Operating system

Great points about Linux

When looking for an operating system for your computer you might first think of Windows because it’s the most popular. You may not have even heard of the other operating systems out there. Windows has good points, but there are so many more with great points about them too. Just because Windows is popular doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best.

If you are searching for an operating system, you might consider Linux. Aside from the fact that Linux is completely free, there are more great points about the operating system. The system provides freedom, security, along with great features.

For one, there is more freedom to be found in Linux than Windows. You have a better variety of desktop themes than you do for windows. It can get annoying to only have a few choices, but with Linux you have more variety than other operating systems you will find.

One of the greatest features about Linux is the security. Perhaps Linux has great security because it is less targeted than other operating systems. The system has been around since the early 90′s and has managed to stay free of large viruses. Plus you don’t have to spend the extra money for virus protection.

There are also pluses in the software and hardware areas of using the system. Linux tends to have better features than Windows and are easier to use. Linux is also easier to use on old computers. If you have an old computer you may want to install Linux on that computer so that you have a backup computer.

Linux may not be the most popular operating system, but it has many good points about it. It has great security, great features, easy to use, and very cheep. Why wouldn’t you go with Linux when you can get it 100% for free?

Linux is a Great Option for Many Computer Users

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Most people who have a computer use the Windows operating system, but some people choose other options like Linux or UNIX. People who have a lot of computer experience, like programmers and IT people, generally use these operating systems since they aren’t as user-friendly as Windows is. That doesn’t mean that Linux shouldn’t be used, though, because it can some things that Windows can’t. If you’re really into computers and you’re more interested in programming and similar activities, Linux can definitely be the way to go. Even if you’re not sure if you want to use it, it’s worth doing some research on.

Talk to friends or family members who use it, or check with colleagues in order to see if they use it and like it. Before you decide to switch to it, you’ll want to be clear about what it can and can’t do, and you’ll want to see if it will fit in with the things you use a computer for. If you’re just using the Internet to look for Los Angeles apartments, find a good restaurant or look at pictures of the place you’re going on vacation, Windows will be all you need.

As more people learn more about computers, though, they’re finding that they can do other things with them. Even the small, home computer that most people use will do more than they generally do on it. With Linux, you’ll have more options – and some people have enough memory on their computer and a large-enough hard drive in order to have more than one operating system on it. That way you can have both Windows and Linux on your computer and use whichever one is best for what you’re going to be doing. It’s one of the most logical ways to use Linux and get all of its benefits.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Operating system

Great Aspects of Linux

You may have heard of the operating system Linux and it’s incredibly low price. That’s right, it’s free! People tend to go with more popular operating systems, either because they’ve heard of them or it is what came with their computer. Some people also think that because Linux is free it won’t have as great of features. While people are spending too much money on certain operating systems, they could be saving money with Linux. Not only is it free, but there are also several things Linux can do that you won’t find with other operating systems.

One thing that tends to be popular with Linux customers is the freedom that they have. With Linux, you have the ability to customize your desktop in a variety of ways. Linux hardly limits you to the possibilities you have when it comes to customization, while other operating systems will limit your ability to customize. This way, your desktop is just how you want it.

Linux is much easier to understand. When using other operating systems you have no idea what is inside your computer. With Linux you are able to see the system logs. Due to this, when you have a problem, it makes it much easier to fix the problem yourself.

With expensive operating systems, people tend to break the law by pirating software. Either you break the law, or spend thousands of dollars on an operating system. With Linux you don’t have to worry about pirating or breaking the law because its all free.

Linux tends to have more security than other systems do. This could be due to the system not being as popular, so people don’t target Linux. Whatever the reason, Linux has been found to be more secure.

Linux has other positive aspect about it besides its price and customization. Don’t let the big companies fool you, though. Just because Linux is free does not mean it is a bad operating system.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Linux, Linux distribution, Operating system

What Is Linux?

What is Linux? While some people have heard of Linux, others have not. It’s not the most popular or most heard of operating system, so when people hear the name they are lead to wonder what it is.

Linux is an operating system created by Linux Torvalds. Linux started as Torvalds hobby at the University of Helsinki in Finland. In 1991 he released the first version 0.02 and continued working until 1994 when the Linux Kernel was released. It is from this that the entire operating system of Linux was developed.

Now we know that Linux is an operating system, but what makes it so great? Customers of Linux say they like the types of things offered by this operating system. Many people are attracted to the low price, the customization options, and how easy it is to work and understand the system.

The price of Linux is attractive because it’s free. While systems like Windows can be costly, you don’t have to pay to use Linux. Other operating systems can cost you hundreds of dollars to install, not to mention the price to renew your license. Also, many of these systems require you to buy a license for every computer you own. You are sure to save money when you use Linux.

People say they like the customization options of Linux because there is so much variety. You can customize the desktop in pretty much whatever way you want. Most people like this because they feel they are limited with other operating systems. With Linux your computer looks how you want it to look.

Linux is easy to use because you have access to see the inside of your system. This way, when you have a problem, you are able to fix a problem yourself rather than paying to fix it. People also say it’s easy to set up Java, where it can be confusing on other operating systems.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Operating system

The Cost Isn’t the Only Thing We Like

Some people may think that because Linux is free it means it’s not a good operating system. Contrary to that belief, Linux customers enjoy the features offered by Linux. Besides the price, there are other great things Linux has to offer.

One of the best things, besides the low price, is how easy the system is to work. Linux is very simple to install, which makes it great. You don’t have to restart your computer when doing certain tasks. Many people like this. With other operating systems you must restart your computer before you can continue. With Linux, this is not necessary.

When you have Linux, it’s easy to switch back to Windows if you need to. Plus, a Linux web site can be converted into a Windows site without problems.

Not only is it easy to customize your desktop, but you also get more options than with other operating systems. Linux offers a variety of customization options. This way, your desktop will always look the way you want it to look.

Linux is able to work on basically any computer. It will run on the old computer you have sitting in storage when you need a back up. If you install Linux on your back up computer, you won’t need to continue to update a different system constantly when you don’t use that computer.

Linux is a secure system, too. It’s been around since the early 1990′s and hasn’t had many problems with viruses. Plus, the annoying anti-virus windows rarely pop up.

Yes, Linux is free, but that does not mean it is a bad operating system. Linux users tend to find that Linux is easy to use and they enjoy the customization options given. You can use it for your everyday computer, or if you don’t particularly prefer it, you can install it on your back up computer in case something goes wrong with your primary one.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Linux, Linux distribution, Operating system

Linux’s Open Source Software

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Linux operating systems can give you significantly more control over your computer than any operating system made by Apple or Windows. That’s largely because Linux software is open source, which means you can see the coding and even revise it to suit your own needs. Every piece of free software is seen as a collective work in progress.

It is important to consider how different that perspective is from those used by big software companies. Even the most common Linux operating system, Ubuntu, is free and customizable. Windows, on the other hand, costs hundreds of dollars. What do you pay for when you buy Windows? Well, it is suited for people that don’t know much about computers. Anyone with much familiarity, though, will find that Linux freeware fits their needs much better.

Linux also gives users the opportunity to participate in a community of people that believe in open source coding. Computer programming has become a collective endeavor. Anyone trying to write a large program on his or her own would face a herculean task. That person would quite possibly go insane before reaching the end of the project. That’s why Windows hires so many people to write code for them.

When you use open source coding with free Linux software, though, you are strapped to a desk eight to ten hours a day. Nor, however, are you getting paid. Instead, you are collaborating others in an intellectual community that wants to improve technology for personal use.

It is almost like volunteering.

Of course, you don’t have to write code to enjoy Linux software. Programmers, however, tend to be the people spotting problems with most popular software, so they naturally want to fix the bad code that they find or customize the code to suit their specific needs.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Apple, Linux, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Open source, Operating system, Ubuntu, Windows

Embedded Linux: Functionality Found

Technology is an endless thing – forever evolving and forever demanding your time, energy and savings. You don’t contest this. You understand that sacrifices of sanity will have to be made to ensure that you receive the most reliable (and most innovative) pieces of equipment. Money, you are sure, is of little concern when you in turn find progress. But that progress, you have discovered, does not always apply to elements beyond your desktop. Too many companies offer too many products, each defined to meager reliability and unimpressive designs. You are frustrated; you are exhausted; you are in need of change.

And so you look to Linux.

The embedded Linux system (created from the philosophies of the free software movement) is a marvel of specificity. Simply explained, this system is placed within such portable hardware as mobile phones, music players and computerized assistants. While these items are common, they are not always efficient. They’re given too many tasks and too many conflicting elements. Embedded Linux, however, is free from such complications.

The program works by utilizing free software elements and more streamlined C standard libraries. When placed within a piece of equipment, it offers power to the most important functions but allows the user to choose what those functions are. The source codes are open, allowing for any item to be redesigned to an individual’s needs. There is no longer a reliance on manufacturers and their attempts to shape every task into an event. There is instead the ease (and convenience) of creating applications that fit your life.

And this allows the embedded Linux to be a true marvel of engineering. Consumers can customize their hardware and make it work for them; instead of making themselves work to understand it. There is a lack of confusion and a comforting freedom. All choices can be redefined and all software can be modified. It’s good sense for those in need of it.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Distributions, Embedded, Embedded Linux, Embedded system, Linux, Operating system, Projects, Tiny

The Linux Name: Origins

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Not all names are created equal – this is a truth you have learned all too well, fumbling over the impossibly long titles, the clumsily gathered words. Creativity is appreciated but simple pronunciation is more fondly regarded. You don’t want to waste your time trying to decipher the riddles and alliteration, the deliberate misspellings. You want to know what a product is and what it is called. There should be no confusion, no forced effort. You simply want to understand what the words mean. And your frustration when this concept is denied you is immediately felt.

But you have never experienced such frustration with Linux and its components. You have instead enjoyed the ease of the name.

That ease may not have existed, however, if the company had not evolved beyond its origins.

Began in 1991 by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds, Linux as you know it today was then dubbed “Freax”. This unusual title was a combination of -free’ software principles, the -freak’ philosophy and the -Unix’ inspiration. The ideas were thrust together, offering a word that did not exist in the common language and left many baffled over its meanings and possible pronunciations. It was representative of the software but did not distinguish itself as unique. “Freax” was instead confusing.

And this led to an eventual re-branding.

While Torvalds mastered his program, fellow University-goer Ari Lemmke decided that a change had to be offered. “Freax” was not worthy of the revolution he was certain would come. So he instead suggested calling the tool “Linux”, a play off of Torvalds own name. This was at first refused, believed to be too arrogant; but it proved an easier style than the previous form and was finally accepted.

This is a change of fate that all computer enthusiasts would enjoy. Because Linux is now known throughout the world and has proven itself to be an invaluable alternative to the most common methods – and its name has proven itself to be perfect.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Advocacy, Ari Lemmke, Articles, Hardware Support, Linus Torvalds, Linux, Operating system, Projects

New Beginnings: The Linux Foundation

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It takes more in this world to succeed than a good product and a good reputation. Too often do lesser forces triumph over those who have proven themselves to be the better efficiencies, the easier rewards. Fairness is rarely common. It is instead forgotten in the wake of clever marketing and familiar brands. And the Linux company has suffered from that – while it is known to be a user-friendly option (with its open source philosophies and free components), it too often overlooked in the wake of Microsoft and Macintosh. It is the ignored sibling, trying to scramble after those who have taken all of the glory.

This is not to be tolerated.

And so the Linux Foundation was formed, with a purpose of redefining public perception and helping to generate awareness; as well as to ensure the foundations of the program are maintained and kept available for all individuals.

The Linux Foundation was began in 2007 when two vocal (but unknown to the casual user) supporters merged: the Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group. These organizations joined to make sure that the ideologies of Linux – such as open sources and mass distribution – would be upheld. They each sought to promote and protect the program, addressing such issues as: trademarks, legalities and providing forums for users to offer advice and concerns.

And those concerns have been answered with the Linux Foundation developing new projects and components. Through it the software has become better defined within the public and has grown in recognition to almost five percent of the desktop accumulation (an impressive number when compared to the household awareness of its competition). The Foundation has helped to foster new interest and intends to continue doing so.

Linux is not the most popular of brands. It is, however, one of the most eagerly supported. And the Foundation will prove this again and again.

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The Uses of Linux

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No software – however worthy, however innovative – can survive in a singular form. There must be more to it than clever codes; there must instead be the application of those codes to all parts of the world. Technology must be offered in every possible way, with the modern user demanding to find it in more than his home. It must go where he goes and it must provide everything he needs. There are, after all, questions to be answered and riddles to be solved. And this would be impossible if software couldn’t be used in more than one realm.

Linux was once thought to be such a realm: singular, incompatible, without value. There seemed to be no way to let the open source program filter into more than its established setting. There seemed instead to be just an imminent failure.

That failure didn’t occur.

Because Linux is now a multi-functional tool, able to be used in all the necessary ways:

1. Desktop. The most prominent (and popular) user form of the Linux kernel is found in its desktop form. The free software has proven effective, allowing individuals to create a home experience that they truly want. Applications from other companies – such as Microsoft and Macintosh – can be used as well, ensuring that no advantage is lost.

2. Embedded Linux. Entering the world of the smart-phone is never easy; but Linux has managed to claim almost 17 percent of the market with its programming. Users can tailor their devices to what they need, allowing all tasks to be completed.

3. Servers. Mainframes require immense power and immense potential. Linux provides that. Over 90 percent of the world’s largest (and most impressive) supercomputers are operated on this software.

It was once believed to be incompetent. Now, however, Linux has become a strong presence without the virtual world – with its popularity growing each year.

Filed Under: Linux Community Tagged With: Articles, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Open source, Operating system, Unix