Linux is an operating system, just like Microsoft Windows - but Linux is free (explained later), very stable and ultra powerful - Google uses a Linux farm (a large network of computers) to perform its search operations, NASA uses it for flight simulations and it was used on the Space Shuttle Columbia. Now you can imagine what we are talking about.

Just what is an OS? You might be using Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. But how do we exactly define an OS?

An Operating System (OS) is the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Microsoft Windows is without doubt the most common and the standard OS in use today - simply because its easy to use. And of course, Windows does enjoy a simple click-and-run reputation. But there are certain things that make Windows look obsolete - viruses, system crashes, spyware, not having the ability to modify the system and of course the price.

In India, we are used to using the pirated version of Windows, this is not so the case in other countries - where software has to be purchased. Microsoft Windows XP Professional with SP2 retails for $280 on Amazon.com - this comes to near about 12, 000 Indian Rupees. Which of course is the cost of a new PC itself.

Of course you can continue using a pirated copy - no one can take legal action against an individual in India (as of now) - but the problems are manifold. Firstly, you are doing something illegal. Secondly, now you can’t update your Windows if the copy is pirated (and Windows is full of exploits. There are more problems in Windows than the OS itself. You need to update your Windows almost every week), you can’t download quality software (Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 - which really rocks). And starting the next version of Windows - Microsoft Windows Vista, an enhanced copy protection feature will be added which will make piracy even more difficult. So the problems are endless.

That is where Linux comes in. Linux is a completely free OS. Free refers to two things -

1. The freedom of code - That means you can modify the OS to your needs! You can view the entire kernel (the kernel is the core of the OS), change it and recompile it. This means if you can code, you can modify the OS exactly the way you want it to work.

2. Price - Linux is free. You don’t need to pay even a single penny. That is the power of free software. Everything comes inbuilt - as in the case of Windows, you need to pay an equivalent amount of money to get Microsoft Office or other software - Linux has everything pre-installed.

Linux comes in various ‘distros’ or ‘distributions’. This means that the flavours are different, the core is the same. The distros may differ in look and usability - but all are powered by the very stable Linux kernel.

Few popular distros include - Ubuntu (shipped free of charge), Mandrake, Red Hat, Debian, SuSE, Knoppix etc. There is even a ‘Puppy Linux’, a Linux distro that can fit on your 128 MB pen drive.

So why to use Linux? Cause its free. You don’t need anti-virus software, anti-spywares or firewalls (built in). You no longer need to worry about security or keyloggers - Linux is ultra secure. For programmers, the powerful gcc compiler is included - Linux has support for possibly every programming language. As in the case of Windows, you end up paying a lot more for other programs, this is not the case of Linux - you get to choose from a variety of free softwares - many of which are powerful than even their paid rivals. The support for Linux is extensive - there are various websites, forums and IRC channels to get you started. And Linux actually looks good!

With Windows, you spend a lot of time installing system drivers - I actually spent an hour installing the software for my HP1400 printer on Windows - on my Ubuntu Linux (a Linux distro), it a two click - ten seconds install. Knoppix (a Live CD. A Linux distro that runs from the CD itself without installing it!) detected all my hardware in two minutes, whereas Windows takes a hell lot of time and wants drivers for everything. And there are a lot of people who don’t have the motherboard driver CDs, you mess up Windows - you lose the graphics and audio - if you don’t have the CD, you are done for!

If you have multiple computers and you use Windows - you need to buy multiple licenses. With Linux - this is not so. You may use any number of computers, Linux is free.

For all the good things it has, why is Linux not so popular? Cause its difficult if you are migrating from Windows. Windows users are accustomed to click-and-run. This is not the case with Linux, though more and more distros are moving towards this. However, you need to have basic information about your PC - such as what filesystems are, what partitions are before you can actually install Linux. Even if you get it installed from some professional, you have to actually learn to use Linux. Now more and more distros are beginning to look like Windows - but you still need to have some knowledge of stuff like bash and of course get ready to type - if you want your Linux to rock, you need to use the terminal - which is a MSDOS based software but a lot lot powerful.

For people who don’t want to master it, yet are tired of Windows’ BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) and constant problems - you can try Xandros or Linspire - two Linux distros that actually feel like Windows. Once you use Linux, you won’t need the feel to use Windows - cause it sucks! Earlier I used to dual boot (means I had two Operating Systems on my PC. Windows and Linux. I could use any. Linux configures this for you automatically), now I completely use Ubuntu and I swear by it.

Where to get started? You can order free Ubuntu CDs from shipit.ubuntu.com, you can download Knoppix from here www.knoppix.org, openSUSE from en.opensuse.org/Download. If you study in a college or institution, you can request them to give a Linux CD. Use it once and you will feel the difference. And Linux users are distinct from the crowd - so as soon as you start using Linux, call yourself a geek!

For more information, check out these links:

1. Wikipedia
2. Starting Linux

Welcome to Linux! You will definately enjoy this new experience!