[Mikorist]

What the authors of the industrial organization of the twentieth century
can say about Linux:

1.What is Linux?
2.Why do some people insist on using Linux?
3.We do not honor our hardware warranty when you run Linux!
4.It's your fault for using Linux.
5.No matter what the problem is, it's your Fault.
6.hahahaha!!!

What is Linux?

Linux is a clone variety of Unix written by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance. It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management and TCP/IP networking. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License, developed originally for home PCs, but which now runs on practically every hardware platform available including PowerPC, Macintosh, DEC Alpha, Sun Sparc, ARM, Mainframes, and many others. Linux aims for POSIX compliancy to maintain maximum compatibility with other UNIX-like systems. With millions of users worldwide, Linux is probably the most popular UNIX-like OS in the world.



Why do some people insist on using Linux?

Linux is free from adware, trialware, shovelware, and bloatware. Running Linux is like watching the public TV network.A basic installation of Linux as an office desktop is often easier than installing Windows (depending on distribution selected).One thing that Linux can do that Windows can not, is run from a CD. To run Windows, it has to first be installed to your hard disk. Normally Linux also runs from a hard disk, but there are quite a few versions of Linux that run completely from a CD without having to be installed to a hard disk.While 40 Linux viruses exist and virus scanners such as Guarddog and Clam-AV do exist and are free of course.. The major source of threat to Linux systems at present seems to be exploits on browsers such as Firefox and Opera...48,000 new virus signatures were documented for Windows, compared to 40 for Linux. Whether or not you chose Linux for your computers, even if you're a rabid Bill Gates fan- you'll be using it in other ways - Internet servers, cell phones, handheld devices, watches and embedded devices of all kinds....

Open Source

Free software and open source are not synonymous. Free software is more of a political stance than an economic one: "free" refers not to price but to philosophy. Free software can be used and modified without restriction. In the proprietary, single vendor or non-free software world we know this concept as piracy, except where very liberal licenses apply.
Freedom to modify is a pillar of this philosophy. The responsibility accompanying that freedom comes in the form of the GNU Public License (GPL). The GPL states that distributing a product that uses free software within its core or periphery (derivatives of the GPL differ) requires the distributor or vendor to also distribute or make available the product source code so that others may enjoy the same freedom to use and modify.


"Name GNU is a hack. Because it's a recursive acronym. It stands for "GNU's Not Unix".

"Free Software generally does have a copyright.It does have an owner.And it has a license.It is not public domain.If we put the software in the public domain,somebody else would be able to make a little bit of changes and turn that into a proprietory software package,which means that the users would be running our software,but they wouldn't have freedom to cooperate and share.To prevent that, we use a technique called "Copyleft".
The idea of Copyleft is that it's "Copyright" flipped over.This software is copyrighted and we, the authors give you permission to redistribute copies,we give you permission to change,we give you permission to add to it.But when you redistribute it, it has to be under these terms,no more and no less..."

"I mean, clearly there were a lot of interesting applications on Linux, The killer app of Linux was undoubtedly the Apache web server.Essentially, Apache became the application that motivated Internet service providers and e-commerce companies to choose Linux over Microsoft's Windows.And Internet service providers really liked Apache because it allowed them to do a lot of different things that some of the commercial web servers didn't if you are an ISP and you would have 40,000 users and they all want their web site, is gonna be pretty important to you..."

From film REVOLUTION OS

What is a distribution?

A Linux distribution, often simply distribution or distro, is a member of the GNU/Linux family of Unix-like computer operating systems. Such systems are built from the Linux kernel and assorted other packages, such as the X Window System and software from the GNU project. Distributions optimized for size tend to use more compact alternatives like busybox, uclibc or dietlibc. There are over three hundred Linux distributions, all of which are implementations of the GNU/Linux operating system.Because most (if not all) of the kernel and supporting packages are some combination of free software and open source, Linux distributions have taken a wide variety of forms — from fully featured desktop and server operating systems to minimal environments (typically for use in embedded systems, or for booting from a floppy disk). Aside from certain custom software (such as installers and configuration tools) a "distro" simply refers to a particular assortment of applications married with a particularly compiled kernel, such that its "out-of-the-box" capabilities meets most of the needs of its particular end-user base.


Linux/Windows

Linux (small, fast, modular, open source code, modifiable, reliable, royalty free)
Windows (huge, sluggish, monolithic, closed source, unchangeable, "blue screen", expensive)


WINDOWS VISTA AERO VS LINUX UBUNTU BERYL
YouTube - WINDOWS VISTA AERO VS LINUX UBUNTU BERYL

XGL Desktop for linux... The future is now!
YouTube - XGL Desktop for linux... The future is now!

And my favorite:

3D Desktop! TouchScreen and XGL on Linux
YouTube - 3D Desktop! TouchScreen and XGL on Linux (part 2)



Conclusion:

The very best thing about Linux, in my opinion, is the fact that you can boot the CD and try it out in a totally non-destructive way.



Mikorist

[wladicus]

Originally Posted by Mikorist

What the authors of the industrial organization of the twentieth century
can say about Linux:

1.What is Linux?
2.Why do some people insist on using Linux?
3.We do not honor our hardware warranty when you run Linux!
4.It's your fault for using Linux.
5.No matter what the problem is, it's your Fault.
6.hahahaha!!!

Conclusion: The very best thing about Linux, in my opinion, is the fact that you can boot the CD and try it out in a totally non-destructive way.
Mikorist

And I would add - If your current OS (usually MS something-or-other) gets corrupted by viruses or whatever then it presents a great opportunity to install a Linux Distro for free or only for the cost of the distribution medium. And if you install a stable distro then you will probably be better off then you were with an MS OS - and of course you might save $280 (~ £150 or €187 ) to have the OS re-installed.

[alan2273]

Mikorist, have you installed a distro on your computer or do you judt run from live CD/DVD's.?.

[Mikorist]

Originally Posted by alan2273

Mikorist, have you installed a distro on your computer or do you judt run from live CD/DVD's.?.

Where i work part of my job is Windows support from Broadband ISP...

How absurd is that we give Windows support from Linux machines?

Since my work is based on this platform, i have

permanently installed a Kubuntu on my home computer.

I perssonaly think after a years of crashes and problems with Windows and knowing what I know now from ISP, I probably would not go
back to Windows in whatever variant it has...

Professionally speaking i really do love Windows-how to Make my Money without Windows??

Which side I am? I'm a LINUX supporter and wanna see more desktop users believe in what i believe...(but i wanna preach them based on intellectual arguments not emotion).

[wladicus]

Originally Posted by Mikorist

... i have permanently installed a Kubuntu on my home computer. ... LINUX supporter and wanna see more desktop users believe ...(but ... based on intellectual arguments not emotion).

Excellent analysis Mikorist and well put! We may be borrowing on your wealth of knowledge for sure in the future.

[Howard]

I have for the very first time ever, just installed ubuntu on my computer today.

I have to say, I am very impressed thus far and it seems to do everything I could do on Windows and a whole lot more.

I only use my system for music/photography and the internet, so gaming etc isn`t an issue for me hehe.

I`m just about to install Beryl, just to see what it`s like.

Regards Howard

[wladicus]

Excellent Howard,
Now there will be 2 total newbies in Linux. I just started about 1 month ago.

[Mikorist]

Originally Posted by Howard

I have for the very first time ever, just installed ubuntu on my computer today.

I have to say, I am very impressed thus far and it seems to do everything I could do on Windows and a whole lot more.

I only use my system for music/photography and the internet, so gaming etc isn`t an issue for me hehe.

I`m just about to install Beryl, just to see what it`s like.

Regards Howard

Beryl and Compiz have merged.

In Ubuntu Hardy Heron, Compiz Fusion is already installed and is automatically
enabled after you have installed your graphics' card drivers.

The only two things you have to do are to install the Compiz Configuration Settings Manager and the tray icon.

Open a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager fusion-icon

[Joshuashawharvey]

I've tried Linux a couple of times before. I first tried Ubuntu, but to be honest I really didn't get the chance to use it properly, and not too long ago I permanently installed openSUSE on a spare computer of mine. I first tried it with KDE (big mistake, I hated it) and then I switched to GNOME and my whole impression of Linux changed.
Appreciating the fact that Linux is open-source and free, it is a great OS for, say, what Howard says he uses his computer for. Whats the point in shelling out another £100-£200 for an operating system to just browse the web and do other everyday tasks when you can get one for free that is more than capable of performing your tasks with ease, with increased security. But then again if everyone started to follow this then obviously the security of Linux machines would decrease for obvious reasons, need I say?
After about a month, I switched back to Windows XP, not really because of Linux itself, more to do with the certain applications I needed to run, and it was easier to just reinstall Windows and install my applications immediately rather than look for half-baked alternatives. I also switched back because although i've heard so much hype on how Windows operating systems are sluggish, I found openSUSE to be even more sluggish than XP, even with all the graphical effects turned off, appropriate drivers installed, inapproriate serices terminated and unused applications uninstalled.
Since i've tried Windows, a bit of Linux and OSX I can honestly say my preference lies with Windows and always will be, but I am always willing to try new things when they come along

[Mikorist]

In my opinion threads on Linux is something that could help these forums here since home users are very
afraid of the word "Linux" because it is a synonym for "complicated".

Ubuntu on the other hand, might be the option to explore a whole world of users
who don't care one bit about windows or linux and just need a OS to work with.

[Joshuashawharvey]

I think what it is, is people are afraid of change, and Linux is that change.
To be fair though, I don't think you'll find many novice users who buy their computers preinstalled with Windows switching to Linux, because firstly they probably won't know how to, and secondly there wouldn't be much point would there?
I suppose it would be nice if computers pre-loaded with Linux operating systems were more widely available, but to my knowledge, it has been tried, and they were taken off the shelves due to lack of sales. This is probably due to the awareness of Linux more than anything.

[alan2273]

Joshuashawharvey, I have to disagree with your statement about preinstalled Linux not being popular.
Just look at the explosion in netbooks, started by the EEe from Asus.
At the moment I am running Linux Mint X64 RC1, it is based on Ubuntu but comes with all the codecs you require so no messing about intalling them as with Ubuntu. (Although that is not difficult).
The biggest problem in my opinion with Linux is the answers the people new to Linux get from the forums, like RTFM or run such and such a command, without an explanation as to why.
Also about the security of Linux, it is very difficult to destroy the kernel in Linux because of the different file structure, (unless you are running in root), the only damage a virus could do would be to the program it was targeted at, and then it would be a simple case of uninstalling it and reinstalling it, and you would be good to go again.
You do not have to bother with antivirus, firewalls, anti spyware, registry cleaners or defragging the hard drive, so a lot more time for productivity.
If WINE ever becomes 100% compatable with Windows programs (wishful thinking) then Windows would be history.

If anyone is considering Ubuntu/Kubuntu as there main operating system there is a book called Linux in easy steps by Mike Mcgrath that you will find useful, it is written in plain English, is easy to follow and also has pictures to show you what you should see on the monitor.

[Joshuashawharvey]

Originally Posted by alan2273

Joshuashawharvey, I have to disagree with your statement about preinstalled Linux not being popular.
Just look at the explosion in netbooks, started by the EEe from Asus.

I never said it was unpopular, I know Linux is very popular. All I said was to my knowledge Linux machines were sold and then taken from the shelves due to lack of sales. This is what i've read here. Yes the EeePC is doing extremely well, but there is also a Windows option that is for sale participating to the overall sales. Here is an article I just found to show you.

Originally Posted by alan2273

Also about the security of Linux, it is very difficult to destroy the kernel in Linux because of the different file structure, (unless you are running in root), the only damage a virus could do would be to the program it was targeted at, and then it would be a simple case of uninstalling it and reinstalling it, and you would be good to go again.

You'd be surprised if Linux was as popular as Windows. Virus creators are not going to waste their time creating viruses that won't affect the vast majority of people. Anything is possible. As popularity increases, security decreases, it's common sense really.

Originally Posted by alan2273

If WINE ever becomes 100% compatable with Windows programs (wishful thinking) then Windows would be history.

I doubt that very much. If Windows was history, they wouldn't make programs for it. Your statement defeats the object.

[Mikorist]

Like most PC enthusiasts i build all my desktops from parts...

I think is better to get a computer without any stuff preinstalled to begin with.

Originally Posted by alan2273

If WINE ever becomes 100% compatable with Windows programs (wishful thinking) then Windows would be history.

If WINE ever becomes 100% compatable with Windows today, tomorrow it would not be

For example:

I am trying to run an Soundforge 9.0 in Wine which requires the .NET Framework 2.0 to run...

Here's how to get a simple .net application running using wine and winetricks:

wget http://kegel.com/wine/winetricks
sh winetricks corefonts dotnet20

but...it always crashes...


If you use Virtual Box emulation, on the other side,
does not support 3d acceleration and Windows is still vulnerable to viruses.

This is the Wine Application Database (AppDB)
Wine AppDB - Wine Application Database

[Joshuashawharvey]

Yeah I agree, it's much better to get a computer without anything preinstalled. Though for most computer users this is not possible. We have to respect that the vast majority of users are not computer literate.

[CJ1985]

I know this thread is in a way old, but it was exactly what I was looking for. But I do have a question, why would college have a class for Linux windows? I'm going to college to get my Associates' degree in Web Design (web development) and was curious why I would have to learn Linux-Unix? I'm very curious to know.

I guess I'm just curious if Linux-Unix has anything to do with Web Design, unless it has something to do with some programs that Linux uses for Web Designing that Windows doesn't? I don't know. LOL If you know anything, please let me know. Thanks!

[Mikorist]

Originally Posted by CJ1985

I know this thread is in a way old, but it was exactly what I was looking for. But I do have a question, why would college have a class for Linux windows? I'm going to college to get my Associates' degree in Web Design (web development) and was curious why I would have to learn Linux-Unix? I'm very curious to know.

I guess I'm just curious if Linux-Unix has anything to do with Web Design, unless it has something to do with some programs that Linux uses for Web Designing that Windows doesn't? I don't know. LOL If you know anything, please let me know. Thanks!

Linux…

Why Learn Linux:

Because it is very common.
Because it is not Windows!
Because you'll see how it is a superior operating system.
Because it is typically used to run servers,
more specifically for Web hosting...
Because it will open all kinds of doors for you.
such as HTML, JavaScript, MySQL, PHP, Apache...
Because you'll get paid more money to be an *nix admin than a windoze admin.

[CJ1985]

Thank you Mikorist.

Now another thing. This class doesn't require any software such as no info on whether or not I need to install this or not. Now I guess what I'm curious about is Linux-Unix different from Linux or what's the difference? Also, is Linux-Unix free, or where do I download it, or should I wait to see what the school is going to have me do?

I guess I'm just trying to get ahead of the game. It's not like I need it, "right now" or anything. I don't start this class till February 19th.

[Albert Lionheart]

Preinstalled abundance does not come cheep, lick a chicken. Cheep is free as a bird, so cross the road and accoutrementalize Linux swiftly before the Firefox gets you!