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Linux is an open source OS competing with Windows. The easiest to use distros are Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS, both with built-in applications and user-friendly interfaces. Installing new software can be challenging, but some distros offer plug-ins for easier installation. Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS are free to download, but shipping costs may apply.
Linux® is an open source operating system (OS) designed to compete with Microsoft Windows® for an ever-growing share of the computer market. As it is an open source operating system, it has been developed by many different groups in different incarnations. Some versions are free, some are not, and some are designed for UNIX® fanatics while others are geared towards the average user. Which Linux® distribution (“distro”) is the easiest to use depends on the user’s needs, but there are a few popular choices.
The first for the friendliest distribution is Ubuntu®. This operating system comes with a suite of built-in applications, including a word processor, spreadsheet program, graphics editor, e-mail client, FireFox web browser, games, and more. Ubuntu® is 100% free, and the website promises free updates every six months to keep users’ systems up-to-date. It has a built-in catalog of software applications which are also free and available at the click of a button. To make Ubuntu® even more attractive, users can exchange, open and edit many common Window® file formats with friends, such as Word® documents and Windows® music or graphics files.
Neck to neck with Ubuntu® is the Linux® distribution PCLinuxOS. Aside from the correspondence with Ubuntu® in the previously mentioned areas, an interesting feature of this operating system is that it is available as a Live CD, bootable without installation on the system. When used as a Live CD, user configuration files can be saved to a memory stick. Alternatively, it can be installed on your hard drive. Both Ubuntu® and PCLinuxOS have familiar point-and-click interfaces with a solid reputation for recognizing and installing drivers for the most common hardware. Users with advanced graphics cards may find themselves looking for some online support.
Despite progress towards friendlier versions of Linux®, a common complaint among novice users is difficulty with installing new software. While several distributions come with pre-installed programs, the ability to load new software is obviously key. Users may find it more challenging than they are used to.
Other Linux® distributions aim to solve this problem by providing a special plug-in which is supposed to allow a user to visit a specific website, click on the desired software package and sit back while the site goes through the installation process for the user . However, the distributions that offer it aren’t always free.
There are many sources of support for people curious to try out a Linux® distribution package. Ubuntu® and PCLinuxOS are free to download, although there is usually a minimal cost for materials and shipping to try a Live CD. Individuals who have a dial-up connection may wish to request a CD, as the distribution files are quite large.
