Windows users, did you know?

• With Linux you can have Windows and Linux installed on the same hard drive. Linux installs software (called a boot loader) that allows you to choose which operating system to use, each time you start your computer.
• Linux can read and write files to your Windows partition.
• Linux costs little to no money, and for the most part, requires no licence fees.

 
Example Linux screenshots, showing two different GUIs, KDE and GNOME.

What is Linux?

Linux is no amateur operating system. Linux is a serious operating system, for serious business. Heavily based on Unix, the 30-year old tried and tested, most secure, most robust, enterprise-level operating system ever. In fact Linux is now the most popular version of Unix, ever.

Hardware support

Linux has excellent hardware support. From desktops, workstations, and laptops, to servers, mainframes, supercomputers, and embedded systems, Linux supports it all. Platforms supported include x86, PowerPC, SPARC, and Alpha.

Stability

Linux follows the belief that the source code should be made freely available to everyone (what's called free software or open source). This belief gives Linux the fundamental advantage over the proprietary model of freedom. The freedom to modify the source code for your own needs, the freedom to freely upgrade all components of the operating system. The freedom to benefit from a legion of the best programmers in the world, making Linux robust, powerful, and secure.

Security

The fact that world governments are choosing Linux for national security speaks volumes: "Security experts tend to agree that computers are less prone to hacking and viruses when running open-source software like Linux or the Web server Apache. When vulnerabilities are found, programmers can fix them by tinkering with the code and publishing the results."

Software support

Linux includes no end of powerful, free software. From the Apache Web server that powers 60% of all Web sites, to The Gimp, the state-of-the-art graphics manipulation tool. Developers are spoilt for choice, with Linux featuring countless compilers, interpreters, and IDEs; and all the documentation, source code and support, they could ever ask for. The office is also amply catered for with powerful, simple to use, word-processors, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, organisers, finance managers, and email clients.

Next: Where can I get Linux?

Further articles

• The source is everything

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