Distros

There used to be a saying: “Linux is user-friendly, it’s just very selective with who its friends are.” That’s not the case nowadays because Linux has become ever easier to get into for new users.

This month’s DVD contains three good examples of how a distro can be configured to be easy to grasp for new users, but also benefit more-experienced users. The thing about being a newbie, at anything, is that it’s a temporary status – after a while you’ll either gain experience and proficiency, or you’ll give up.

The three distros will appeal to those coming from Windows, but they’re still Linux distros. Linux isn’t just a free operating system for those not wishing to pay for Windows. It’s a separate OS and as such, it does things differently. If you’re trying Linux for the first time, this is the most important thing to remember. However much a desktop may look like Windows, Linux is different… so be prepared to learn new ways of doing things.

A classic example of this is software installation, which uses a central package manager, a system that’s been adopted by mobile operating systems, rather than having to download software from various web sites.