Linux Another Operating System
Angry, frustrated or just plain mad at Microsoft and its Windows operating systems (Win98, WinNT,WinXP)? So are many others, with 85% of operating systems using Windows Microsoft they no longer try harder; tech support is difficult to get, their web site for support is difficult to use, and they "frankly don't seem to care". WinXP still continues to have "bugs" and security leaks as does the IE browser necessitates downloading of service packs and security patches.
As Microsoft developes newer operating systems ( now longhorn) greater demands are placed on your present machine eventually leading you to buy a more powerful ugraded machine to run the new operating systems. The newer operating systems have a higher retail price perpetrating the need for costly upgrades of your computer and software.
Enter Linux, until recently an unknown operating system, except to a number of "nerds" and ISP. Linnux is far more robust, its code (developed by a Finn) is readily available over the Internet at no cost. It continues to have an outstanding history of stability.
Once Linux is your operating system of choice you will have fewer problems, less "crashes" and a true multi tasking ability. (not really present in any windows operating systems except NT). Linux can operate successfully on both old and new machines. Since it is freely available on the Internet there are several companies which sell distribution CDs for installation on your system, (at a lesser price than Windows Operating systems) such as Red Hat Software ( http://www.redhat.com/ ), Caldera (http://www.caldera.com/ ) , Slackware ( http://www.slackware.com/ ) or S.U.S.E ( http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/ )
Until recently Linux has been limited by the lack of popular software programs to run on their platform but it is becoming available: Corel has a Word Perfect software that runs on Linux, IBM has introduced think pads that run on Linux, Oracle has a data base, Netcape has a browser and Intel chips support it. Many of the big name hardware vendors (HP, IBM, Compac, Dell, STI) and Sun are providing systems that run with Linux pre installed. There are sites available for further information regarding the installation and use of Linux, one can be seen at Zdnet ( http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/ )