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Linux is the alternative to either Microsoft Windows or Apple’s OS X. Being open source has meant  that Linux now comes in a whole raft of ‘flavours’ or distros (distributions).
Linux can be installed on laptops or desktop PCs either alongside the two proprietary OS (Operating Systems) or on its own. Our IT Group’s suite of laptops are now all fitted with Ubuntu Linux.
Want a breath of fresh air, a chance to try a completely different OS (Operating System)? Feel cramped and railroaded into Microsoft-land? Most of all, do you want to experiment with computing that potentially costs nothing but can also run alongside your current Windows OS, replace your old OS completely or even run from CD leaving your current OS untouched (this latter case does result in slower response times and a need to start each session anew - but what the heck, it's a great experiment)?
For anyone familiar with Apple Macs, the Linux experience will seem like home territory; both systems have the same UNIX pedigree.
While our IT Group makes extensive use of open-source applications in our regular classes, we are also keen to explore this complete break with main-stream home computing.
Alternatively, visit the official website at www.ubuntu.com for much more.
Ubuntu Linux is available FREE for download, or may be purchased on CD/DVD for around £5.00 at the time of writing - see the above website.
We also have local IT specialists who can install Ubuntu Linux on your current laptop or PC for a very reasonable fee.
For a full history of Linux, go to the Wikipedia pages here...
This article is a must-read since how many people know that Android phones are powered by a Linux-based OS making this the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems, as of May 2022.
Further, Linux is the basis for Chromebooks which dominates the school-pupil focused market in the US which represents nearly 20% of the sub-$300 notebooks in the US.
At a different level, Linux is the leading operating system on servers (over 96.4% of the top 1 million web servers' operating systems are Linux), leads other big systems such as mainframe computers, and is used on all of the world's 500 fastest supercomputers (since November 2017, having gradually displaced all competitors)
So, while only some 4% of desktop computers run Linux (January, 2025) you will see that it is much more significant than you may have thought - time to get onboard?
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We are united!
