Beginners guide to Linux: the top five basic Linux questions

Having had a brief look around for beginners Linux guides, it's clear the word 'basic' means something very different to many Linux website writers than it does to the rest of us. I've tried here to take us back to the very basics, without bogging things down too much.

1: What is Linux?

Linux is a free operating system (OS) you can use as an alternative to Microsoft's Windows to run on your PC. It has been around since 1991, growing and morphing from an OS that only techies would've risked going anywhere near, into the more user-friendly alternative to Windows we have today.

While you may not have heard much of it, Linux operating systems are starting to creep into the consumer market more than you may think. Many high street laptops and netbooks now come with a Linux OS, including best sellers such as the Asus Eee PC 901 and Acer Aspire ONE.

Also, the hugely popular Android OS for smartphones is also based on it, as is the Palm OS and the new Nokia Maemo Linux OS. See that lovely Desire HD handset or the Samsung Galaxy mobile? They're all running on a version of Linux.

Finally, the Linux OS is 'open source'. This means that, unlike Windows, anyone can work on changes and improvements to the system in a huge collaborative effort, with the strongest ideas, applications and improvements being incorporated into the whole at regular intervals. This means that not only is it free and open, it is very fast and claims to have better security too.

2: What isn't Linux?

For starters, it isn't the answer for everyone. It really does change everything - from how you move around the screen, applications and files ('user interface', or UI) to the types of additional program you can run on your PC or laptop once you've installed it.

If you're a big gamer, for example, you'll need to do some research into whether you'll be able to get up and running with them. The vast majority of PC games are only designed to run on Windows, and you may not be able to play some on a Linux machine at all, while others will require you to launch them via an additional piece of software (such as World of Warcraft). The same may go for applications you rely on, perhaps for accounting or a work application, so be sure to check before making the plunge.

That said, if you're determined to use traditional Microsoft programs such as Office, Outlook and Explorer, you tend to find that with a bit of research and effort you will be able to get them up and running (most often using the Wine project, which supports running many programs built only for Windows). However, this may make the point of saving a few pounds pointless if you've spent a week just trying to get basic programs to run!

Also, the good news is some popular pieces of software have official Linux versions. Otherwise, there are often alternative Linux versions of programs that will do the job as well as their more famous alternatives - often better (and, of course, sometimes worse). Also, these are free too! Just be prepared to put in a bit of time to get up to speed. A good example is Open Office - a program that can open many Microsoft Office files and let you change and save them too.

• MOBILE BROADBAND WARNING: Mobile broadband dongles are notorious for being problematic with Linux-based operating systems. If you need to use a dongle to connect to the internet, do some research into whether you'll be able to get your dongle to work with Linux. This TechRadar guide is a little old now, but is a good place to start as it covers many of the more common dongles. Also, be warned that if you need to talk to tech support, if you have a Linux machine you may struggle to find someone who knows who can help (although many of us find that anyway, even if we have Windows!).
• HOME BROADBAND WARNING: There is a very small chance you may need to jump through some hoops to get your home broadband connection running with a Linux powered PC or laptop, although this is rare nowadays. There is no reason it shouldn't work - your internet signal is not fussy about which type of OS you have and your router and Linux set up should be pretty much plug and play. However, your broadband customer service or tech team could be a different matter if things go wrong. As with mobile broadband, you may have your conversation with tech support cut short if you mention Linux - there's a good chance your broadband supplier will say it doesn't support it. 

One of the great things about Linux, though, is the community. Check you'll be able to get up and running before you begin (both your router and supplier), and if you're not sure simply ask around on some active Linux forums - you'll probably be surprised at how quickly someone will get back to you.

Again, we need to stress that using Linux isn't always for the faint hearted. Microsoft's Windows really is what the majority of company's build for when it comes to computer software - even Apple users have a lot of problems with compatibility, so you can imagine what it's like for Linux users! However, with a bit of effort, it can be a really rewarding exercise and an education to boot.

3: Why would I want Linux?

There are three key reasons - money, choice (see point 4) and space. Not only is it possible to legally get the Linux OS for free, it is also generally less bulky, meaning it takes up less of your precious hard drive space. This lack of bulk also tends to mean that your machine runs faster, as there should be less going on in the background.

And yes, you heard me correctly - you can get Linux for free. Of course, if you have Microsoft Windows 7 on a powerful machine with a lot of memory, you are probably best advised to steer clear of all the hassle - it is a proving to be a good operating system. However, if you have a clunky older version of Windows, a machine with a small memory, or are building a machine yourself and want to do it as cheaply as possible, Linux may be the best option.

While you may not have heard of them, there are thousands of reliable apps available for Linux powered machines, often available simply by the click of a button to start downloading in the same way you often see on smartphone app stores (they will also automatically be updated and upgraded too, even though they are third party applications).

Remember though, you can now get Microsoft's Windows 7 for well under £100, which isn't a big price to pay for a very good and well supported OS. But then again, you can experiment with Linux for free - if it turns out you don't like it, you can always go back to Microsoft, cap (and wallet) in hand.

4: So where do I start with Linux?

If you start searching around the internet for Linux, its easy to get put off because of something we don't often complain about - choice! I guess we're just not used to it when it comes yo operating system and user interfaces on our computers - normally it is just there and we get on with it.

First, you need to decide which version of Linux you are going to use, the explanation of which is a little hard to explain. At the core of any computer system is a 'kernel' - a central component that acts as a kind of bridge between the applications used and the data processing that goes on in the background. Linux itself is the kernel, but there are a variety of 'UIs' and 'distributions' that you can run on top of it:

• Distributions: If you want to download a package that already has all the common bells and whistles to get you up and running (recommended for most new users), you should opt for a distribution package. These are designed up from one of the UIs mentioned above, but can be seen as more user friendly - especially for new users. The most popular include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, OpenSUSE, Fedora and Debian.
• UIs: If you want a real challenge and to start at the beginning with just the UI and build up from there, get yourself a UI. The most common current Linux UIs are  GNOME,  KDE and  Xfce. Each has its own look and style, strengths and weaknesses, so you may want to take a close look at each before settling on one.

While more advanced users may well want to opt for one of the other options, for future blogs I will largely be using Ubuntu for my examples (a desktop version screen shot of which is pictured above). Figures suggest more than 50 per cent of current Linux users use Ubuntu, with that figure on the rise, so for practical purposes it seems to be the sensible approach. You can download it from the Ubuntu website.

I'm also assuming most reading this will be largely non-technical users, to whom Ubuntu will be the sensible choice. Again, bear in mind if you later want to change, you can move to another free version of one of the other Linux UIs.

Also, Ubuntu has both a desktop and netbook edition - the latter being much smaller and basic (pictured, right), making it quicker to run on machines with less memory, as well as being designed with slightly smaller screens in mind. I'll be using this for many future examples of the system (as well as looking at other UIs and distributions too).

Ubuntu comes with certain key packages already included. It has the Firefox internet browser, so you can get straight online once you're up and running, while it also includes Skype and the aforementioned Open Office, covering the likes of Word and Excel documents. This means that even if you're not immediately at home with Linux, you should at least be able to keep your standard PC or laptop activities going while you acquaint yourself better.

5: I'm ready to give Ubuntu Linux a try: How do I take the first step?

If you are installing Ubuntu, or any version of Linux, onto an old desktop or laptop device, be sure to back up all your files before beginning to install the new OS. This is vitally important. Frankly, even if you aren't installing a new OS, you should periodically back up your important files - you never know when disaster may strike your hard drive, destroying your precious documents, pictures etc forever.

There are several ways to do this, such as burning the files onto a CD or DVD, storing them on a removable hard drive or memory stick, or storing them online. It may be worth doing two of these options, to be on the safe side, where possible.

You can download Ubuntu here. Once downloaded, you will need to create either a CD or USB stick so that you can install Ubuntu from it. Instructions are given on the site, alongside a way to buy an Ubuntu CD cheaply if you need to.

Notice that once you've created your Ubuntu CD or memory stick, you can actually try it by running it from there before installing it onto your machine. Remember though, this will run slowly, as it will have to keep accessing the CD/stick - use this step to give you an idea of how the Ubuntu UI looks and feels - if it's not for you, perhaps consider one of the other Linux options. Otherwise, it's time to take the plunge.

We won't go into the details of installation here - all that is well covered on the Ubuntu site. Good luck!

• Please also see: Top five first Linux apps to download