It seems most PC users have heard of Linux and, at the very least, the idea of open source software has piqued their curiosity. Here, we explain open source in greater detail so, if you are interested in getting started with Linux, now is the time to give it a try.

We will explain how to try Linux by running the operating system from a CD, not the hard disk, so there’s no need to abandon Windows.

This feature provides a safe way to experiment, without risking Windows’ settings or your documents.

Even so, it’s always a good idea to do some routine backing up before trying new software. If you’re not sure how, click here.

Source of confusion
There is some confusion about what open source actually means. While the software can be obtained without charge, that isn’t its defining characteristic.

Open source tools are free in the sense of free speech, not a free lunch. The philosophy is that people should have certain freedoms when using software.

The first freedom is to use the software; the other includes the ability to learn how the software works, and being allowed to tinker with it if needed.

Users are then expected to share any alterations and tweaks made to the software so that everyone can benefit.

The idea of altering software is really only of interest to skilled programmers, but their shared work benefits the whole community of users.

Open source is often mistakenly thought of as specific to the Linux operating system, but there’s a fair chance you’re already using some sort of open source software.

For example, the Firefox web browser and Thunderbird email application are both open source projects, as is photo-editing program the Gimp. To find out more, go to the Free Software Foundation website.

Open source software is sometimes sold, with the price including manuals or some form of post-sales technical support, as well as the cost of the discs containing the software.

Safe computing
Linux has been accused by some of damaging computers, so let’s get some perspective.

An operating system marshals the inner workings of a PC, so if settings are incorrect or commands carried out without some knowledge, then files can be damaged.

Windows, and particularly the pre-XP versions, also have something of a reputation in this regard.

The difference is that Linux was created for enthusiasts by enthusiasts and presumes you know what you are doing. Windows will generally warn users before doing something terminal.

For this reason, we are using a version of Linux that runs direct from a CD, called a Live CD, to boot the computer. The hard disk is kept completely separate, with all the files quite safe.

A common word when talking about Linux is distribution. A distribution is a specific edition of Linux, also sometimes called a ‘flavour’ of Linux.

Windows also has separate editions, such as XP Home, Professional and Media Center Editions, but there are a great many more Linux distributions.

The website DistroWatch is a good place to start. It has a list of the 100 most popular distributions.