anonymity

What is so good about it? Which type would you recommend? I've heard that RedHat (or something like that) is pretty sweet. Is it easy to get used to?

BloodNOil

Linux is not for the faint of heart (just yet)

Red Hat is a good starting point. It's nice and cuddly.
If you're hard core, you run Slackware. And you fight with it constantly.

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It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!!

imported_Rugbee

What is this famous Linux and red hat that everyone is always talking about?
I’m assuming it is another operating system, not 100% sure though. If it is an os what is so good about them, what can they do that win xppro cant?

BloodNOil

Linux refers to the kernel (Operating System core) written by Linus Torvalds
in 1991, which has been in constant development by anyone who cares to
contribute ever since.

Red Hat is one of many OS packages built around Linux. It just happens to
be the friendliest and easiest to use.

What Linux can do that XP Pro can't: (in no particular order)
Run 2/3 of the world's web servers
Run for months on end without crashing
Run a completely custom kernel
Allow the user complete control over the OS
Be immune to those annoying worms that plague Windows
Be free... as in speech
Be free... as in beer
Comes with a free compiler
Outperforms Windows Server 2003
and many more... i just can't think of them

That said, I use Windows for day-to-day stuff that doesn't require massive
amounts of hacking, and Linux for my Computer Science projects.

Linux is not ready for mainstream desktop applications, but it will be in the
very near future. 2005 is the projected date for a mainstream Linux desktop,
so I expect one by 2007.

imported_Ilúvatar

Does linux tell you sort of how to run it? If so, what do you think the learning curve would be for a person who isn't computer literate, but can learn somewhat easily? Also, would you know how much it would cost?

I saw an ad for it on the super bowl; it got me really interested in it. I'd like to try it out.

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rick

Hrm, I run Slackware on each of my servers and never have to "fight" it, massage it occassionally, but we never fight

Slackware - X == good server!

I run XP on the desktop.

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BloodNOil

Just shows how much I have to learn =P
Maybe I should swallow my pride and read the book...

EDIT:
Iluvatar, Linux costs nothing unless you buy a book to go with it.
PM me and i'll tell you more.

bongwater

Linux is great, I run Peanut Linux 9.5.

Linux is free, you can download it off the internet at many places, or if you dont want to download (if you dont have a broadband connection then buying is your best choice probably) you can purchase it from some stores. I think I've only seen Red Hat on sale in stores.

When you buy a computer, part of that cost is paying for a Windows OS license. If you build your own computer with a blank harddrive, and install Linux, there's no license fee. You aren't force fed Microsoft's software products (internet explorer, msn, outlook express).

You can still run MSN, AIM on Linux. I'm not sure about yahoo messenger, but there is probably a Linux version of it.

If you aren't very computer illeterate than Linux probably isn't for you just yet. I'd research it a bit, so you have some computer "literacy" before trying out Linux, but if you are interested these are some really helpful links that I use(d):
www.justlinux.com
www.ibiblio.org

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Eccentrica Gallumbits (the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six)

and did we tell ya the name of the game boy, we call it riding the gravy train..

imported_Rugbee

Amazing- I never knew anyone could just simply download an operating system over the internet. I spent way,, too much money on this windows xppro, it was not worth it. I keep getting the same worm repeatedly. My isp forces me to click on an icon to connect to the internet, every time I do, it wont bring up the box that allows me to connect, so I’ll keep clicking> the connect to inter net icon<, wait couple minutes, no box, then I’d click again, still no box, then all the sudden, 10 of then will pop up, and I have to close out the other 9 boxes and hope I picked the right one.
I am tired of catching viruses and always having to buy new hard drives. In addition, I always here everyone bragging about this Linux and Red hat. It just makes me wonder why so many people run windows xp and all the rest, when they could give Microsoft the finger use red hat or Linux instead.

I’m going to download Linux I’m tired of being monopolized by Microsoft.

teetdogs1

FreeBSD is my my unix of choice, just thought I would drop in my .02