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  LINUX, the OS of the future!!!

In the beginning there was only one operating system (IBM). Then there was Apple. Soon, however, with the release of Windows 3 the Holy Wars began. Now whole generations of computer users do not know another operating system exists for their computer.

The truth is that there are alternatives to Windows, some are even better. The best known, and best alternatives are Linux, BeOS, and Solaris.

What is Linux?

Linux (pronounced with a short I) is an operating system for computers that was created in 1991 by a student at the University of Helsinki, Linus Torvalds. Torvalds, and a small group of programmers developed Linux from the UNIX operating system running at the computer lab. They made modifications to the system, updating it and making it more useful. Then, they did something unheard of: instead of marketing the OS and making billions of dollars, they posted the source code (the code a computer uses to create a file that runs a program) onto the Internet and asked for suggestions. Programmers from around the world began, and are still modifying the system. Each new version of Linux incorporates many of these modifications, with Torvalds himself choosing from among the changes.

As an operating system Linux has some remarkable advantages over Windows.

- Power

- Multi-user support

A single computer can have many users working at the same time. With enough resources a single Linux machine can have hundreds of users at once.

- Full multitasking

Multitasking means that the computer can run many programs at once without a decrease in performance. ( Linux is also capable of handling multiple processors, pushing performance beyond even the designer's specs.)

- Networking

Linux was designed to be networked, most users of it are using it in a network capacity, either as a printer server, or a main server.

- Flexible

Due to its freely available source code, Linux can be changed to suit any need for an operating system. These changes can even be incorporated into a commercial version, but the source code still has to be publicly known.

- Reliability

Linux has been rated at 99.999% reliable, handling many of the functions of Windows NT as well or better, while using less expensive hardware.

Linux can be used on virtually any machine, even older, outdated ones and still be a powerhouse.

Linux can also run for a long time without the need to reboot. Most sources say that it can run for months, maybe even years, without rebooting. One source said he has it running on an older system, and has not rebooted for years, because he isn’t sure the HARDWARE will reboot.

- Price

This is the greatest advantage to Linux: it is free. Linux can be downloaded virtually anywhere on the Internet. Commercial versions can also be bought, with RedHat and Caldera being the two largest vendors.

The disadvantages of Linux have more to do with a users familiarity with Windows, than with any inherent flaw in the design. The installation and the learning curve for Windows users are the main cited problems. However with each new version, the installation and interface becomes easier to handle. Linux even has Windows and Mac emulators (programs that make the OS seem to be another OS).

The advantages of Linux far outweigh the disadvantages. The power, flexibility and reliability of Linux have assured it a place on the front lines of the OS Holy Wars.

Here are some Linux links for additional information:

LinuxWebmasterFree
http://www.linuxwebmasterfree.com

This is a free weekly newsletter offering downloadable software for
the Linux operating system.

Linux Today
http://www.linuxtoday.com

Articles and software reviews.

LinuxPlanet
http://www.linuxplanet.com

This site watches and reviews the new distributions of the Linux OS.

Unix is the programming environment that business has used for years. It is the OS that runs the Net! A logical operating system to choose if your primary needs are internet or intranetrelated. Because it is freely available and shared, and not controlled and owned by anyone, it costs little to nothing to install on your system. And now, Linux makes a Unix home or small business system practical. Analon is a specialist in home systems programmed with Linux, and are currently developing Analon XWindows for Linux. We install Red Hat, Caldera, and Suse as well as other Unix languages such as SCO, and Novell. Analon is committed to the delivery of a fully consumer friendly Unix environment.