Interested in Linux(1)? Wondering what it is, how to get it and what it can do for you? Then read on :)

 

Linux (1) is an operating system, in the same way that Microsoft Windows and the Apple Mac OS is an operating system. It is also what is called free and open source software, or FOSS.

While we could go into a long description of the history of Linux and how it works 'under the bonnet', in the context of our business it is probably best to give you some examples, remove some confusion and misperceptions and explain what it means for you.

Linux is not something that only geeks can use. Sure many do, but many people who are not 'tech heads' (or tech friends :)) or geeks also use Linux. It may surprise you but you quite likely use some form of Linux already, for instance in a mobile phone or a personal video recorder like Tivo. In fact, it's quite likely you are using Linux or some form of open source software right now while reading this website - the great majority of web servers use Linux and open source software.

More devices are also beginning to use Linux as well, such as many new mobiles phones which run Android software and some of the newer Samsung televisions, as well as many netbooks and some forthcoming competitors to the iPad.

Linux is used by large organisations like Google, NASA, the London stock exchange and the New York stock exchange and others.

It is also used on the top 35 super-computers in the world and all but 28 of the top 500.
 

 

What does all this mean for you? Well for one, some confidence that Linux is not some odd or weird operating system that no-one uses and that doesn't work. Seriously, would Google, NASA and the rest use it if it didn't work? Secondly, confidence that there is a lot of investment in Linux and that it is not vaporware.

 

 

So you are now asking "What can I do with it?"

Well, we could say "What CAN'T you do with it?" but this wouldn't answer your question.

So, what can you do with it? 

You can edit photos and create images with Gimp,  edit and create text documents, spreadsheets and presentations with OpenOffice create graphic images with Inkscape, desktop publishing with Scribus, video editing with Kdenlive, OpenShot and Cinelerra, create website with Kompozer, edit audio files with Audacity, access the Internet with Firefox, Opera or Chrome, have your e-mail on your desktop with Thunderbird or Evolution or Zimbra.

 

This is not an exhaustive list. There are more than 22, 000 applications for the Linux desktop. Yes, you did read it right, but read it again anyway "There are more than 22, 000 applications for the Linux desktop".

How much do they cost? Well, read on and we'll see.

 

You can also install some Windows applications (some, not all) using Wine (not the alcohol), FOSS which emulates some elements of Windows. See the video at right for how it looks.




 

 You can also run Windows and other operating systems within a virtual machine, such as VirtualBox, which is free of cost. The best way to describe virtual machines is by seeing them in action, so again click on the link to the right.

 

Is Linux hard to learn?

Linux is different to Windows and the Mac OS, but do you remember that these were also both difficult to learn?

However it is not as difficult as some may imagine.

For instance, the image to the right shows a menu list from a version of Linux called Kubuntu. Where do you think you would find your Internet browser? A video player? Games, photo editor? It's not that hard is it?

Compare this to the menu list on Windows.

 

More so, you can just click on buttons, icons and stuff. Things then happen like they do in other operating systems. So what does it look like? To give you an idea we have included some images below:


 

Is Linux ugly to look at?

Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but above and at right are some examples of Linux desktops.

If you click on the images above you will be able to see more examples. The video at right is from Youtube which hosts a large number of videos showing Linux desktops.

It is important to mention that Linux has different desktops not just pictures on the desktop.

Unlike Windows and Mac, you can change your desktop so it looks like nothing else in the world, using different menus, icons, fonts, colours. You can change how folders look and work. All of which can be confusing at the beginning, but can be great fun and very practical when you get used to it.


 

We agree - this is a lot to take in. Learning about a new operating system takes time and a willingness to learn.

With Linux there are a large number of venues where you can get help. Most cities have a user group (Sydney has SLUG) which meet regularly and have e-mail support, there are forums for the different distributions (e.g. Ubuntu, Fedora) and of course there is Techfriend.


 

So, the $64 question is: How much does it cost?

Well, if you want to download and install Linux yourself - then it will cost you nothing! Here are some instructions - yes, we are giving you a link to instructions which show you how to do something for free so you don't have to pay us.

You can, if you wish (and as many people do) install Linux alongside Windows so when you start your machine, you are given a choice of which to use.

You can install Linux to a USB Flash drive, an external drive or inside a virtual machine. You can even run it just from the CD or DVD you downloaded. As you can see, there are many different ways to use and install Linux.

You can install as many applications as you like from the Linux repositories (using the package manager built in to the version you install). Yes, you can. Yes, it's true. They provide them for free. I know, it sounds strange doesn't it, but we assure you that it is true and that it is legal to do so.

Why are we telling you this for free? Why are we providing links to software and sites which will help you? Why don't we keep this to ourselves and make you pay for it?

Well, we're friendly people and we use FOSS ourselves and to be honest, it's the FOSS way to be helpful and friendly.

Also, if you are like us, then with a bit of determination and some research skills you can find this out for yourself. It's just nicer to be given a helping hand.

Additionally, we sell a service, not software. We can bring the software to your home and give it to you. It's not part of our fees, so why wouldn't we tell you were to find it?


 

"So what do I need Techfriend for?"

This is an excellent question. If you are happy to do all this by yourself, with help from the various groups and forums, then we applaud you and wish you well. The Linux community is a great place and we're sure you'll get lots of assistance and make a lot of new friends. On top of which, you'll find computing is again fun.

However, if you would like hands-on, in your home assistance, that you can call on when needed, to install Linux or learn how to use it and the various applications, then we are here for you. We already know how to do these things and can show you too!

Obviously it will cost you money, but it will save you time, reduce your anxiety, cut a lot of corners and flatten out a large number of learning curves. We can troubleshoot problems and ensure your system is up and running properly and provide back up if you do strike difficulties or cannot work something out - no waiting for your best friend, waiting for a reply by e-mail or searching through online forums for an answer.

You ring us, we come out and fix it and you only pay for our service safe in the knowledge that we are not promoting software for you to use so that we earn some form of fee from the software company.

We told you we were friendly people!

(1) Linux is really GNU/Linux. For the sake of simplicity and to follow the general convention we call it Linux on this site