Electronics

Linux

Updated: 27 Jun 2008
Linux-hero

Introduction

Learn all about Linux and find out if it's right for you with our report into this powerful open-source operating system.

Sick of paying big bucks for Windows? A Linux operating system is free to download and use.

We explain its pros and cons, how to get started and take you step-by-step through burning and using an Ubuntu Linux LiveCD.

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.

Windows vs Linux

Although Windows and Linux have a lot in common, there are also many differences.

Price

Linux is cheaper - it can cost as little as the price of a CD or the download fees your ISP charges. Compare this with $380 and $450 for Vista Home Basic and Premium respectively. Much of the Windows software available comes at a price too, whereas almost all software for Linux is open source and free. Linux distributions come with all the essentials for a desktop system, from web browser to office suites, at no cost to you.

Hardware requirements

Linux is efficient - most versions will run on a PC as low as a 300 MHz processor with 128 MB of RAM - which means you can keep using an old computer that you might otherwise have to replace to run the high spec requirements of Vista.

Ease of use

The interfaces for Windows and Linux are similar in terms of ease of use, which makes switching over relatively easy. However, there are still key differences (Linux doesn't use drive letters like 'C:' that you see under Windows, for example). And in Linux there is more than one desktop interface (called 'desktop environment' in Linux language) so you have a choice of which one you want to use. The two most popular ones are Gnome and KDE - they look similar, but each has different features. Although this may seem harder at first, it's no more complex than moving between Windows 98 and Windows Vista.

Security

Linux design is inherently more secure than Windows, and having a smaller market share it's also less of a target for malware and viruses. As a result you don't really need a security suite for Linux, although you can still install one if you want to.

Installation

It's easy to buy a new computer with Windows installed whereas only a few manufacturers (such as Dell and Pioneer) offer systems with Linux. This means most people end up installing Linux themselves which, while no more complex than installing Windows, can be daunting if you've never installed an operating system before.

Using Linux isn't always straightforward either. While Linux has some excellent methods of obtaining new software (often called packages), you may have to tackle installation procedures which are designed for expert users and the language used for documentation can be jargon-heavy.

Hardware drivers

Windows generally supports more hardware than Linux. Most manufacturers produce drivers primarily for Windows, though some larger vendors produce Linux drivers. Although manufacturers such as Nvidia produce Linux drivers, the open-source community tackles much of the writing of hardware drivers which can lead to delays in support (these people are frequently volunteers, remember).

Can Linux run Windows programs?

Programs designed to run on Windows (or a Mac) won't run on Linux without some coaxing from software designed to do this. However, there are often Linux versions or Linux equivalents of the same Windows applications, so you don't need to run Windows programs (or Windows itself) at all.

Commercial Windows or Apple software such as Quicken or iTunes won't work in Linux. While there are alternatives, you'll need to check features carefully to ensure you get what you need. If you depend on specific Windows applications, you may find it hard to switch over. Linux has less to offer anyone who primarily uses their computer for desktop publishing.

Is Linux for you?

Reasons to try Linux:

  • No need to pay for Windows, Office, internet security suites and basic applications.
  • Fewer problems with viruses and other malware.
  • Runs on older hardware.
  • Provides an alternative to Windows for your main desktop operating system.
  • You can support open source and even contribute to the community yourself.

Linux may not be for you if:

  • You have limited free space on a Windows computer.
  • Windows games or desktop publishing are a priority for you.
  • You don't wish to learn to use a new operating system.
  • Other people who use the computer don't share your enthusiasm.

Linux distributions

Linux is packaged into "distributions". A distribution includes the core of the operating system - the Linux kernel and essential tools - plus software that does everything from browsing folders through to word processing, playing MP3s, DVDs and more. Each distribution includes a different selection of these programs. In most cases, though, you'll find a lot of applications that are common across them.

If you've decided to try Linux the next question is which distribution to choose. There are quite a few desktop-focused distributions. The enjoyment of your first experience will depend on the target user of the distribution, ease of use, interface, and the way in which the software is updated.

Popular Linux distributions

The distributions listed here are designed for home users, but we recommend that you try them out using a "LiveCD" where possible to ensure that a distribution suits you (see Getting started for more about LiveCDs). This is a great way to explore Linux and a particular distribution to decide if you like it.

  • Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com) is designed for newcomers to Linux and does the hard work for you. The team behind Ubuntu adds new software only when it meets certain standards. This is one reason why Ubuntu is known for its stability and user-friendliness. Ubuntu also has a very active and friendly community to help new users.

  • Fedora (www.fedoraproject.com) has a respectable heritage in Red Hat, the first Linux distribution tailored for the desktop many years ago. Fedora has fewer snazzy features, less hand-holding and less cutting-edge software updates than some distributions, but is a good choice if you're looking for a stable, reliable desktop.

  • Mandriva (www.mandriva.com) includes lots of wizards and assistants to help you manage and get to know Linux. Mandriva has forged a path as a popular, easy to use desktop that's become well respected by the Linux community.

  • PCLinuxOS (www.pclinuxos.com) is an up-and-coming desktop-focused distribution that is aimed at beginners and comes highly recommended.


Getting started

One of the best things about Linux is that you don't need to give up Windows to use it. You can install and use both on the same computer in just a few steps.

Ways to try out Linux alongside Windows:

LiveCD

A LiveCD is a CD containing the entire Linux operating system. You simply put the disc into your CD or DVD-ROM drive, then restart your computer to boot it and load the Linux desktop directly on your machine.

You can sample the games, connect to the internet and test out your hardware. Try playing music or video files, or writing a document and emailing it to a friend. Just note that running everything from a CD like this will be slower than from a hard drive.

We take you through the process of installing an Ubuntu LiveCD in Trying Ubuntu Linux.

Virtual Linux

Software that lets you run a virtual operating system as an application (such as Microsoft's Virtual PC or VMWare) means you can install Linux and use it on your normal Windows desktop. It's less immersive than a LiveCD but has the advantage that you can save files for ongoing use. Using your familiar Windows applications to find help if you get stuck is particularly useful.

Note that running a virtualised operating system this way requires a powerful computer and is not recommended for older hardware.

Dual boot

If you feel confident that you'd like to use Linux on a more ongoing basis, you can install it as a "dual boot". That way each time you start your computer you can opt to run Windows or Linux.

While you won't be able to access your Linux files from Windows, you can copy files to and from your Windows installation while in Linux.

It's important to note that while Linux will happily install alongside Windows, the reverse is not true. If you installed Linux first and then Windows, the Windows install would overwrite the Linux one. However, when installing Linux after Windows Linux will detect Windows and setup your system to boot one or the other when you turn your machine on.

Trying Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu logo

For this tutorial we use Ubuntu Linux because it's one of the most commonly used Linux desktop operating systems and there's lots of support available.

We'll take you through getting ready, burning an Ubuntu CD and running Ubuntu from the LiveCD.

After testing out the LiveCD, if you want to install Ubuntu simply click the Install icon to start the installation.

Getting ready

Before installing Linux, check your computer can run it. Ubuntu recommends at least a 500 MHz system, 8GB of hard drive space, and 192MB of RAM - although we recommend at least 256MB or more.

You should also check that all your system hardware is supported. There's a hardware support information page at https://wiki.ubuntu.com.

Back up your system before you start (see our test of backup software for more information), as adding an operating system is a major step. It's also worth having your system recovery disks on hand. If you don't have a recovery CD/DVD for Windows, ask your vendor for one - you are entitled to a recovery disk.

Sourcing Ubuntu

Most free versions of Linux are available for download as an ".iso" file. An ISO contains an "image" of a CD or DVD, including the data and file system information. Linux installs are frequently provided as images so that you can run the operating system directly from disk (known as a LiveCD) and so that installation is simple and straightforward.

To use an .iso file, you need to burn it to disk as an image rather than as a data CD. CD burning software such as Nero Burning Rom can burn images, but there are also free open source image burning programs, such as ISO Recorder and InfraRecorder.

Alternatively you can purchase pre-made install CDs cheaply from New Zealand distributors.

Burning an Ubuntu CD

If you have a CD burner and an ISP that will allow 700MB downloads, downloading and creating an installation disk yourself is straightforward. If you're on dialup or a 256Kbps broadband connection, it might help to leave it downloading overnight. Just check to make sure you don't go over your bandwidth cap.

Step 1

Head to www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu and select Download Ubuntu. On the Download Ubuntu tab, choose the most recent desktop version. You'll also need to identify your computer type. If you know you have a 64-bit computer, select 64bit AMD and Intel computers, but otherwise choose Standard personal computer. Finally, select a location from which to download the file, and click Start Download.

InfraRecorder screen
Step 2

Once the file is downloaded, burn it to disk as a disk image. We use InfraRecorder here. Insert a blank CD into your CDROM or DVD-ROM drive, then in the Actions menu select Burn Image. Finally browse to locate the file you downloaded.

Step 3

The .iso file is large, so it may not fit on your CD unless you use overburning.

Overburning writes information to the disk right to the edge, using all the space for data rather than writing the files that usually close the CD.

In the Advanced tab, tick to enable overburning, and then burn your CD.




Installing Ubuntu Linux as a LiveCD

Step 1

First, defragment your computer. Defragmenting moves all the data into contiguous sections of the hard drive, which makes it easier to partition the drive between the two operating systems.

In XP click Start - My Computer. Right-click on the drive you want to defragment and choose Properties. On the Tools tab, select Defragment now. In Vista, type defragment into the search box to launch the defragmenter.

Note that if this is the first time you have defragmented your hard drive, it may take quite a while. You can speed it up by first deleting any unnecessary files.

Step 2

Insert the Ubuntu disk you made earlier into your CD-ROM or DVD drive, then restart your computer. After Ubuntu loads, you'll be presented with a list of options. If you want to ensure nothing goes wrong later, click Check CD for Defects - this takes a few minutes and will restart your system in Windows once completed, so you'll need to repeat the process of starting from the CD.

Step 3

Ubuntu loads as a LiveCD - this means that it runs as an operating system straight from the CD. You can explore Linux here, including browsing the web, running applications and changing settings, although nothing will be saved. Note that running from the LiveCD is slower than running a fully installed Ubuntu.

After testing out the LiveCD, if you want to install Ubuntu simply click the Install icon to start the installation.

Tech terms & useful websites

Here's what some of the Linux jargon means:

  • Desktop environment: The user interface, visual style, and functionality of a desktop. There are multiple desktop environments to choose.

  • Distribution: A specific combination of Linux bundled with a variety of software and applications.

  • Kernel: The heart of the operating system that handles communication with hardware and software.

  • LiveCD: A CD containing an operating system that can be trialled and used from disk, rather than needing to be installed on your computer.

  • Open source: A method (and philosophy) of creating software so that anyone can freely view and modify the underlying code.


Useful websites

Linux user groups:

Other: