What is Linux Distro?

So you are keen to explore Linux, but where to start and what is this distro thingy people are talking about?

Distro is short for Distribution, make more sense now?

There is a humorous article on bbspot.com that makes fun of the number of Linux distributions surpassed the number of Linux users. While one can brush it off as humour relief, there is a some truth to it, that is, there are really many different Linux distributions.

When you cross over to the light, you will find that you are suddenly overwhelmed by the vast variety of choices; you will also find that there is no Linux Operating System per se, but a whole full list of the variants (or we call it distributions, in short, distros). You can do a Google search or visit Wikipedia for more detailed history of Linux or the GNU/Linux. Here's a brief:

Linux, like Mac OSX, is an UNIX like operating system. It was originally created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Most worked done by Linus and gang at that time was limited to the kernel (you can view kernel as the engine of the operating system). Almost parallel to the Linux development, there was another free software movement started by Richard Stallman on another free UNIX OS called GNU, which had already completed many of the UNIX utilities and applications, but without a kernel. The two projects decided to merge and thus forming the framework of today's GNU/Linux.

Due to Linux's Open Source nature, it attracted many developers, and some packaged it with more applications and distribute the new "packages" under different names. Some early distibutions include Red Hat (commercial release), Debian, and SLS. These distributions in turn spawned many other distributions. Eg., Debian Linux spawned some popular distributions such as Ubuntu and Knoppix; and Ubuntu in turn acted as a spring board for many other distributions such as the gOS and Linux Mint. You can create your own distribution if you want to, and no one is going to stop you :)

Let me use an analogy to help you understand Linux and the various distributions:

Imagine GNU/Linux as a car engine maker such as Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Ford & etc. The distribution such as Redhat is a car maker who designs the car, and use the engine from Linux --> some Protons use Mitsubishi engines. There are other distributions that are built ontop of another distribution, example, Ubuntu is based on Debian. You can consider Ubuntu as AMG who tunes and modifies Mercedes Benz or Mugen who tunes Honda cars.

Upgrading to Windows XP

Have you upgraded yet?

Excerpt:

To be honest there is only one conclusion to be made; Microsoft has really outdone themselves in delivering a brand new operating system that really excels in all the areas where Vista was sub-optimal. From my testing, discussions with friends and colleagues, and a review of the material out there on the web there seems to be no doubt whatsoever that that upgrade to XP is well worth the money. Microsoft can really pat themselves on the back for a job well done, delivering an operating system which is much faster and far more reliable than its predecessor. Anyone who thinks there are problems in the Microsoft Windows team need only point to this fantastic release and scoff loudly.

Read full article here.

Well done Microsoft!

Are you ready for the ride of your life?

So you want Linux? Wait... Not all computer users are lucky enough to be suitable for the red pills today, and here is a brief run through to to see whether Linux is for you:

Case 1: You'd better think THRICE

1. Heavy gamers especially those that command state of the art kind of graphics. Currently there are only a limited number of games that supports Linux natively, and configuring top end graphics card on Linux can be a challenge.
2. Run a lot of special applications that do not have Linux port. For example, your company's ERP system, customized accounting packages, and so on.
3. You have a piece of special hardware that you need absolutely and there is no Linux driver and work around for it.
   
4. You absolutely hate changes, and you are even too lazy to install Firefox in Windows (or have absolutely no idea how to do it).
   

Case 2: Linux has your name on it

1. If you use your computer mainly for internet surfing, chat, email, bit torrent, music, documents, spreadsheet, presentation slides, and etc.
2. If you use more applications than above, but have an appetite to tinker around. In other words, you are an explorer, someone who loves challenges, and who doesn't give up easily.
   

Case 3: What are you waiting for!

1. You hate Microsoft.
2. You want more control of your own PC.
3. You do not want to keep paying for upgrades that you do not need.
4. You are tired of keep spending money on firewall, anti virus, anti spyware, have all these loaded, bogged down your system performance, and scan your system from time to time. In other words, you are sicked of PAYING MORE for GETTING LESS!
   
5. You want to go legal on ALL of your software.

In any case, you do have the option of dual booting or install Linux on an old PC to enjoy the best of both worlds :) I would say try it, dual boot Linux with Windows if you are not comfortable with leaving Windows entirely. Start using Linux for your internet acitivities which is way more safer than Windows, and use Windows for games, and those special applications which have no Linux ports.

Internet Explorer 7

An interesting read I found on the net:

Excerpt from the article:

"What do you call a program that gets loaded in surreptitiously and without your approval, has the potential to lock down your computer so you can't get access to it, takes up significant system resources and promptly crashes upon running. Normally, I'd call it a virus, except for the last part, viruses are usually stable (and well written) once they start. On the other hand, it's a perfect description of Internet Explorer 7.0."

Reality Check

Time to do a reality check before we proceed further.

Operating System is just a platform for our work and entertainment, well, unless you like tinkering and take that as an hobby. It should not cause major frustrations and affect your normal routine. You do not want to end up screwing your one and only PC, and unable to work on an urgent report and get fired as a result of that. Therefore, if you are happy with Microsoft Windows and do not mind the "force down the throat" kind of attitude from them, WGA, DRM, and etc., by all means continue to use it. You can still use many Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) on MS Windows such as OpenOffice & IBM Symphony, as many FOSS applications are cross platforms.

Linux, like Mac OSX, is just another option opened for you, and the good thing about Linux is, most distribution is completely free, well, not entirely, you still need to pay for a blank CD to burn the OS though.

Linux is a completely different operating system started out as a hobby by Linus Torvalds. Just as Mac OSX will not run your PC game, you cannot expect the same on Linux (though it is possible to run MS Office and games in Linux, that's another story). When you switch over to Linux, do expect you are going to do things a little differently and use very different applications to accomplish your tasks.

Here's a list of some alternative applications:

MS Windows ---> Linux alternatives

• MS Office ---> OpenOffice/ IBM Symphony

• Internet Explorer ---> Firefox/ Konqueror

• Outlook ---> Evolution/ Thunderbird

• Media Player/ iTune ---> Amorak/ Quod Libet/ Totem Movie Player

• Adobe Photshop ---> GIMP

Be mentally prepared for changes-- the familiarization of the menu systems, OS, and applications will take anywhere from a couple of days to weeks. Basically, modern desktop Linux is mainly GUI driven with little need of typing commands in terminal. As you progress and get more comfortable with Linux, you will probably be using the terminal more and more as it provides a direct, efficient way of control & configuration.

I will end this post with an article: Linux is NOT Windows, and will talk more on Linux Suitability Test in the next post.

Is Linux the only other OS option?

So you want to get away from Microsoft for whatever reasons, does that mean Linux is the only other choice? Nope, you have 300+ of Linux flavors to choose from :-D

"I mean other than Linux..."

Ok.

If your main reason to jump ship is because you are sicked of the virus and security issues, and just out of hatred of Microsoft, Mac OS looks like a viable option for you.

Benefit of using a Mac is, cool hardware design, easy to use desktop, pretty interface (a fully configured Linux desktop can achieve this too), work flawlessly with your ipod & iphone, and there are some Windows applications available on the Mac platform.

However, if the reason you are getting away from Microsoft is due to DRM and OS lock down, Apple is worse than Windows in this respect. Not only the OS is proprietary, the hardware is as well (even though they are using Intel platform nowadays). You probably have to spend a lot more money on hardware using a MAC. The OS is also full of DRM controls, and the only good thing out of this as compared to Windows is Mac OS does not have draconian piracy protection like the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA).

"How about other OS?"

There is another fairly popular Free OS, FreeBSD and its variants, based on UNIX, and which many believed Mac OS is built on. It is rock solid stable and efficient, making it an OS choice for some web severs. The downside of FreeBSD is less hardware and software running on this platform as compared to Linux. If you have problems with Linux in this respect, it is worse on BSD.

"More?"

There is one called React OS, which looks promising as the objective is to build a Free and Open Source OS based on Windows NT. I am not sure how usable is the current version, you gotta try it out yourself. There is another, called Syllable OS, which has a stable release.

"Any verdict?"

Apple is a very viable alternative for most if you don't give a hoot to DRM and have some money to spare; whereas Linux is recommended if you want to continue on the PC platform, and you want to have Freedom and make use of the abundance of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

For the rest of the OSes such as Free BSD, React OS, and Syllabus, give them a chance and try them as a secondary (or tertiary) OS if you have time to tinker, the hardware and software support on them is less as compared to Linux which makes them less suitable as a main general purpose desktop replacement for most users.

Mythbuntu!

Finally, I manage to get Mythbuntu to view and record the local channels in Singapore! Made a silly mistake as I thought the tv tuner port on the Hauppauge PVR 150 card is S-video port -.-

At least it is working now and I will get a remote control next to set it up before transferring the whole set up to a HTPC casing.

I will compile some Singapore specific settings and post here.