Linux

Godslayer Jillian · 01-11-2008, 01:45 PM

If there's something I know absolutely nothing about, it's computers (and cooking and linguistics and using powertools)
What exactly is Linux? I only hear it around smart people that know about computers. I just know they say it's definitely a better deal than Windows and Mac computers.

HumanePain · 01-11-2008, 02:40 PM

Linus Torvald of Finland developed Linux operating system in 1991.
It is a version of UNIX, but since his name is Linus, he called it Linux.

http://www.linux.org/info/linus.html

Anyway, it competes with Microsoft Windows, MAC O/S and other operating systems.

Wheter it is better or not depends on what one is trying to achieve with the server:

Security? Then MAC O/S and Linux are superior, there are fewer security holes and fewer hackers capable of creating viruses and attacks on Linux and MACs.

Cost? Then Windows is better. Administrators for Windows are a dime a dozen (unless they have Cluster experience with financial database applications and disk networking administration).

Supportability? Again, Windows wins because Microsoft has huge resources dedicated to support world wide. With Linux, you are on your own.

Customization? Linux! You can remove uneeded modules and code to streamline the Operating System to run faster and more securely.

That's the explanation in a nutshell.

viscus · 01-11-2008, 02:50 PM

Linux is an operating system (like Windows and MacOS), the core piece of software that runs a computer. It comes in a variety of different "distributions" (or "distros"), all with different interfaces and applications.

The beauty of it is that it's "open source," meaning the information is available for anyone with the know-how to freely change or modify it, and the distros and applications are for the most part available at no cost (companies that make open source software make their revenue off of support services). Geeks love it because of it's customizablity, and there is a large community of enthusiasts who trade ideas, help out others, and work out problems with the software.

The downside of Linux is that it's generally less user-friendly, and usually takes some geek-level computer knowledge to use effectively. However, it's been getting better and better. One distro in particular, Ubuntu, is extremely user-friendly and has come very close to being an effective competitor to Windows and MacOS.

Methadrine · 01-11-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

If there's something I know absolutely nothing about, it's computers (and cooking and linguistics and using powertools)
What exactly is Linux? I only hear it around smart people that know about computers. I just know they say it's definitely a better deal than Windows and Mac computers.

It's free. More secure out of the box than Windows. It's excellent for servers.

I disagree on the last sentence though. That's all depending on time, use/implementation and cost.

viscus · 01-11-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumanePain

Cost? Then Windows is better. Administrators for Windows are a dime a dozen (unless they have Cluster experience with financial database applications and disk networking administration).

Maybe, but for a consumer? Most of the distros and applications are FREE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumanePain

Supportability? Again, Windows wins because Microsoft has huge resources dedicated to support world wide. With Linux, you are on your own.

Companies that make Linux distros will provide support (for a cost), but with Linux you have a huge support community to go to for help. There is a lot of scouring message boards, however.

HumanePain · 01-11-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viscus

Maybe, but for a consumer? Most of the distros and applications are FREE!

Companies that make Linux distros will provide support (for a cost), but with Linux you have a huge support community to go to for help. There is a lot of scouring message boards, however.

I stand corrected. I was thinking in terms of Enterprise level servers and forgot about the home user. :S

Yes, one cannot get an O/S cheaper than free. And I forgot to mention the open source aspect of Linux, with the associated user-based support community. See kernel dot org for an excellent example.

emeraldlonewoulf · 01-13-2008, 01:50 PM

Jillian, if you get into the whole open source software thing, also check out things like Nvu for a web editor, GIMP or GIMPshop for image editing (kind of like photoshop), and OpenOffice has a complete line of programs, comparable to the Microsoft office suite. Using freeware and open source software has saved me hundreds of dollars. The great thing about software like this is that it can be modified by anyone, and so you end up with different upgrades and distributions for just about any application you can imagine. Don't worry, I'm not exactly the most computer savvy person out there either, but being of limited means has forced me to look at options that have turned out to be good things.

I think you will find a culture surrounding open source similar to that in the freegan movement, sort of an anti capitalist control thing, combined with a belief that people shouldn't have to pay through the nose for useful software.

A few links:

http://www.linux.org/

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/

The last one is wealth of info on several distros, and also has links to help files, tutorials, and several other things you might find useful.

Overall, I've found using open source to be a rewarding experience, and while getting information and help for things takes a few seconds more time, the people you run into are very willing to help.

One side note: Some people have experienced difficulty using Linux while trying to get online through Wifi or other wireless means, but I believe most of those issues have been hammered out now, or are close to it.

Enjoy!

Delkaetre · 01-13-2008, 02:59 PM

I find GIMP much preferable to photoshop, actually. Much more user friendly. Most everything I use at the moment is free- firefox, Apophysis, GIMP, openoffice, WinAmp....
The machine came with Microsoft Office installed. I promptly ignored it.

HumanePain · 01-13-2008, 03:02 PM

One more thing: since you are getting started with it Jillian, be sure to install GNOME as the user shell interface, it's GUI based Windows type appearance makes it easier to use Linux, so you can get comfortable before you go hard core and use command line.

viscus · 02-01-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delkaetre

I find GIMP much preferable to photoshop, actually. Much more user friendly. Most everything I use at the moment is free- firefox, Apophysis, GIMP, openoffice, WinAmp....
The machine came with Microsoft Office installed. I promptly ignored it.

So the question remains: why are you still using Windows? :P

I got my new Dell laptop with preinstalled Ubuntu the other week...'tis a beautiful thing. And it's red.

dark_dragon_of_ice · 02-01-2008, 10:09 PM

Mac's os isn't that secure..its just that all the big business use windows so theres no point in making special viruses for it.

Methadrine · 02-02-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark_dragon_of_ice

Mac's os isn't that secure..its just that all the big business use windows so theres no point in making special viruses for it.

*sighs and rolls eyes*

Here we go again... but I'm not going to explain that one again so use the searchfunction or search the net on some of the more serious sites that handle the topic on why *nix machines doesn't have any viruses, and why the concepts mostly managed to harm Userland to some extent, and then only f the user was a complete and utter moron.

dark_dragon_of_ice · 02-02-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methadrine

*sighs and rolls eyes*

Here we go again... but I'm not going to explain that one again so use the searchfunction or search the net on some of the more serious sites that handle the topic on why *nix machines doesn't have any viruses, and why the concepts mostly managed to harm Userland to some extent, and then only f the user was a complete and utter moron.

There is no arguement that *nix machines have very little vulnerabilities, sure
How is that related to MacOSX
Why are you arguing that OSX's security is better than Windows but talking about *nix?
Windows security is vastly superior to MacOS X security offerings because it HAS TO BE
Because there are more viruses/spyware/adware for Windows
Also MacOS X handles it's proprietary software to the point that, while MacOS X and it's variants have many more vulnerabilities and a poorer firewall than windows, it's quite hard to run unsigned code on OS X.
You will simply argue that Windows is poorly designed in comparison to *nix and MacOS X in terms of protecting itself
And that's true
In terms of the security designed for each respective OS (Windows Firewall, Norton, etc. vs. Mac OSX's whateverit'scalled and Linux's custom built stuff) Windows takes the cake for security
But only because it needs to obviously

viscus · 02-02-2008, 11:28 AM

MacOS is Unix-based, friend.

dark_dragon_of_ice · 02-02-2008, 05:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgGXNuGURs0

viscus · 02-02-2008, 09:05 PM

Mmm, I think he's being too politically-correct, but yeah it is a preferential and religious thing, to a large degree. I didn't have many problems switching from Windows XP to Ubuntu, though. There were a few things I had to play with to get working the way I want, such as encoding Nero AAC files, but for the most part it Just Works(R).

Meth, what do you run, out of curiosity?