Linux & Our Favorite “Flavor”, Ubuntu

“Software”, as a term, is a nebulous definition, but in essence, software are the series of instructions executed by computers. Software includes something specific, like a word processor or paint program. Before you get to the point of using a word processor or paint program, the computer needs another type of software called an Operating System, or OS for short. An OS is the thing that makes the computer work.

Most of the world is familiar with the OS Microsoft Windows, and with good reason. Windows is very popular and almost exclusively sold in retail stores. However, other OS exist. Almost everyone has heard of Apple’s OS called macOS, but what about all those other OS? You know, the ones that run your smart phone, cable TV box, WiFi device, microwave, refrigerator, game device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, router, switch, printer, most of the Internet, and so on? These devices run a variation of Linux.

Linux is a general term describing a family of Unix-like operating systems based on an operating system kernel created by Linus Torvalds in September 1991. Linux is characterized by distributions, many of which are open source, some commercial, and many others purpose built. After all, your microwave needs to cook food properly, and it does not need to check email and print documents.

So there’s a whole big world of other OS besides Windows and they are worth trying. I’ve tried Fedora, Kail, Debian, and Ubuntu (distributions) and I fully recommend Ubuntu as a beginner’s first choice. The Ubuntu distribution is very mature and backed by good support and an amazing community. Head over to https://distrowatch.com/ sometime and check out all the different versions (distributions) of Linux.

With Linux, you are the boss. You are in charge of everything, and nothing is hidden, or proprietary. Just like in the movie, Gremlins (1984), “With mogwai comes much responsibility”. You can easily wreck an entire system with just a few simple commands or stray clicks and then you can rebuild the machine just as easily. Cost? In most cases, the cost is $0, but better measured in the time it takes you to learn.

What do we really need from an Operating System?

Ubuntu is both an OS and a desktop environment, meaning Ubuntu comes with many extra things like web browser, email programs, word processors, games, calculator, and the system offers a massive repository of other useful software. Best of all, Ubuntu is the easiest to use version of Linux (in my humble opinion – not trying to resurrect any Linux version debates here!).

How Do I Take Ubuntu For A Test Drive?

Easily! Head over to https://ubuntu.com/ and download the Desktop version. I recommend an LTS version, meaning Long Term Support. Make sure your hardware meets the recommended minimums, and it’s better to have more memory, processor, etc. The nice thing about Linux is the OS will run nicely on old hardware; the system is not a resource hog like Windows. You can boot Ubuntu and run it from the boot medium, install it alongside your Windows, install it in a virtual machine, or do a clean install on your computer. The Ubuntu site has instructions for all of these options. As a beginner, I would strongly recommend getting an old computer or laptop to practice on – to avoid any data loss on your primary workstation.

I used Windows for many years, starting back when it was MS-DOS. Somewhere during the Windows Vista debacle, I moved to a MacBook Pro as my primary operating system, and a couple years later, I moved to Linux as my primary workstation. I do keep a copy of Windows 10, licensed and paid for, but I run this cantankerous OS inside a virtual machine for those rare moments when you have a certain Software that was not ported to the Linux environment – like Quickbooks; Are you listening, Intuit?