I know that most of you out there are content with Bill Gates child, Windows, reaching a new stage every few months and a new version of itself every few years. We are creatures of habit, after all, and when we become accustomed to an operating system with its nuances and complexities, we are not too quick to change the software underpinnings of our work and home computers. It’s enough to contend with the vast amount of learning processes on one operating system and its features, without challenging our minds and anxiety levels with yet another. We would, after all,like to get some actual work done.
A small percentage have opted for the user-friendly MAC computer and its OS operating system, based on the UNIX platform. It’s reportedly easy to access, and to learn, without having to go behind the scenes of the operating system. Still, one has to learn to navigate the folder and file structure, to know where the programs and system utilities are, and still to contend with updates, albeit not as frequently as Windows users. Even Windows updates are usually automatic, loading up in the background of our broadband network connections.
A growing number of users, especially in Europe and Asia, have discovered a different operating system, LINUX. LINUX is not new, its based on the UNIX code upon which the MAC OS operating system is built, and is, in fact, the original code for operating systems everywhere. In fact, there are literally thousands of distributions built upon the LINUX platform, which is built upon the UNIX language. These distributions are products of cooperative projects of developers and programmers. The UNIX code, and LINUX operating system which is built upon it, is “OPEN SOURCE” which means it is available to everyone to use, to alter, to improve, and to share with others. The result is a wide variety of LINUX distributions, each with its own amenities and distinguishing characteristics, and packages of software. Most LINUX distributions are packaged with many open source programs, such as OPEN OFFICE, MOZILLA FIREFOX browser and THUNDERBIRD email client, as well as many multimedia, Internet and other office programs and utilities.
There are hundreds of free and commercial repositories of available open source and commercial programs to add to one’s LINUX system. There are a number of open source and free software advocates who are working to prevent an encroachment of commercial interests who would attempt to control, and charge fees, for use of their software, and thus threaten the free and open source software availability to the public. Thus, members of the open source software movement encourage users to use open source software only. This would be a great suggestion if the many multimedia Internet broadcasts, even from alternative news and information sources, were producing their material in open source software formats. Most of them are not, but mp3 and wmv files can be played in many open source media players. Realplayer streaming formats, however, require a Realplayer program to hear or see them. We users will, as we do with corporations and our government, simply have to keep close watch and collectively work to protect and maintain the free and open source software enviroment.
One of the most popular of LINUX-based distributions is the UBUNTU operating system package, which I am running on my laptop, as a dual-boot system which allows me to boot from either UBUNTU or Windows Vista. I have been runnng UBUNTU on my desktop computer in my home office for the past two years. UBUNTU has been improving by leaps and bounds with each new revision. The current version is UBUNTU 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon. The greatest improvement to UBUNTU, as far as I’m concerned, is the Restricted Drivers manager which includes a Broadcom wireless network card firmware update. For the past four years I have wanted a LINUX distribution on my laptop, but could only use one with an external network card. Finally, my HP Special Edition L2005US Lance Armstrong Livestrong notebook computer is fully compatible with UBUNTU Linux. I just installed it yesterday after reading about the Broadcom network card incompatibility issue being solved. Delightful.
What is it about LINUX operating systems that I love the most? They are free to the public, they work well in older computers with little storage space and without a need for an abundance of RAM memory, and they are developed through cooperative and creative efforts. If a working family can afford an inexpensive laptop computer with a wireless network card, then they have a tool to bring them into the Information Age without going into debt to do it. A used laptop with a 1-gigahertz CPU and 512 megs of RAM memory might cost between two- to three-hundred dollars UBUNTU is free and packaged with an office suite, Internet tools, multimedia, DVD and CD burning tools, and games. A multifunction printer that prints, scans and copies can be purchased for fifty dollars, with cartridges that can be replaced for as little as three dollars each (Epson CX3810, on sale).
To find UBUNTU, just click to http://www.ubuntu.com. For other LINUX distributions (hundreds) go to http://www.distrowatch.com.
And do this, even if you are a happy Windows user. If you have an old working computer, or know someone that does, download UBUNTU for free and burn it onto a CD, then install it into the older system. Check out the features, play with it. If you decide you don’t want it, give it to some family that needs it, and help them get on line. You will have explored a new operating system and helped a family get into the Information Age, and thus to move deeper within the human sphere through learning and communication without it costing a lot of money.
Amen.
MH Pathfinder
