LINUX INTRODUCTION

What is Linux?
Linux is a UNIX-based operating system originally    developed as for Intel-compatible PC's.  It is now available for most types of hardware platforms, ranging from PDAs (and according to some reports, a wristwatch) to mainframes.  Linux is a "modern operating system", meaning it has such features as virtual memory, memory protection, and preemptive multitasking.

Why use Linux?
Reasons to Install Linux
    * Configurability
    * Convenience
    * Stability
    * Community
    * Freedom
Configurability
Linux distributions give the user full access to configure just about any aspect of their system. Options range from the simple and straightforward (for instance, changing the background image) to the more esoteric (for instance, making the "Caps Lock" key behave like "Control").  Almost any aspect of the user experience can be configured.

Convenience
While Linux takes some effort to get set up, once it is set up, it is surprisingly low-maintenance. Package management can simply be a matter of running two commands in the shell.  Linux also offers complete remote access.  This allows the user to act exactly as if she is sitting at that computer’s desk, potentially across town or on the other side of the world.

Stability
Linux is based on the UNIX kernel.  It provides preemptive multitasking and protected memory. Preemptive multitasking prevents any application from permanently stealing the CPU and locking up the machine.  Protected memory prevents applications from interfering with and crashing one-another.

Community
    Linux is part of the greater open-source community.  This consists of thousands of     developers and many more users world-wide who support open software. This user and developer base is also a support base.  

Freedom
Linux is free.  This means more than just costing nothing.  This means that you are allowed to do whatever you want to with the software.  This is why Redhat, Mandrake, and Suse are all allowed to sell their own distributions of Linux.  The only restriction placed on Linux is that, if you distribute Linux, you must grant all the  privileges to the code that you had, including        providing the source.  This prevents a corporation from using the Linux kernel as the basis for their proprietary operating system.