Linux Beginners' Guide

[Calvin]

Linux Beginners' Guide

This guide is made up of a few of the most amazing articles and Linux guides on the internet.
It is intended to help people understand that Linux is nothing to fear and inform them of an alternative operating system.
If you find this guide helpful then i ask that you spread the love and tell everyone you know about Linux and point them to this guide.

Table of Contents

Why Switch to Linux?
Debunking Common Misconceptions Among Linux Newbies
Open Source Equivalent Applications for the Average User
Links With More Information and Licensing

[Calvin]

Why Switch to Linux?
By: GNU/Linux Matters

Linux is no harder to use than Windows, and has many more capabilities. It just takes minutes to get familiar with a distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora, which come with many programs installed.

If you need commercial-quality software to work with business documents, Internet/networking, or multimedia and graphics, it's there right out of the box. Want more than that? Linux can do it; there are hundreds of free, high-quality applications you can find and install easily.

You shouldn't assume however, that Linux is a clone of Windows. To know what to expect when stepping into it, this article will help you with the basics of switching to Linux.

From Windows to Linux

This is what everyday users usually find better, mostly the same, or not as good, when switching from Windows to Linux.

What is Better in Linux

• Programs. There are a wealth of free applications available at no cost under Linux. To edit professional documents, burn music CDs, rework photos, design a website, or organise music; there's no need for $200 software with restrictive licenses. The internal installer makes it incredibly easy to find, install and remove programs. It's also safe: you can forget the demo/trial crippled software, or harmful freeware polluting the web.

• No constant struggling. Keeping your computer in shape over time needn't be a struggle. One year on, Linux runs just as fast as the first day. And it may bring your old PC back to life. Also, Linux lets you choose what you want and what you don't. If you had a hard time getting rid of MSN Messenger, Windows Update notifications, or Clippit the paperclip, you'll find Linux refreshing.

• Security. Forget expensive and restrictive anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-anything and anti-everything. Linux is very, very secure. It is often difficult for Windows users to believe that there are no spyware nor viruses under Linux—but it's true. Malicious programs have a hard time doing anything at all in a well-built system. Regular, easy software updates will keep everyone entirely safe.

• Support. Linux benefits from a great sense of community whose friendliness will surprise you. If you try to do something complicated but can't succeed, there are a lot of people around to help you out. The companies behind the main GNU/Linux distributions, such as Canonical, Red Hat, and Novell, also provide expert commercial support. It's free. Unlike Windows, Linux is free software--free as in freedom. Install it on all computers and make copies for your friends! You can even study it, transform it as you please, or build and sell your own distribution.

• It's free. Unlike Windows, Linux is free software--free as in freedom. Install it on all computers and make copies for your friends! You can even study it, transform it as you please, or build and sell your own distribution.

What is Mostly the Same in Linux

Fundamentally, everyday users will find Linux similar in use to Windows or Mac OS X.

• General set-up. If you still believe Linux is controlled with code and command-line interfaces, you should update your point of view! Just like Windows, Linux a graphical interface when you switch your computer on, where you use programs to accomplish different tasks. The taskbar and layout of applications will feel familiar to Windows or Mac OS X users.

• Web browsing and common tasks. The Web looks just the same when viewed with Linux (in fact you can browse the Web with the same program if you already use Firefox). And of course, you can go through your picture and music collection all the same. Files and folders are navigated with a file manager like Windows Explorer.

What is Not as Good in Linux

"Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it." — Mark Twain;

or:

"Tell the truth and run." — Yugoslavian proverb.

• Driver support. Manufacturers of computer hardware don't always (yet) release drivers for Linux or publicize full specifications. So, drivers are sometimes unavailable for the most recent high-end graphics cards — some are reverse-engineered from Windows drivers by volunteers. Some are also released free of charge, but under restrictive licenses. Sadly, the same problem occurs with many low-end WiFi cards. However, the vast majority of computers with standard hardware work out of the box with main Linux distributions. Common hardware such as USB keys or photo cameras never are a problem.

• DVDs, restricted formats. Many multimedia formats in use are proprietary and not openly specified; this means, broadly speaking, that Linux programmers have to find out how to read them without any help from the format designers. This might lead you to circumvent the restrictions in some DVDs and the DRM in some music files, even if you purchased them in full legality, to be make them work under Linux. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, such circumvention processes may be illegal even if you purchased your media entirely legally.

• Gaming. Hard-core computer gamers, you might find that the Linux gaming world is less professional and out-of-the-box than under Windows: the large game developing companies are only slowly getting interested in the free software world, which means that many well-known titles do not work on Linux, or need special restrictive emulators to work.

• Hibernating. Because of the driver issues above, hibernating is not always reliable. The most common occurrence is the loss of WiFi connection after hibernating on laptops whose hardware drivers are not free.

Bottom Line

Whether you are going to enjoy Linux depends mostly on what you expect from it.

• If you wish Linux to be just exactly like Windows, you will probably be disappointed. Linux is built by people who simply wish it to be different. In the free software community, members have different visions of what makes an ideal operating system. These differences lead to variety, which is what makes Linux so special and interesting.

• Your freedom matters. Thousands in communities and companies work to build software on which you may exert this freedom. Using Linux is the easiest way to do so fully.

• It's fun! Not having to worry about spyware, viruses, program registrations, demos that expire, or finding software that is really free as in freedom, makes using a computer suddenly very enjoyable.

We hope you'll switch soon. There's a large community waiting, and no one in it asking you to "sign up, purchase, and register."


Choose a Distribution

Because there is no "one Linux", finding what you need can be difficult. Here are our choice of two beginner-friendly, widely used distributions.

Ubuntu

Simple, easy, usable. A tanned, smooth atmosphere that never gets in your way. All programs are kept in order and managed easily. Configuration is kept simple rather than exhaustive.

We recommend this friendly and complete distribution if you are looking for an easy way to try and step into Linux.


Ubuntu has a sister distribution, Kubuntu which has a different layout and slightly more advanced graphics.


Along with a brother distribution, Xubuntu that is often used on older computers, systems with limited resources, laptops, netbooks and high-efficiency workstations.


Fedora

The distribution by the long-time prominent GNU/Linux developer company Red Hat. The default layout is similar to Ubuntu (it is also possible to use KDE, the more advanced desktop environment in use in Kubuntu), but there are differences in the chosen applications, install protocols and several technical elements.

We recommend this distribution if you wish to learn more about the workings of a GNU/Linux system, security configuration, or work on software development.


Try or Install

You can see what Linux looks like on your computer in a number of easy ways.

Try out: The Live CD

Using a Live CD version of Linux--that is, a Linux that runs from a CD and is not installed onto your computer--is a good way to "try before you buy."

No Risk

Using a live CD means that Linux will be running on your computer without installing anything. It's a risk-less way to try and see by yourself what Linux is.

When running on a live CD, your computer uses solely the CD-ROM to work (without accessing the hard drive inside). You can launch all of the default programs, edit documents, and browse the web.

Since it is only designed as a trial mode, it is a little slow (it will take you five minutes to boot up, and programs launch somewhat slowly). If you proceed to install, the system will go much faster.

What You Need

To use a live CD, you need a little bit of curiosity and fifteen minutes of free time, but no advanced knowledge in computing. If you feel confident simply using Windows from time to time, then this is within your reach.

Installing With Dual Boot

If you're not quite ready to cut the cord from Windows, you can install both operating systems on one computer.

Choose at Start-Up

It is possible to install GNU/Linux along with Windows. This means that upon start-up, you will be greeted with a screen allowing you to boot into the operating system you prefer.

Setting up a dual-boot can be helpful if you need time to abandon restrictive software. It is not difficult to set-up, though erasing Windows altogether is even easier.

What You Need

Installing Linux on your computer will take you less than 30 minutes. It is not an obvious step for complete beginners, but if you use computers on a daily basis this is very likely within your reach. If you have already re-installed Windows on your computer, rest assured that installing Linux is no harder.

Get the CDs

For the distributions recommend in this article, the live CD is the same as the installation CD.

Ubuntu

Go download the Ubuntu CD. You can download an iso image (rather large file) and then burn it to a CD.

Order an Ubuntu CD. You can also order a CD that will be shipped to your home at no cost. Note that delivery can take up to ten weeks.

Fedora

Download the Fedora DVD or CD. The Fedora live CD also enables installation. Alternatively, you can download the DVD, which cannot act as live CD but permits speedier installation.

Linux Pre-Installed

Not all computers are shipped with Windows. If you do not wish to make the install yourself, or are in need of new hardware, you can get a laptop or a desktop pre-installed with GNU/Linux.
There is a list of vendors who pre-install Linux at LinuxPreloaded.com for more information.

[Calvin]

Debunking Common Misconceptions Among Linux Newbies
By: Christopher Howard

The only realistic way to learn Linux is to use it.
Though this may seem like an obvious point, I have met a number of Linux newbies who did not seem to grasp the concept. These people often want to "dual-boot" Linux and another operating system, or to put Linux on a spare computer, so that they can "play" with Linux every once a while without going outside of the safety of the other operating system that they already know.
Trying to learn Linux by "playing" with it once in a while is like trying learning to ride a bike by walking next to it. To become proficient in Linux, you need to depend on it. Nothing will improve your Linux skills like knowing that you need it to send your next e-mail or to finish your next homework assignment.

You do not get software in the same way as you do for Windows and Macintosh computers.
With the Windows and Macintosh operating systems one typically finds software by buying a CD off of a shelf, downloading it from a malware-infested freeware site, or copying it illegally through peer-to-peer networks. In Linux, you rarely install software this way, and it is generally considered a bad idea to do so.
Almost every Linux distribution available has what is called an online software repository. An army of magical geeks and programmers find or make programs and put them into this repository. They examine each program in the repository as best they can in order to make sure the programs are safe to run on your computer and free of software bugs.
These repositories usually contain thousands of programs. All you have to do is learn how to use the "package management system" that came with your Linux distribution, and then you will be able to install and use all these programs for free. The package management system downloads the software from the repository and installs it on your computer for you.

There is a difference between an operating system and an interface.
With operating systems such as Windows or Macintosh, the operating system has a certain well-defined "look and feel", which can only be altered slightly. Things such as the location of menus and the way icons behave is characteristic of the operating system itself. This is called the operating system's "desktop environment".
In Linux, however, there are many different desktop environments available for you to choose from. Most Linux distributions come with a certain desktop environment by default. But if you don't like it, you can simply install a different one.
Do not allow yourself to become frustrated just because you come across an interface you do not like. Linux is highly customizable, and it can ultimately become whatever you want it to be.

The command line is not a bad thing.
For those of you who do not know what I am talking about, a "command line" is a special tool on your computer. It allows you to tell your computer what to do by typing commands instead of by clicking on icons or menus. Nearly every operating system has one - some just hide it a little better than others.
Some people are deathly afraid of the thing. Really, however, it is not all that bad. I have used mine for years, and I know a lot of other people who have as well. In fact, you can use it to accomplish a lot of cool things that are very difficult to accomplish without one.
But in any case, if you pick the right Linux distribution you may never even have to use the command line. Or at least, very rarely.

Linux is for gamers too.
Too many people believe the popular myth that there are no or very few computer games available for Linux. Actually, there are many games available, in a large variety of genres and styles. There are First-Person-Shooters (FPS), Role-Playing Games (RPG), arcade games, puzzle games, strategy games, flight simulators, and other games. Just run online searches for a list of "top linux games", or ask the nearest Linux fanatic what his favorites are.
Often these Linux games do not always have quite as high a resolution or quite as many features as their proprietary, commercial counterparts, but any gamer can have a satisfying experience if he is willing to patiently experiment with the various Linux games that are available.
Furthermore, due to special "emulator" technically written for Linux, it is sometimes possible to play Windows games on a Linux computer.
There is help available. You can certainly learn how to use Linux without any help if you really want to. But you do not need to. Strange as it may sound, the are literally thousands of people who "hang out" at online forums and chat channels for no other reason than to find people who need help with Linux (and to increase their own knowledge). Learn how to communicate with these people, and they will be able to answer nearly all the newbie questions you have.
Furthermore, there is online documentation scattered across the Internet for nearly every Linux distribution and program available. And if you are lucky enough to know a Linux fanatic personally, he or she will more than likely be glad to provide you with whatever resources you need to help you get set up.

The first experience is not always the characteristic one.
I once talked to a man who gave up on Linux after only a single attempt. As he provided me with more details, I came to find out that he happened to have chosen the most complex and technically-oriented Linux distribution available. There are many other distributions that are much easier to use, but he was not aware of that.
I knew another person who told me that he hated a particular Linux distribution. As it happens, he was using a version of that distribution which was almost ten years old!
If your first experience is a little rough for some reason, do not "throw in the towel". Talk to someone with more experience to see if you are doing something wrong. Or try a different desktop environment. Or try a different Linux distribution.

Linux is an operating system of ideals.
What is ultimately most important about Linux is that it is an operating system constructed of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS). The entire FOSS movement is predicated on the idea of intellectual freedom. FOSS advocates believe that ultimately nobody "owns" a piece of software, and that people should be free to copy, distribute, and modify software without the legal restrictions and intellectual fetters imposed on them by copyright and patent holders.
Since most of the commercial software world does not think this way, Linux has always been something of an "underdog". Linux is a great operating system, and constantly improving, but it is not perfect. People who understand where Linux is headed are more apt to be patient when there are a few bumps along the road. Someone once said that "an ideal is still a useful thing, even if it is never fully realized."

[Calvin]

Open Source Equivalent Applications for the Average User
By: Jack Wallen

So you need to use Windows applications...

One of the most-often asked questions I get from new Linux users is "How do I run Windows applications?" To that my initial reply is "Why do you need to run Windows applications?" There are many reasons why ranging from "I didn't know there was an alternative" to "My company requires me to use Windows applications." Regardless of the reasons, most people are pleased to find out there are options available. These options are:

• Using alternate software
• Emulating Windows
• Running Virtual instances of Windows

In this series of articles, I will be address all of the options above. It is my intent that, by the end of this series, you will have discovered that you can use the Linux operating system and, one way or another, you can satisfy your need for both the Linux operating system and Windows applications.

Part 1: Open Source Equivalent Applications for the Average User
Part 2: Emulation, or Virtualization: Which is Right for You?
Part 3: Use Windows Applications on Linux Using Emulation
Part 4: Enjoy Windows Applications on Linux with Virtualization

[Calvin]

Links With More Information and Licensing

Linuxgames.com - This should be your homepage if you're a Linux Gamer.
Top 25 Linux Games for 2008 - For those too lazy to Google.
Ubuntu Forums - This is the place where you go to bother people with your questions.
Linux Today - The best source to help you keep up with what's happening.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

[Calvin]

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

[pixelot]

Luna???!!! Don't make me laugh myself to death. Luna and eye candy shouldn't be allowed in the same sentence.

[scooberdoober]

Hey Calvin. I think you should give WINE another mention here, "So....no gaming on Linux, eh?". Because right now games is probably what WINE does best. Maybe even provide a link to the WINE list of approved apps/games.

[Calvin]

I'll add a mention of WINE in that one.

[Thomas]

I see you fixed your "I" s.