| Obviously, Linux and sex are nowhere close, but the analogy was pretty catchy...and now you're wondering what it is. To sum it up...Linux is a free UNIX-based Operating System for the Intel PC (and now for the PowerPC, Alpha, Sparc, MIPS, M68k, and ARM) created by Linus Torvalds in 1990. It has a steep learning curve, but if you'll take the time to learn it, it will bring out the real power in your computer. I first stepped into Linux 2 and a half years ago when I installed MkLinux on my PowerMacintosh 6100. Since then, I have been hooked. I now run it on a Dual Pentium 166 system that I built for $800, and it SCREAMS! And, no guys, (you know who you are), I'm not giving up on the Mac, or on Apple, and I'm not "finally seeing the light" or anything rash like that. MacOS 8.5 is a really killer OS, and I love it, I'm just waiting for Apple's OS technology to evolve in the direction Linux has already taken. Anyway, if you're not satisfied with Win95 and it's instability, Linux NEVER crashes, you should check it out. It's fun, and it's powerful, sort of like a Porche, except you don't have to pay for it. What a concept. Imagine if you could transform your Honda to a Porche with a free software upgrade and a little poking around in it's "guts". I use my free Porche to do a variety of things. First and foremost, I use it at VSCC to run the school's main web page, student e-mail, staff and faculty e-mail, and student web pages servers. I use it in my classes, CIS 125 and 130, to teach students UNIX. They love it. :-) I run it at home to serve up my single modem connection to my other computers with IP Masquerading, play net Quake, make killer graphics with the GIMP, serve files to my Mac with NetaTalk, and a billion other things I can't think of at the moment. Anyway, if you want to get away from the Microsoft dominated software world, check out these links... |
NLUG
Nashville Linux Users Group
Linux.org
The Linux home page
RedHat Software
Makers of the extremely easy to install Linux distribution I use
The Debian Project
Another great Linux distro. with a slightly different philosophy..
LDP
The Linux Documentation Project
Linux Apps page
Good page of links to software
Linux SMP
Multiprocessor Linux Kernel Development
IP Masquerading
Easy to configure, easier to use. Lets 2 or more computers share one IP connection (like a modem).
NetaTalk Home Page
Share your ext2 volumes with your Mac. Really nice.
kernel.org
Download the Latest Kernel