The big ass Linux-Report 2008!

weeZy's Linux Report 12/2008

Since I made a Linux-Report 2 years ago a lot of things happened to the O/s world! And my mission is to support Linux and bring Linux to the man! Why do I do so? Because MS announced their newest Virus "Windows Seven" I don't go outside anymore, it's fuckin frightening! I don't want to make you delete your Windows and install Linux (which would be cool), I just want to introduce you to the amazing world beside Microsoft!

The (main-) differences between Windows and Linux-Based Systems

The reason why most people don't install Linux is the fact that you can't handly it like Windows. But nowadays there are Distributions (Linux-Versions) that look pretty much like Windows, made for newbies at Linux with a great support.
The probably most notable difference is that 99,9 % of all Software is for free and open source! You're able to use programs like Adobe Photoshop, Sony Vegas, IRC, MSN, ICQ, XFire, Enemy Territory, etc. . Any in the case you have Software that isn't available for Linux Systems you can still run it, via whine (Windows Software Emulator).
Another big difference is the way the computer works:
At the startup at windows, it preloads tons of *.dll's, which is pretty useless since it even loads the *.dll's of programs that you didn't know they were on your computer. At Linux it only loads the neccassary files when you need them, which lets the program start like 0.5 seconds slower, but start up your computer like 30 seconds faster.
Well I dont want to list up all differencs, because there are too much. :(

The Desktop

Linux Desktop wich looks like Windows

The truth is that you have way more options to customize your desktop how you want it to look like.

Window Managers

Windows uses one Window Manager, and you cannot use others! At linux you have the possibility to install different Windows Managers, KDE, Gnome, Xfce4, Fluxbox, too name a few.
Every single one of them is different. KDE i.e. is for good-looking Desktops, Fluxbox is for fast systems etc., it's up to you!

The GUI of Linux is pretty easy to use, just like Windows. When you click the start-button you can see word like "Programs", "Settings" and "Search". The most explains itself and is similar to windows.
So the optical fact isn't pretty different to Win!

The console - Complicated ?

Before I installed Linux on my comp I was like: "Ugh, what about all the "hackin stuf"?", but I decided, since it looks pretty cool :P, that I'll install it allthough on my 2nd Harddrive.
But you don't have to use the console at all! There are a few situations where it's simply more efficient to use it, but you actually dont have to!

Example: Installing Programs

With Linux you have a fuckin big pool of Software you can download. With professional photo-editing Software, and any program you want to have at all.
You have a list on your computer with links to FTP's, these FTP's are called repositories.
With the hard looking, but simple command

Quote

apt-get install vlc

you have the vlc-Media Player installed in less then 10 seconds!

How does it work? Well it's more simply that breathing!

Quote

apt-get

Thats the programs name, so linux knows what to do!

Quote

install

Is a parameter, so Linux knows to run "apt-get" and "install" a program

Easy eh? :)

Some of you would like to start flaming like "zomgwtf" or "I thought I dont have to use the console wtf !?", well you can do the same via GUI if you run the Package-Manager, which is actually the same, but with a GUI.

Just as a sidenote: I have like 20-30 repositories atm wich contain exactly 64 439 Programs. For Free. Wow.

Plug and Cry :'(

At the release-date of Microsoft Windows XP, they announced to have a new feature called "Plug'n'Play", which turned out to be released like 12 years too early. :D
Linux-Coders thought "Oh, cool Idea!" and implemented it working into *nix-Systems!

When you have new hardware and you plug it into your computer, in 99,99% Linux, recognizes it, installs the driver and plays it. Np4Linux! Of course you can still install your 3rd-Party driver if you want to or if it works faster.

When you have a DSL, Analog, ISDN, Modem or 56k connection and you install Linux on your computer your internet will work immediatly.

The security reason!

When I was looking for some real good porn on my old Windows-Computer, I was like "Omg, Virus :(" all the time. That's annoying eh?
Linux-users don't need to be afraid of any malicious software! WTF Why?!
Simple reason: Linux systems have mainly 2 accounts, your personal user account and the allmighty root account.
With your own account you can do anything at your personal Folders and settings, but when there are critical settings or settings that can fuck up your computer, only root can change them.
So if you download a virus and it executes itself, it's useless since it can't do anything. Same for hackers. There aren't a lot of Virii etc. because of that fact.




Well, thats it for this year, I hope some of you might think about installing Linux on their 2nd harddrive now.

Last but not least, some good Linux-Distributions for newbies. ;) Thanks for reading any merry christmas <3.


Ubuntu - Windows-like - AWESOME support
SuSe - Windows-like too - AWESOME support too
Knoppix
Sidux - Me using Sidux ftw :D

Btw, all of these Distro's have LiveCD's to try w/o installing them. ;)