Your questions answered
Still worried about switching to Linux? Let us put your mind at rest.
You’re now ready to take your first steps into the Linux universe via the excellent Linux Mint distro, but before you get stuck in, let us explode some of the common myths and help you better understand why switching is a great move.
QIsn’t Linux just for geeks – newbies aren’t welcome? Utter rubbish. These days, Linux – and Mint in particular – is firmly aimed at normal human beings. It’s easy to dive in and get started, as you’ve already found out with the installation process, and is used for a wide variety of professional and personal purposes.
QIsn’t Linux all about the command line? Most Linux distros ship with a default desktop environment. You can even swap desktops to find the one that suits the way you work best. The underlying OS is still accessible via the command-line Terminal, which works in a similar way to the Windows Command Prompt.
Take the time to learn some of these commands and you’ll find the Terminal is a fast and convenient means of getting stuff done, but Mint provides plenty of point-and-click tools, and in most cases you can avoid the Terminal completely.
QThere aren’t any decent programs on Linux, right? Many developers provide native Linux builds of popular programs – check their websites before doing anything else. You’ll also find plenty of free, open-source alternatives to favourite applications you’ve been using in Windows. Linux is renowned for its free, open-source roots, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of commercial software out there too. Finally, it’s also possible to run many Windows programs directly in Linux through the Wine utility. We’ll show you how later on in this feature ( seep39).
QCan I play games on Linux? Sure you can. You’ll find over 1,900 games are available through the Software Manager alone. Select Games from the main screen to browse. Look out for the free DOSBox Emulator, which you can use to play your old Windows games from the last millennium. Also check out Good Old Games ( www.gog.com), which offers new titles and over 1,300 DRMfree classics made compatible with Linux. The Steam gaming platform ( http://store.steampowered.com) is also available for Linux where you’ll find over 1,500 games – many blockbuster titles – available to buy and download. In fact, Linux is a better platform for games than Windows thanks to the fact it makes fewer demands on your system resources, and developers have come to recognise this, providing native support for renowned gaming engines like the CryEngine. [Check out our feature on gaming, p44, LXF205 for more].
QLinux won’t support my hardware, right? In the vast majority of cases, you’ll find your PC’s core components work fine with Mint, while most hardware manufacturers provide dedicated drivers for external peripherals and hardware, from Wi-Fi adaptors to printers and scanners. Indeed, thanks to CUPS, installing and managing printers is a relatively painless [see Tutorials, p70, LXF204).
One area where Linux has really improved is support for graphics cards. Mint installs generic drivers during the installation process, but you can replace these with optimised drivers from your card’s hardware manufacturer. Click Menu > Administration > Driver Manager to switch from the opensource driver to a proprietary one if it’s supported, or visit the manufacturer’s website to manually download the drivers.
QIt’s free, so I guess there’s no support? Take a trip to www.linuxmint.com/links.php and you’ll find documentation and a vibrant, active community offering support and answers through forums and a chat room. Take the time to search on the internet, and you’ll find the vast majority of your questions have already been answered.
QLinux isn’t reliable or secure, right? Wrong – on both counts. Linux is no less reliable than Windows or OS X, and in many ways is more robust. It’s also far more secure than its rivals, and not just because of the way it handles user privileges. Linux’s open nature makes it better scrutinised, while the diverse number of distros make it less of a target for hackers.