What is linux and whats so great about it?

Question

i read some posts from some guys saying that linux was a great os. ive never heard of it before and wondering how it could be so much better

Answer 1

Linux is great. But there isn't an operating system specifically called Linux. There are literally hundreds of different operating systems that are all "Linux". They're called "distros", short for distributions. Each one is a little different but they all have the same base, called the kernel.



Linux is highly configurable, secure, well supported depending on the distro... but it's difficult for beginners. If you run Linux, you WILL run into problems at some point so if you don't want to learn, don't try it. Personally though, I love it.



Try Ubuntu for starters. It's more windows-ish than other distros. It would make for the easiest transition I would say. You can download an iso image from their website. You will then have to burn it onto a CD and reboot your computer with it in your drive to install it. You gotta be careful though! Don't do it until you read up and know what you're doing. Backup any information you need before trying it.

Answer 2

Linux is the kernel of an operating system which was developed to run UNIX programs. One thing I find hilarious about a lot of this rhetoric is that so many of these people credit Linux with this and that being so much better than Windows therefore Linux is -- and a lot of these programs were developed for UNIX. Joerg Schilling, who maintains the command line CDRTools package is a nice conscientious friendly person who HATES Linux. He has his own OpenSolaris LiveCD he's gotten me to try by his postings in several newsgroups I belong to. I think CDRTools is great. So is Mr. Schilling.



This environment has changed a lot over the years. It is an eclectic mix of old and Thoroughly debugged and new and experimental. Five years before M$ even thought of Aero we had beryl which ultimately became Compiz/Fusion.



Think of Linux and the UNIX packages as more a do-it-yourself OS kit. Ubuntu and the other Distro vendors have done a great job of using this kit to provide something for everyone Ubuntu makes me very uncomfortable but I never disrespect it any more. I might have said two things about it in the past which were true -- and one of them NO Ubuntu user ever understood. And there is so much they do right. There is a LOT they do right.



Linux and the GNU tools which are intimately related are all about choice.

Answer 3

Linux is an alternate operating system. Its much like Windows operating systems except that they are WAY more customizable. There is also a free version of Linux called Ubuntu (Google it to find out more). Most people are scared to switch from Windows because Linux does need a little more computer knowledge then Windows, but it takes hardly anytime to get use too. Linux also takes hardly any system memory or CPU speed.



I'm running Ubuntu right now and it is great. I'll take Linux over any windows OS any day.

Answer 4

Linux is a freeware Operating System (OS) that you can download on their site. A lot of people like it because it's free, and like that other guy said, a lot of hacking programs work with Linux. For example, Aircrack -ng is a wi-fi password cracking tool, and although there is a Windows version, the Linux version is superior in almost every aspect, because the program was originally made for Linux.



My personal opinion on Linux is that it's a very nice OS, but it's not for me, because a lot of the programs I use are Windows only. However, Linux does have its own version for programs like an email program, media player, and other applications. I don't use it because like I said, I use mostly Windows programs, and my laptop was free and it came with Vista, and Vista has been working flawlessly for me for 2 years. I am already used to the Windows set up too.



What you should do is... download pendrivelinux, it's a version of Linux that you can run through a USB thumb drive. You can download the version that is a full boot version, or you can do what I do... I have a version that can run while I'm using Vista or XP, great for using on a public computer, because it's like having your own computer, on another computer lol.



So yeah, it's all a matter of preferences. Hope this helped man.



EDIT: I forgot to mention... because the majority of people use Microsoft operation systems, hackers tend to target Microsoft systems and the occasional Apple system (yes, Macs ARE hackable, trust me) but if you have the right anti-virus and anti-spyware, and a working brain (no downloading from shady sources), you won't get viruses. With Linux, it's pretty much impossible to hack at the moment. There have been hacking competitions to see who can hack Linux, and it hasn't been hacked (yet). This is because not many people use it, so not a lot of information regarding hacking Linux is out there, therefore hackers won't bother trying to hack it, unless they're a very dedicated hacker. So in the field of security, Linux is superior to Macs and Microsoft systems.

Answer 5

Few good things about Linux. One is, it's free. You aren't bound by $$$ to upgrade a bunch of other software every danged time Linux may change.



It's the basis of several other Operating Systems.



It has wide usage: this means, you can find users in lots of places who will give you advice on your problems. (Of course, this may be a con, also: there's no central "company" you can call for blame and responsibility if it fails!)



There are several versions, flavors.



Famous folks are turning the way of Linux, if that matters: IBM is coming out with Linux computers!



Linux is well documented. Go to your local Borders and see the shelves full.



And remember, you don't HAVE TO be a geek to use Linux, unlike the popular myth. Linux has a plain ol' screen interface like Windows and MacOS and you can stick to that without getting down and dirty if you prefer.



See this: http://www.linuxhaxor.net/2008/08/12/linux-myths-busted/

Answer 6

there are diverse diverse linux platforms. Ubuntu, debian, google chrome. Linux is open source which signifies that the source code is printed and everybody can regulate it to make their own version of an operating gadget. It became only for tremendous geeks regardless of the very incontrovertible truth that that is getting somewhat better mainstream in recent times highly because that google outfitted their chrome OS on linux. the great element about linux is that it really is tremendous quick or better properly domicile windows is tremendous sluggish and garbage so Linux seems tremendous quick by technique of evaluation. I mean Win XP takes about 5 minutes to commence, what in the international is it doing?

Answer 7

Linux is a re-written version of Unix. Unix is a business computer operating system with no Graphical User Interface. Linux has a GUI.



Linux is open, so it is distributed for free, the only cost involved is for the hardware and any documentation. Since it is an open platform, it can be modified within the license agreement.



What makes it great?

1) it is free

2) it is not Microsoft

3) it is not Apple

4) it is open source

5) it is not usually a target for scum, hackers, and other sociopaths.

Answer 8

Linux is an Operating System (OS) like your Microsoft Windows.

Except that -

1. it is free unlike Windows (you need to purchase a copy of Windows)

2. it is much more customisable (better for Programers

Answer 9

Hi, Linux is an open source Unix like operating system.



Here is whats so great about it:



1. Its free.

2. Some distros like openSUSE r very easy to use.

3. Distros like opensuse and mandriva r very polished.

4. better security



The best linux distro is openSUSE and its the easiest to use as well, ubuntu is horrible and buggy.



http://en.opensuse.org

Answer 10

it my not be the best OS but ive heard of how easy it is to hack using a linux

Answer 11

well yes linux is an operating system, and it is great coz 1st its free, and second it has better network connectivity and visulization (fedora), and it comes with free office tools, so i suggest u to use ubuntu which is providing linux installation cd for free.. go to ubuntu.com

Answer 12

it is reliable, not buggy and has nothing to do with billie g.