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Tired of Windows yet?

For all of you who want to get rid of Windows, look at Linux.

There are many distros that work well.

Knoppix is the best distro to read your hardware.

Artistx is one of the best distros that offer just about any sound, music, video and picture programs.

NOTE:  If you are thinking about moving or trying Linux.  There is some hardware that is supported by business with Linux.  HP is a great supporter of Linux.  My last two printers have been HP's and wireless.  I just ask Linux to find a new printer.  It finds my printers and downloads drivers and in less than 3 minutes my printer is installed.   This is a great feature if you are using a live distro.

What's wrong with you?

You go to the store and purchase a new computer.  You can't use it.  Not until you purchase a anti virus for it. 

Think about that for a minute.

You spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer and it won't work.

Then you spend another $60 to $120 for Anti Virus so you can use it. 

Then you have to get internet connection.  Another few hundred a year.

Then you get a virus this anti virus can't handle.

Then you have to take it to a geek to get the virus removed.  Another couple hundred dollars.  Get another anti virus he recommends.   Another $60 to $120 and we start all over.

Then there's Apple.  So expensive and you have to buy Apple.  Your hard drive crashes.  You can't go to Best Buy and get a $70 500 Gig hard drive.  No you have to go to Apple and Spend $700 for a 500 Gig hard drive (guessing on the price, but very expensive).

Then there's Linux, Unix, BSD and the like.  Use old computers you have laying around.  Cost's nothing, unless you want to spend money (Red Hat and a few others).  You have choice of Desktops, Software, programming, graphics, sound, video, and you just have to download it.  You can install Linux on your flash drive.  Take it with you. 

Best of all.  if you come down with a problem.  You get on the forum for your distro and within days you have a fix. 

Unlike Microsoft that may or may not send out a fix for your problem in 6 months to a year. 

Maybe it's time to look at learning a new Operating System.

It may take you years to learn it.  But you can use it right away.

Get PCLinuxOS or Mint Linux and all the codex will be installed.  So you can surf the internet, play java games, watch Youtube videos, listen to streaming music, right out of the box.  Best of all.  you can do this with a live CD/DVD.
Never have to install it unless you want to.

You many flavors of Linux.  They are built on either Slackware, Debian or Red Hat.  That means different ways of getting software.  Then you have BSD several flavors there and that is based on UNIX. 

Unix is over 40 years old and Linux is over 20. 

How long does Microsoft OS's last.  3 to 7 years?

You learn Unix you can run Linux, and the other is true.  Just some features that Unix may have that Linux doesn't.  Depends on the Company.

I have been playing with Linux for years, I prefer Debian based distros.  Mint Linux.  I have used Red Hat and Fedora.  Knoppix (I like this too)    Last time I checked Mint was the most downloaded distro.

You want to learn programming.  Linux has all kinds of programming languages available.  (No extra charge)  Try to do that with Microsoft without pirating.....

You have several different Desktops to choose from.  Office Suites, graphics, music, sound, video.  Although Video is not up to professional standards yet it has been used on several major motion pictures.

So next time you want to spend $400 to $800 for a new computer system.  Remember over a hundred of that is for the Microsoft OS.

Next time have a computer built and put a distro you like.  You just may be surprised at what is available.

P.S.  Linux also has WINE, allows you to run some windows programs.  Games. Office suites and the like on Linux.  There are some companies that have made a niche to of it, to run Microsoft window programs under Linux.  So spend that extra hundred or so on more memory.  You will thank yourself later.

Want to us LINUX?

For grown ups Linux is not an easy OS to learn.

If you are computer savvy, then Linux is not going to be too hard for you to migrate to.

Then if your a child, wants to learn Linux, it will be easy.  Think about it, kids soak up so much, a little guidance and they will be able to tell you what to do in a year or two.

What are some of the other benefits of Linux?

Don't have to worry too much about virus,

If you want to have a server, Linux does it.

Linux is low cost and even lower maintenance.  Unlike it's Window's counterpart.

Now Apple's new software is:  Get ready for it, built around a LINUX heart.  Now to keep Apple's OS  proprietary, they have crippled some of features of LINUX.

With Linux you get to enjoy using your computer and not downloading Virus Definitions and then waiting hours for it to scan your computer.  Weekly if you want to keep it as much up to date and virus free as possible.   Besides Viruses you have malware, and popups.  All slowing down your machine and costing you more money.

If you really want to spend some money, get an Apple.

Next time you fork out 30 to 120 dollars for an Anti-Virus program for your computer, think LINUX.

My new computer

My old computer was old.  Over seven years. 
Running Linux for the three years. 

I screwed up and shut down while it was doing a check.  I admit it.  I asked my wife for another harddrive, I told her the truth "I scrambled the harddrive".

She suggested that I get a new computer.  So we went to a computer store and had one made. 

Blu-Ray drive,
DVD drive,
8 gigs memory,
1 terabyte drive
and
NO OPERATING SYSTEM.

I was going to put Linux on it.

So a week later she goes and picks it up.

I put it in the place where my old computer was.
I got a new keyboard and mouse too.

About 10 minutes to put the computer together and hooked up.

Now what distro to put on it.


After going through different live distros, I decided on Mint Linux, it had everything working out of the box except for the Blu-Ray.

I spent a couple of weeks trying to get Blu-Ray working.  I am not a newbie, but I am not an expert either.  I am able to go into root and take care of things. 

So in the mean time, I got a old Panasonic toughbook.  Windows 98 and full of problems.  So this one I tried several different distros.  (Installed, not live versions)  I came across Fedora.  I like it.   It worked on the laptop just fine.

So back to the desktop.  I switched to Fedora.  It took me less than an hour to switch from Mint to Fedora.  Then I went to work on the Blu-Ray drive.

Fedora has a great forum section.  I was able to find what I needed to get Blu-Ray working in less than an hour.  Download a few files, move them to different directories, download the VLC player (this one supports Blu-Ray)
Change the /dev/dvd/ to /dev/sr0/

BINGO, Blu-Ray works.  Tried several movies all worked.  The only thing that doesn't work is the menus.  But the movie runs fine.


So next step.  Linux from scratch.  I did take business computer programming in college,  Have played with programming on my computer.

I think I might just be able to build a Linux from scratch.  Best part of it, I have a computer with plenty of room to use. 

For someone who did not like Fedora when I started Linux, I now have two computers running Fedora.

Best part of Linux.  I can get the software that I need and want.

If I want a game, education, office, utilities, music or video.  Just look it up and download it.  My first Distro was Debian.  I still like it and Ubuntu before unity.  I am not fond of Gnome 3 either. 

The other part of Linux I like.  Different desktops. 

Unlike Windows. Linux is very customizeable.



Give Linux a try.  Try PCLinuxOS, Mint and a few others have everything working out of the box.  Except for Blu-ray. 

Got a new computer for my birthday.

I was excited to get a new computer for my Birthday.

New tower with memory to burn,   Very large hard drive, a couple of DVD drives and new keyboard and mouse.

I said no to Windows.  Had to get this thing made.  Best Buy and other stores that sell computers you get what you see.  That includes Windows and you pay for it.

By having it made I saved $150 for not having Windows.  So that means I saved even more, no anti-virus, no office suite, no games, no utilities. 

I put Linux on the machine and saved tons of money and I have control of my computer.  Look at Windows License.  You lose control of your computer when you put Windows on it.  Microsoft takes control of your computer when you accept the license.  They can scan your computer without your permission to see if you are using unregistered software.  If you are they can shut down your computer.

By switching to Linux I saved Hundreds if not Thousands.

Need to save some money?

With Obamacare, and this governments attacks on its citizens.  Massive taxes and charges for everything, you are trying to save a few dollars here and there.

Well, lets look where we can save a few bucks:

You could get rid of Cable.  Some people have and relay more on Internet.

You could get rid of Internet.  Some people have done this too.

You could get rid of your land line phone.  Most people have cell phones today

You could get rid of your car.  Without public transit it’s kinda hard to travel without a car.

You could get rid of your pets.  But they bring so much joy to your life.

You could get rid of your computers.  Some people have,  use their cell phones as their computer.

You could get rid of your cell phone.  Almost everyone needs one of these.

How about you keep your computer but just change the operating system?

Yep, instead of Windows you could get a different operating system.

Let’s look at Windows.  Any version.  Windows only support their operating system for a few years and then come out  with something different.

What does that mean for you?  You have to get a newer computer in some cases, you purchase the new operating system, you have to purchase new Anti-virus to run on your new operating system,.  You have to purchase new programs to run on your new operating system.
Windows Operating system comes with almost no software.  You have to download and/or purchase software to run on your computer and operating system.

You are talking big bucks.  $100 + for a new operation system.
$300-$500 for a new computer in some cases.
$30-$100+ for anti-virus program.
$30-$1,500 for a program to run on your new operating system.
X how many programs you want on your new operating system.
It adds up fast.
You will soon be spending $500-$10,000 for your new computer.

How about an alternative?

You could go to Mac.  But that is more expensive then Windows.

Then theres Linux.
What?
Linux.

It is a open source version of very expensive version of Unix.  Now Unix has been around for 40 years.  Still going.

Linux has been going for over 20 years.

Open source is just that, open source.

You can get the source code and compile your own operating system.
 You don’t need to anymore.  In the early days of Linux you pretty much had to compile everything from the source code.  Could take weeks to get your operating system and programs running.  Well, see like Windows, programs depend on other programs to run properly.  But in the early days of Linux that was not bundled together.  You had to find the source code to all these programs and compile them.

Today, you have CD’s and DVD’s where Linux runs from the disk.  Just put it in and restart the computer.  If you like it, you can get a thumb drive (flash drive) and install the operating system to the drive and you can have YOUR computer wherever you go.  With a large enough thumb drive you can install a couple of versions of Linux, and store your files there as well.  In other words, carry your computer wherever you go.

What do you mean versions of Linux?

Linux was developed over 20 years ago,   Many people have compiled and offered versions of Linux.  The older ones around are Slackware, Debian, and Red Hat.  There are many, many more.  One thing about Linux, you can change the way your Operating System works.

Example, Windows has 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 8.  Each one is a little different.  Well, say you use Mac and really like the way Mac works over Windows.  With Linux you can have your Operating System look like Windows, Mac, or something completely different.

You can go to http://distrowatch.com/ and see which distros have the most hits.

The top 35 are the most active.  Most of those I have played with.  

My first adventure into Linux was when it was a year old.  I had one big problem.  Linux would not work unless you had a 386 processor and my computer had a 286.

When I did get a computer large enough to run Linux, I was busy with school and had no time to pla y with Linux.

Over the years Linux was there in the background but I was trying to find any way I could to get cheap software for Windows that did what I wanted without spending several hundred dollars at a time.

Then I went through a divorce, some alone time and then I was found by my current wife.  I moved and got back into my computers.

Then the day came when Windows no longer supported the operating system I was using.  It cost much more than I was willing to spend to upgrade to a newer operating system.

A friend gave me a copy of Red Hat.  (by the way, that is legal with open source software) and I put it on my computer.  It ran better than Windows did.

I went Linux crazy.  I downloaded Debian, Suse, Knoppix, PCLinuxOS,  Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, Slackware, FreeBSD (Not Linux but open source Unix) Puppy, Sabayon, and a few more.

Just starting off I had problems with flash players, movie players, music players.  Then I found what they are calling Windows type.  There were a couple of versions of Linux set up just like Windows, the creators thought many people would pay them instead of Windows.  They were wrong and went under.  

But if you stick with Mint, PCLinuxOS, Ultmate Edition, all have the software installed when you install and will be able to watch movies, listen to music.  Basically everyting works out of the box.

Most of the others you have to install flash player, Java, Libraries to watch movies and listen to music.

One other feature of Linux, you can change the Desktop.  KDE, GNOME, UNITY and many more.  

Then theres software.  You can download software from repositories, thousands upon thousands of programs to download.  Games, Office, utilities, Graphics, Sound, Video.  Just about anything under the sun you can find.  

One huge problem with switching to Linux.  You have to spend a little time learning how to use Linux.  Some programs have their own language.  But if you are learning computer languages you can use Linux.  Almost every language out there, there is an open source for Linux.

So you can just use your computer like Windows, and just surf the Internet write a few emails, play a few games.  You don’t need to learn how to use Linux.  Just start and go.

Oh did I tell you, you can run Linux without anti-Virus.   

So to sum it up you can switch to Linux, get programs for Linux and use Linux without any anti-virus software and without much cost to you.  You do have or purchase a computer that you can burn a CD or DVD (Most computer today have that ability) and purchase some blank CD's or DVD's.  Have Internet access and time to download ISO's.  

You do need a cd burning program that will burn ISO's.  

Good luck and most of all, have fun.

Linux ReBoot

We just moved to a new (old, new to us) house.  After hooking up my computer it suggested that I upgrade.  I was using Ubuntu (notice the word was)  Yep, I clicked to upgrade to Ununtu 12. Twenty hours later, that would be downloading and installing I got an error that scripts were not loaded.  Tried again and still nothing.   Rebooted and, you guessed it.  Blank screen.  In the Windows world that would be the blue screen of death.

Now one of the good things about Linux is, I just put in a live Distro, and mount my hard drive and get the few important pics and documents, a few songs and audiobooks put them all on a thumb flash drive.

Now next step.  What distro do I want to use?

I like Debian, Ununtu (even with the problems), Mint, Fedora, OpenBSD, KNOPPIX, PCLinuxOS, OpenSUSE and many, many more.   I have tried many of these as live versions.  Some I really like because everything is loaded ready to go.  But I also like the thought that I can install what I want.  (By the way I am working on LFS and hope to have one system built from scratch.  Best way to learn what you are doing is - to do it).   I am a huge Commodore 64 fan and love the look of the new Commodore (Mint) Linux.  But, until all the bugs are worked out of it and it becomes a good Linux I will have to skip it.

I am currently running live CD on one Laptop with Windows Vista.  Another Laptop with KNOPPIX, A desktop with Mint and this one don't know which distro I want to put on it. 

I do like using different Desktops.   I am currently using Ultimate Edition Live CD.  A lot of eye candy and little bits of extra features than basic Linux.  I like it.

I am not a fan of Unity Desktop by Ubuntu.  But, I have not used it enough to see if I really like it.

So a few more days of playing with a few different distros and maybe by weeks end I will have decided which one to go with.  I will let you know which one I use and why.

New Commodore 64x.


I just watched a video of the new Commodore 64 running Linux Mint 10-10


One word - Awesome.


It has the great eye candy installed, Retro Sounds for your computer.  Many Commodore 64 things laying around the screen. 

Eye Candy alone is worth the download.

Of course I cut my teeth in Computing on the Commodore 64 and the Commodore VIC-20.  I did (still have) a Commodore 128.  and last time I powered them up, they all worked. and the disks still were readable.  Some 20 years later.

And today all three of my computers are running Linux Mint.   The Commodore 64 was one of the best home computers way back then.  Apple was the other.  There were at one time about 20 different home computers.  Radio Shack had the Tandy. 

Today I am glad for Linux.  It is one of my favorites.  I am not to hip on Fedora or the Red Hat based distros.  I do like the Debian based, and I love the Gnome Desktop over the KDE.  Nothing wrong KDE or Fedora, Slackware or any of their distro downstream.  Debian was the one I learned on and thats the one I like.

I am starting to go through the Linux From Scratch.  Wanting to build a system from the ground up.

Have some fun and download a few Linux Distros and play awhile, you just might give up that Windows machine.

Linux has been great.

I move to Linux a few years ago and I have never looked back.  Windows has so many problems and bugs that I was spending more time running anti-viruses than doing what I wanted to do.

My wifes old laptop refused to run Windows XP.  She has had it for over 8 years.  So for her retirement I let her get a new laptop.  She picked it out.  We had it for less than two months and it stopped working.  Had to ship it off to  get a new motherboard and harddrive.  Got it back and it had VIRUSES all  threw it.  So my wife called and they said it was not their problem.  So after a long battle between Windows and the games she can play and Linux that does not have all those games she likes.  She is considering it after we got our Credit Card bill and Norton charged us $80 for something that doesn't work.  Their Anti-Virus.  She gets so frustrated over the fact that I can do almost anything she does and I don't have to spend Hours waiting for the Anti-virus to do its thing.

I put Linux on her old laptop and it works good.  I have some problem with her WiFi card and some Distributions.  The Distributions (Distros) that I don't like, reads her WiFi.  The Distros I like does not.

I have a lot more to learn about Linux and one of them is getting her WiFi to work using the Distro that I like and works well with her old Laptop.

There are plenty of great Linux books and podcasts that can help you with learning Linux.  I have been tempted with starting a podcast for Linux newbies.  First listen to Chess Griffins - Linux Reality.  So much great stuff there and I don't know if I could do better than what he did.  Second get a few ebooks and read through them.  You can find plenty of them for free online.

If you want to do some programming - look to Linux. If you need to run a office - look to Linux.  There are plenty of reasons to move to Linux.  The biggest reason - its free.  As in costs nothing to get or use.  You have control of your computer.  Unlike Windows where they have control of your computer.  Read the License Agreement.  There is a little bit of a learning curve, but its worth the time and trouble.  You have several office suites to choose from, by the way most of the programs on Linux are also free like before costs nothing to get or use.  That includes most of the office suites.

Today, I am going to talk about starting Linux.

I can no longer consider myself a newbie on Linux, but I still have much to learn.

But if you are a brand new user to Linux there are a few things you should know.

I suggest you get Mint Linux or PCLinuxOS because they both are internet ready.  They have the flash and java already installed.  Most of Linux "YOU" have to install the flash and Java.   One thing about Linux is there are thousands of programs for you to download and install.  You can't use Windows.  So programs that end with .exe are usually Windows and unless you have Wine (free) and a wine support program (That costs)  You just might be able to run that program on Linux.

I started off with Debian.  I downloaded the entire Debian distro.  It was like 14 cd's of programs.  You don't have to do that.  You can just download one of the two above and go to the software download section and download the programs you want.  There is almost everything you can think of available to download. 

Education, Games, Graphics, Programming, Video, Sound, Internet, Office and Science thats not counting the system tools and accessories.  Thousands of programs. 

Another feature of Linux is the different Desktop programs.  The two powerhouses are Gnome and KDE.  Gnome is going through an identity crisis at the moment.  But there are many more desktop programs to choose from.

Not only that then you have virtual desktops most of the distros give you 2 to 4 but if you download Debian you can have up to 32 different desktops.  That is if you have enough memory.

Once you get started with Mint or PCLinuxOS and you feel comfortable you can move to Ubuntu.  I have Ubuntu on one desktop computer and it found my web cam, camera and printer with no disk required.  My printer is one of those multifunction printers and it made sure I had scanner software and printer software for MY printer. 

If you are wanting to just surf the web, play simple games and chat with your friends Linux is the best.   

Another benefit of Linux I don't have to purchase a anti-virus, 



Best of all it cost nothing. 


Okay I had to purchase a cd to burn the distro to.



Now if you don't want to burn a cd you can purchase a magazine with a cd/dvd in the back or a book with a cd/dvd.

Now I mention cd/dvd because some older systems don't have dvd drives.  So if you  purchase this make sure you can use it.

Another feature of the cd/dvd is that you can run most of these distros right from the cd/dvd drive.  Nothing is written to your disk.  Another option is getting a flash USB thumb drive that is 2 gigs or higher and install Linux on the flash drive and you will also have the ability to save any work on the same flash drive.



Now can you do that with Windows?  95/98/2000/ME/XP/VISTA/and / or 7?  Or how about Apple?

By the way the newest Apple OS is actually a crippled version of Linux.  That way you can't do everything Linux can and Linux can't do what you are doing on Apple.

I hope this gives you some insight as to where Linux is, and is going.   I like Linux for many reasons.  Games, Office programs, Internet, Programming and the price.  When the word free is used its free as it doesn't cost you any money but also free because you can change and modify it for your own personal needs.  You are not stuck with an out of box this is all you get and paid huge bucks for program you need to install and hope it runs on Windows.  Not saying that Linux is bug free.  But any bug you find and submit will get you a fix in a few weeks to days or even hours.  With Windows you have to wait until enough bugs will fill up an update for you to download and wait, wait, wait. 

You will see some sites charge for Linux.  Actually they are charging for the disk that they are going to ship to you if you ordered it that way.  Some are pretty pricey.  But if you have Linux installed you can download distros and burn disks.  You can even Virtually install it and run it from memory.  Again that requires that you have plenty of memory.  Once you are feeling very comfy with Linux you can download almost any source code and modify it, recompile it and run it on your computer.  That includes Linux itself.  But that is a long way away.

I think I am rambling on so if you haven't tried Linux, give it a shot. 


By the way, if you are going to be using this on a laptop, right now most Red Hat Distros will read and run your software wifi.  If you have a wifi that you can  turn on or off only after the operating system is installed then, that I call a software wifi.  If your wifi can be turned on even when the operating system is not installed then you have what I call a hardware wifi  and you can use Debian or Slackware  based distros.  But that I will save for another day.  For right now just look up on the internet what distros are Red Hat/Fedora based.  You may have problems playing music or watching movies because the programs needed to run music and movies are not usually installed on these versions of Linux.


Have fun....  I know I covered alot.  Just play and it will fall into place.  Next will be the several branches of Linux and Unix. 

The Joy of not having to use Windows.

I can tell you that not having to put up with Windows and the S L O W computing that comes with Windows is a true joy.

I can honestly say that I have had a few problems with Linux but, I just get online and visit the home blog site and look for my problem and if I can't find it I just put in my problems and email I will get an answer within 24 hours.

Not days, months, or even years that happen with Windows.

Fun on the computer

I am enjoying the computer ever since I moved from the defective Windows operating system that you need to purchase spyware, anti-virus to us on the internet. I am very happy to use Linux on a daily basis. True that Linux does not have the mega software that Windows has but you also don't have to pay thousands for this software and having to repurchase it after a new (broken) Windows OS comes out. If you had picked Linux way back then the software you got would still work.

Commodore 64 games

I grew up with the Commodore 64 and I was reviewing some old games.

There were some great graphics done on a simple 8 bit system.

The games were not all that great but the graphics to get you to purchase the game was awesome.



I found some web sites that had old Commodore 64 games on it and was taken back in time.

Ubuntu working on a collapse.

Ubuntu has changed Linux in a small way and now it wants to do it in a larger way. It wants to get rid of all the desktops. No more Gnome, KDE just unity. There will no longer be xubuntu, kubuntu, maybe mythubuntu. Just ubuntu without Gnome.

Will ubuntu survive? I don't think so. Many people including myself have tried unity and frankly it sucks. Making unity another desktop option would be fine, but to make it the only one is completely nuts.

I am having to move to another distro without ubuntu. I like Gnome, I like KDE, I like the choice of being able to switch anytime "I" want.

Linux on the Radio

Yesterday I was listening to a local radio station. The show is called Tech Talk and it's a local computer repair company that does the show. They were talking about Linux, but they talked about how great Linux is but then they jumped in and said that Linux was just for Hobbyists.

Of course they had to.... They make their money repairing Window machines and selling Windows Software. So if everyone moved to Linux where you don't have the problems that most people have with Windows, and tons of software available with your distribution that came with your distribution or you could download. With Windows pull out your wallet and if you purchased in Windows that you get with Linux you would be Broke in no time flat.

Most Computer software companies won't or don't support Linux. They feel that Linux (or any Unix like Operating System) is not worth supporting. If you look at Unix the cost of Unix is massive and the software that companies purchase for those Unix systems are also massive cost.

You go out and purchase a Windows machine. It's usually buggy and prone to viruses and if you are online you will be viewing the blue screen in death at least once while you have Windows on it.

Every few years Windows needs to put out a new OS so they can make money. If you look from Windows 95 on you will see 95 that was so buggy it was not ready for the public but it was new and looked better than Windows 3.1. Windows 98 was a fix to 95 but it still had lots of problems and so Windows 98 Second Edition was put out. This was to fix 98. They finally had a halfway working OS but they were losing money cause no one was purchasing software or OS's. So out came Windows 2000, and a few others. Windows 2000 was decent. Then Windows XP. Here is where we the people got screwed. Windows XP will not run Windows 98 software so you have to buy all new. The home programmer could not keep up with the new OS went out of business. Then a few years later out came Windows Vista and again XP software would not run on Vista. Vista was like Windows 95/98. Very buggy. So several years later Windows 7 was put out to fix Vista. With each OS you had to purchase new software to work on the new OS.

Now let's look at Unix/Linux. Way back in the 60's a few monster corporations got together to come up with an OS that would work on Several different systems. As it was back then each computer made had a different OS. That venture failed but a few of the programmers who were part of that project got together and went back to work on it. They made it work. A few years later they rewrote the entire OS using C and at that point Unix could go on almost any computer.

Those programmers left and move to colleges and universities. They took Unix with them. Then BSD Unix was created. After MA BELL was broken up AT&T wound up with Unix. They charged everyone massive amounts of money to use Unix. Move up 20 years from the birth of Unix to find the birth of Linux. Linus was a Computer Science Student in Finland and he had a Unix like OS to learn OS's. Linus wanted it on his home computer so he could work on it. Nothing was available. So he created one. Using his name he called it Linux.

Today Linux is turning 20 years old. Unix is over 40 and in some cases you can get Unix for FREE just like Linux.

So to call it a hobbyists OS is a disgrace. It's got about 14 years above anything Microsoft has. Bugs are fixed within weeks vs years with Windows. You can learn how your computer works and best of all. You have control of your computer. With Microsoft if you read the fine print on the OS. It's states (Generally) if you Install Windows on your computer you give Windows the right to control your computer. You LOSE CONTROL of YOUR Computer. With Linux YOU have CONTROL.

Linux the beginning

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.

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.

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.

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.