Linux. You might have heard a lot about it but somehow were always afraid to try it out. ‘Linux is for geeks’, so goes the popular adage. Indeed, in many ways it is true. However, with this article, I hope to help you undertake this treacherous journey and shift to Linux easily!

First of all, Linux is not Windows. Linux is an operating system and is not related to Windows in anyway whatsoever. If you don’t know what an operating system is, understand it this way – Windows is an operating system. Windows controls everything about your computer – from communicating with the hardware to providing a platform for other software to run. Similarly, Linux is an operating system.

The core of Linux is the Linux kernel, which was programmed by Linus Torvalds. You won’t be using the kernel directly, you use a distro, a package of the Linux kernel with a desktop interface and various other programs. Think of it was this way – you would be using various flavors of Linux (referred to as a distro), with all of them having the same Linux kernel as the core. The distro creates a layer of abstraction to simplify stuff for the end user. One kernel, lots of flavors. Thus the flavors vary on the appearance and functionality, however the core is the same.

To begin with, why should you move over to Linux from Windows? There are lots of reasons you should and perhaps an equal number of reason you shouldn’t. Of course these vary from user to user, however you will get the basics idea as to what suits you. I begin with the reason why most users feel urge to move over to Linux.

Pros:

1. Free:

Yes, Linux is free. Freedom here refers to: free as in free beer (you don’t pay anything), free as in free speech (you can redistribute it, modify it, make as many copies as you want). Linux is a FOSS – free and open source software. Open source means that the source code is open, you can modify it if you want. Lots of software that you use everyday are open source – Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, VLC Media Player. Open source gives you freedom to modify the software to your needs, the right to know what the software is doing. (Open source is another topic and I won’t go into much detail)

So you don’t pay anything for Linux. Some distros might be paid, but given the otherwise hundreds of Linux distributions other there, that should not be a problem at all. Remember, Linux is free – the kernel is free. The distro can be paid because the company that markets the distro might be taking money for providing support or otherwise for other proprietary licenses. But the best part is that most commonly used distros and the best ones are free!

2. Freedom:

As I mentioned above, with Linux you get the freedom of free speech. For most end users, this won’t matter much (you won’t ever need to modify the kernel). However think of it as something that respects your rights – no personal information is gathered, you know what is happening, everything is transparent.

3. Fast and Efficient:

Linux is fast and optimally uses your system resources. On a typical Windows Vista or 7 installation, I have seen physical memory (RAM) usage as high as > 500 MB even when no other software is running. With Linux, this is not the case. Originally Linux was built to run on the barest configuration possible so it will run well on old hardware also. Got that old box lying around that won’t run Windows because the hardware requirements are not met? Run Linux.

There are some Linux distros that run on as little as 128 MB RAM. Linux also has support for multi – core processors, so if you got a Quad core processor, run Linux (Windows also supports it). Otherwise also, Linux is more responsive as compared to Windows. If you don’t believe it, try it out for yourself.

4. No Malware:

This is perhaps the most compelling reason for users who want to migrate to Linux from Windows.

Simply said, you can run Linux without worrying about malware attacks or infection. Viruses for Linux do exist, though very very few. Linux is well protected against virus attacks, though it is not immune. But as an end user, you need not worry about it! There is also an inbuilt firewall. So no need to buy those ‘internet security suites’. No need for an antivirus program, an antispyware program and the best part is you are tension free without worrying about a malware attack. Also, there won’t be the periodic monthly formatting of Windows that most users restore to these days to clean their system. And oh did I mention that flash drive (USB pen drive) viruses don’t effect Linux!?

Of course there are lots of other reasons for moving over to Linux, but for most users the above ones should suffice.

Cons:

1. Doing stuff is more difficult:

Unless you know how to use Linux, doing everyday stuff would be difficult. Linux has a steep learning curve and installing software is not next-next-finish. Though most distros such as Ubuntu have simplified Linux usage manifold, there is a lot to be done. Don’t expect stuff to work out-of-the-box; you might need to do some reading, some typing and exercise your brain cells to get stuff working.

Put simply, you need to learn Linux in order to be able to use. If you can’t type commands (if you have never used DOS), be prepared. Most of the stuff has a graphical user interface but you would need to learn to use the terminal (Bash) in order to maximize the output of your system.

2. Windows software doesn’t run on Linux (read further):

Software that runs on Microsoft Windows won’t run on Linux. This includes games, CAD/ CAM, video-editing and other software that have been developed for Windows. Though you can run some software using Wine, be warned, the software that is supported is very limited (check the supported software list first). So if you need to use some software that runs on Windows and can’t do without it, don’t use Linux. Some software are available for both Windows and Linux (example: Firefox), so you need to check that. (You might argue that a Windows VM can be used but the software mentioned above won’t run properly in a VM)

3. Installing Linux alongside Windows is not easy:

Installing Linux along with Windows is not an easy task. Remember, Linux is an operating system, not a application software that can be installed from within Windows (though some new software do allow this, read on). Installing is perhaps the major deterrent for Windows users who want to try out Linux.

There has been some work in this regard to simplify Linux installation. Most notably, Wubi lets you install Linux from within Windows. That is, as compared to installing Linux on a separate partition, you install it in a single file from Windows. Wubi lets users try out Linux (Ubuntu specifically) without modifying their partition table. (Wubi ships by default with Ubuntu). So you install Ubuntu as you would install any other program, use it and when not required, uninstall it.

Another commonly observed complaint with Linux users is the poor support for Flash (HD YouTube videos run poorly).

Starting with Ubuntu

The most commonly used distro for new users to Linux is Ubuntu. There are lots of reasons for this, the most common ones being that it offers ease of use and there is a great community support for it. The Ubuntu Forums are an excellent place to ask for help.

To start, download the Ubuntu ISO from the website and burn it to a CD. (Use any image burning software, ImgBurn works great)

Run the CD from within Windows and follow the autorun menu to start Wubi. Follow the instructions on the screen (they are self explanatory) and start out with Ubuntu. Explore it and see if you like it! If yes, go in for a full install. You won’t look back.

Check out some websites in the ‘useful resources’ if you need to do some more reading. Of course you can always ask your questions in the comments sections below.

Useful Resources

Why Linux is Better

ShipIt – Request a Free Ubuntu CD

Ubuntu Usage Guide