My linux experience
So this is my blog right? awesome. I suppose I will start out, and give a little information about myself, what I am doing, and why I use linux. My name is Ryan, a.k.a Axl. Weird obsession, don't ask. Anyway, on to the important stuff. I am a computer engineer, running my own network, occasionally working on servers, and anything that gets thrown at me. I am a hacker, but not in the normal "CNN NEWS REPORTS: hacker gets arrested for breaking into bank" sense ;). I am a white-hat, or Non-malicious hacker. I not only hack in a computing-wise situation, but in life. Go find that dictionary sitting in the dust, and lookup hacker, you will see what I mean.
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB HDThis starts, the NEWB's intro.
- ATI RADEON XPRESS 1150M 128 DEDICATED, 318MB SHARED GRAPHICS CARD
- AMD TURION 64X2 DUAL CORE 1.60GHZ PROCESSOR
- I run Ubuntu, and have been known to run Gentoo, and PCLinuxOS.
Ok, so now that we know some basics about linux, or at least, I hope you do...Lets get the party started.
This starts, the NEWB's intro, but read over for a refresh in history.
What are distributions? Distributions (Here on after wards known as distros) are different versions. So say, hypothetically back in 1993 you made an operating system called YOUROS and you modelled it off a linux shell. Woot, you have made a distribution!
How many Distributions of linux are there? Lots. Of some of the most popular are, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Slackware, PCLinuxOS, Fedora, all kinds of them. If you want a list of them here at http://www.linux.org/dist/list.html
Read up on your history! Linux is a branch of UNIX, created in 1969 (lovely year) by AT&T labs. Yeah. That cell phone provider as of nowadays ;). They have done some amazing work in their labs, and a highly respected company to boot.
Lets back up to the GNU license. Created by Richard Stallman in 1985 created the Free Software Foundation, and the GNU General Public License. By far one of the most amazing inventions ever. But what does that mean to someone who doesn't understand the complex of this license? Basically, this license permits people to create software under the idea that EVERYONE can change it, and everyone can use it, for free. Thin about this for a second. If someone creates software under this license, then you can use their software, you can change their software to your liking, don't have to worry about violating some law, and you can have all this, for free. Say you didn't have to pay for the Microsoft Office Suite? Windows Vista? Windows XP? Photoshop? What if you could use those pieces of software, for free, (without downloading them you illegal thinking pirate!) be able to change how they work with your machine? Well that is the idea of Open source software. Things like Open office.org, a suite that does what Microsoft Office does, and occasionally with better features, and less errors ;). Ubuntu, an operating system alternative to Windows vista and XP. The GIMP, an alternative to photo editing. All of these pieces of software, are under the GNU GPL (General public license). So what is stopping you?
Linux=Designed by the community, for the community. So now that I have explained the GNU GPL, and some software under it, what if there was operating systems under it? Completely customizable to your needs, for free? What if there was an operating system, that was built completely on this "free" idea? Where software for it....everything on it, was open source (Free, changable)? There is. And this is called Linux. Linux is designed to be an open source environment, working around this "free" idea! Amazing isn't it? A complete environment, designed by people that want to see your computing experience, become enlightened with the idea that everyone has a choice, everyone has the option, everyone can come together, with free software? With Linux you do not have to worry about paying that $300 dollars for the update to the latest release of your software. So then what is your experience with this? You get an OS (operating system) designed for you, to have for free. Not only that, but it is completely customizable to your every aspect. Think about this: Companies like Microsoft, and Apple, design their products, yes with you in the BACK of their mind, but what is driving that? Money. they want their money. And because of this, things like Vista come out before they are ready, with a whole lot of errors and bugs ;). N Suite that is better than Microsoft Office, or ubuntu, and operating system better than winow what about an operating system that isn't driven by money? Would they be so quick to release something just to get their earnings? The answer, very obviously is no. And that is one of the main reasons why I love linux.
What are the setbacks? A lot of people have problems with linux because it is too complicated. Well, no doubt, there are distributions that are very complicated, like Gentoo, or Slackware. And then again there are distros like Ubuntu, and Suse that my grandma could run ;). This is a huge myth. It ISN'T too complicated for you. Saying that is like denying yourself education. Because that is what learning something is, isn't it? Saying I don't want to learn something new, is like saying I want to stay at the same intelligent level for the rest of my life, or I am not smart enough. Another myth/problem: "I can't run windows programs on it". This is true. Most windows applications do not run on linux, because linux is an entirely different platform. BUT there are gateways. And they are the following. You can use compatibility software to run your windows apps, although some may not work. I for instance use a $300 program called Bible Works, that is designed for windows 98. I cannot run an OS without that. So what did I do when I installed ubuntu? I looked for compatibility software, and stumbled upon wine. Which ran Bworks98 just fine inside ubuntu. Another route, is completely different software, only Open Source versions. Like the MS office:OpenOffice.org comparison. Just switch software if it is possible. For me, I not only use both of those methods, but I also dual boot. Booting windows and linux, at different times naturally. I can run windows (which I do not necessarily enjoy) for the programs that simply do not run, and there are NO alternatives for. And then run linux 99% of the time.
So what is the big deal? I have given you Free Software, windows compatible options, a completely customizable environment, but still you need more? Well I will give it to you. Scenario: Your running windows. You install a new piece of software, and it needs to restart...but you are busy, so it gives you a ten second window (as if to laugh in your face) and you are trying to save all of your work documents...But you can't get to the last one in time...the most important, and it restarts. You have lost your data ;). In all of the distros I have personally tried, no update requires an update EXCEPT for the kernel. Which is a very rare occasion to update ;). PLUS, not only do I not have to worry about that mocking ten second window, I can update EVERY piece of software that needs it, my OS, and everything else I need, in one update manager. Pretty cool eh? Yeah. It is ;). Another nice thing about linux, is there is not a real intense need for anti virus software, or anti spyware software. The case here, is just there are not that many viruses for linux. Even that, what is the concept for anti virus (AV)? The concept, is that you just simply cannot trust the software. With linux, that is not so. I have never in my lifetime come across software, that left my computer maimed. Never had spyware problems at all. I install a lot of my software from synaptic, which is a built in package manager in ubuntu that houses my software applications, and I know I can trust what is there, because it was put there for me. I can add other repositories, but that is another story, and I still check into the repos I do add. The fact is, is that anti virus software hogs system resources, and lots of them depending on the software ;). It is just another thing, running, that takes away your RAM, hard drive space, and processor usage, that isn't always necessary, in linux. Not windows ;) Speaking of system resources, most linux distribution's requirements are very low. VERY low ;). So you could run a distro, pretty fast within retrospect, on that pappy desktop sitting in the dust that cannot run vista, with it's 512MB of ram required, and 1gb recommended ;). Linux is a great idea for older computers. Fact. Your computer, will not freeze. This one seems a little out of touch, but it is true. Software may freeze, due to the bugs with the occasional software, but your computer will not, because linux distros are set in layers, which I will explain in a later post. Anyway, basically, you won't need to CTRL+ALT+DELETE and kill your program, which may have already caused your computer to crash ;). Since it IS open source, there is rarely a "need" to pirate software. This one is pretty much self evident ;). I mean, way "risk" the RIAA finding out that 50GB music collection you have in there that you got off of limewire, to download your latest release of Adobe Photoshop? Say bye bye to your beautiful house.
Well, if that hasn't given you the courage to at least try linux, I am not sure whether you are just lazy, or really don't care. But if you have read this far, I am pretty sure you care ;).
While your at it, check out www.distrowatch.com
You can email me at hendrix.ryan@gmail.com
Or add my on myspace www.myspace.com/Ryan_hendrix
Happy hacking, and try a linux distro or two, you may have a lot of fun!
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