If you’re like me, you’ve considered eliminating Windows from your computer at some point. The upgrade scheme is confusing, and there’s an endless stream of hacks, viruses, worms, and exploits that target Windows computers exclusively.
Linux, by comparison, appears to be more stable. It seems to require less maintenance, and there aren’t any legal strings attached to it. It does, however, have a “geeks only” reputation that scares away many novices early on. Recently, Red Hat, a Linux software company, has made an effort to change that techs-only image.
Red Hat 8.0 is the latest Red Hat release. It is regarded as a major step forward for productivity and ease of use – you don’t have to pore over manuals all night to configure the kernel. It is complete with a user-friendly desktop, firewall, office suite, networking tools, Web server, and more. It’s just $39.95 for the basic package ($149.95 for the Pro edition, which includes a few more bells and whistles), or free if you have the right resources and some patience. That’s a far cry from the $200 price tag for Windows XP.
If you’d like to give the latest version of Red Hat Linux a test drive, check out the following links for information on Red Hat 8.0. This just might be the release that popularizes Linux on the desktop.
If you’re a long-time Windows user and completely in the dark about Linux, read through Control-Escape: Alternative Software before you get started. A word of encouragement here – it’s a whole lot easier to install Linux now than it was when this page was originally set up.
Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, you can purchase Red Hat 8.0, including a few manuals and CDs, for around $40. Alternatively, if you have a fast Internet connection and some idle computer time, you can download it directly from Red Hat . That site may be slow for a few weeks since version 8.0 has only been out for a short time. Some other sites where you may download Red Hat 8.0 are listed on the FreshRPMs site.
“Psyche” is the name for this particular version (or “distribution, ” or sometimes just “distro”) of Red Hat Linux. Not sure how to get started, or what to do once the download is complete? Here’s a page from Red Hat that can help. Read the instructions first before you start downloading; if the directions seem extremely complicated, consider purchasing the boxed version. Manuals for all Red Hat 8 users are also available at RedHat.com or here.
Totally lost and confused? Ask your question at LinuxQuestions.org. You’ll need to become a member first, but it’s free! Stick with the newbie forum until you master the basics. Advanced Linux pros can be a little unkind to squeaky new initiates.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tour of Red Hat 8.0’s basic resources. Next week I’ll let you know what I think of Linux as a desktop computing environment. I’ll look strictly at how usable it is for day-to-day computing, including the programs it arrives with and how easy it is to understand from a Windows user’s perspective.
If you’re looking for geeky comparisons of different distros and the virtues of GNOME vs. KDE, there are lots of other reviews out there that cover that material. The upcoming article is for the rest of you, who just want to know if it’s possible to use without devoting your life to it. See you soon!
Jackie Rosenberger is an editor with murdok
