Issue 22 - Entry barriers for Linux dropping all the time

(2 votes)

In fact,getting into Linux has never been easier. Furthermore, there are now so many mature, stable and well supported Open Source applications out there that by switching to Linux you will most likely not miss much. Below I have come up with six ways (no doubt there are more) of giving Linux a try each requiring a different level of technical knowledge. I more or less ranked them by starting with the most difficult:

Revive old hardware: like I did in K.IT.S newsletter issues 12 and 18 you can take some old hardware which is obsolete for the latest release of what 'others' have to offer and revive it by installing one of the lighter Linux distributions. Depending on the age of the hardware and its configuration this could be as easy as dropping in a CD and pressing a few keys or it could require some serious tweaking, compiling and modifying. Whatever the need, a basic understanding of how hardware works and how Linux is setup will be required to get a working system.
Use virtualisation: the technique of virtualisation has been around for servers for quite a few years, but it has now made its entry into the desktop market as well. With applications such as VMWare and VirtualBox users can simulate one or more computers inside the memory of the host system. So basically one system can be made into two more separate systems. These systems can then be installed just like a real physically separate machine with your choice of Linux distribution.
Install a dual boot system: if you do not want to get into virtualisation it is always possible (if your hard disk size allows it) to partition the hard disk into two or more separate partitions and install different operating systems into each partition. Most mature Linux distributions have the functionality of repartitioning and installing a boot manager (which lets you choose from which partition you want to boot at startup) build into their installation procedure. Of course it is always best to backup you existing partitions first before attempting to create a dual boot system.
Use a live cd: many distributions are now available in the form of a live cd (e.g. Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Knoppix , ...). All you need to do is to make sure you system can boot from the CD or DVD player. Then just drop in the live CD and boot the system. Your PC will boot from the CD and you will get a working Linux system, without anything being installed on your hard disk. Obviously this is not a long term solution as the speed will not be comparable to a hard disk based system. But it will allow you to get familiar with a Linux system and all its applications.
Buy a entry level Linux PC: the easiest way to get going with Linux is, of course, to work with a pre-installed system. Some manufacturers have recently come to the market with some very inexpensive entry-level systems running Linux (in fact, when offering a sytem at those prices Linux is the only option). The most mature of these systems is the ASUS EeePC retailing at a touch under 300 Euro. This get you a great little notebook (weighing under 1Kg !!) with email client, webbrowser, full office suite, media player, messenger, skype, wireless networking and more. This is definitely worth a look at less than a licence for some other operating systems on the market.
Buy a fully fledged Linux PC: if the small ASUS EeePC is a little light for your taste, the last thing you could do is to buy a full Linux based system of the increasing number of vendors offering mainstream hardware with a Linux distribution pre-installed. The best known of these vendors has to be Dell, who now offers Ubuntu based systems in selected countries.

As you can see, there are many ways of getting your first experience with Linux, some being as easy as buying an new PC with everything pre-installed. All that is left to do there is unpack !! If you want to get your hands dirty, there are also plenty of options with various degrees of difficulty. Why not have a go ... you might be surprised !! Enjoy.