One question I get all the time. How hard is it to learn Linux?
Well, being fairly new to Linux myself I would have to say "Using the Graphics mode like Windows - not hard at all" Now the truth "To do things you can't in Graphics mode much harder"
Now there are so many things you can do with Linux that learning it, and what it can do would take several years. To use it with the freedom that Microsoft products don't offer - PRICELESS.
The very first thing you need to do is get several different copies of a live Linux CD/DVD.
Play with each one and find which ones you like. Some will come with codecs installed and most won't. Finding a way to install the codecs.
Once all the non-free software is installed you have a Windows like OS. Fun to use and great to surf the Internet and many more features.
That is just for starters.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Linux the OS of your future?
How many of you remember DOS and Windows 3.1 for the 80's? It was rival to GEOS. GEOS was actually a better OS than Windows 3.1. Then Came Windows 95. You had to lose all your programs for Windows 3.1 and purchase new for Windows 95. Then came Windows 98. The fix for Windows 95. How many systems were destroyed by upgrading to Windows 98? It was all you saw on Television for weeks. Then there was Windows 98SE. Yes a fix for Windows 98. Then there was Windows 2000, and Windows ME. Windows ME was a huge flop. Windows 2000 was a little better. At least you could run 98 software on 2000. Then came Windows XP. You had to throw all your software out and purchase new again. Then came Windows Vista. Again some software that worked on XP would not work on Vista. Then came Windows 7 the fix for Windows Vista. I wonder if Windows 7SE will come out next year? A fix for Windows 7?
Whew! What a list. Now let's look at Linux. Let's first start with Unix. That is the Father of Linux. It was created back in the 60's and the first Unix that left the lab for use was 1970. By 1972 Unix was becoming a hot item. A lot of people who worked on Unix took a copy with them when they left AT&T and continued to work on the Unix they created. Several version of Unix eventually developed and that is when AT&T found out they had control of Unix and Demanded huge sums of money to use Unix. By 1991 a computer science student wanted a language like Unix to work at home. There was nothing available and it was way too costly to get a copy of Unix. So this student started to create his own Unix like OS. He got help from FSF, in no time he had Linux. After making it open source and allowing all people access to the code to modify and improve it and send it back into the community Linux 1.0 was out. At that time Linux was unreliable. But, the PEOPLE had the code and continued to work on it.
Let's fast forward to Linux today. It is still the same Linux from 20 years ago but with most of the bugs gone. I won't say it's bug free. But it's less buggy then Windows. Where you have a problem with Windows you make a report and sometime next year or two years from now a solution will be available for your error. Where in Linux you report your error and the community will explore the error and usually within a few days there is a fix for your error. Let's see if Windows can do that? Of course they can't.
Now you have to purchase programs to use on Windows. As you know some go as much as thousands of dollars but the average big ticket software are 250 to 600 dollars. The Games and cheap software are from 20 to 120 dollars. Let's look at Microsoft's Office, Adobe Photoshop, and many more software programs like this. Couple of hundred dollars a pop. At the end of the day you have to purchase Windows and if you are putting it on your computer and not purchasing a new one you most likely have to purchase a larger hard drive and more memory. Then the Windows and the software you want to put on your computer that Windows Controls.
Yes, I forgot to tell you that if you put Windows on your computer, Windows has control of your computer. Yes you heard me right. Read the License. If Microsoft thinks you owe them money they can go via the internet and shut down your computer. Will be nothing more than a Anchor.
But with Linux you have control of your computer. That's right, You have control.
The software that comes with Linux is part of Linux. So if you want a Photoshop like program you can use the Gimp. If you want an office suite you can use Open Office Org or Libre Office (an off shoot of Open Office) KDE Office and what is called Gnome Office. The software that is available for Linux is just thousands of packages. Games, to education, graphics, sound, internet, programming, science and wine. Wine is a program that allows you to use Microsoft Windows programs on Linux. There is also a Dos Emulator and Apple, Commodore emulators.
Linux brings back the fun in computing. A Live CD will allow you to do the most basic of everything, including surfing the internet. There may be some codexes that need to be installed so you can watch flash video, or a movie, listen to a mp3 or wav sound file. View graphic files. Yes, now you are starting to see the power of Linux.
Best of all little to no finical cost to you.
Whew! What a list. Now let's look at Linux. Let's first start with Unix. That is the Father of Linux. It was created back in the 60's and the first Unix that left the lab for use was 1970. By 1972 Unix was becoming a hot item. A lot of people who worked on Unix took a copy with them when they left AT&T and continued to work on the Unix they created. Several version of Unix eventually developed and that is when AT&T found out they had control of Unix and Demanded huge sums of money to use Unix. By 1991 a computer science student wanted a language like Unix to work at home. There was nothing available and it was way too costly to get a copy of Unix. So this student started to create his own Unix like OS. He got help from FSF, in no time he had Linux. After making it open source and allowing all people access to the code to modify and improve it and send it back into the community Linux 1.0 was out. At that time Linux was unreliable. But, the PEOPLE had the code and continued to work on it.
Let's fast forward to Linux today. It is still the same Linux from 20 years ago but with most of the bugs gone. I won't say it's bug free. But it's less buggy then Windows. Where you have a problem with Windows you make a report and sometime next year or two years from now a solution will be available for your error. Where in Linux you report your error and the community will explore the error and usually within a few days there is a fix for your error. Let's see if Windows can do that? Of course they can't.
Now you have to purchase programs to use on Windows. As you know some go as much as thousands of dollars but the average big ticket software are 250 to 600 dollars. The Games and cheap software are from 20 to 120 dollars. Let's look at Microsoft's Office, Adobe Photoshop, and many more software programs like this. Couple of hundred dollars a pop. At the end of the day you have to purchase Windows and if you are putting it on your computer and not purchasing a new one you most likely have to purchase a larger hard drive and more memory. Then the Windows and the software you want to put on your computer that Windows Controls.
Yes, I forgot to tell you that if you put Windows on your computer, Windows has control of your computer. Yes you heard me right. Read the License. If Microsoft thinks you owe them money they can go via the internet and shut down your computer. Will be nothing more than a Anchor.
But with Linux you have control of your computer. That's right, You have control.
The software that comes with Linux is part of Linux. So if you want a Photoshop like program you can use the Gimp. If you want an office suite you can use Open Office Org or Libre Office (an off shoot of Open Office) KDE Office and what is called Gnome Office. The software that is available for Linux is just thousands of packages. Games, to education, graphics, sound, internet, programming, science and wine. Wine is a program that allows you to use Microsoft Windows programs on Linux. There is also a Dos Emulator and Apple, Commodore emulators.
Linux brings back the fun in computing. A Live CD will allow you to do the most basic of everything, including surfing the internet. There may be some codexes that need to be installed so you can watch flash video, or a movie, listen to a mp3 or wav sound file. View graphic files. Yes, now you are starting to see the power of Linux.
Best of all little to no finical cost to you.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Linux today
There are so many free documents to help you with switching to Linux.
I found "Linux Reality" Podcast. It was created with the new user in mind. If you are a new user to Linux you should check this podcast out. "Going Linux" is another podcast that can help the new user to understanding Linux.
There are plenty of books in pdf format. "Tux Magazine" a pdf magazine that lasted 20 issues is still available for you to read.
You will find that the learning curve is bigger for Linux than Windows. But once you spend the time to learn Linux you will never want to go back to Windows.
Why do you want to spend 100+ dollars for Windows, then have to buy a anti virus to get Windows to work on the internet. Then if you want to do anything on your computer you can download the 90% of Linux software ported over to Windows or spend big bucks to get a "for Windows" software.
Best thing of Linux is, the power that you have. You can create a Firewall, Server, Desktop, and many other features that Windows charges for each one and Linux you get for FREE.
So go find a LUG near you and seek another installfest and take your computer and learn the power of Linux.
I found "Linux Reality" Podcast. It was created with the new user in mind. If you are a new user to Linux you should check this podcast out. "Going Linux" is another podcast that can help the new user to understanding Linux.
There are plenty of books in pdf format. "Tux Magazine" a pdf magazine that lasted 20 issues is still available for you to read.
You will find that the learning curve is bigger for Linux than Windows. But once you spend the time to learn Linux you will never want to go back to Windows.
Why do you want to spend 100+ dollars for Windows, then have to buy a anti virus to get Windows to work on the internet. Then if you want to do anything on your computer you can download the 90% of Linux software ported over to Windows or spend big bucks to get a "for Windows" software.
Best thing of Linux is, the power that you have. You can create a Firewall, Server, Desktop, and many other features that Windows charges for each one and Linux you get for FREE.
So go find a LUG near you and seek another installfest and take your computer and learn the power of Linux.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Microsoft is losing market share
There was a story on Linux celebrating it's 20th year. In that story it noted that Linux has 70% of all market share from smart phones to Super Computers. When it comes to the desktop it is less than 1%. MS has 90% of the Desktop market and Apple has just about 10% of what's left. Linux has less than 1%.
When you look at Windows you have to spend good money for the OS and then you have to purchase an AntiVirus to get Windows to work. Then if there is anything you want to do you have to spend good money to get that software. Then if Windows thinks you owe them money they shut down your computer.
So you spend money to buy your computer but Windows has control of it. It is time to take back control of your computer just like your country. Try Linux.
It comes with just about everything you could ever want and best of all. It Free. Just purchase a magazine with a disk in it or download a version and install it. You can even run both Windows and Linux from the same computer although why you would do that I really don't know.
There are only a few places were you have to put up with Windows. But for the most part. You could save thousands just by switching to Linux. And did I mention, Wine on Linux will allow you to run some Windows software on Linux! I think it is long overdue for you to take back control of your computer. Bring that Desktop market share to 70% like everything else Linux is involved with.
When you look at Windows you have to spend good money for the OS and then you have to purchase an AntiVirus to get Windows to work. Then if there is anything you want to do you have to spend good money to get that software. Then if Windows thinks you owe them money they shut down your computer.
So you spend money to buy your computer but Windows has control of it. It is time to take back control of your computer just like your country. Try Linux.
It comes with just about everything you could ever want and best of all. It Free. Just purchase a magazine with a disk in it or download a version and install it. You can even run both Windows and Linux from the same computer although why you would do that I really don't know.
There are only a few places were you have to put up with Windows. But for the most part. You could save thousands just by switching to Linux. And did I mention, Wine on Linux will allow you to run some Windows software on Linux! I think it is long overdue for you to take back control of your computer. Bring that Desktop market share to 70% like everything else Linux is involved with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)