I heard people say that Microsoft is evil, and I have to switch to Linux. What is Linux, which should use it, and where can I download Linux?
Linux is a complete version of the Unix operating system (software that controls the basic functions of personal computer) and it runs on ordinary personal computers. The added fact that it is available free of charge and "open source" makes it more attractive.
Linux is perfect for those who want to exploit their own low-cost Internet servers, and it is strong enough to meet the needs of many Internet service providers. Linux is a multiuser and multitasking environment, and it can access huge amounts of memory (GB) and huge amounts of disk storage space (terabytes). Linux offers virtually everything that Windows has been promising for years and can not deliver a truly stable form for some time to come.
Do not make the mistake of assuming that Linux is a kind of watered-down Unix or not sufficient power for the masses. Linux is a Unix. POSIX certification (consistent with the standards of the industry for Unix) makes it official that Linux can do everything a Unix system is supposed to do.
Linux is also taken seriously by the computer industry, with new versions of Linux-compatible with popular software being announced each month. The software for the Apache Web server running on Linux platforms approximately half of all powers Web sites today. Even more telling, Microsoft considers Linux a significant threat to his empire of Windows.
What is Linux?
Early 1990s, a geek named Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki, in Finland thought it would be fun to write a Unix kernel from scratch. He called Linux and it's cool, but quite unnecessary without all the programs of public services necessary to make a complete operating system. At the same time, Richard Stallman and his pals to the Free Software Foundation have written a bunch of freeware Unix utilities collectively known as the GNU project. It is cool, but pretty much useless without a kernel to make it a complete operating system. Fortunately, the two parties have agreed to cooperate.
News of Linux quickly spread on the Internet, and many other programmers Unix joined the effort to highlight. This we know now that Linux is a combination of the Torvalds of Linux kernel, the GNU project software and some other software nifty bit and parts developed by programmers around the world.
Today Linux is an implementation of complete and reliable of the Unix operating system, with the following notable features:
* 32-bit operation (he uses the speed and the power of your CPU, unlike DOS 16-bit systems)
* Virtual memory (it can use all of your system RAM; there is no limit of 640 K memory)
* Full support for X Windows (standard Unix graphical user interface)
* Support for TCP/IP networks (allowing the connection to the Internet)
* Support for GNU software (including a huge quantity of free software for Unix from the GNU project)
Note: GNU is one of these recursive acronyms that computer scientists love; It is not Unix of GNU. The GNU project is an effort sponsored by the Free Software Foundation to provide freely available Unix software. See http://www.gnu.org for more information.
Linux was completely written from scratch without using any of the original AT & T UNIX code. (Throughout this site, UNIX is the initial project of brand UNIX invented by AT & t). (The Unix term is used here as a generic term for other variants of the operating system.)
Because of this (and because the author is a nice guy), Linux is free. You can obtain the source code, modify, sell or provide the software as long as you provide the complete source code and not impose any restriction on what others do with it. Here is a site well informed on where to buy or download Linux: http://www.linux.org/dist/download_info.html
BOB RANKIN... is a writer of tech computer programmer who loves to explore the Internet and share the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the newsletter of noises of the Internet, the author of several books computer and creator of the website http://LowfatLinux.com . Site Web de Bob Rankin to articles and free tech supportmore useful.