I hear linux is very good. Is this true? Where can I buy it? What is difference between RedHat and Linux? Regards, Setag
On Friday 25 October 2002 8:44 am, Setag Lib wrote:
I hear linux is very good. Is this true? Where can I buy it? What is difference between RedHat and Linux?
Regards, Setag
HI Setag, All of us on this mailing list think that Linux is good! :-) There are a large number of places where Linux can be purchased including the websites for the major distributions such as RedHat, SuSE, and Mandrake. The term "Linux", strictly speaking, refers to the core of the operating system, that is, the part which "talks" directly to the computer hardware. Having this ability is necessary but insufficient to do useful work on the computer. You need programs such as word processors, windowing environments, etc, etc. There are many groups of people (including companies) who have gathered together a large amount of software (including the Linux kernel) with the hope of having enough software to enable most people to do useful work (or have fun!!) with Linux. Some of these companies are RedHat, SuSE, and Mandrake (there are many others). Groups of people which are not companies include Debian. A collection of software which includes the Linux kernel that is distributed by a group of people is referred to as a Linux "distribution". There are many long discussions about which distribution is the best. There is no correct answer, just alot of opinions. In the United States, RedHat and Mandrake appear to be the most commonly used, while in Europe, SuSE has a large following. It is truly difficult to know which is most commonly used since the software can be downloaded from the Internet and counting downloads is not a reliable way to gauge the number of users as some users might download multiple times (for software upgrades, as an example). I look back and see I've written perhaps more than you wished to know, but I hope you find it helpful. Later, Andy -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group Worcester, MA USA http://www.wlug.org
From: Setag Lib <bsetag@wpidalamar.com>
I hear linux is very good. Is this true?
He asks the Linux users group whether Linux is good! What shall we tell him?
Where can I buy it?
You can buy a CD that contains a copy at the Borders bookstore on Route 9 in Shrewsbury, or various other places. I think the WPI bookstore has them. I got three or four copies for the price of a beer from somebody I met at the WLUG meeting. You can download a copy from various Internet sites. To order with your chargecard, you can use our *SECURED* web page at: http://www.cheapbytes.com (that was an unpaid commercial advertisement) I would be happy to sell you one of my old CDs for $200 (price not firm).
What is difference between RedHat and Linux?
Linux is the name of the Kernel of an Operating System. This operating system was written by a loose coalition of programers around the world, and is released under the terms of the GPL and various other Open Source Licenses. RedHat is the name of a company that tries to make money selling copies, documentation, and support for free software. Here is an excerpt from the GPL, which is the End User License Agreement for GNU/Linux. GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991 Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed. Preamble The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users. This General Public License applies to most of the Free Software Foundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to using it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is covered by the GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it to your programs, too. When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the software, or if you modify it. For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their rights.
participants (3)
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Andy Stewart -
Keith Wright -
Setag Lib