Here’s as good an article as I’ve seen on this topic…”Linux is an operating system, just like Windows and OSX are operating systems. It talks to the computer’s hardware, makes sure everything’s going OK, and then you run programs on top of it. Because it pretty much always comes with a standard set of tools (the GNU tools) which are very similar to the tools found on big UNIX systems, it is sometimes called GNU/Linux. If you’ve ever used a UNIX system, you’ll feel right at home.
When someone says they use Linux, what they mean is they use a distribution (aka distro) of Linux. Without the GNU tools or any applications, it can be a little useless. A distro is a software bundle. It includes the Linux kernel (the part that actually talks to the hardware), the GNU tools, and whatever applications the person or people who started that distro thought were useful, all configured in a way that they think works well.”I myself am slowly, steadily making the move to Ubuntu. Why? My experience with Vista was so disappointing I was open to other answers than the ones that Microsoft is forcing down our throats. In many ways the Windows 2000 was the best that Microsoft ever made, XP not far behind but Vista disappoints. So bloated, so slow, so expensive…
My work configuration has two computers; 1 HP desktop running XP [with updates shut off, no anti-malware turned on] and one of the new Everex gPC’s priced at $199 from WalMart running Ubuntu [sorry, the gOS was so bad, I just installed Ubuntu over it]. Both computers are attached by a KVM switch and share a single monitor, keyboard and mouse. I go back and forth with a couple of keystrokes. Every day, the amount of time I spend on the Ubuntu box increases…
Is there a learning curve? Of course. Is it worth it? Definitely! A free OS and good quality open source tools mean no more ransom to Microsoft for updates and features I don’t need. More later. Click the title to read more…
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!Related posts:
- I had a date with an old ‘flame’ this past week… Image via Wikipedia Not really — it just felt...
