide for the Windows user |