Introduction to Linux

[Omega]

Interested in a free, usable, quality alternative to Microsoft's Windows? Almost everyone is. . . And the good news is there is one. This operating system known as Linux does amost everything that windows does and in some cases better. Read our introduction to Linux to get started and find out if this alternative works for you.

http://www.techwarelabs.com/articles...-introduction/

[udha]

Just a small correction that I believe you should rectify early in the piece is that the Operating System is called GNU/Linux known more commonly as Linux, and then refer to it as such from then on. Not doing so is not only wrong but confusing.

Thanks for you time, and I hope I can become a more active member of this forum; since this is my first post: (It was hard to resist the allure of the Llama.)

[sadiewopen]

Firstly - Ubuntu 8.04 is released in april not june. Ubuntu has a unique versioning system (taken from the year ie. 8 from 2008 and month ie. .04 means april) and a predictable release schedule (every 6 months so the next release will be october 8.10)

Secondly - GNU/linux is not based off unix. if it was based off unix it wouldn't be free.

Thirdly - While it is great that you have only used the command line to use an antivirus it should also be mentioned that an antivirus is hardly necessary unless you are running windows as well and only so you can scan your windows installation. This has to do with the unique way that GNU/linux handles file permissions it basically makes it very hard for malicious software to run under GNU/linux. Also I think it is important that if people need to use the command line that they aren't afraid to use it, some of the quickest jobs you will get done under linux are far quicker because you only need to type a short command instead of clicking lots eg. apt-get install firefox which will install firefox to the computer on debian systems.

I like what you are trying to do I just want to make sure everyone has their facts in check.

[Omega]

Thanks (and apologies) to the numerous people both here and on digg who correctly pointed out that Ubuntu 8.04 (as in, 2008-04) is scheduled for April, not June. (Though, you never know ... they could pull another Dapper (6.06) and push it back :-P.) I have corrected this mistake.

Originally Posted by sadiewopen

Secondly - GNU/linux is not based off unix. if it was based off unix it wouldn't be free.

The semantics of the phrasing leave it kind of ambiguous. As you point out, Linux is not "based off unix" in the sense that it's a fork, or derived from unix code. However, it was designed to be a unix-compatible system, and follows many unix design principles, so in that sense, it very much is "based off unix." If the former was the case, I believe the statement would be that "Linux is a unix," which is untrue. I've added a parenthetical note to the article for clarification.

Originally Posted by udha

Just a small correction that I believe you should rectify early in the piece is that the Operating System is called GNU/Linux known more commonly as Linux[...]

Indeed. I've corrected this as well. Thanks for the note.

[Omega]

Originally Posted by curupira

(from digg)
[...]enterprises CAN sell the operating system itself. And they're not required to release the source code to "the general public", but to anyone who receives binaries from them. [...]

Yup. I've amended the article slightly to reflect this. Thanks.

I believe this issue has come up most recently on various slashdot/digg type replies to hype about Motorola et al (iirc) not releasing source code to their linux-based routers, and it's likely oversimplifications like this that lead to some misunderstandings. This article probably isn't targeting people looking for a really deep understanding of the GPL, but I do agree that accuracy is important, and I'd hate to see people taking a RHEL disc from work to install at home, just because "Linux is free." Even if the IP for the kernel and other GPL'd software on there is 'free' (as in speech), there's also plenty of other software and tied-in services on there that could easily be bound by other licenses.