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How Do I Get Linux? Some people are afraid of Linux, but the truth is that Linux is so easy to try out. You can even try it out without making any changes to your current operating system and without it even touching your hard drive. Being free certainly doesn't hurt either! It is very easy to get a copy of Linux. There are two typical methods: You can order install CDs from most big distributions, usually paying only for shipping, or you can download the CD images and burn them yourself for free. My method of choice is to download a LiveCD image. The beauty of a LiveCD is that you can try Linux temporarily without any changes to your current OS (no files are even created on your hard drive). Other options are available too, like network installs and USB drive images. Before you get into it, you need to understand that there are several distributions (like brands) of Linux. The most popular right now are Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, and Debian. You can read all about them on DistroWatch. They're all related and can do all of the same things, so it boils down to the defaults they provide, the typical tools they use, and personal preference. Perhaps the biggest choice to make is the choice of desktop environment. I might be overstating it, since you can change it at any time, but it defines the feel of your OS. The two big contenders are KDE and Gnome (again, pronounced weird: Guh-Nome). KDE feels similar to Windows, but allows for tons of customization. The latest version of KDE brings fancy graphical effects that you'd expect from recent modern operating systems. Gnome is more like what classic Linux has felt like for some time. It has some of the same graphical effects through Compiz. Besides the feel, each DE has its own default applications. KDE apps will run on Gnome and vice-versa, so don't be worried. It's easy to switch between KDE and Gnome if you want to try both, and you can have both installed simultaneously and choose the one you want when you log in. As for myself, I use and suggest Kubuntu for beginners coming from Windows. Kubuntu is Ubuntu, but with KDE installed by default instead of Gnome. I actually started with Debian, which is like the father of Ubuntu. I recommend Kubuntu instead because more stuff seems to work right out of the box and the update schedule is more frequent. Jonny D |