The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Why Linux?
Morrison Hoyle |
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Morrison Hoyle writes about why he chose Linux, discusses Linux generally and
provides a number of really useful local leads and other information
for those
who are keen to get started |
Why use Linux? Some of the reasons that persuaded me to go down that path are:
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Dissatisfaction with Windows, the "blue screens of death", the box on screen
stating that "this program has performed an illegal action and will be shut
down", the never-ending demand for money to get the newer version only to find
that it has a new range of bugs just as the previous version had. Look at
http://www.bugnet.com to see what might strike next.
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The constant pressure to upgrade the PC because the latest version of Windows
places ever increasing demands upon us for more memory, larger hard disks and
faster CPU processing speeds.
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The inability to "get inside" Windows to fix problems and improve performance
resulting in the need to purchase utilities and books to try to overcome those
Windows annoyances. The knowledge that successive versions of Windows are
introducing "hidden features" that trespass on our privacy - see
http://sillydog.org/mshidden.html.
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The vulnerability of Windows to viruses, especially the Microsoft e-mail
clients. Radio (computer) talk-back shows and Melb PC monthly meeting Random
Access sessions seem to be dominated by the problems PC users have with viruses
and in keeping their virus signature files up to date. Linux has so far been
unaffected by viruses, because the commands embedded in them are not valid Linux
commands. Some virus vandals may decide to attack Linux in the future but there
is virus protection software for Linux version available for free download.
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The restriction that the copy of Windows that has been purchased may only be
installed on one PC. The severity of the penalties for ignoring this restriction
are such that few would do so; after all, when you are on the Net, can you be
sure that the registration number of your copy of Windows is not being reported
to Microsoft? If you intend to ignore the restriction, look first at
http://www.microsoft.com/australia/piracy/basics/using-licensed.asp and think
again.
- The concern about how many millions, perhaps billions of dollars are being sent
overseas every year, principally to the USA to pay for the copies of software
used by government, educational bodies and others to further enrich the world's
richest companies and individuals. How much of our taxes are being spent in this
way when the option of using open source software would free us and our nation
from such a drain on our national balance of payments. If you would like to know
more about the principles underlying Linux, look at
http://www.opensource.org
and the Free Software Foundation http://www.fsf.org.
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The final straw was the plan by Microsoft to license Windows XP in such a manner
that users would be forced to go online to enable the system to function
together with the revelation that the system would report the programs and
versions loaded on my PC to Microsoft without my permission. What other breaches
of my privacy might occur? XP even connects you to the Microsoft Web site when
you are online without telling you or asking your permission!
Linux is an operating system, just as Windows, OS/2, OS X for Macintosh, VMS or
even our old friend DOS but there is one significant difference. Linux is free.
And you are free to install the system on as many PCs as you wish and to
reproduce the CD-ROMs as well. It may cost you a little to obtain because
naturally there is a cost to copy the version you want onto CD-ROM or to
download the .iso files. I paid $30 for a boxed set of four CD-ROMs from Linux
System Labs. If you want a nicely boxed set of CD-ROMs with printed manuals,
there are suppliers ready to oblige but the cost will simply be that of
manufacturing and distributing the package. Even the latter will only cost
around $100. Later on I will let you know where to go for these.
Preparing To Install Linux
Once you have obtained the Linux distribution you have selected, which will
probably consist of three or more CDs, one of which will be bootable, you need
to make some hard disk space available. You do not need to remove your existing
operating system, regardless of what it is. If you have a large enough hard disk
with something like 4 GB of unused space (you can make do with less), you must
defragment it and check the unused space to ensure that all your existing system
and files are moved to the front of the disk.
You do not need to buy disk partitioning software because the Linux software
currently available includes the tools necessary to create the partitions and
format them in the manner required. A detailed description of the installation
process and partitions required is beyond the scope of this article but refer to
the links at the end for places where more information can be obtained. It is
usual for the first disk of the CD-ROM set to include in a tutorials directory,
several sets of HTML pages illustrating not only the installation procedure but
the features available after installation. Figure 1 gives you an idea of the
variety of program packages available for installation.
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Figure 1. A typical selection of application program
packages available for installation. |
A precursor to installing Linux is to compile a document identifying your PC
hardware, graphics card, monitor, modem, printer etc. This is just in case the
installation does not automatically recognise your system components. Noting to
which port your modem is connected is worthwhile. A simple way to do this is to
visit http://www.belarc.com and download the free file ADVISOR.EXE. This
produces an HTML page with all this information, but check for any omissions or
items not identified by that program.
A word of warning concerning modems. Although my setup of three PCs was
trouble-free, there are some cut down internal modems known as Winmodems which
are not fully functioning in that they require the Windows operating system to
perform some of their duties. They are controller-less or software modems. Some
of them do work with Linux, but an external modem is recommended. However, a
look at http://www.linmodems.org may reveal that your "Winmodem" will still cut
the mustard.
The conclusion of the installation of Linux is the entry made in your hard disk
MBR (master boot record) of a tiny file which gives you the option upon booting
the PC to launch Linux or your other operating system.
The installed system is provided complete with the source code for all software
- unlike that other operating system. You are free to modify the source code in
any way you like and to recompile the kernel to include or exclude any
components but the GNU General Public License requires that you make available
these changes to others free of charge. The Free Software Foundation mandates
this.
What Distribution?
There are perhaps a hundred or so different distributions of Linux, some of them
targeted to particular interests. Some of them are aimed at the server market,
others are favoured by programmers and hackers who want to modify and compile
their own kernel. For the normal PC user, if such exists, and especially for
those exploring Linux for the first time, there are a few distributions that
make this venture extremely easy and enjoyable. I recommend Mandrake, SuSe and
Red Hat which are from France, Germany and the USA respectively. Be sure to get
the latest version because Linux is being actively developed and you want to be
sure that the version you install incorporates full support for USB, Firewire,
current printers, scanners, PDAs etc. The Mandrake and Red Hat systems use the
RPM (RedHat Package Management) format for files which make the later addition
of programs or new versions very easy. An excellent resource to find them is
http://rpmfind.net.
What Will Linux Give Me?
If you are not a hacker, a purist who is determined to do everything by typing
into a console, well, you can do that, but nowadays most of us want a GUI
(graphical user interface) and, at least to start with you probably want
something that is not too different from Windows. The two most commonly provided
GUIs are KDE and Gnome and I recommend that you install both and decide later
which you prefer. If you choose the KDE environment, you can vary the colours,
the appearance and style of the desktop and program management buttons almost
infinitely as indicated in Figure 2. You will find other GUIs available such as
Enlightenment and ICEWM which many people find more appealing, and which use
less memory.
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Figure 2. Many variations in style and colour of desktops. |
The standard distributions provide:
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At least one Office suite that can read and write compatibly with that other
expensive office suite, with spreadsheet, presentation and most other tools.
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Several e-mail clients including one Outlook look-alike.
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Several browsers and Web page authoring software but not Microsoft Internet
Explorer. Browsers include Mozilla, Opera, Galeon, Konqueror and others.
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PDF format software such as Acrobat Reader for Linux, Xpdf and KGhostview
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Publishing software with Postscript.
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GIMP - A graphic image manipulating program which some say is better than
Photoshop and some other Windows graphics programs.
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All the expected Internet tools such as news readers, IRC, chat, messenger, FTP
and virtual Networking
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Financial and accounting programs such as GNUcash
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Multimedia programs including CD burning
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Scanner programs
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A whole host of games to cater for every age group. (I used to do well at chess
tournaments but I have not yet won Gnuchess!)
- Programs for PDAs
Figure 3 shows a desk snapshot combining these elements: Looking at a Web page
with the Galeon browser (the earthquake was actually underneath my home);
playing Patience; getting ready to print a file with XPP and waiting for KPPP to
dial my Internet connection. Normally one would bring up these programs in any
of the four separate windows shown on the panel.
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Figure 3. A desktop snapshot combining several simultaneous
activities. |
Where Do I Obtain Linux?
The cheapest source of Linux is from the Web but you will need a broadband
connection to make that practicable since you will be downloading a minimum of 2
GB. Some Linux advocates are happy to burn copies for you just for the cost of
the blank CDs. You may find such sources by visiting
http://www.mlug.org.au.
Melbourne sources of Linux, both bare CD-ROMs and packaged sets with extensive
manuals are:
What If I Have Problems?
The members of Melb PC include many people who are keen to solve such problems
as they encounter, and they seem to me to be much less likely to "throw in the
towel" . However, it would be foolish to assume that there will be no problems.
Unfortunately there are some doomsayers - even an illustrious former Melb PC
President - who have said "Linux is too hard". I have found the occasional
challenge but it has never been too hard. The LuBe SIG caters for Linux users
and there is also Dial Help. Newsgroups to look at are comp.os.linux.setup and
comp.os.linux.misc.
All the Linux distributions recommended install by default a huge amount of
documentation (in dozens of languages if you like) with many HOWTO files. Some
of the many useful sources of information are:
What About All My Favourite Programs?
This is a common question from those contemplating Linux. For most of us, most
of the time, the things we do can just as readily be done with Linux. From
within Linux you will be able to manage the files on your Windows partition so
that, for example you can move your documents to or from your Open Office or
Star Office directories in Linux. If you choose to use Kmail as your e-mail
client, you can point it to your Windows e-mail client such as Pegasus or Eudora
and it will create corresponding folders and copy all the existing message files
there.
But there will be some programs that do not migrate so easily if at all. So it
is not surprising that commercial software has been developed that allows you to
run Windows programs within Linux.
Win4Lin, VMWare and WINE do that in one way or another. I have not yet tried
them.
Linux - the word. Just to avoid any embarrassment, the word Linux was coined
from UNIX and the name of the prime mover of Linux, Linus Torvalds. It is
pronounced Lin as in Inn, not as in Line.
About the Author
Morrison Hoyle, e-mail
vk3bcy@qsl.net is a retired engineer who spent most of
his working life undertaking the design, implementation and commissioning of
control systems for industry. His involvement with computers commenced in the
1960s with specialized main frame computers. An active radio amateur for 45
years, he uses a PC interfaced to a transceiver for digital and analogue
communications protocols. A Melb PC member in the 1980s, he rejoined the Group
since retirement.
Reprinted from the May 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC
User Group, Australia
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