Deciding if Linux is Right for You

Rahul Sundaram


<rahulsundaram AT yahoo.co.in>
        

January 2003
Revision History                                                             
Revision 1.0            2003-04-22             Revised by: RS                
Initial release, reviewed by LDP.                                            


This HOWTO to is meant for you if you are considering the Linux operating
system, or wondering whether Linux has what you want in comparison to what
you are currently using.

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway guarantee anything regarding this HOWTO.
Whatever you do as a result of reading this HOWTO is at your own risk and
most of the opinions provided are my own and may not agree with your
ideas.You are free to choose whatever you like. I do not want to endorse any
particular software over another.

 Copyright (c) by Rahul Sundaram (rahulsundaram AT yahoo.co.in).

 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under
the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later
version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant
Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the
license is located at [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html] www.gnu.org/
copyleft/fdl.html, in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License."

If you have any doubts specifically pertaining to this HOWTO, you may contact
me, Rahul <rahulsundaram AT yahoo.co.in>.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
1. About this document
    1.1. New versions of this HOWTO
    1.2. Feedback and corrections
   
   
2. Introduction to Linux
    2.1. History of Linux development
    2.2. Is Linux Right for you
    2.3. Acquiring the software
    2.4. Distributions
    2.5. Application,Tools and Utilities
    2.6. Additional Resources
   
   
3. Comparison of Linux with MS-DOS, Windows 9x and NT
    3.1. Linux Vs MS-DOS
    3.2. Linux vs. Windows 9x and NT
    3.3. Additional resources
   
   
4. Similar Windows and Linux Applications
    4.1. Internet Applications
    4.2. Multimedia Applications and Games
    4.3. Miscellaneous applications.
    4.4. Additional resources
   
   
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Useful resources for New users
7. Acknowledgements

1. About this document

  This HOWTO has been written with the goal of making Linux comfortable to
users accustomed to other operating systems like DOS or Windows. I have only
tried to give you an overview. Don't use this as a HOWTO for learning Linux.
I have tried to explain the Linux system relative to what you probably know
in DOS and Windows. I have also tried to teach those features of Linux that
are new as well as interesting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1. New versions of this HOWTO

Newer versions of this HOWTO as soon as they are written are available from
the [http://www.tldp.org] Linux Document Project (LDP). Please use this link
to make sure that you are reading the latest version of this HOWTO.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2. Feedback and corrections

 This is the first public release version of this document and I may have
made some mistakes or left some things out. I would like to keep updating
this document periodically based on user feedback and suggestions. If you
have any ideas that you feel would improve this document in any way then
please email Rahul at <rahulsundaram AT yahoo.co.in>.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Introduction to Linux

 The Linux operating system is basically a variant of the UNIX operating
system, and Linux has probably all that UNIX offers and more. It is a
multi-user, multitasking, network operating system which also has a user
friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface). Linux is similar to Windows in many
features but it has many unique aspects too, which I will cover shortly.

 Linux is licensed under the GPL (General Public license) from the [http://
www.gnu.org] GNU organisation, under which the kernel is provided with the
source code, and is available for free. This is called Open Source software.
As a result, Linux is considered to be more secure and stable than closed
source or proprietary systems like Windows because anyone can analyse the
source code written in the C language and find bugs or add new features. One
important point that should be noted is that even though the source is free,
anyone is allowed to sell it for profit. This is what helps Linux in business
areas.

Related Documents

  * [http://www.tldp.org/FAQ/LDP-FAQ/] Linux FAQ
   
  * [http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Unix-and-Internet-Fundamentals-HOWTO/
    index.html] UNIX and Internet Fundamentals
   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1. History of Linux development

 Unlike many proprietary operating systems, like Windows, which are developed
by a single company, Linux is developed by programmers all over the world
through the Internet. Technically Linux means the core of the operating
system that is called the kernel. This is available for free along with the
source code written in C under the GPL (General Public License).

 The kernel is capable of managing all the internal tasks such as allocating
memory and taking care of devices attached to your computer like your
keyboard, mouse and printer. It would not be possible to use the kernel
independently without the co-ordination of various other tools like the
shell, which provides the interface for the user and other utilities that you
may use frequently. These software tools are also usually provided for free
like the kernel with Linux.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.2. Is Linux Right for you

 It depends on who you are and what you would like to do. I have to admit
that Linux is not an all-purpose operating system and it would probably be
more suited for some people and not-so-pleasing for others. If you are a
person using your computer for some entertainment at home and are satisfied
with your Windows system there are no compelling reasons for switching over
to Linux, but you do have a choice now. There are several reasons to consider
Linux. If you are student, like me, then you can use Linux at home and even
in college to understand the commands and even the internal workings of UNIX
systems. In case you want to see how Linux differs from your present DOS/
Windows system I have provided a comparison below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3. Acquiring the software

 If you have decided to install Linux you have a lot of choices on how to do
it. Please decide on how to proceed before actually trying it out. For new
users, buying a packaged CD is highly recommended
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3.1. Build your own Linux system

 This one is a tough thing to do but if you are the adventurous type you may
wish to try building your own Linux system. If you have no prior experience
with UNIX systems, then this option is certainly not recommended. Your best
bet would be Linux From Scratch (LFS), available from [http://
www.linuxfromscratch.org] Linux From Scratch.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3.2. Download a distribution of Linux for free

 I don't consider this to be a feasible option unless you have a very fast
connection. You may need to download the ISO images, which amount to a
gigabyte of files or even more. If you would like to try out Linux then you
may wish to download and try distributions that fit into a floppy or are
really small.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3.3. Get a paid version from a vendor

  This one would be your choice if you are new to Linux and don't know
someone who can install Linux for you. You get a lot of tools, manuals,
service and support.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3.4. Get help from a friend of yours to install his copy on your machine
(yes, its legal)

 Many new users do this. You can just try using the stuff without getting
bogged down with the dirty information about installation and all its
hassles. Modern installations like Mandrake and SuSe are as simple as
Windows, but it is always useful to have a Linux Guru by your side. You may
need them at some point.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.4. Distributions

 When people use the name Linux they are probably referring to a particular
distribution of Linux. There are several software packages provided for Linux
over the Internet but selecting and downloading one is a complicated task not
necessarily manageable for new users who want to try out Linux. This is
exactly where a distribution kicks in.

 A distribution is a set of software packages that are tested and provided on
CD by a company for a small fee just like Windows. The advantages of using
distributions are the support and manuals, as well as the fact that Linux can
be specialised for use in a particular area. For example, if you would like
using Linux for embedded systems a distribution may offer just the right
amount of required software, leaving out optional things like the graphical
user interface. So you get what you want instead of a general package for all
users.

 So again we are left with a huge choice of distributions (there were some
200 distributions listed recently but many of them are for very specialised
purposes). The mainstream distributions, which are seemingly popular, are
RedHat, SuSE, Caldera and Debian. This may be dependent on your locality.
Check out your favourite computer stores nearby for more information. Among
these distributions RedHat seems to be most widespread.

 Caldera is probably more suited for those who are already using Windows.
SuSE is a German based distribution known for its large number of bundled
packages and support. Debian is unique because its not owned by a company and
it's a non-profit volunteer-based distribution developed solely by users.

 There are many others like the Mandrake distribution that thrive to provide
more user friendliness. Mandrake was originally based on RedHat. Mklinux
provides a very small distribution, which can be used to try out Linux
initially. There are also several websites like [http://www.linuxlinks.com]
LinuxLinks.com, which provide more current information.

Related Documents

[http://tldp.org/HOWTO/CD-Distributions-EN-HOWTO] CD-Distributions-EN-HOWTO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.5. Application,Tools and Utilities

File Browser - Windows Explorer

KDE has an integrated file manager called Konqueror, which also doubles as an
Internet browser. Most of the popular formats such as text files and and
images have in-built support and open within Konqueror itself. Several of the
features are similar to Windows Explorer so you wouldn't be left out.

 Gnome has a simple yet powerful file manager called GNU Midnight Commander
(GMC). Newer distributions of Linux offer an alternative called Nautilus
which has a very impressive interface. It seems to have even replaced the
traditional Control Center bundled with Gnome.

Control Panel

Windows has a central resource for configuring the Windows settings called
the Control Panel, with several applets. Windows XP has organised this into
related tasks similar to the Nautilus file manager in Linux. Both KDE and
Gnome havesimilar Control Centers. Linuxconf is another administrative tool,
which helps to do some tasks in an easy manner without relying on the command
line for each and every thing.

Utilities

KDE and Gnome offer utilities similar to Notepad, Wordpad, Calculator, Clock,
Character Map, Resource Monitor, and so on. I prefer using KWrite in
comparison with Gedit. There are a number of other miscellaneous tools and
choices available.

System Tools - Scandisk and Disk defragmenter

The Linux file system is designed so as to reduce fragmentation. You need not
worry about your files getting fragmented due to this feature. There are some
defragmenters but they are definitely not meant for casual use. When you do
not shutdown the Linux system, Linux runs a program called fsck (file system
check) which is similar to Scandisk. You may also need to run this manually
if files get severely damaged. Look into the tool's man (manual) page for
more information.

Developers

Software developers and programmers will be comfortable with Linux.
KDeveloper and Glade are useful as graphical development environments with
built-in help and other tools. Linux comes with compilers for every language
you could ever imagine from ADA to C, C++ and Java. KDE has an IDE called
KDEvelop, which offers an alternative to Windows IDEs. Gnome has a visual
interface for jumpstarting graphical applications. Klyx from Borland is a
multi-platform tool similar to Visual Basic which runs on both Linux and
Windows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.6. Additional Resources

  * [http://www.Linux.org] www.linux.org - A place to get yourself familiar
    with the operating system.
   
  * [http://www.Linux.com] www.linux.com - The Linux equivalent to
    Microsoft.com.
   
  * [http://www.Linuxlinks.com] www.linuxlinks.com - Could be referred to as
    the only Linux portal.
   
  * [http://www.tldp.org] www.tldp.org - The Linux Documentation Project is
    the ultimate resource for all kinds of documentation, including this one.
   
  * [http://www.desktoplinux.com] www.desktoplinux.com - Linux on the
    Desktop.
   
  * [http://www.linuxppc.com] www.linuxppc.com - Linux for the Apple
    Macintosh systems.
   
  * [http://www.slashdot.org] www.slashdot.org - The ultimate geek news site
    for Linux and open source software lovers.
   
  * [http://www.sourceforge.net] www.sourceforge.net - This site hosts a lot
    of open source projects,most of them related to Linux.
   
  * [http://www.freshmeat.org] www.freshmeat.org - This is the one you want
    if you love to get your hands on the latest and the greatest in Linux.
   
  * [http://www.transgaming.com] www.transgaming.com - Windows games that run
    on Linux.
   
  * [http://www.linuxgames.com] www.linuxgames.com - Linux games.
   
  * [http://www.happypenquin.org] www.happypenguin.org - More Linux games.
   
  * [http://www.gnu.org] www.gnu.org - The GNU is Not UNIX (GNU) organisation
    that continues to develop many of the important tools for Linux. Linux is
    distributed under the GPL (GNU Public License), so it can be called the
    external affairs team for Linux.
   
  * [http://www.google.com/linux] www.google.com/linux - Google search engine
    for Linux.
   
  * [http://www.tldp.org/LDP/gs/gs.html] www.tldp.org/LDP/gs/gs.html - Linux
    Installation and Getting Started is a bit outdated but provides an
    excellent introduction and history.
   
  * [http://sunsite.dk/linux-newbie/lnag_benefits.html] sunsite.dk/
    linux-newbie/lnag_benefits.html - Linux Newbie Administrators Guide is an
    up-to-date reference for New Linux Users.
   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Comparison of Linux with MS-DOS, Windows 9x and NT

3.1. Linux Vs MS-DOS

 DOS was the first operating system I learned to use. I remember a test by my
tutor in which one had to create a hierarchical set of directories. This
probably sounds trivial to anyone familiar with graphical user interfaces,
but then the scenario was very different. It even looks ancient by today's
standards. Windows 95 hadn't been released at that time, and Linux was
unheard of in India. I liked DOS much better than Windows 3.1, which looked
quite flimsy and unstable, not to mention that it was a big memory hog. DOS
is quite different from Linux in many ways.

 DOS does not provide any graphical user interface and you have to learn at
least a dozen commands with its numerous options to do some basic tasks like
copying a file or moving between the directories. Even a minor spelling
mistake can result in a "Bad command or file name" error.

 DOS does not support the concept of multi-users; each and every user has to
customise the system according to his need every time he wants to work on it.
It was also not a multitasking system. This meant that you could not check
out the value of a calculation when typing a letter without closing that
application first.

 DOS also does not have any in built security features. This was acceptable
as long as you did not want a networking system. There was other variants of
MS-DOS, like PC-DOS from IBM and some others, which tried to add the missing
features. Some of the deficiencies have been resolved using third party
utilities but basic limitations like the arcane 640kb-memory limit and
single-tasking were not acceptable to many.

 Now in case you are wondering why anyone would care to use DOS, I will point
out some advantages. Basically DOS has had very different goals from that of
Linux. It was a very cheap system (as far as cost is concerned) and it was
quite usable with its minimalist set of features. It was a simple system to
work with. There weren't too many complications to worry about if you didn't
want to develop anything on it. It was arguably the world's most popular
operating system and it had a comfortable number of applications for common
tasks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.1.1. Files and directories

 The files in Linux can be very long, up-to 255 characters like Windows, and
they do not always have extensions. The executable files are identified
through an attribute rather than the extension. File extensions are less
important to Linux than for DOS and Windows, since Linux usually identifies
files by a unique identification code called the magic number that depends on
the file type.

 Directories are similar to that of DOS and follow a hierarchical structure.
The path names are separated by forward slashes (/)in Linux whereas DOS and
Windows uses back slashes (\). For example:
% cd /mnt/cdrom                                                              

A / denotes the root and .. stands for the parent directory, similar to DOS.

 In bash shells, the ~ symbol maybe used to jump to the home directory
quickly. For example:
% cd ~                                                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.1.2. Linux shell

 Several of the DOS commands have Linux equivalents. The Linux shell is
similar to the DOS command line but is far more powerful, and I found that it
was also more workable with features like colour highlighting and friendlier
navigation capabilities, depending on the particular shell you are using.

 Most Linux distributions come with the Bash (Bourne Again SHell) as the
default. There are several others, like the Korn shell and the C shell. They
are usually similar. It's recommended that you learn to work with one shell
completely before trying out the others. Things usually get complicated if
you want to run shell scripts, which are similar to batch files (files with
the .bat extension) under DOS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.1.3. Running DOS programs under Linux (DOS emulation)

 There is a DOS emulator called dosemu [http://www.dosemu.org] www.dosemu.org
for Linux that is capable of running DOS programs under the Linux operating
system. This software is still under development; you may wish to try it out
though. It is known to be fairly usable at least for some applications. If
you are looking for Linux just to use DOS programs for free then try using
FreeDOS [http://www.freedos.org] www.freedos.org. That should be much better
than Linux.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.2. Linux vs. Windows 9x and NT

 As I have said before Windows is more or less similar to Linux. When people
are introduced to Linux they are at first intimidated by the system. It has
different kinds of graphical interfaces and things don't always work as they
are expected to. When users look at me in a puzzled manner I demonstrate in
some easy ways how common tasks like changing the desktop wallpaper or
playing a song is similar to Windows. The problem with this kind of approach
is that the users complain very soon that Linux doesn't offer them much more
than Windows does :-).

 I agree with them to a certain extent on this. There are some limitations to
what you can expect from an operating system. You just can't expect Linux to
work like a 3D-shooter game or something. Of course, there are many
differences in the shell, the choice of user interfaces and the philosophy
and goals of the operating system. Linux is developed as a open system in
which the source code of the core Linux system (kernel) is available for
anyone for free but how this could affect the end user is difficult to
explain initially.

 The user interface is probably the first thing you notice when you begin to
use the Linux system. Windows offers a single, monolithic user interface,
which is more or less the same across all the versions. In contrast, Linux
has two major desktop environments called KDE ([http://www.kde.org]
www.kde.org) and Gnome ([http://www.gnome.org] www.gnome.org). KDE has a
built-in window manager, while Gnome is supported by many, such as Sawfish
and Enlightenment.

 The decision of choosing one among the desktop environments and windows
managers is left to you. Some of them can run efficiently in a system with
low amounts of memory and some of them are designed to look like a game
console. KDE would be more similar to Windows, and Gnome with the
Enlightenment window manager was fancy enough for me. Try out some of the
popular ones before making the decision.

 Let's take a look at Windows in more detail so that you can clearly make out
the differences.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.2.1. Versions of Windows

 Windows has two major series, a desktop oriented series (Windows 9x) And a
network oriented series (Windows NT).There are also other versions like
Windows CE for embedded systems.

Windows 9x series

Before Windows 95 was released, all versions of Windows until version 3.1
were graphical platforms on top of DOS. This offered limited capability for
multitasking and the Program Manager interface was cluttered with no distinct
hierarchy. Windows 95 was a 32-bit operating system and a major improvement
in user interface with its "Desktop" concept adapted from the Macintosh user
interface. It also offered limited compatibility with previous versions of
Windows and DOS. Stability was also improved Windows 98 and Windows ME
offered some more features though nothing major was added. The more recent
version called Windows XP is considerably more stable due to incorporating
the Windows 2000 kernel, and is comparatively friendlier and easier due to an
attractive interface.

Windows NT series

Windows NT is considerably stable but demands more resources. It supports the
Intel architecture, and at one time the Digital alpha and MIPS processors,
but I believe those have been dropped now. It managed to replace UNIX in
small-scale networks due to the similarity to the popular Windows 95
interface. The latest incarnation called Windows 2000 provides a few more
administrative utilities and services.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.3. Additional resources

  * FreeBSD vs. Linux vs. Windows gives a side-by-side comparison at [http://
    people.freebsd.org/~murray/bsd_flier.html] http://people.freebsd.org/
    ~murray/bsd_flier.html
   
  * Information on the GNOME desktop project is available at [http://
    www.gnome.org] http://www.gnome.org
   
  * Information on the KDE desktop project is available at [http://
    www.kde.org] http://www.kde.org
   
  * Linux Installation and Getting Started is a bit outdated, but provides an
    excellent operating system comparisons, at [http://www.tldp.org/LDP/gs/
    gs.html] http://www.tldp.org/LDP/gs/gs.html
   
  * LinuxWorld.com provides scenario comparisons of Windows and UNIX type
    systems at [http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/1018.tco.html]
    http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/1018.tco.html
   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Similar Windows and Linux Applications

It would be of no use if the operating system was a good one but didn't have
the necessary applications to perform your day-to-day activities, like
sending an email to your friend or listening to songs on your computer. I
have provided a list of common tasks and Linux applications for them along
with their Windows counterparts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.1. Internet Applications

 Accessing the Internet is as almost as simple as Windows. Both KDE and Gnome
provide integrated dial-up managers similar to Windows. However, make sure
that your modem is supported before trying to access the net through Linux.

Browser - Internet Explorer (IE)

In Windows, Internet Explorer is usually pre-packed with Windows. In Linux,
you have many choices. You can use Konqueror, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera or
Galeon. Mozilla is the better alternative to Netscape, and is bundled with
almost all the distributions. Mozilla has made significant improvements in
stability and to the user interface.

E-Mail Client - Outlook Express, Eudora

For those familiar with Outlook and Outlook Express, an email client that has
a very similar interface and a good set of features called Evolution [http://
www.ximian.com/products/ximian_evolution] http://www.ximian.com/products/
ximian_evolution is available for free. Linux also supports many traditional
UNIX email clients like pine, mutt and elm. In addition there are a number of
email clients designed for the graphical environments (KDE and Gnome). KDE
has an integrated email client called Kmail. Gnome users can be comfortable
with Balsa.

Instant Messengers-AOL, Yahoo! and MSN

Yahoo! and America Online (AOL) provide Linux and Windows versions of their
instant messenger clients. I would very much recommend a multi-instant
messenger client called Gaim that has an AOL interface and support for MSN as
well as Yahoo! users. I have been using the Yahoo! messenger in college for
about a year and I found the chat room feature and some other gimmicks to be
missing, but overall it seems to be good enough for a development release
(version 0.99).

Download Manager - GetRight

Mget, which is a non graphical utility, can automatically resume downloads
when they are interrupted. Caitoo is a download manager similar to GetRight.
A better alternative would be Prozilla [http://www.prozilla.genesys.so] http:
//www.prozilla.genesys.so, as it significantly improves the transfer speed by
downloading the same file in four parts. It does not integrate with the
browser but it is very much functional. If you are using a modern browser
like Konqueror it takes care of resuming downloads by itself

Firewall - ZoneAlarm

Linux has long since come with built-in firewalls such as iptables and
ipchains. The RedHat distributions usually have options for configuring the
firewall even during the setup. If you need more software like this you can
freely download them from the Internet.

FTP Clients and Telnet - Cuteftp, WsFTP

Linux supports FTP as well as Telnet from the command-line. A better option
would be the Midnight Commander (mc) which is similar to the Norton editor.
These are more intelligent than the versions supplied with Windows NT and
2000. Gftp, with a graphical interface is also available.

IRC Client - mIRC

IRC is a form of chatting that is popular with the geeks more than other
instant messaging clients. Graphical front-ends are available in large
numbers. These may be complicated to use at first but are very much capable
of doing all that you want.

Newsgroup Reader - Outlook Express

I don't know how many people use these under Windows. Linux development and
usage is very much dependent on the coordination of users over the Internet.
Newsgroups form the basis for some of important tasks. There are many such
newsgroup readers for Linux. Pan is a classical utility, very popular among
UNIX and Linux users. A more modern alternative would be Mozilla Mail or
Ximian Evolution.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.2. Multimedia Applications and Games

 Multimedia is a specialised segment where users are mostly Apple Macintosh
fans, especially so with the release of OS X. Beos tried to position itself
as a multimedia operating system based on the Intel platform, but has been
acquired by Palm.

Music Player - Winamp

XMMS is a Winamp clone for Linux that has the same the look and feel as well
as the functionality. It even supports the Winamp plugins. Both KDE and Gnome
have a lot of other players available but I have being only using XMMS. There
are no shortage of command line players either.

Movie Player - Windows Media Player

Gnome has a built-in player called GTV, and several others are available
depending on the particular format of the movie that you want to play.
Mplayer is used for viewing the Microsoft formats. With the release of
crossover office from [http://www.codeweavers.com] http://
www.codeweavers.com. Even support for the QuickTime movie format has been
added.

CD Ripper and CD Burner - Nero

Cdparanoia is a good CD ripper for Linux. It seems to be in the development
stage yet though many people are using it on production systems. It is known
be to stable and robust. Cdrecord provides command-line CD burning software
for Linux. Problems with CD burning such as buffer under runs have been dealt
with and it's now a fast and effective task.

Image Browser- Acdsee32

Gqview is an excellent image browser for Linux, built for the Gnome desktop,
but nevertheless usable under KDE. There are other image viewers also, namely
KView, Electric Eyes, etc.

Image Editor - Adobe Photoshop

Gimp is a powerful image-editing software, which comes for free, along with
the source. It is considered as a professional tool but lacks CYMK
capability, which is used by the publishing media.

Games

Quake 3,Unreal Tournament and Doom are some of the popular 3D shooter games
available for Linux. The number of games available for Linux is usually way
behind Windows. Several commercial solutions are available from vendors such
as Transgaming's WineX [http://www.transgaming.com] http://
www.transgaming.com which is capable of running Windows-based games on Linux.

 If you like board games and puzzles better, you will definitely not be
disappointed. On average, over 50 such games are bundled with Linux. I like
Tuxracer, a simple 2D race game and Sokoban, a simple yet appealing
strategical game, to make the time pass.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.3. Miscellaneous applications.

Office Suites - Microsoft Office

StarOffice from Sun is the popular alternative. It has an integrated
interface that can act as a virtual desktop and includes a word-processor,
spreadsheet, presentation software, browser, as well as a e-mail client,
rolled into a single application. One of the common complaints is that it is
slow to load. This office suite has become a paid version starting from
Staroffice 6.0. Sun now provides a open source (free) alternative called
Openoffice ([http://www.openoffice.org] http://www.openoffice.org). If you
just require a word processor for typing out letters and stuff you can try
using Abiword ([http://www.abiword.com] http://www.abiword.com).

Antivirus - Norton and Mcafee

Viruses are a much lesser threat to Linux. They are very few in number and
they cannot affect the system files unless in a well configured system where
you are not a root user (administrator). Linux is not immune to viruses but
you shouldn't be worried about them as they don't possess a significant
threat. I've never required an antivirus program, and it will probably remain
that way for some time.

Maintenance Utility - Norton Utilities

Administrative things such as setting up user accounts and stuff is the only
kind of maintenance required by Linux. Since Linux is designed to run in a
server-unattended mode for several weeks it does not demand day-to-day
attention like Windows. I am not aware of anything similar to Norton
Utilities for the simple reason that it is not at all needed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.4. Additional resources

  * RPM Find provides a large variety of Linux software in RPM format at
    [http://www.rpmfind.net] http://www.rpmfind.net
   
  * Sourceforge provides source code for upgrades and new Linux software
    projects at [http://www.sourceforge.net] http://www.sourceforge.net
   

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5. Frequently Asked Questions

  * Is Linux harder to learn than Windows? / Is Linux user-friendly?
   
    Linux is a powerful and sophisticated operating system. If you just want
    to copy some files and watch movies (the latest versions are much better
    - KDE 3.01 and Gnome 2.0 as of this writing), then things would probably
    be at least as easy as Windows. Of course there are differences in the
    way files are displayed and some minor annoyances with the interface, and
    you have to be aware of that. However if you want to learn the internal
    details or improve the performance the system then the command line
    (terminal or shell) would be the only way out. People with some UNIX
    background would probably find everything similar. If you weren't that
    lucky then you would find the commands to be similar to DOS. The command
    line is far more powerful and is capable of achieving things you can't
    even dream up with a graphical interface. I would suggest that you stick
    with the graphical interface and try the command line later when you
    start feeling comfortable with the system. Dont let fear get into your
    way of exploring things. As a precautionary measure, backup critical
    files before changing them.
   
  * My favourite software/hardware doesn't work in Linux. What do I do?
   
    Make sure there isn't a Linux version of your software. If it's a really
    famous application then there may be similar clones. Contact the software
    developer to ask whether something will be developed soon. If not, I am
    sorry, I can't help but just email me and I will try to let you know what
    I can find. If it's hardware, then try going to the hardware
    manufacturer's site to search for a Linux driver. Some manufacturers have
    started to support Linux. There may be unofficial versions too. Try using
    a search engine like [http://www.google.com/linux] http://www.google.com/
    linux for the latest drivers. If your hardware is very new there may not
    be anything available in Linux and you may need to wait for things to
    settle a bit before you start inquiring. Newer kernels usually support
    more devices. If your hardware isn't supported by the manufacturer or
    anybody else then there is probably not much that you can do other than
    bugging your manufacturer or writing your own device driver (though I
    wouldn't consider that an option for most of the users out there).
   
  * Is Linux virus-free?
   
    No. Linux by itself is not immune to viruses, worms or Trojan horses but
    it uses a strict security system which reduces the effect of viruses
    unless you are running the system as a root user (which is never
    recommended). Linux viruses are very few, and in general you can be
    relatively sure that a virus won't attack your system. You don't need to
    use antivirus software. This may change in the near future when Linux
    becomes more popular, so you should be aware of the security and other
    related stuff anyway.
   
  * Is Linux stable?
   
    Yes, but not crash proof. Linux machines are usually used more as servers
    than as desktop operating systems. It is known to be more stable than
    Windows. Instability is probably not much more than an irritation for
    desktop users, but can mean loss of productivity, money or even life for
    mission critical usage to others. Linux is often used for Web-servers or
    file-servers. The uptime (the amount of time after the last reboot) of
    these systems is usually in months or even years, and that by itself
    testifies the stability of Linux systems. It usually has fewer bugs than
    Windows. Even if an application crashes in Linux it probably won't bring
    the whole system down, unlike Windows.
   
  * Is Linux secure?
   
    Yes. It has fewer security related bugs than Windows. For reasons similar
    to what's stated in the previous answer, we need to have a secure system
    for servers. Linux was designed with security in mind ever since
    development started, so you can be pretty sure of the security under
    Linux. However you should be aware that no operating system is 100% bug
    free or foolproof. If you are a system administrator you need to keep
    track of the security related issues through administrator's magazines,
    websites and newsletters.
   
  * I know that Linux is free. Why should I pay to for it?
   
    Linux is available for free on the Internet and in computer magazine CDs.
    It is also usually legal to borrow a Linux CD from your friend for
    installation, but you need to spend money to buy Linux distributions like
    RedHat or Caldera. This makes sense because you get a huge collection of
    software that is bundled and extensively tested by these companies before
    distributing in CDs or over the Internet. You also usually get printed
    manuals, service and support from these companies (not available for
    free). You choose what you want. If you are new to Linux without any
    friends around who has used used Linux,I would suggest getting a paid
    version.
   
  * I am using my Linux system at home. Why can't I run the system as a root
    user?
   
    No. Don't ever do it. Even when you are the only person using the Linux
    system it is always better to create another normal user with restricted
    rights. This is because the root user is an all-powerful person and the
    chances of him/her damaging a critical file or doing anything similar
    accidentally is very high (believe me, guys!!). Any mischievious program
    like a virus or trojan horse would not have any access to files that you
    do not, which ensures that the effect of the program would be minimal if
    any. Morever a cracker who manages to access your system through a
    network or the Internet would not be able to play with critical files.
    Unless you are installing software or doing anything else that requires
    you to be a root user don't do it. Even then its better to use the su
    (super user) command to do the task instead of logging in as root user.
   
  * How do I maintain my Linux system?
   
    You may have got used to running programs like Scandisk and performing
    disk defragmentation periodically with your Windows system. Linux native
    file systems (usually ext2/ext3) have been designed to reduce
    fragmentation. That means that you don't need to worry about the files
    getting fragmented in your Linux system. There are defragmentation
    utilities for Linux but they are not meant for casual usage unlike Disk
    defragmenter. Just like newer versions of Windows, which forces scandisk
    to run everytime the system is not shutdown properly, Linux uses a
    program called fsck (file system check) which you may or may not have the
    option to cancel during system startup (that depends on your Linux
    distribution). RedHat version 7.2 and above ask your confirmation before
    running fsck. You do not need to run any antivirus software at all. So
    the amount of time you spend for maintenance is significantly less.
   
  * Why don't many Linux files have extensions?
   
    The simple answer is that they are not really needed. In Windows, file
    types are identified by their extensions (for example .exe for
    executables and .doc for Word Documents). In Linux file types are usually
    identified with a unique identity called the magic number. We may also
    use file extensions. In Linux executable files are identified by a
    special flag, which is set for each and every file. In the command line,
    the ls command usually displays these files by a different colour. Under
    KDE or gnome use the file properties to identify the file type.
   
  * Why do we need both KDE and Gnome?
   
    We don't. They are just alternative graphical interfaces. You can use any
    one of them of your choice. A KDE application can be used in Gnome or
    vice versa, with just a few basic files installed. Gnome development
    started after KDE for historic reasons. They both offer many similar
    features and competition is good for the end user (you). You can choose
    to run either of them as you wish.
   
  * I don't want to use Linux. How do I remove it?
   
    Pretty easy. You have to perform two steps.
   
     1. Boot up in DOS using a boot disk/Startup disk (not the MS-DOS prompt/
        Command line provided by Windows) and then remove the Linux
        partitions using fdisk.(they are indicated as NON-DOS
        partitions).Re-create new partitions to fill up the free space.
       
     2. Run the fdisk/mbr command to remove the boot-up options.
       
   
    You may also change the filesystem type or remove the partitions using
    Linux fdisk but this is probably the easiest way.
   

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6. Useful resources for New users

  * Linux Distributions
   
      + [http://www.redhat.com] http://www.redhat.com
       
      + [http://www.mandrake-linux.com] http://www.mandrake-linux.com
       
      + [http://www.suse.de] http://www.suse.de
       
      + [http://www.debian.org] http://www.debian.org
       
      + [http://www.caldera.com] http://www.caldera.com
       
      + [http://www.distrowatch.com] http://www.distrowatch.com - a bird's
        eye view of almost all the Linux distributions.
       
   
  * Linux Desktop Environments
   
      + [http://www.kde.org] http://www.kde.org
       
      + [http://www.gnome.org] http://www.gnome.org
       
   

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7. Acknowledgements

 I dedicate this HOWTO to my late parents Mr.V.Sundaram and Mrs.Soundara
Sundaram for their support and guidance. I thank the people at LDP for their
patient and quick responses to all my silly questions and their help and
guidance.I would like to thank in particular Joy and Sharon, Linux
information developers at IBM who have been very helpful and responsive it
getting this HOWTO improved in many ways. I would like to thank all my
friends and foes for whatever that they continue doing to me. Thanks guys.
