I am aware that some of our members here at ChattChitto use Linux or have a more then one OS on their systems. So for us that have ever question the reason for Linux this may be of some help for you.
As always, Thank You for your time and I hope you find this article of interest.
Top reasons why you should switch to Linux, from Windows
Spoiler: show
This article is part of our ongoing series aimed at teaching the everyday Windows users about Linux, providing reasons to switch, and helping people making the switch.
It has been awhile since I have written an article dotTech and I must say I missed it. Today, as my comeback article, I am here to tell you why you should switch to Linux. Read on to learn more.
I want to make a confession to you, I was a closet Linux user for many years. I would hide my screen from curious eyes scared of questions I would have to answer and frankly I wanted to avoid getting mad defending my philosophical beliefs.
My confession fits well into this article because I wanted to introduce you a multi-part series on the subject of transitioning to Linux. This series will be written in plain and simple English and hopefully inspire you to make the plunge into a world unlike any other.
Before we dive into the common questions like what distribution you should use or apt-get is, we need to talk about the benefits of Linux and why you should consider using it.
Linux is a free and open source operating platform; millions of people around globe are always coding and testing changes to improve the software and the system. Comparatively, proprietary operating systems like Windows and Mac are closed and often have less people working on it. There are, of course, pros and cons of being open source and pros and cons of being closed source. Let’s talk about why I feel Linux is better than the first.
One of biggest bonuses to using Linux is that it is almost virus free. That’s right you read that correctly. There are two reasons why Linux is almost virus free.
The first reason is, there are simply less viruses that target Linux and less malicious scumbags creating Linux viruses than Windows or even Mac (which can actually be considered a Linux distro, if you look at its history). Why are there less viruses targeting Linux? Probably because there are less consumers using Linux than Windows, which means malware creators get less bang for the buck, so to speak. True, there are many servers that run Linux and infecting a server with malware is the holy grail for scumbags. However, targeting and infecting servers with malware is significantly harder than targeting and infecting consumer machines, which is why you see so many attacks on Windows.
The second reason is, Linux is by design more safe to use than Windows. Without diving into the complex programmer jabber, Linux does not by default allow any user to be a system administrator. In many distributions you will run a programme with evaluated privileges through another tool called “sudo” meaning any and all applications that access high risk sectors of system will need the root (admin) password (this is somewhat similar to “User Account Access Control (UAC)” introduced in Vista). This complex system renders malicious code useless since it can’t run as admin and removes the need for you waste resources on an anti-virus. That’s right no anti-virus to update, no license to buy and no looking over your digital shoulder for scary viruses and hackers. (Although, keep in mind, Linux is not immune to platform-independent attacks — like phishing.)
If that wasn’t enough, as I may have mentioned before, Linux is completely free to download and use and so is most of the software that runs on Linux. You will never have to pay to upgrade to a newer version of Linux (or, more specifically, newer version of the Linux distribution you are using). You will never have to buy Microsoft Office or worry about license keys again. Your system won’t treat you like a thief and won’t call home to validate your license, you’re just trusted and your privacy is respected. Most of the time anyway — there are some proprietary software and distros on Linux that behave like Windows, but by and large most Linux distros and software are not this way.
Another advantage is customization. Linux gives you complete control, you are able to control every aspect of the system. You will be able to control the appearance as well as which processes are running. You might be a power user of Windows and are saying to yourself, but “I can control the appearance with themes” and you would be right, but Linux customization is far beyond themes and fonts.
A few other benefits include:
* Runs fast and stays fast.
* Works great on legacy (older) hardware and supports newer hardware.
* Super-dooper fast boot speeds.
* Many flavors or distributions (versions of Linux) available for you to pick from.
It has been awhile since I have written an article dotTech and I must say I missed it. Today, as my comeback article, I am here to tell you why you should switch to Linux. Read on to learn more.
I want to make a confession to you, I was a closet Linux user for many years. I would hide my screen from curious eyes scared of questions I would have to answer and frankly I wanted to avoid getting mad defending my philosophical beliefs.
My confession fits well into this article because I wanted to introduce you a multi-part series on the subject of transitioning to Linux. This series will be written in plain and simple English and hopefully inspire you to make the plunge into a world unlike any other.
Before we dive into the common questions like what distribution you should use or apt-get is, we need to talk about the benefits of Linux and why you should consider using it.
Linux is a free and open source operating platform; millions of people around globe are always coding and testing changes to improve the software and the system. Comparatively, proprietary operating systems like Windows and Mac are closed and often have less people working on it. There are, of course, pros and cons of being open source and pros and cons of being closed source. Let’s talk about why I feel Linux is better than the first.
One of biggest bonuses to using Linux is that it is almost virus free. That’s right you read that correctly. There are two reasons why Linux is almost virus free.
The first reason is, there are simply less viruses that target Linux and less malicious scumbags creating Linux viruses than Windows or even Mac (which can actually be considered a Linux distro, if you look at its history). Why are there less viruses targeting Linux? Probably because there are less consumers using Linux than Windows, which means malware creators get less bang for the buck, so to speak. True, there are many servers that run Linux and infecting a server with malware is the holy grail for scumbags. However, targeting and infecting servers with malware is significantly harder than targeting and infecting consumer machines, which is why you see so many attacks on Windows.
The second reason is, Linux is by design more safe to use than Windows. Without diving into the complex programmer jabber, Linux does not by default allow any user to be a system administrator. In many distributions you will run a programme with evaluated privileges through another tool called “sudo” meaning any and all applications that access high risk sectors of system will need the root (admin) password (this is somewhat similar to “User Account Access Control (UAC)” introduced in Vista). This complex system renders malicious code useless since it can’t run as admin and removes the need for you waste resources on an anti-virus. That’s right no anti-virus to update, no license to buy and no looking over your digital shoulder for scary viruses and hackers. (Although, keep in mind, Linux is not immune to platform-independent attacks — like phishing.)
If that wasn’t enough, as I may have mentioned before, Linux is completely free to download and use and so is most of the software that runs on Linux. You will never have to pay to upgrade to a newer version of Linux (or, more specifically, newer version of the Linux distribution you are using). You will never have to buy Microsoft Office or worry about license keys again. Your system won’t treat you like a thief and won’t call home to validate your license, you’re just trusted and your privacy is respected. Most of the time anyway — there are some proprietary software and distros on Linux that behave like Windows, but by and large most Linux distros and software are not this way.
Another advantage is customization. Linux gives you complete control, you are able to control every aspect of the system. You will be able to control the appearance as well as which processes are running. You might be a power user of Windows and are saying to yourself, but “I can control the appearance with themes” and you would be right, but Linux customization is far beyond themes and fonts.
A few other benefits include:
* Runs fast and stays fast.
* Works great on legacy (older) hardware and supports newer hardware.
* Super-dooper fast boot speeds.
* Many flavors or distributions (versions of Linux) available for you to pick from.
By: JUSTIN LEROUX FEBRUARY 19, 2014
That being said, check back soon for the next part in the series, which will cover the basics of the Linux operating system and how to switch. I promise it will be fun. Oh and if you disagree with the reasons I give above or if you have other reasons, post a comment below and let us know
Answers to commonly asked Linux questions -
Linux beginners guide, part 2
[Guide]
Linux beginners guide, part 2
[Guide]
Spoiler: show
LINUX FAQSLast week I gave you a few good reasons as to why you should consider Linux over Windows. Now, before we jump into choosing the discussion of finding the right distribution for you and how to set-up things such as dual booting and installing the system, one would find it very helpful to have a little bit of an understanding of the operation of system and how it works.
we composed a list of frequently asked questions to try to help you understand Linux better. So this article aims to explain the very basics of Linux by answering a few commonly asked questions. Read on to learn more
What is Terminal? Do I have to know programming to use Linux? I read a lot about command line.
Have you ever opened Command Prompt in Windows? Terminal in Linux is similar… but better. Terminal offers you a whole different experience than the Command Prompt of Windows. It may sound odd to a Windows users but one will find using text-based commands in Terminal are both faster and easier than graphical tools; for example, the command $ sudo useradd john is faster than clicking on numerous boxes and options to create a new user. Of course, you can avoid Terminal as much as possible if you are really scared of command line but really Terminal is a tool that makes Linux easy-to-use (as odd as that may sound).
To put it simply, you will be using command line a lot in Linux. Don’t worry, it isn’t as hard as it may sound.
What are Linux distributions and why are there so many?
Linux distributions — often referred to as Linux distros — such as openSuse and Ubuntu are both Linux operating systems though they are very different. You see, every operating system has a base, known as the kernel. Much like Windows kernel and Mac kernel, the Linux kernel is the foundation of the system that communicates with the hardware and allocates resources for use by other portions of the system. Linux distributions (e.g. openSuse, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc.) use the Linux kernel but build different customizations on top of it. They are all Linux but the end result is you essentially get a variety of different versions of Linux — and that is the beauty of Linux, if you don’t like one distribution you can switch to another. Think of it like the difference between Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, etc. — they are all Windows but they are different versions of Windows.
I have included a chart below that helps to you understand how the Linux system is organised. As a side note, the chart was made using LibreOffice Draw, a free and open source programme. Even though the chart below is a very simple diagram please, feel free to share, change and redistribute it if you want (with due credit to this article, of course.
Just because Linux is free doesn’t mean it is not a durable and useable operating environment. There are very brilliant minds that work on Linux; some for free, while others are paid. You may not know it but it is estimated roughly 1/3 of the machines globally run Linux. No, not 1/3 of desktops and laptops but machines in general — many things use an operating system nowadays and Linux is often the one powering it. A multi-billion dollar US Navy ship uses Linux. Many ATMs use Linux. Many websites run on Linux-based servers (dotTech included).
Often free is associated with substandard quality. In the case of Linux, that simply isn’t true.
How do people who work on Linux make money?
Frankly, some of the people working on Linux don’t make money; they do it because they want to. In fact, most of the people that contribute to Linux don’t make money from Linux because they do it as a hobby or passion rather than a day job. However, there are companies and programmers who put food on their table thanks to Linux. How? Well, some companies, such as Canonical who maintains Ubuntu, generate revenue in other ways. For example, they offer (very expensive) support programmes on a subscription basis. Other companies and organizations rely on membership fees or donations to pay programmers to work on Linux.
How can Linux be almost virus free?
As we said before, there are two reasons.
First of all, there simply are less viruses that target Linux because there are less Linux consumer machines (i.e. desktops and laptops) than Windows. It is easier and more profitable for scumbags to infect Windows desktops and laptops than Linux, purely due to size. What compounds this advantage is malicious code written for one Linux distro may not work on another, e.g. Debian systems cannot “attack” a Redhat system. So to attack *all* of Linux with one virus is nearly impossible.
Secondly, because Linux operates very differently. It assess each programme and its function to see what sort of system access the programme or function needs. If the programme requires access to high risk sectors of the system or sensitive user information, Linux will suspend the programme and prompt you to authenticate with the admin (aka sudo or superuser) password. If you don’t authentic, the programme or process is killed. So even if someone wrote a virus for Linux, it will often not function as intended until the virus creator knows your admin password.
I heard Linux is just hard to use and not worth my time. Is that true?
Yes and no.
As mentioned before, if you want to use Linux than you should be willing to get comfortable with command line. Sure, you can use Linux without command line but that is kind of pointless because Terminal is a major part of Linux. For some people, command line strikes terror into their hearts and for them I would say Linux is hard to use. For most people, however, learning a few commands will not cause you cancer and neither will Linux.
Indeed, Linux can be much easier to use than Windows or Mac but because you might have grown up using Windows (or Mac) all your life, you will have adjust to a new way of doing things.
So Linux isn’t so much “hard” as it is “different”.
On the brightside, one thing you will find right away is a HUGE online support network and excellent forums for Linux. If you a have question some one has already asked it, Google or DuckDuckGo are your friends. If you need help let us know, we will be more than happy to try and answer your questions, right here on dotTech!
I heard maintaining a Linux system is a nightmare?
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Updating Linux is a piece of cake. Maintaining a Linux operating system is one easiest thing in the world.
You will never need to defragment the hard drive or worry about updating the individual programmes. Because the way Linux is designed, the updater programme will update all of your programmes for you. The only time you will need to reboot after an update is when the kernel itself is updated… and with Linux’s superfast boot times, you will be rebooted before a Windows users can open Internet Explorer.
And, yes, you did hear right: no more defragmenting your computer! Linux is designed so well that your hard drive is always organised the most efficient way and you will never have to sit for an hour waiting on the system to boot due to an update installation.
What about gaming?
Gaming is where Linux takes somewhat of a hit.
Linux has always been a bit slow in the gaming industry because it’s not the most popular operating system and many developers simply don’t support their games on Linux. Fortunately, this is changing for the better such as Valve releasing a Linux-supported version of Steam. Also, often you can install some Windows-based games on Linux using WINE.
WINE? Alcohol? I’m in!
Whoa there tiger, WINE isn’t alcohol related. WINE stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator and it allows you to run Windows programs and games on Linux. Using WINE, you literally install Windows programs and games on Linux and run them.
Of course, installing the programs or another operating system in Linux is not a simple task and some programs and games simply won’t work using WINE. However, many Windows programs and games do work — so don’t worry, you can run your beloved Internet Explorer 6 in Linux if you want.
Speaking of games, for those interested in running Windows games on Linux, you need to check out PlayOnLinux.
I would to try Linux but I am not sure about dual booting?
In the past, dual booting Windows and Linux was nightmare and it required knowing all about partitioning and disk allocation. However, that is no longer the case. In today’s world, dual booting Windows and Linux is a breeze. In fact many of the Linux distributions such as CentOS, Ubuntu and OpenSuse offer to automatically re-size the Windows partition and take care of all the setup for you. For example, Ubuntu will ask you if want to use the whole disk or install alongside Windows. The process is very easy and fairly risk free — but always backup your documents first. You can even “install” Ubuntu as a program inside Windows using Wubi and easily “uninstall” Ubuntu if you no longer wants it. Yep, it is as easy as installing a program.
And don’t worry, even people with Windows 8 and 8.1 can dual boot with Linux. In fact, they may have a bigger reason to do so. :-)
What about Netflix? I love my Netflix.
Netflix shows its videos and movies using Silverlight. They have made it very clear they wont support Moonlight, the open source Sliverlight that runs on Linux. But don’t worry some very smart people figured out a way to watch Netflix on Linux.
What about my dear Windows programmes?
This is actually what hurts Linux the most: compatibility.
First of all, I highly recommend new Linux users always dual boot Linux alongside Windows. This way, if you ever have the need to use a Windows program that isn’t on Linux, you can simply boot into Windows and do your thing.
That said, however, whether we like it or not, most of the world uses Windows. So not being able to run Windows programs on Linux is really a big issue. Luckily, many popular Windows programs have Linux versions or compatible Linux alternatives. For those that don’t, as already discussed, we can use WINE. If that still doesn’t work, you can install Windows virtually using VirtualBox in Linux and run Windows whenever you need your specific Windows programs.
However, frankly speaking, you will have to learn to let go of some of your Windows programmes if you want to use Linux. There really is no other way around it.
PARTING NOTE
Now that we covered all of that, in the next article we will help you choose the right distro. Choosing a Linux distribution is like buying a well-tailored suit; when you find the right one, it’s a beautiful thing.
How to pick the right Linux distro for you Pary 3
Spoiler: show
Choosing the right Linux distribution is a very important step in the process of switch to Linux, because each flavour (distro) is different and you will want one that matches your needs (and potentially personality). I have tried almost 100 distribution and tested them on many people, after all I have been instructing people in the Linux culture for a few years now. Having said all of that, each person is different and each distribution is right for a different reason. I have seen many Linux users “forcing” a distro on beginners and truthfully this is a bad thing to do and so I ask that the community and comments will respect the each users choices. (As know you will. :-)
One thing that I have forgotten to mention until now, is that each distro brings its set of ideas and a philosophy as well. There is a man with seven honorary doctorates and his name is Dr.Richard Stallman. Dr.Stallman was the founder of the GNU operating system which was a free and open source Unix like operating system. Dr.Stallman was missing a single component, a durable kernel. A man by the name of Linus Torvalds created such a kernel and he called it Linux. Dr.Stallman and Mr.Torvalds creations came together to create GNU/Linux and every distribution is based on both the GNU and Linux projects, so please remember that even though we call it Linux it is really GNU/Linux.
Here is a movie called Revolution OS. It talks about the creation of the GNU/Linux system. It maybe a bit dry, but it gives a lot of information if you are interested.
COMMON DESKTOP ENVIRONMENTS
KDE vs Gnome
One could write an entire dissertation on the topic of KDE vs Gnome but I want to explain to you the main differences, in a painless way and as much as they differ it all comes down to personal preference in the end. The major differences come in appearance, they look different and offer different features, for example in the upcoming versions of KDE, KDE connect will interface with an android device giving you the ability to send text messages from the desktop (like Mightytext). Here is a screenshot from Ubuntu 11 using a KDE desktop and then using a Gnome Desktop. Please keep in mind they are both Ubuntu.
I have given much thought to how I was going to organise this list and what distributions to explain. By no means will I be able to cover each flavour of Linux and if you find a distro you like and it hasn’t been covered, we are still here to help you. If you find a distrobution that wasn’t covered let me know in the comments.
When we talk about the many distributions available to you, we need look a few important aspects of the system and you will need to ask yourself some personal questions. Many of questions you should be asking yourself are;
* Is this what I want?
* Do I like the look?
* How much software is available for it?
* Do I agree with direction and philosophical ideals behind the OS?
Many people around the world love and use Ubuntu and it is a great distribution for new and novice users alike. Ubuntu is backed by a company called Canonical, they have a vision of unity between all devices and they bring that to Ubuntu in a desktop environment called ‘Unity’. Unity organises your desktop in a unique way, you will have a task-bar similar to the Mac Launcher.
Ubuntu is an excellent operating system for both new and older hardware. Ubuntu also has a very large software selection and an even bigger support group. It is based on Debian and offers a long-term support version and normal cycle release. The difference between the two are support timelines and stability.
I at one point used Ubuntu as my main distribution but I was not a fan of Untiy and what Dr.Stallman called a “malicious” feature. The Ubuntu launcher allows you to search your computer and the web, Ubuntu has partnered with Amazon and so Amazon tracks your search and displays targeted affiliate linked products in the search results. This can be easily turned off and I will make sure that you know how to do that.
A few other features include
* Software Centre – A place muck like Google Play or Itunes app store. It provides a place for you to search and install software without using APT-GET or downloading .debs
* Scopes - Scopes are a part of the Unity launcher search and allow you search multiple databases and tools. For example you can get a movies scope that will search IMDB.
Ubuntu is very easy to use and powerful enough to keep both beginners and novice user a like, satisfied for years to come. Ubuntu is perfect for users who want access to a very large repository (collection) of applications from the get go. As a side note we will be covering Ubuntu in most of the series.
If you’re looking for a new and popular Ubuntu based distribution you can try Mint. Mint offers much of the services and the features that Ubuntu offers.
Ubuntu homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: Unity 7+
* Corporate Sponsor: Canonical
CentOS is a popular distribution that is used for the enterprise community, including many web hosting companies like Blue-host or JSU-HOST. CentOS has big thing for only using stable and proven packages (software), they are very serious about a stable environment for working. CentOS is built on Redhat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and they have just partnered with Redhat to provide a unique experience. By no means should my personal considerations be part of your decision but I switched from Ubuntu to CentOS and I will never go back. One thing that should be noted is that the ease of use out of the box is fairly poor, if you wish to install something like VLC or the latest LibreOffice you will to add custom repos (software channels).
If you are looking into the world of open source and you feel that you want to support it then you are almost safe to use CentOS. You will have access to both free and non-free software by default. CentOS is a lightweight and fast operating system, you will have gnome 2 installed by default and very little eye candy. So if you are looking for a stable system without bling, then select CentOS and you won’t be sorry. On a parting note for this system, your range of software available by default is small and you will need to custom install most of your software.
CentOS does not have a nicely built software centre nor does it offer the newest software. but what it does offer is great speed and stability. It will run on computers new or not and offer you great hardware compatibility.
CentOS homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: Gnome 2.28
* Corporate Sponsor: Redhat
OpenSUSE has been around for a long time and if offers some great features. OpenSUSE was started in 1996 by four German Linux enthusiasts and is backed by a company called Novell. OpenSUSE is very different from CentOS because Suse is a testing ground for Suse Enterprise Desktop/Server whereas CentOS is modified build of RedHat Enterprise Linux. I would not recommend OpenSUSE for older hardware or lower end systems as many of packages are heavy on resources and so is the desktop.
OpenSUSE does not offer you an app store like Ubuntu or Mint, but it has a very large software collection and is fairly stable for general use. For beginners OpenSUSE isn’t a bad choice. If you are starting to get into the philosophy of the open source world then I would recommend that you stay away from Novell. The reason for this is because Novell and Microsoft had deal in 2008 which gave Microsoft a few of Novells patents. This gives Microsoft a claim at the Linux world which many see as a nightmare.
OpenSUSE homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: KDE 4.11
* Corporate Sponsor: Novell
Other Distros
There are many distributions available to the world. I have only covered a few and ones that I have used. You can learn more about all the versions on a website called DistroWatch
MORE ANSWERS FAQS
What about Picture Editing?
Linux offers you many features and one of them is advanced photo and video tools. Dreamworks Animation uses RedHat Linux and custom made tools they released to the open source world. There are a number of tools you can use, please have a look at some of these; GIMP, DigiKam, Shotwell and if you’re a fan of Corel software you can use Corel Aftershot Pro though it is not free and it is closed source.
How do I dual boot?
This is a very common question and it has a simple answer. When you start the installation process for many distributions, the installer will search for existing installations like Windows. On the Ubuntu install it will ask if you want to install along side Windows and if you select yes…. That’s it! These very same steps will work on; CentOS, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Mint, Debian and many others. You can aslo dual boot, triple boot and so on if you wish. As long as Windows is installed first.
OUR NEXT ARTICLE
In the next article we are going to be discussing setting up the desktop and some the must have tools that you will that you should install. Thank you for reading this week and hopefully it is a bit easier to read. If you have any questions you would like answered please just ask them in the comments. I look forward to helping on this great and noble journey.
One thing that I have forgotten to mention until now, is that each distro brings its set of ideas and a philosophy as well. There is a man with seven honorary doctorates and his name is Dr.Richard Stallman. Dr.Stallman was the founder of the GNU operating system which was a free and open source Unix like operating system. Dr.Stallman was missing a single component, a durable kernel. A man by the name of Linus Torvalds created such a kernel and he called it Linux. Dr.Stallman and Mr.Torvalds creations came together to create GNU/Linux and every distribution is based on both the GNU and Linux projects, so please remember that even though we call it Linux it is really GNU/Linux.
Here is a movie called Revolution OS. It talks about the creation of the GNU/Linux system. It maybe a bit dry, but it gives a lot of information if you are interested.
COMMON DESKTOP ENVIRONMENTS
KDE vs Gnome
One could write an entire dissertation on the topic of KDE vs Gnome but I want to explain to you the main differences, in a painless way and as much as they differ it all comes down to personal preference in the end. The major differences come in appearance, they look different and offer different features, for example in the upcoming versions of KDE, KDE connect will interface with an android device giving you the ability to send text messages from the desktop (like Mightytext). Here is a screenshot from Ubuntu 11 using a KDE desktop and then using a Gnome Desktop. Please keep in mind they are both Ubuntu.
Ubuntu 11.04 running the Gnome desktop.
Ubuntu 11.04 running the KDE desktop.
DISTRIBUTIONSI have given much thought to how I was going to organise this list and what distributions to explain. By no means will I be able to cover each flavour of Linux and if you find a distro you like and it hasn’t been covered, we are still here to help you. If you find a distrobution that wasn’t covered let me know in the comments.
When we talk about the many distributions available to you, we need look a few important aspects of the system and you will need to ask yourself some personal questions. Many of questions you should be asking yourself are;
* Is this what I want?
* Do I like the look?
* How much software is available for it?
* Do I agree with direction and philosophical ideals behind the OS?
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is an excellent operating system for both new and older hardware. Ubuntu also has a very large software selection and an even bigger support group. It is based on Debian and offers a long-term support version and normal cycle release. The difference between the two are support timelines and stability.
I at one point used Ubuntu as my main distribution but I was not a fan of Untiy and what Dr.Stallman called a “malicious” feature. The Ubuntu launcher allows you to search your computer and the web, Ubuntu has partnered with Amazon and so Amazon tracks your search and displays targeted affiliate linked products in the search results. This can be easily turned off and I will make sure that you know how to do that.
A few other features include
* Software Centre – A place muck like Google Play or Itunes app store. It provides a place for you to search and install software without using APT-GET or downloading .debs
* Scopes - Scopes are a part of the Unity launcher search and allow you search multiple databases and tools. For example you can get a movies scope that will search IMDB.
Ubuntu is very easy to use and powerful enough to keep both beginners and novice user a like, satisfied for years to come. Ubuntu is perfect for users who want access to a very large repository (collection) of applications from the get go. As a side note we will be covering Ubuntu in most of the series.
If you’re looking for a new and popular Ubuntu based distribution you can try Mint. Mint offers much of the services and the features that Ubuntu offers.
Ubuntu homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: Unity 7+
* Corporate Sponsor: Canonical
CentOS
If you are looking into the world of open source and you feel that you want to support it then you are almost safe to use CentOS. You will have access to both free and non-free software by default. CentOS is a lightweight and fast operating system, you will have gnome 2 installed by default and very little eye candy. So if you are looking for a stable system without bling, then select CentOS and you won’t be sorry. On a parting note for this system, your range of software available by default is small and you will need to custom install most of your software.
CentOS does not have a nicely built software centre nor does it offer the newest software. but what it does offer is great speed and stability. It will run on computers new or not and offer you great hardware compatibility.
CentOS homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: Gnome 2.28
* Corporate Sponsor: Redhat
OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE does not offer you an app store like Ubuntu or Mint, but it has a very large software collection and is fairly stable for general use. For beginners OpenSUSE isn’t a bad choice. If you are starting to get into the philosophy of the open source world then I would recommend that you stay away from Novell. The reason for this is because Novell and Microsoft had deal in 2008 which gave Microsoft a few of Novells patents. This gives Microsoft a claim at the Linux world which many see as a nightmare.
OpenSUSE homepage
* Default Desktop Environment: KDE 4.11
* Corporate Sponsor: Novell
Other Distros
There are many distributions available to the world. I have only covered a few and ones that I have used. You can learn more about all the versions on a website called DistroWatch
MORE ANSWERS FAQS
What about Picture Editing?
Linux offers you many features and one of them is advanced photo and video tools. Dreamworks Animation uses RedHat Linux and custom made tools they released to the open source world. There are a number of tools you can use, please have a look at some of these; GIMP, DigiKam, Shotwell and if you’re a fan of Corel software you can use Corel Aftershot Pro though it is not free and it is closed source.
How do I dual boot?
This is a very common question and it has a simple answer. When you start the installation process for many distributions, the installer will search for existing installations like Windows. On the Ubuntu install it will ask if you want to install along side Windows and if you select yes…. That’s it! These very same steps will work on; CentOS, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Mint, Debian and many others. You can aslo dual boot, triple boot and so on if you wish. As long as Windows is installed first.
OUR NEXT ARTICLE
In the next article we are going to be discussing setting up the desktop and some the must have tools that you will that you should install. Thank you for reading this week and hopefully it is a bit easier to read. If you have any questions you would like answered please just ask them in the comments. I look forward to helping on this great and noble journey.
File managers, desktops, and installing peripherals — Linux beginners guide, Part 4
Spoiler: show
File managers, desktops, and installing peripherals
Now that you have found a distribution and have become a dual booting wizard or completely made the jump over to Linux, you are going to need to start customising and installing your peripheral devices and software. In this article we are going to introduce you to your new file manager and installing your peripheral devices.Some of you are thinking that this process is going to be hard and time consuming, let me put your worries to rest. Unlike the Windows operating system, you will have a number of useful tools installed by default. For example you will have LibreOffice installed and preconfigured to work from the first boot.
IDENTIFYING THE DESKTOP LAYOUT
One of the first things that you will need to learn is navigation. In many GNU/Linux systems this differs for each distribution, though they all share common elements. So for this you will dive right into the paradise of the GNU/Linux desktop. Each desktop environment has a few common elements;
- 1. Task Bar
2. Application / Places Menu Bar
3. Desktop Area
4. Workspace Navigation
USING THE FILE MANAGER
A file manager is a program similar to Windows explorer. Your file manager allows you to have a complete graphical fille management experience. Due to the varying distributions, different file managers are used. Generally speaking KDE uses dolphin and Gnome uses nautilus.
You can learn learn more at the respective websites for each File Manager, here is a list for you to reference.
THE HOME DIRECTORY
For my Windows power users, you know that Windows stores all user data in a path similar to C:\Users\ExampleName\. This very same applies to Linux as well except with a few minor differences. Firstly Linux does not use drive letters and so the root or “C” drive of Linux is simply “/”. Also because Linux is nicer
we use a folder called “Home” instead of users. This makes the path look like /home/ExampleUserName and that is where all your user data is stored.INSTALLING YOUR PERIPHERALS
Linux has a way of either completely working with your devices or completely needing a hand to get to going. For example the my HP Photosmart 7510 works perfectly in Ubuntu and almost works perfectly in CentOS. So let’s run the through the whole process of setting up your devices and remember if you run into a issue, please let us know in the comments and we will do our best to help you.
- 1. Plug in the device you want Linux to set up for you.
2. Wait a minute and if you see a prompt saying the device was installed you are golden
There a few device manufactures that are not a fan of Linux, yet our great Linux community has made their printers work. For example Kodak has publicly announced they will not support Linux, yet with a community of users built and maintain drivers for Kodak printers. If you are looking at buying Linux ready printers than; Samsung, HP, Lexmark and Brother are should be in your top choices.
IN THE NEXT ARTICLE
In the next article we will look at terminal and using the powers that be, in the command line. Trust me you will love the terminal more then you think.
