While Linux is a kernel, in this thread we are talking about the operating systems that use the Linux kernel. Linux (Listeni/ˈlɪnəks/ lin-əks[5][6] or /ˈlɪnʊks/ lin-uuks)[7][8][9] is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds.[10][11] Linux system distributions may vary in many details of system operation, configuration, and software package selections."
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WikipediaWhat makes Linux better than any other OS?Depends on your uses, it is not a one-size-fits-all. Linux-based systems vary
heavily. One distro you love will be completely different than another. For the
most part I'll try and sum it up. If you want a customizable system without any tinkering at system files, then Linux could work for you. If you are a gamer, there are many native Linux games such as games by Id software, known for classics like Doom and Quake. If you want to play Windows games, you can either dual boot or use
Wine to run Windows apps and games. Be warned, Wine is still in development. You may experience crashes and graphical errors along the way, however VALVe games (and steam itself) do work pretty well with Wine.
tl;dr you can customize it to do almost anything.
Is there a benefit I get from using Linux?No matter what distro you use, you will end up in a situation where you use the terminal. A linux user's best friend. I guarantee you no matter how much time you spend on your desktop you will find yourself nose-deep in the terminal. So what's so good about the terminal? If you're new to linux, you'll probably learn about how computers work by using the terminal.
Edit: I worded that above poorly. Fixing. fix'd
Where can I get this?That's where things get a little weird compared to Windows or Mac. There's more than just one version, I don't mean version as in Lion or Snow Leopard (XP,Vista,7 or Windows). The systems are by many different people. While most of them are free, there are a few exceptions (like Red Hat).
Where do I start?Good question! I put some links below to some I recommend for each difficulty level.
Wait, 32 bit or 64 bit?More people develop for 32 bit. The sad truth.
Beginner's Level
Pinguy OS - Pretty much just Ubuntu with a lot of customization. I use this one.
Linux Mint - Linux Mint is a edit of Ubuntu, very easy to use. MUCH better than Ubuntu's recent updates (cough cough unity).
Ubuntu - Seriously, just use Linux Mint.
Intermediate's Level
Arch Linux - VERY customizable, customization is the key feature in Arch.
Sabayon - Easy Gentoo. Some things have to be installed from source but for the most part very automated.
l33t h4x0r Level
Gentoo - A complete 90 degree learning cliff but it is even more customizable than Arch. If you follow the handbook, you can learn a huge amount from this distro.
Youtube!InfintelyGalactic - Reviews many different Linux distros.ThisWeekinLinux - Linux news.Sneekylinux - He covers very low-spec/alternative Linux distros.Discuss.
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