Posted on 01/12/2003 7:54:22 PM PST by new cruelty
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Bought the latest whiz-bang personal computer, but don't know what to do with your older, fully functional PC?
One option would be to try breathing new life into it with Linux (news - web sites), the software standard that is presenting itself as an alternative to Microsoft Corp.'s (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) Windows operating system.
With better stability, security and pricing in a desktop operating system with a look-and-feel similar to Windows, Linux advocates say they are getting ready to take on Microsoft, which dominates the desktop market.
Since Linux is free to be copied and modified, unlike proprietary software from Microsoft, it is cheaper to obtain.
For less than $100, most versions of Linux offer a package of software that lets users send and receive e-mail, surf the Web, write documents and use spreadsheets. Microsoft's Windows and its Office productivity program can together cost several hundreds of dollars.
The cost of obtaining Linux software from a variety of distributors, such as Red Hat Inc. (NasdaqNM:RHAT - news), SuSE, Xandros and Mandrake, mainly goes toward service agreements that provide regular updates to the software, manuals and customer support, as well as the software on a CD in a nicely packaged box.
Once confined to the desktops of technically savvy users, Linux is becoming easier to install, operate and maintain for the average user.
Xandros Desktop, one version of Linux, requires only five clicks or less to get the operating system up and running.
Red Hat, the most visible Linux distributor, offers a package of programs that includes instant messaging (news - web sites), programs for managing digital photos, sounds and video, as well as plenty of games.
Many personal files, documents and pictures used with a Windows system can be transferred and used on a Linux system. Some Windows-based software programs, such as older version of Microsoft Office or its rival, Lotus Notes, can even be installed to run on top of a Linux system.
For those who don't want to take the plunge and switch to a Linux-only system, using an older PC is a good way to test the waters, said Xandros co-chairman Frederick Berenstein.
"Everything just works," Berenstein said.
For those who want to start using Linux on their current PC without sacrificing their Windows programs, nearly all of the major Linux versions offer something ingloriously called a boot manager, which lets users choose between Windows and Linux.
Because Linux can be modified so easily, each Linux distributor creates its own version of Linux with different features and designs. Since Linux software developers can all copy from each other in their quest to create a better product, Linux advocates argue that innovation is an inherent part of the Linux operating system.
"Linux will create a renewed climate of competition and innovation for desktop applications," said Mark de Visser, vice president of marketing at Red Hat.
"Today most of the applications for Windows are Microsoft applications -- there just is no level playing field," he said, referring to the advantage Microsoft has over other application developers since it also makes the basic software platform.
LINUX -- NOT JUST FOR GEEKS
Developed just over a decade ago by a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds (news - web sites), Linux was created as an open-source alternative to proprietary Unix (news - web sites)-based operating systems, which lets users see, modify and copy software source code -- the underlying blueprints for programs.
Graphical and icon-based versions of Linux have come a long way from the unfriendly command-line based operating systems that only geeks know how to use. These harken back to the pre-Windows era when Microsoft's MS-DOS was standard on PCs.
Figures are hard to come by, but most experts agree that Microsoft software runs on well above 90 percent of PCs, with Linux making up a minuscule number of the total. Yet Linux already has a 15 to 20 percent share of the market for servers, which manage computer networks.
Now, Linux developers have created a variety of graphics-based desktops that offer a dizzying array of options for users who never want to see a command line.
Users can customize their desktop, screensavers, fonts and devices connected to their PCs by navigating through menus.
Tapping into Linux distribution Web sites allows users to access an ever-growing collection of applications -- for free.
Some versions of Linux can switch between languages nearly instantly, while Microsoft creates different versions of its operating system for different languages.
And for those who want to stick with a Windows-style system, the Xandros desktop is deliberately designed to look like Windows, with a similar file system and a task bar that sports a button that pulls up a menu like the "Start" button.
"What we offer is ease of installation and familiarity," Berenstein said.
The standard edition of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux platform, costs $33 while a beefed up version with more than 2,000 applications costs $70.
The latest personal edition of Red Hat Linux costs $30, and the personal edition from longtime Linux developer SuSE costs $27. Xandros is available for $99.
"It is early to call this a threat to Microsoft and Windows, as the percentages (of users) are still low. But the numbers are growing, and at some point users will be able to buy computers with preloaded Linux, printers and other devices that come with Linux drivers, and desktop applications that come in both Windows and Linux versions," said Red Hat's de Visser, "Once that happens, the threat to Microsoft Windows will become very real."
RedHat can boot from the CD and partition/wipe clean an entire disk on a fresh install. It's a piece of cake and the best thing one can do for an older computer other than make it a boat anchor. Once you have it up add running, they make great LAN servers, and also work well as a test bed to try out PHP/MySQL scripts, ect. The Gnome GUI (which I like better than KDE) is really nice and provides a great disk directory program. I've got RH 7.1 running on a home LAN with 2 other W2K machines.
Yes, with the older version I had the CD was used to make boot floppies which you used to partition and format the drive..
It wasn't exactly a point and click install, but it wasn't rocket science either..
Go ahead and do it, if you get into trouble I am sure there are tons of FReepers willing to help.
Can I put in a Red Hat or Mandrake CD and just fire her up?
If so, which brand should I get?
This is the meat of the article, and the only part that is not unabashed Linux cheerleading. The stuff about how expensive Windows and Office are ignore the fact that when they are pre-loaded they don't cost much, and when you have to get Linux from somebody charging $60-100, there is little or no difference in price.
Pre-loaded stuff is different. It could actually make a difference on the PC's price of around $100, and would bypass the installation problems non-techical folks can get into. For people who just want to browse the Internet and do documents, this might be attractive.
But I think Microsoft is always going to be ahead in some fashion. They can invest money trying new things. If speech recognition ever gets real, for example, you can bet it will do it on Windows. And .NET will cause more rich client apps to appear, and those will not run on Linux anytime soon. If a killer app comes along in .NET, Linux on the client will suffer a real setback.
I don't have it installed right now, but when I did mine I had to put in the CD, follow the directions on how to make a boot floppy and then boot from that.
I picked it up at Best Buy for the instructions and such. There's a "Linux for dummies" book also that comes with a Red Hat CD attached to the back cover for about $20.00.
That's probably the easiest way for people unfamiliar with computers.
The windows 98 on my old computer did the old "You've been using it for 3 years now, so it will randomly crash for no reason" sort of thing.
Plus, I want to try out Linux.
This could be a neat little project.
I had it set up as a print server and internet gateway for the other, windows based PC's here. It worked great..
It was command line only thought because the PC was so old and slow. (think DOS)
That dummies book (no offence intended) explains the install in great detail.. There's no way you could mess it up.
But if you did, there's a HUGE number of FReepers with Linux knowledge..
Absolutely.. Go for it.
"It Ain't Necessarily So." Mono will be there.
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