Open Source Operating System Software - It's all about choices
Up till recently, the only choices for new Computer purchasers has been either Windows or Apple. Now we have a third player in the market, but unlike the first two, it is Open Source Software and it will run on almost any hardware platform.
Microsoft build their OS as a software platform. Hardware developers and third party software developers work with Microsoft to make their products work with the Operating System. The finished product is what has become known as the Personal Computer.
Apple build hardware and provide it with software derived primarily from Open Source FreeBSD, which is a Unix type OS. Apple software is designed to run only on Apple hardware, so regular PC users can not run Apple software on their PC's
Linux like Apple is a Unix derivitave which uses an Open Source License. As Unix was around well before Microsoft or Apple, it is a very mature OS that has been given a new lease of life by many thousands of volunteer developers to make it into the worlds 2nd most used OS, surpassing Apple for personal use as recently as early 2010. Being Open Source Licensed, Linux is free.
Linux, what's that?
Linux has its roots in the Unix system, which was in existence decades before Microsoft arrived on the scene, but by and large, it was a server based Operating System, not a Desktop system. Today, thanks to Open Source licencing, thousands of paid professionals and thousands more unpaid volunteers, it has grown to become the most powerful and flexible Operating System on this planet.
The worlds fastest Super Computer runs Linux, as do most Super Computers. Microsoft based Super Computers make up for only 5% of the published global list of supercomputers and they hold the 24th, 82nd, 83rd and 125th position out of the top 500, with the top 23 positions being held by Linux powered systems. So why would this matter to a regular Desktop user??? Please do read on....
You may have never heard of Linux before, but most households and businesses are already using Linux Open Source Software without even knowing it. If you have a broadband router or modem, chances are that it's running Linux. No doubt you would have already heard about Google and may have even used their search engine. Google is probably the worlds largest Linux user, and now with the rapid increase of Google Android based Smart Phones, you may very well already have a Linux powered device in your pocket or you handbag. Facebook, like Google is another Linux user and the New York Stock Exchange uses Linux for their systems because the other choices are just too slow, limited in scope and/or unreliable for their fast paced mission critical systems.
Does Linux have 32-bit and 64-bit versions?
Yes, most Linux systems will have options for either, but unlike Windows, if you have a 32-bit system and you need to use more than 3GB of RAM, with a simple software upgrade, in less than 10 minutes, a 32-bit system can be upgraded to utilise RAM memory up to 64GB with no negative consequences or data loss.
Alternative Operating Systems and Software
Linux and Open Source Software has been available for the Desktop and laptop user for quite some time now, but it has not been heavily marketed, so you are unlikely to see it in the large chain stores displayed alongside rows of systems running Windows based software. As with Windows, Linux
Over the last few years, Linux and Open source software has matured to become a true rival to both Windows and Apple, competing for Desktop space. Like the others, Linux is primarily point and click, but unlike Windows and Apple, Linux will run on most hardware platforms. That means you can install Linux to a brand new Desktop, Laptop, Netbook and onto intel based Macbook, and it can be installed onto an older machine to breathe new life into what would otherwise be a incapable of running up-to-date software.
Hardware Support
The majority of PC hardware is quite well supported out of the box with most of the common Linux distribuitions automatically detecting all system hardware and loading the correct drivers first time, but vendor support for some peripheral products is not always available as it is for Windows and Apple based systems. This is nothing new, Apple had the same teething pains until hardware vendors started to take them seriously, but many vendors have already started providing drivers for Linux Desktop users, so this issue is rapidly evaporating.
Usually, if a device is not detected, the Open Source community can assist (freely) to get the device working, though there are still a few cases where a device simply can not be used due to insufficient numbers of that product in the market.
Open Source Software
Windows users are used to software having to be purchased, licensed, activated and validated and the vendor has the right to change the license agreement any time they wish and it is the users responsability to keep up with these changes and to ensure they comply. Essentially, the license is there to protect the vendor.
Open Source Software (OSS) has a license too, but it's purpose is to protect the codebase from being snapped up by a single entity and manupulated for their sole benefit at the expense of their repective users. The major point of difference with OSS is the license essentially protects the users and the freedoms inherent with the provided software.
Another benefit of OSS licenced software is they enable a freedom of re-distribution that is not possible with Proprietary licensed software. What this means for customers that choose an Open Source Operating System is their system can be preloaded with fully functional, rock solid, highly secure, industry class applications that have no deliberate built in feature limitations or trial periods, which are avaiable for use from the first time a computer is started by the end user.
Sourceforge, the softwarehouse for OSS
The SourceForge is dedicated to making open source projects successful and has approximately 260,000 OSS projects maintained by 2.7 million developers with free software for Linux, Apple and Windows users. With the face of IT changing so rapidly, it is time to embrace the advantages of Open Source Software over proprietary closed source software.
Linux on Mobile Devices
With the explosion of smart phones, no doubt you've already heard about Android. Android is Linux and if current trends are anything to go by, Android will surpass Apple iPhone and iPad sales before too long and may already have done so by the time you read this. Certain OEM hardware manufacturers are already considering offering Android for regular Desktop use and its widespread uptake is evidence of just how far Linux and OSS has come.
Linux on the Desktop
Linux on the Desktop used to be command line driven, but now it's point and click, and just as easy to use a regular Windows system. Some hardware and software vendors are a little slow to take up support, so not all hardware devices will "just work", but many devices will work simply by plugging them in. You do not have to buy Linux to use it, because the software is provided gratis to anybody that wants to use it. A computer can have both Windows and Linux on it at the same time, this is called dual-booting, where the operating system you wish to use is chosen shortly after starting your computer. If you choose Windows, you system will run Windows, if you choose Linux, your system will run Linux and neither will interfere with the other, however any files created in Windows will be available while running Linux, though not the other way around. This is a deliberate limitation of Windows, not a limitation of Linux.
Linux Applications
Software designed for Windows will not work in Linux, just like parts from a Ford can not be used on a Holden, however, many OSS programs used by Windows users have come directly from Linux, so, if for example, you already know of and use OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Firefox or Thunderbird in your Windows environment, you might be surprised to find these applications often work significantly better in Linux than they do in Windows. Linux uses software repositories with thousands of titles available by just a few mouse clicks, most of it at no monetary cost whatsoever and the quality of this free software is often very impressive.
Linux Security
At this point in time, Linux does not absolutely require Antivirus or Antispyware to protect itself because it is not actively targeted and partly because malware writers put Linux into the too hard basket to effectively write their malicious code for. Anti Malware and Anti Virus software is available for the Linux OS to filter out infected files that may be passed through a Linux system without causing any harm, yet fully capable of damaging a windows recipient if sent via email or across a network.
Linux Choices
Linux comes in a variety of "flavours" called distributions, many of which can be found at the Distrowatch. Our recommended distribution for new systems and refurbished computers is SimplyMEPIS
Our recommended distribution for older systems (8-12 Years old) or those that want extreemely fast new systems is antiX
Linux can also be installed as the primary or only OS on a PC based Desktop or Notebook System, saving the user from potentially paying hefty licensing fees for excessive software packages of which they only require 2% of its capabilities.
Call us now and ask how we can help to improve your IT future with Open Source Software.