LINUX ISN’T WINDOWS

Ubuntu’s Unity desktop does a good job of masking the fact that Linux and Windows are very different operating systems. There’s the small matter of the filesystem, of course, and Linux is much tighter with security than Windows. Windows has closed the gaps in some areas— file and folder permissions, for example—but in others, Linux remains way out in front. For example, you can’t perform an administrative task in Linux—such as installing updates or a program—without supplying your user password. It’s this attention to detail that makes Linux far less vulnerable to malware and hackers.

Also, despite appearances, Linux remains very much an operating system that performs best from the underlying shell environment. Unity is a good front end, but as you’ll see later on in this feature, don’t resist embracing the command line through the Terminal.

Other things to consider: Ubuntu is a much more open, communitysupported environment than Windows. It’s packed with free (and open source) software, helping drive down computing costs, but most support is found online, through forums and asking questions of your peers. The way Linux handles software—via centralized repositories and package managers—is another thing you need to get used to.

One final thought: Hardware compatibility is no longer the issue it was either. While some devices don’t work, you’ll find most do, and many don’t require any additional configuration—they just work.