Linux

Jan - 27 2008 | By 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux  
- Open Source Software.
The advantages of Open Source Software are many.  Here are a few that stand out to me.
  • Free (It really is completely free)
  • Supports Local Professionals
    • When you use commercial software you really only have one choice when looking for support.  The company you bought the software from. With Open Source Software, because the code base is open anyone can become an expert.
  • Runs on Inexpensive Hardware
    • When Open Source Software is updated you rarely have to buy a new computer to support it.
    • Will run on old or small computers.
    • Will run on more durable computers that will save on replacement and support.
  • Better for the Enviroment
    • Because the resource reqiurements are less for Linux you don't have to throw your old computer away.
    • You can use more efficient hardware that uses less electricity and creates less heat and sound. 
- Intenet Applications.
- Thin Client Technology.
 

BLOG section: Thanks Bill for sending in these notes:

Hi Paul-

I've been using Linux almost exclusively since 1996-7 or so...
installing many 'flavors' of Linux on a wide variety of computers. 

In the last few years we've seen the 'Live CD,' with which it's
possible to try out or test the particular distribution, without
actually installing it to the hard disk.

What I've noticed most recently is that some of the distributions
won't run on some computers -- for a reason that is unknown to me.

For instance, Ubuntu, (Kubuntu really, with the KDE desktop
environment), runs beautifully on some computers (my new Acer
laptop, for example), where everything just works, flawlessly, and
the system is kept up-to-date with the simple commands 'apt-get
update' and 'apt-get upgrade' -- accessing the Debian based
repositories.

But Ubuntu will NOT run or install on my main server or backup server.
As I said, I'm not a newbie at this... My main server is brand new
Athlon 64 with 2GB memory; the backup server is about 3 yr old HP with
385MB ram and 1.5 GHz Intel chip.

However both servers both ran and easily installed the open SuSE
distribution (and, puzzlingly, Knoppix. I say puzzlingly because
Knoppix, like Ubuntu, is also a Debian-based distribution).

The upshot of my recent experiences is, if listeners are interested in
trying out Linux, to test a Live CD, and if that won't run to try
another flavor. Life's too short to try to install a distribution that
won't run from CD -- at least unless you know the problem, such as not
enough memory. If it's simply a memory problem, you may be able to
install and run the system successfully on less memory than it takes
to run the Live CD. But even the purchase of a new memory chip is
almost certainly cheaper than a new computer...

Hope these comments will be helpful.
-Bill

One of the most compatible Linux distribution I have found is Puppy Linux www.puppylinux.org .
This distribution also has amazingly low system requirements  and can run off of a USB thumb drive, CD or hard drive.   It is geared toward a standard desktop enviroment.

 I also wanted to mention PCLinux OS www.pclinuxos.com .  I have personally never used it, but is one of the most popular for new Linux users. 

-Jeffrey 

 

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