Machtelt Garrels. “Introduction to Linux: A Hands on Guide”
I find it interesting that Linux has so many well-known users, from Amazon to the German military. Its adoption by Hollywood cinema is also fascinating to me. I had no idea that the system was so well used, especially by corporations and for expensive operations like movie making. The pros listed in the article (free, portable, keeps running, secure & versatile, scalable, short de-bug times) are obviously what makes is such a popular tool in those environments.
My dad was one of those early users of Linux that the article calls nerds (ha!) so I’ve been hearing about Linux for a long time. The first time I saw it was when it was still in the early, tough-for-beginners stage, so I’ve always had sort of a pathological dislike of Linux. This article has convinced me to take another look. Dad will be so happy!
The open source conversation is another interesting thing about this article. The degree of cooperation that propels Linux seems like an anomaly in the grand scheme of Progress. And, of course, open source was necessary for the development of the system, so I’d guess that Linux is a big example for the pro-open source way of thinking.
I read the Kernel Thread article first and will admit that I felt in a little over my head. Namely, the booting and startup pages were confusing to me.
I was glad to read that Mac OS X organizes information by context, something we’ve talked about in all my classes this semester as being very important. The list of available software was also valuable.
The Wikipedia article was, predictably, much more readable though less in-depth. I found the article's discussion of the different versions of the system very helpful.
I hadn’t paid much attention to the bad press surrounding Windows Vista, so Bill Veghte’s letter was quite illuminating to me. The sentence “Windows Vista is a very significant step forward, but our customers have made it clear to us that they want broader support for devices and applications in order to enjoy the overall experience,” is a pretty direct admission that the system’s release was poorly planned. The demand for an optional downgrade feature must have been very embarrassing and disappointing for the company.
I'm with you on giving Linux a shot. It sounds like the hippie system compared to Mac and Windows. I probably can't build it from scratch, but it's worth seeing what it can do. You mentioned your father being an early user of Linux; can I ask what platform he currently uses?
ReplyDeleteHi Elisa,
ReplyDeleteI asked my dad about Linux platforms and this is what he sent me:
"I have Ubuntu 10.04 installed on the laptop as a dual-boot with windows (pick one or the other on startup) now, and have used most of the previous versions for the past several years. There is an annoying bug in the wireless module in Ubuntu (on my hardware) though that makes me keep threatening to switch to Fedora. Every now and again, it fails to connect to the wireless router, and prompts me for login. I just have to hit enter, but it's annoying.
Every so often I load other Linux distros into VMs and check out their features and ease of use.
I prefer the Gnome desktop, but will use XCFE if I want a GUI for a server (lighter and faster than Gnome or KDE). KDE is pretty, but I don't much care for it."
I hope that helps!