Today I will introduce you to the best free operating system out there: Linux. So what else is new, yes, I know. But to say "linux" is like saying "DOS" (Disk Operating System). In it's time there were several "flavours" of DOS: MS-DOS, IBM-DOS, PC-DOS, DR-DOS... there were several... but I digress. LINUX!
Linux, "son" (not literal, just in some way) of the ginormous UNIX. Just like DOS, it comes in several flavours: Red Hat, Fedora (de Red Hat, tb...), Mandrake, Debian, etc. Many of these versions or "flavours" as they are known in our world (since versions imply evolution and many are based around the same kernel ("heart" of the system) and the same package versions, but differently organised, etc.), many of these flavours, as I say, are difficult to manage, install and use. Some are really obscure even for the most knowledgeable in computer alchemy (reaching even the point of only having a console, without any graphical interface!! HERESY!!).
Ubuntu linux, is different in that sense. Derived from the Debian flavour, is a flavour deffinitely designed for maximum profit in man(or woman)-machine relation. Installation is really easy; it's use, with a minimum know-how is very similar to other graphical operating systems such as (brrrrr) windows (brrrrr).
Instalation procedure
From the Ubuntu download page we can download, absolutely for free, naturally, an ISO image. After burning it with any ol' Nero or similar, we will have a fully operational system disk. There is also the option to apply for an original (physical) disk and I think they only charge for the p&p... if that...
When you boot the PC with that disk, an Ubuntu session is automatically initiate, as if had already been installed in the computer. That will allow us to play, see, mess with it, without having to actually install a thing!! (I think it is the only operating system which allows for this).
Before all that, of course, we must free a section of our hard disk with, for example, Partition Magic. You do not have to worry about how to partition for Linux. Simply leave a section un-partitioned. I left 10Gb; more than enough.
Once the kickstart session is initiated, we click on the "install Ubuntu" icon on the desktop. It will ask us wether we want to manage the partition where to install or to just use any available un-partitioned space. And that's it! Except in rare situations, all the hardware will be ready for its use as soon as the installation is finished. The installation time will depend on the disk reader.
I understand that for version 7.04, the evolution from Windows is even simpler. I, honestly, will update it directly with its magnificent (Synaptic) Update Manager. Contrary to Windows Update, I can guarantee you can leave the automatic updates turned on (the latest Windows update checks the autenticity of your installation and if it is not original... better pray it is...).
The graphical interface also comes in several flavours: Gnome, KDE, FVWM, etc.; all of them highly modifiable. There are P2P download programs (such as eMule - aMule). There is a Windows emulator for your games and programs. There are programs for playing your MP3, DVD, MPG, AVI, MP4,... whatever you want! All of this, naturally, free and legal!
And, like any good computer package... the more you dig, the more you find beneath. You may, if you feel so inclined and you have the knowledge, re-program your favourite application to do just that little thing it was missing. They will not only let you, but will also allow you to have the source files. That is, Open Source.
In fact, you don't even need to uninstall your Windows since it will automatically create a dual-boot so you may choose which operating system to work with at every booting and Windows will be none the wiser (this is not so if you reverse the installation order, that is, first Ubuntu and then Windows... windows will happily KILL your Ubuntu boot and think nothing of it...).
And, I inisist: FREE AND LEGAL. Do you want to know more? -> Wiki Ubuntu
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