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Linux Operating Systems

 

Linux is licensed under the GNU. General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project. 

The bottom line is Linux is a free operating system that provides a great alternative to Microsoft.  Linux has many free programs that can also be used as substitutions for many proprietary expensive programs

Some Linux advantages:

  • Not effected by viruses and malware

  • Can be integrated in Microsoft networks and share files and printers

  • Many different flavors (distributions) of Linux available

  • Encounters far less crashes, unexpected shutdowns and screen freezes

  • Many linux distros will run as live CDs and DVDs

    • A live CD/DVD is an disc that loads a fully functional operating system onto the computer from the optical drive.  These operating systems can connect to and surf the internet, browse computer files on the hard drive, check e-mails, etc.  They will not effect or alter the hard drive unless you instruct it to.  The live CD/DVD operating system will load on computer systems with infected, corrupted or even  missing hard drives. 

Price comparison:

Programs Windows $ Linux $
Operating System Windows 7 200 Ubuntu. Mint, Puppy 0
Office Suite MS Office 150 Libre, Open Office 0
Disc Burning Nero 80 Brasero, 0
Money manager Quicken 60 GNU Cash 0
Antivirus Norton 47 N/A -
Service call to remove
virus/malware		 Geek Squad 150 N/A -
>>>>> Total 687   0

Some of our favorite distributions:

Everyday desktops -  Linux Mint and Ubuntu

Apple OS X  feel -  Pear OS

Older hardware - Puppy linux (will work well installed on PII 300mhz, 256 meg ram)

Server - Centos or Freenas

Most linux distributions are free and can be downloaded as an .iso file to burn to a CD or DVD.  If you need assistance turning an iso file into a CD or DVD, please see our burning a disc image tutorial.

Places you use linux but may not know it:

  • Facebook
    • Facebook runs on linux servers
  • Amazon
    • Amazon.com uses linux servers
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • U.S. Federal Courts
  • Google
  • Panasonic

Because of it's built in security features and lack of virus vulnerability,  Linux is widely used for servers.  Linux desktop and workstation distributions offer many good features but have not gained the popularity yet like Linux servers

Find more linux Distros at Distrowatch.

The live CD/DVDs provide an excellent way to test computer systems (see our computer issue tutorial) and to recover files from infected computers or corrupted operating systems.

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