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I
am not a Linux expert. In fact, I run it at home primarily to connect to
the internet. However, for people who want to explore Linux, the following
sites may be useful.
There
are numerous distributions of Linux and many can be downloaded for free. For
a comparison of Linux distributions, go to DistroWatch.com. I have used
three distributions, all of which are easy to install:
Fedora is a Red-Hat-sponsored and
community- supported open source project. It is easy to install and
looks much like the original Red Hat product. I prefer this program
over the other Linux distributions and currently run Fedora Core 9 at home.
The Yum program easily updates and installs programs. Also, Fedora 9 reads your Window’s drive.
Mandriva
(formally Mandrake Linux) is another popular and easy to install Linux
program.
Recently,
Ubuntu has
received attention and may be the most user friendly
when compared to other Linux distributions. This distribution is designed for
the desktop. Also, the company will send you a free CD with no mailing cost!
The most recent version 8.04 has an install to run with Windows.
Fedora,
Mandriva, and Ubuntu can
be downloaded as ISO images. However, I don't suggest downloading unless you
have access to a high speed connection. You are talking about downloading
several 650+ MB ISO files.
Several
Linux distributors offer a “Live CD”. With this CD you can boot into Linux
without installing the Linux operating system. (Be careful and NOT choose the Install option.) The
Live CD can be an emergency back-up if your PC crashes. You can boot via the
Live CD and connect to the internet. Perhaps you can copy documents over from
your hard drive to a thumb drive.
Note: Google has made StarOffice available at no cost. This program is Sun
Microsystems’ commercial version of OpenOffice. If
you have a broadband (fast) connection, go to: pack.google.com.
The open source web browser
Firefox and E-mail program Thunderbird have a Windows version that is
free. These two programs reportedly are more secure than Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express.
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