When it comes to computing there is nothing better than Linux. It is free, and open, and powerful. It is for these reasons that Linux offers the greatest potential of all the other main stream operating systems. For those who don’t know what an operating system is let me break it down for you.
In easy language an operating system is what allows you to interface with your computer’s hardware in a way to make it do what you want (within its designs). Some examples of common operating systems that you probably use are Windows (8, 7, Vista, XP…), Mac OS X, IOS (your Iphone, Ipod touch, Ipad), Android (Tablet or Phone). Then there are the ones you probably don’t think much about, perhaps you have a DVR or a Blue Ray/DVD Player, or an e-reader (Nook/Kindle) again there is an operating system there as well.
So then why is Linux superior? Well first of all it is secure, or more accurately it is designed with security in mind. For this reason you are less likely to get a virus, get a Trojan, or any other number of compromises that Windows was historically known for. Secondly, Linux is stable, it is far less likely to crash than windows, it also doesn’t require you to de-frag your hard drive. Linux is also in general less recourse hungry than its two main competitors (Windows and OS X).
So then what is Linux? Well it is a Unix like operating system, that was designed originally by Linux Torvalds, and has grown into something great over the past 20 years. Technically speaking Linux is just the Kernel (we won’t get into that today), but the Linux Operating System has become to be thought of more generally as a compilation of programs giving the full Operating System experience.
The most common names in Linux are probably Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, Suse Linux/Open Suse, Redhat, Fedora, PC Linux OS. Each one of these is a Linux Distribution. They all have the common Linux Kernel, and use a common set of libraries and programs but they each package programs differently and have their own unique attributes and looks about them. They are compatible in the sense that you can integrate them and share information, but that programs cannot be installed from one to another just like you can’t just install a Microsoft Windows .exe file on a Mac (in fact you would have to hope there is a .dmg file or that it worked via wine). For Linux this isn’t nearly as difficult as most linux programs have the source code available you can always just recompile the program for your individual OS, though as I stated many of these Operating Systems have common libraries meaning the programs are probably already pre compiled and just have to be installed via their own respective repositories.
While these are the most common versions you have probably experienced a cousin of Linux. First of all since Linux is a Unix like Operating system if you have used OS X you have in fact worked with a cousin all be it a distant one. Another cousin is the Andoid Operating System. If you have a Google Android Phone you are using an operating system that runs on the Linux Kernel. But as it doesn’t use any of the other common libraries it doesn’t generally endear as much love from the Linux Community. Nooks run on Android, so they too are cousins of this great OS.
If you own a Tivo you have linux and you probably didn’t know it. One of the best and short lived mobile operating systems WebOS was also a Linux OS. If it were not for the price HP had set on WebOS devices I would have bought one when they came out.
What can you do on Linux? Lots of things. For instance I’m writing this from a Linux laptop. My current and most common flavor of choice is Ubuntu. With Ubuntu I can surf the internet, I can obviously post to a blog, I can watch movies even Netflix. You can write papers, spread sheets, and power point type presentations via Libre Office. Of course you can listen to music, mp3s, Spotify, pandora, google play… the list goes on and on.
You can even host your own blogs or websites with any number of programs. In fact the majority of websites on the internet are hosted on Linux servers.
Are you into graphic design. Linux can do that too. In fact Dream Works has a farm of linux computers dedicated to rendering their images for movies. Truth is there is little you cannot do with linux. And again most of this is free.
Don’t get me wrong, there are commercial versions out there. Suse is a commercial Linux as is Red Hat. Ubuntu while 100% free allows you to easily purchase commercial programs or stick with the free onces. It is entirely up to you how you use Linux.
Later I will write about how I became interested in Linux and outline my progression from a Windows user to Linux fan. In the mean time I urge you to take a look at Linux.
For those first timers take a look at Ubuntu, it is Linux made easy.
-Patrick
