Here are some of the questions that people most often ask us. If you've got a doubt about anything related to Linux
, check out the list of questions and see if one of the answers clears it up. If you can't find an answer to your question here, you can mail us.
Q.What is Linux?
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Linux is in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions. Linux is a Unix-like operating system originally developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linux is Free/Open Source software .Although most of the pieces that make up Linux are freely available on the Internet, using them to get a working system together is by no means a trivial task - it is called building a Linux distribution, and this very task is our main job.
Q.What does Linux do that Windows can't?
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1.Update every single piece of software on system with a single action. This is one of the main advantage of Linux over Windows. Sure, Windows has Windows Update, but that only updates the operating system, Office, and a few other things. For every Linux distribution updating is simple. When you update, you have every application, every library, every script - every single piece of software upgraded automatically for you. And on most of them, they will check for updates automatically and notify you. This is great for security, fixing bugs quickly, and getting the latest in features.
2.Keep system secure without software that consumes system resources, requires time.Viruses are less of a threat on Linux. The very way a Linux system is designed makes it very difficult for a virus to function as it does in Windows. This also applies to spyware, malware, etc. The fact that almost no viruses are written for Linux also adds a nicer sense of warmth.
3.Run an entire operating system for free without pirating software, and without breaking the law.
4.Take your settings with you where ever you go. In Linux, all your personal settings are stored in your Home folder, most in folders that begin with a period (like .gaim). So, you can copy all these settings from one computer to another. On Windows, some settings are under your home folder and some are in the registry. So your settings are not portable.
5.Run thousands of great pieces of software that only run on Linux. Just like Windows, Linux has software that doesn't run on Windows. Great pieces of software like Amarok, Bluefish, Neverball, Gnumeric, K3B, Beryl, gdesklets, and MythTV.
Q.What Linux can do?
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Can I put Linux on my computer and still keep Windows®?
Of course. Intelligent partitioning tools will use the space available on your hard drive so that Linux and Windows® can peacefully coexist. You get to choose which one you want to run when turning on or rebooting your computer. Also note that Linux can read and write on Windows® partitions (note however that writing to NTFS partitions is not recommended) , which means you can access all your Windows® data under Linux.
Can Linux run Windows® software?
Linux has native equivalents to many Windows® programs, and also has a quite a few programs Windows® does not have. If you still need to use Windows® software, something can be done: Wine and others can help you. A lot of Windows® software will run with one of those solutions - but using native Linux software is often a better idea.
Can I use my digital camera?
Just plug it in and start Gphoto or Digikam. See our list of compatible hardware.
Can I edit photographs?
The GIMP is a sophisticated picture editor for Linux, similar to Photoshop®. It's a delight just to play around with all the different tools, filters and scripts that made the GIMP famous.
Can I play DVDs?
Yes you can. Mplayer, Xine and Totem are three full-featured media players you can use to play MPEG, AVI, DivX files as well as DVDs. Please note however that we do not distribute the code needed to read encrypted DVDs for legal reasons. You will have to install it separately, but that is not at all difficult to do.
Can I browse the Internet?
Yes, naturally. Konqueror, Epiphany, FireFox and Mozilla are some of the best web browsers available. They all provide pop-up-blocking and advanced security features.
Can I use MSN® Messenger Messenger®/ICQ®/Yahoo!®/AIM®?
Yes, and you can even use the four at once, thanks to GAIM and Kopete.
Can I send and receive emails?
Of course. Kontact does just that and much more. It will help you manage all your personal information, from address book to timetable. It is nicely integrated and a joy to use.
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