Linux Powered

Linux--The Next Operating System

In the world of Linux, who needs Windows and Gates anyway...


Distributions:

 If you are sicking tired of using Windows and are looking for something new and fun, then perhaps you should consider Linux. It is the best operating system out there... I have tried many Linux distributions such as (in no particular order): RedHat, or Fedora Core (RedHat+Linux community), MandrakeLinux, Novell SUSE, Slackware, VectorLinux (Slackware based), Debian, Knoppix (Debian based), Gnoppix (just like Knoppix--Debian based--except it uses Gnome as its window manager instead of KDE), Ubuntu Linux (Debian based), Libranet (Debian based), Xandros (Debian based), Lycoris, LinspireOS, Windows Linux (RedHat based), Mepis Linux, Gentoo, and VidaLinux Desktop OS (Gentoo based but with GUI installation that makes installing Gentoo real easy. No need to type all those commands at the prompt just to have a stable Gentoo system on your machine...). I have to say that I like some distros a little more than others from the list. (There are many more great distros out there and I haven't had time to try them out, yet. Therefore, this list will be more likely to expand in the near future if I can find a time and a free machine to test them out...) For most distros, you can download them for free or with a small fee (which of course is much cheaper than the other OS--Windows). Which distro should you use depends on what you like. Almost all of them should be able to detect your hardware on your computer unless you have something weird. To be sure, you should always check with the hardware compatibility list of that distro first before you start downloading those ISO file(s). And of course, if you have questions or problems during or after the installation, you can always ask me or go to the forum for your help. There are some great Linux forums out there with some great people willing to help you.

Programs:

 For instance, you can use OpenOffice for all your word, excel, presentation, draw, etc. In fact, it can read and save the documentations in Windows Office format. And for your music CD or MP3 lovers, Xmms is the best. But if you are looking for a DVD player or a movie player, then perhaps either Xine or Mplayer is what you are looking for. And for your e-mail, either Thunderbird (from Mozilla.org) or Evolution from Ximian is what you need. In fact, I think it works much better than Microsoft Outlook. For web browser, you can always go with FireFox (from Mozilla.org), Mozilla, Opera, Konqueror (if you are running KDE as your desktop windows manager), or Galeon (if you are running Gnome as your desktop windows manager). And for your burning pleasure, you can use either k3b (which I personally like and use), or X-CD-Roast, or many other programs that you can choose from. In other words, whatever program you use under Windows, there is a substitution for Linux. However, if you really need to use Microsoft Office, Visio, Lotus Notes, or even Internet Explorer, then you can always install CrossOver Office which allows you to run those applications under Linux. Wine would allow you to run some Windows (95/98 only) applications under Linux and WineX (similar to DirectX) would allow you to play Windows games in Linux.

And if you are intended to keep your Windows on the same system, then you can use either LILO or GRUB as your boot loader. It can handle Windows 95/98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Linux. You can also access your NTFS filesystem from Linux (as read-only) or your VFAT (FAT16/FAT32 as read-write mode) on the same system or over the network using samba.

On the other hand, if you are not really to install Linux on your computer, harddrive, yet, but still would like to check it out, then perhaps you should consider running Linux under either Connectix Virtual PC, VMware, or QEMU.

More Information:

 Of course, to learn more about Linux, you should check out this page. And if you are interested or would like to learn more about those and other fine Linux distributions, then you should check out this site--DistroWatch.

Obviously, you can always e-mail me anytime you want. I am more than happy to help out anyway I can. Hopefully, you can have fun with Linux as I do and we will never go back to Windows again!!!

Check out some screenshots here.

Linux rocks; Microsoft's not.