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Forums > Software: Linux

what exactly is linux

Nubius	Date: September 2, 2003 @ 4:19 PM ^
Expose	Date: September 2, 2003 @ 4:34 PM http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm ...:nod: 4) This os, IS FREE. You download it and install, and almost all programs for it don't even ask for money. It's open source, meaning it's free, and anybody can modify it and distribute it as they want. Linux is the OS, but many different people have made their own copies of Linux. Take a look at distrowatch.com to see how many different distributions of Linux there are. Any more questions, feel free to ask. :))" id="60907">It's an Operating System like Windows or Mac OS that works on PCs(mainly) and macs(some of them). It works a lot better than windows. 1) More secure. No viruses for Linux yet with the latest software. Some viruses were for Linux, but they're impossible to infect anyone with nowadays with the newer stuff. 2) Stable. Windows just isn't as stable as Linux. 3) Some reading; http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm ... 4) This os, IS FREE. You download it and install, and almost all programs for it don't even ask for money. It's open source, meaning it's free, and anybody can modify it and distribute it as they want. Linux is the OS, but many different people have made their own copies of Linux. Take a look at distrowatch.com to see how many different distributions of Linux there are. Any more questions, feel free to ask.
Veracohr	Date: September 2, 2003 @ 10:44 PM I would like to clarify Expose's 4) (perhaps it doesn't really matter anyway). And correct me if I'm wrong here. Open source doesn't necessarily mean free. My understanding of open source is that one can use the free, open source code as the core of a more elaborate piece of software that can then be sold. For example, Unix is open source (isn't it?), but Mac OSX uses it as the foundation. Mac OSX is certainly not free.
Expose	Date: September 2, 2003 @ 10:53 PM ^^^^^ Some Linux distros, what the others were based on, will always remain free though.
Apertome	Date: September 3, 2003 @ 1:24 AM MacOS X has components which are open source or based on OSS, and others which are not. The kernel is somewhat open source. The "userland," or its basic set of Unix utilites, is based on FreeBSD. I don't believe that Apple has made their modifications to the FreeBSD code available, which is completely allowed under the BSD license. This is a much-simplified version of reality. Most open source operating systems contain a combination of programs distributed under the GPL, BSD, and other licenses. To make matters even more confusing, a single piece of software can be released with multiple licenses. There are dozens, if not hundreds or perhaps even thousands, of different open source licenses. There are also differences between the definitions of "open source" and "free" software, but it gets to complicated to keep my interest, and different people have different opinions about what the terms mean." id="60973">WARNING: this post is going to be pedantic Veracohr, You've sort of got it. There are various licenses for open source software, the most common being the BSD and GPL licenses. When something is released under a BSD license, the source code is provided. You can use it as-is or modify it, and then distribute it for free or sell it, and you may choose whether or not you wish to include any source code. Under the GPL license, you may modify the source code, but if you do, you MUST distribute the code for your modified version, free of charge (you may charge a nominal fee for media such as floppy diskettes, CD-R, etc). Some companies, for example Red Hat, do sell GPLed software, but also distribute it for free on their Web site. In general, what you are really paying for in this situation is a printed manual, real CDs (as opposed to CD-Rs), and/or support. Also, programs that were written from scratch for the distrubtion do not have to be released as open source, depending on a number of technical factors. So there may indeed be added software value in the boxed versions. Some distros include commercial applications if you buy them. Unix is a semi-generic name for certain types of operating systems. I say semi-generic because it's actually a trademark of SCO (the Santa Cruz Operation). You have to pay SCO in order to call your product Unix, as well as meeting some other criteria. Saying "Unix is open source" doesn't really make sense, because there are many different operating systems that qualify as Unix, such as Solaris, AIX, and FreeBSD. Some are open source, others are not (most are not). MacOS X has components which are open source or based on OSS, and others which are not. The kernel is somewhat open source. The "userland," or its basic set of Unix utilites, is based on FreeBSD. I don't believe that Apple has made their modifications to the FreeBSD code available, which is completely allowed under the BSD license. This is a much-simplified version of reality. Most open source operating systems contain a combination of programs distributed under the GPL, BSD, and other licenses. To make matters even more confusing, a single piece of software can be released with multiple licenses. There are dozens, if not hundreds or perhaps even thousands, of different open source licenses. There are also differences between the definitions of "open source" and "free" software, but it gets to complicated to keep my interest, and different people have different opinions about what the terms mean.
TameasDust	Date: January 23, 2004 @ 5:32 PM linux is for people who don't know how to use windows
mawcs	Date: January 23, 2004 @ 5:34 PM oh, tame, you figured us out. I don't know how to use windows, because I don't know how to make myself stupid.
figfarmer	Date: January 23, 2004 @ 6:49 PM Linux is an operating system that many people want to work so badly that they ignore its obvious and many faults. I've tried it three times and it is improving. I would say that it is about as functional now as Windows95. There are dozens of apps to do some things and none to do most things. It comes with cames that are about the Windows 3.1 level of sophistication. What Linux needs is someone with the horse sense of Bill Gates to do for it what he did for MS DOS.
TameasDust	Date: January 23, 2004 @ 11:05 PM new apple software in the beta stage
johnnygnote	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 5:21 AM NO actually TD, Linux is for people who are sick of using Windows and know more about computers than just plug and play BS
TameasDust	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 9:46 AM if linux is so good why are there so many versions?
leflaw	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 12:17 PM If german cars are so good, why are there acura's?
Svensta	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 12:19 PM Linux... isn't that Lucy's kid brother?
TameasDust	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 4:21 PM If german cars are so good, why are there acura's? cause they are allmade by Ford yes Linux is Lucy's brother so why is he in the computer business too ...
johnnygnote	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 5:18 PM If people are so good why are their so many versions
TameasDust	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 5:21 PM one version different models and some need more salt than others
figfarmer	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 6:02 PM If there are so many virgins what am I doing sitting aeound talking about Linus Torvald's idea of a user friendly Unix?
TameasDust	Date: January 24, 2004 @ 8:04 PM
Veratien	Date: January 31, 2004 @ 8:03 PM There are so many different versions of Linux because everyone wants a slightly different setup. Personally, the only ones I think are worth using are Gentoo and Mandrake 9.1. Redhat is good if you're commercial, but really, Gentoo is the best distribution.
TameasDust	Date: January 31, 2004 @ 9:38 PM This is Linux
TameasDust	Date: January 31, 2004 @ 9:39 PM This is Linux http://www5.gamesville.lycos.com/html_poke/poke_penguin.htm thanks Thaspian
vozz	Date: February 1, 2004 @ 2:30 AM they should really make more software for linux. if they had photoshop for linux and flash for it i'd have it right now.
kyodylee	Date: February 1, 2004 @ 2:38 AM BTW vozz, great avatar!
jmweirick	Date: February 1, 2004 @ 9:05 PM vozz, photoshop=The Gimp flash=?
geetarman	Date: February 2, 2004 @ 9:08 AM I must admit I'm behind the curve on this one but I am intrigued! What's the average pc needed to install Linux. Could you run it on a Pentium III ? Does it come with it's own browser? I am actually thinking of taking an old box of mine and trying it.
leflaw	Date: February 2, 2004 @ 9:44 AM installs real easy on redhat 9!!!
geetarman	Date: February 2, 2004 @ 10:57 AM Well, sometime this week I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks.
Apertome	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 1:19 PM geetarman - Linux should run very well on a PIII. Hell, it runs pretty well on my P-133 Thinkpad.
mawcs	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 1:30 PM I had an ol' version of Slackware that ran beatifully on a 486. And just recently, I helped a friend put together a P233MMX with a scaled-down Redhat to run as an in-car MP3 player. You will find Linux runs on a wide variety of hardware.
geetarman	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 1:34 PM Mux, thanks! I am downloading Redhat now and I'm going to try it this weekend. I have a PIII that's being used as a door stop. This will be interesting. I feel like a kid kinda cheating using something other than Windows.... I saw the Linux ad by IBM during the Superbowl... I just thought you'd need a PIV to run it!
mawcs	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 1:59 PM You are embarking on an incredible journey Here's where it could lead: http://schapenstal.homeip.net/alcas/
Apertome	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 6:05 PM Awesome! One thing to keep in mind -- if it seems slow it's probably KDE or Gnome's fault -- both use far more resources than a more minimal window manager. That said, I'd still start with KDE or Gnome because they are easier to use than many other desktop environments/WMs. Feel free to shout or note me if you have any questions
geetarman	Date: February 3, 2004 @ 9:37 PM Well, I feel like a traitor but here goes...I'm loading it on to my PIII tommorow! I'm going to burn a cd and boot from there... It's kinda strange I don't even know what's going to come on my screen. What would Gates think...
mawcs	Date: February 4, 2004 @ 12:13 PM not a traitor." id="84400"> a TRAITOR? No offense, but allegiance to Gates/Microsoft is akin to allegiance to the RIAA and major labels. I am all for big corporations, but when they get haughty and start taking advantage of the consumer in order to fill their pocketbook, then I get fierce Here's a short list: Target RIAA affiliated corps Microsoft SCO I'll stop there, not because there aren't more, but because my point is made. Trying out linux is like learnin to fly. Your independence comes from being an itelligent consumer and supportting business for business sake and not because "it's the only choice." Anyway, I consider open-source to similar in philosophy to free/independent music. Think about that a little bit and go easy on yourself. You are not a traitor.
geetarman	Date: February 4, 2004 @ 7:59 PM I have you and everyone here to thank for this new adventure! I thank you again for the support! Can't wait to get this box running and see what I've been missing. I'll be back with my progress !!!!
pog	Date: February 5, 2004 @ 9:30 PM It's quite amusing reading the comments posted by people who havn't tried or used linux. Not because I'm having a dig at them, but it's interesting the misconceptions created by the misinformed. The facts are - windows have 1 office program (monopoly anyone?) and 1 notepad program, where as most linux distributions come with about 5 different office packages and god knows how many different text editors. It's all about choice.... hell you can even pronounce the word Linux 2 different ways... there's that much choice I say Lin-ux.... you say Line-ux Both windows AND linux will bug out if you set them up incorrectly, but if you know what you're doing (and yes, under linux, there's documentation for pretty much everything, and even more extensive manual (man) pages.) then, technically, Linux has a supereor uptime. (How long before it needs a reboot)
mawcs	Date: February 6, 2004 @ 11:27 AM pog, (pedantic ) http://www.cs.indiana.edu/usr/local/www/linux/gs/subsection2.3.6.3.html http://www.unixguide.net/linux/faq/08.11.shtml There is an "official" pronunciation of linux, supported by Linas Torvalds. http://www.openoffice.org http://wwws.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/ http://www.corel.com/ (corel office) Both run on windows. And if ya don't want notepad, http://download.com.com/3150-2351-0.html (sorry for the cnet link) Now, if you were referring to what is "distributed with" linux, that's where it gets fuzzy because technically Linux is just the kernel, but it also covers everything that runs on it. I'm not trying to defend Windows, but we don't want to mislead our recent converts And I agree, linux can frustrate anyone as much as Windows, if not approached with the right attitude and knowlege. Good luck, geetarman.
geetarman	Date: February 6, 2004 @ 11:58 AM I don't feel there are any "digs" towards me! So, I'm going to play the Devil's Advocate on this and let's see where this goes: It's obvious MS is imploding from its own weight. Which is why people like me are trolling for new options. You have to ask yourself the question, why did MS become the biggest in the world. This didn't happen over night. Let's go back in time... PC users had plenty of choices in the beginning! PC users had the same euphoria years ago. Let's re-visit the pc packages: Word Processors: DisplayWrite 4, Lotus Write, Word, WordPerfec, WordPad, FirstChoice, MS Works and 10 others. Spreadsheets: Lotus, Excell and T something? Can't rememeber the others. Databases: Db3, Paradox, Access, R4, Quantuam, and a room full of wanna-bees. Each product had a different keystroke combination for the same function. For example, to print: Alt-F4, F4, F3, Ctrl F12 etc. None of the products communicated with each other. I was considered a golden boy. I had an odd birds eye view of this situation. A huge company brought me in one day and showed me their problem. To print one report on their Unix mainframe required cutting down a small forest. The only way to get the totals was to print each page. A pile of paper four feet high would occur and the last page had the totals on it. I laughed my ass off. I said what if I could take my pc and print one page with the totals. A shudder went through the room. The programmers had been making a very nice living off of the managers ignorance. The programmers laughed and said the pc is just a toy. A box for playing games. I told them I'd be back the next day. To me it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I parsed the mainframe data into Excell. (I hated Lotus). I came back in the next morning and we had a contest. Of course I was never corporate material. In mocking fashion I proudly wore my, "I Love Profs" button. PROF'S was IBM's office/email/internet program. We were required each morning to retrieve our email messages. If we didn't it would be noted in our six month job review. I was such a smart-ass. The manager asked for a report for global sales. The programmers had to write a program to print the report. Out came a four foot pile of paper. The last page had the totals that the manager wanted. I opened Excel, ran the report (10 minutes was fast back then). When the report was finished I printed one page with the totals. In an instant I was loved and hated in the same moment. Many people lost their jobs. Although, many new jobs were created to operate a pc. The pc had a new elevated position. Companies now had a choice! You didn't need a mainframe and 1000 dummy terminals! If a box went down everybody else could keep working. This was VERY radical. The guys running the IBM AS400's were freaking out. They pulled out every trick known on earth to keep companies from bring in a pc. Fear works. Engineers were flown in from around the world to see my program. I created a small book of instructions on how to print a one page report. They built my own classroom. Anything I asked for was granted. The next hurdle: Each department around the world wanted these numbers brought in to their word processors. The top executives wanted a written report. The top managers didn't want to see their reports in a spreadsheet. Each dept had a different software package. You could not easily import the spreadsheet data into each word processor. It was never thought out that people with spreadsheets would have to share their numbers with people that used word processors, at least among different apps. People came up with all kinds of "conversion" programs that took longer to run than it would to just re-type the numbers. I think that's about the time Peter Norton came around with his box of utilities. Nobody was happy. "What good are the numbers if we can't share them.." So. If Apple had lowered their price they would have owned the world. Mac people were very elitists. And they paid the price. A few years ago Gates gave money to Mac to stay in business. If Lotus would have come compromised there wouldn't be an Excel. If WordPerfect could have seen the bigger picture there wouldn't be Word. If IBM was committed to the pc market their wouldn't be a Gates. IBM hated the Internet in the beginning. Here it is years later and now IBM supports Linux. How many millions did it cost for that Super Bowl ad about Linux and IBM. That's funny in a perverted kind of way. IBM, if anything, they love being propietary. (Think PS2) It makes money. They didn't spend that money on that ad for nothing. IBM embracing Open Source? And nobody questions it. IBM in the end they lost the pc market because they wouldn't join the universal standard. If they had embraced the idea of a standard hard drive, bus slots and such there wouldn't be a Dell, Gateway or any white box builder today. So, Microsoft won the war. They created a product that to great extent easily migrated data from one app to another. All the keystrokes became uniform. It was a happy world for awhile because alot of us could actually concentrate on developing product. But, I believe the implosion began to occur with the product support and network license fees. The choice cycle is beginning again. If Linux becomes mainstream, one version will become the next monopoly. Why do monopolies occur? Because people will demand a common interface with ease of use and easy migration. You can't keep putting lipstick on a pig and telling me it's the next big thing. To Mawcs, Pog and all, I don't take your comments as a personal dig. If I thought that I wouldn't come back! Although I may be little out of tune I'm still pickin and a grinnin' I like coming back here because I see the spark that there was years ago... Until next time.
geetarman	Date: February 6, 2004 @ 1:48 PM Don't worry about me. My skins gotten thicker over the years Sorry about my life story up above...too much detail I think... lol 127.0.0.1
geetarman	Date: February 6, 2004 @ 7:18 PM The RedHat link I'm using keeps stalling at the end of the download. I have DSL. Perhaps the download is timed out....600meg... I called someone I know and a friend of a friend is going to email me a link they know works... Do you need to download all of the cd's??? I've found my mojo
TameasDust	Date: February 8, 2004 @ 5:39 AM well as soon as you download it there will be a new version ...
mawcs	Date: February 9, 2004 @ 11:27 AM use an ftp download manager like: http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/ this has resumable downloads and error checking. Much better than browser (especially IE).
geetarman	Date: February 11, 2004 @ 8:05 AM I'm glad I checked back here! I've still to get it to download. FTP!!! I shouldv'e know better Thanks, I'll try that. I've spend the better part of the last 7 days trying to get my Server 2000 back up and running. My server has been under attack (DOS) of some sort...I need something more stable!!! This is crazy trying to babysit this box day after day. So after all of my grief I get this link for guess what, ANOTHER SECURITY PATCH!!! ttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-007.asp I know nothings perfect but there has to be a better way...
TameasDust	Date: February 11, 2004 @ 11:27 PM yeah use windows
pog	Date: February 12, 2004 @ 9:59 PM it looks like he is
geetarman	Date: February 13, 2004 @ 8:53 AM Wellll... it's Thursday and I just got my Server 2000 back online. SMTP errors kept coming up over and over and over..and each time I had to wait until the system did a 20 minute CHKDSK...ghosted my hard drive, same problem...so once I get onto Linux life will so much easier, right? I'm tired and going to bed. It's 8:48 am. I'll try the ftp this weekend. I wonder if my Windows system knows I was downloading Linux and retaliatated against me...
mawcs	Date: February 13, 2004 @ 10:50 AM You almost got it, geetarman. Your system obviously didn't know you were downloading linux, but it certainly reported the activity to big brother that pushed you a trojan to teach you a lesson. On another note. How can anyone be opposed to the RIAA and support Microsoft at the same time? Logically? Explain your position. What has Microsoft done to deserve your loyalty, and why doesn't the RIAA earn such loyalty?
mawcs	Date: February 13, 2004 @ 10:52 AM (that wasn't directed to you geetarman, it was directed and the M$ loyalists)
Svensta	Date: February 13, 2004 @ 11:35 AM Microsoft offers a product at a competitive price. It's worlds apart, regardless of their anticompetitive practices. The Association is price gouging at horrific rates.
jmweirick	Date: February 13, 2004 @ 8:17 PM "Microsoft offers a product at a competitive price." $200 dollars for an OS is not a competitive price. I got Mandrake for $8 that is a competitive price. NOt to overly bash microsoft. at one point they did have products that were better than that of their competitors for good prices, but competition has created much better products at cheaper prices, while microsoft has not.
geetarman	Date: February 14, 2004 @ 7:45 PM tech support? YES? I'd like some help... CREDIT CARD PLEASE... But I just bought it.. CREDIT CARD PLEASE... But... YOU GET TWO QUESTIONS PER UPGRADE! But... THAT'S ONE! But I... THAT'S TWO!! But I can't... PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE... I can't get on the web my computer is... (Dial Tone).....
pog	Date: February 15, 2004 @ 12:20 AM well, you did have 2 chances...
mawcs	Date: February 17, 2004 @ 12:43 PM
TameasDust	Date: February 18, 2004 @ 10:50 AM cheap buggers
mawcs	Date: February 18, 2004 @ 11:11 AM who you callin cheap? who you callin bugger? Tell you what Tame, you buy all my software from now on and I will use Microsoft. k?
mawcs	Date: February 18, 2004 @ 11:32 AM Here's my list: Windows Server 2003 (4 CPU license) $4459 Windows XP Pro (non upgrade) $299 Microsoft Office Enterprise (non upgrade) $1299 SQL Server Enterprise (2 CPU license) $5499 Visual Studio Enterprise Edition $1999 MSDN Universal Subscription $2799 Microsoft Server Bundle, $36595 (Application Center, BizTalk Server, Commerce Server, Content Management Server, Exchange Server, Host Integration Server, Identity Integration Server, ISA Server, Live Communications Server, Operations Manager, SharePoint Portal Server, Small Business Server, Speech Server, Systems Management Server, Windows Storage Server) Oh, and Microsoft Plus! for XP $29.
mawcs	Date: February 18, 2004 @ 11:38 AM All the right Microsoft products needed to run a small Web company: $68,888 Keeping out viruses: 10 Man-days/month Maintaining uptime: 6 Man-days/month Discovering open source software: Priceless