An Introduction to Linux. Part 1: What it is and who should use it.

What is Linux?
Linux or GNU/Linux is an operating system like Windows or Mac. However, Linux is very different, mainly because it is free and open source software. This means that you use it without paying a cent and that the code is available to anyone who wants to see and modify it.



How can I get it?
If you are interested in installing Linux to use as a Desktop Operating system, there are Linux Distributions that offer you the full experience of using a Desktop OS. There are many Linux Distributions that are geared towards different kinds of users. For people who would like to try Linux for the first time, I would recommend starting with either Ubuntu or Linux Mint as they are both very easy to install, work on a wide variety of hardware, have a wide availability of programs, are quite easy to use, and help is readily available online on both the Ubuntu forums and Linux Mint forums from friendly and helpful fellow Linux users.

I have introduced some people to Linux and they (with a few pointers from me) picked up Ubuntu with ease. Just look at the screenshot below of Ubuntu 10.10. It has a clean simple design and doesn't seem intimidating.

How can I try it without changing my current setup?

If you wish to, you can try a Linux distribution like Ubuntu without touching your current installation. A way to do this is by using a Live CD. Assuming that you have decided to try Ubuntu, you can go to the website, download the Ubuntu .iso file and burn it to a CD. If your computer does not have a CD drive like mine, a USB stick with at least 1 GB of space can be used. Software such as the Universal USB installer can write the iso file onto your USB stick.

After that you can insert the CD (or USB drive) and start up your computer. Maybe your computer will start from the CD. If it doesn't you can try pressing the function keys during startup to select the CD or USB drive to start up from.

I will write about this in more depth in the next articles in this series.

How can I install it?

The Live CD can also be used to install Linux to your hard drive. The next articles in this series will help you with that as well.

Do I have to get rid of Windows?

No, you absolutely do not have to get rid of your current operating system. Windows can come in handy when there is a program to be used that is not available on Linux. If you already have a Windows installation that is running just fine, it's probably a good idea not to overwrite it.

The solution to this is dual-booting. Dual booting is a way in which some disk space is allocated to another operating system and you have the option to choose which one when your computer starts. I currently have a dual boot system with Windows 7 and Ubuntu. I mostly boot into Ubuntu but when the need arises, I can easily boot into Windows.

Can I access my Windows/Mac drives while using Linux?

Yes, when you open your file manager, your Windows drive will appear in the sidebar and it is possible to "mount" it by clicking on it. You can then access your files.

How is it better than Windows/Mac?

Depending on your needs, Linux may or may not be better. Here is an excellent website that explores this topic.

Should I use it?
Why you should use it:

1. Price: It's free and nothing beats free (unless people pay you for using their software but that's just silly). 
2. Software availability: When you use Linux, a package manager is present. A package manager is like a software centre where you can browse and install thousands of programs. Descriptions and screenshots are also provided. A lot of these programs are of a very high quality. For example, Openshot and Kdenlive are two free and very good video editors that you won't find on Windows.
3. Stability: Linux is a more stable operating system, which is why most servers run Linux because they would achieve a higher uptime.
4. Security: You will not catch a virus created for Windows on Linux. Linux is also more secure.
5. Speed: Using Linux won't turn a tortoise into a cheetah, but it has lower system requirements and is noticeably snappier. 
6. Because you want to try something new: This sounds strange but it was the motivation behind me starting to use Linux.
7. Low blood pressure: Is it only me who gets annoyed when nagged by something or the other in Windows all the time? Security software is the worst when it comes to this. It is as if it has a big ego as it cannot resist to notify you about something every hour or so.
8. No slowdown: Linux does not suffer from fragmentation problems like Windows does. Your system will not slow down after years of usage while a Windows installation has the habit of getting slower as the years go by.
9. Don't reboot when you install something: Unless you happen to have a kernel update, you won't have to restart Linux when installing anything.
10. It's just fun to use (watch the video below)

Why you shouldn't use it:

1. You are a gamer: There are plenty of very good games available on Linux. However, some of your favourite games that you can play on Windows may not be available for Linux. There are tools such as WINE that allow you to use some Windows software on Linux (with varying degrees of success). It is a good idea to check appdb.winehq.org to find out if your game works well on Linux through WINE. Dual booting is always an option though. However, if you are willing to try something new, there are very new and interesting game developments in Linux. People have realized that there is a market for games on Linux after all and with developments like the Unigine, Linux might become a very interesting gaming platform in the near future. 
2. Commercial applications: If you need to use commercial applications such as Photoshop, Microsoft Office etc you could consider Dual booting or running Windows in a virtual machine. As a student who has written many science lab reports and created various presentations, I have found that programs like OpenOffice (Libreoffice) and Lyx do a very good job. However, you may have compatibility issues. Even though OpenOffice can save in Microsoft formats, the compatibility is very good but not 100% perfect. So, if you absolutely require 100% compatibility, you might need to use Microsoft Office. I use Office 2003 on Ubuntu through WINE when I have to and it works perfectly. But again, please do check appdb.winehq.org for your programs. If you have to use these programs full time and they don't have a platinum rating on WINEHQ, it's probably not a good idea to use Linux. However, it is always possible to dual boot if you still find Linux interesting.

A final thought.
The best way to approach using Linux is to be open. Linux wasn't created to mimic Windows in its functionality. If there is something that you used to do in a certain way and it isn't present in Linux, ask online in the forums and try the other method. It might even turn out to be better.

Well that's it for this time. Next time, I'll write about obtaining it, burning it to a CD and preparing your computer for dual booting if that is what you wish to do. Stay tuned till next time then!