Question: What is this "Lyn-nucks" thing I hear all the young whippersnappers talking about?Answer: Linux is only the most awesome, amazing, incredible operating system ever!
Q: What's so "awesome", "amazing", and "incredible" about it?A: To answer that question, first consider
the bad things about Linux:
- It has a weird name.
- It doesn't have support for many video games.
- It has a semi-steep installation and usage learning curve.
- It has limited support for running Windows programs that may not work
Now
the good things:- It's free.
- It's more customizable than Lego's and a Friendly's ice cream combined.
- Some versions are really easy to install.
- It has a gigantic community with many people who swear by it.
- It's more secure than Windows, including being less likely to get infected by viruses.
- You can install every useful Linux program you can think about with a single program.
- It works on both Mac hardware and PC hardware.
Q: Surely, Linux can't be as good as my Windows 98 7th Edition or my Mac OSThirtyBillion!A: Think again! Whatever hard work you put into Linux, you'll get out of it. If you take the time to get familiar with Linux, you'll be learned in the ways of operating system freedom!
Q: I don't know a MacPod from a GoogleTube. Will I understand Linux?A: All you need to know about Linux is that if you successfully install it and get the programs you need, you'll never need to fuss with it again. Linux updates every program to the latest version at the same time, and you'll rarely need to restart your computer.
Q: Linux seems ugly! I need shiny doo-dads and and see-through whatchamacallits to make me feel special!A: Linux has tons of custom options, from choosing a different shell (like Gnome or Kde) to improving the look of the windows and taskbars. There are an infinite amount of programs to add functionality to your Linux system. If you can think about it in Linux, it can be done in Linux!
Q: Okay, you've convinced me. Where can I learn more about it, and how can I get it for my computer?A: The first step is researching about different Linux distributions or "distros" for short. Visit
distrowatch.org for more information about different distros, as well as find out which one is the most popular. If you'd rather try something more proven, you can install
Ubuntu Linux, which is one of the most popular and widely used Linux distros to date. Ubuntu can be intalled side by side Windows using the Wubi installer, keeping your Windows files intact in case you don't like linux.
Q: Thanks for the help, bub! What should I do if I can't figure Linux out, or if my brain starts to melt?A: Post a thread in the
Operating Systems forum! We'll gladly help you out with anything we can!
