What is Linux?

Linux is an operating system (just like Windows or Mac OS X) that manages your computer - from running applications to powering devices like digital cameras, printers, and more.

However, unlike Windows Linux is an open source operating system. Rather than just providing programs to run on your computer, open source software also provides you with the rights and means to modify and compile the software yourself - if you know how. This means there's no single company responsible for Linux - there's no Apple or Microsoft equivalent - instead, volunteers and organisations produce and maintain Linux and release the results to the public.

The fact that Linux is free and open source has other benefits, aside from the advantages of the system itself (see Windows vs Linux). For example, there are many Linux users at every level of expertise. Support is widely available via a search in Google or through local Linux user groups, mailing lists and bulletin boards. And being free, you don't have to worry about licences - you can install Linux on as many machines as you like. Given the versatility of its applications, this means you can set up a home or office PC at no cost other than hardware.

Who uses it?

Linux powers everything from servers to mobile phones. You'll find it in schools, government departments, industry and homes, and a good chunk of the internet's infrastructure is powered by it.

Linux has typically been the domain of hardcore computer geeks and scary to ordinary computer users. But that's changing. The last few years has seen rapid development in the desktop sphere for Linux and it's now emerging as a replacement for Windows.

Learning a new operating system isn't something you pick up overnight. Fortunately it's easy to explore Linux alongside Windows, so you don't need to give Windows up - unless you want to.