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Read Our FAQ First!
Frequently Asked Questions...
Q. Which version should I get? 32-bit, or 64-bit?
Well, that will depend upon your processor and the architecture of your computer. If you have a PC-compatible, and don't know what processor you have, the 32-bit version will work regardless.
The 64-bit version, however, will NOT work on a 32-bit processor, since it will use commands that do not exist on a 32-bit processor.
Those commands allow 64-bit versions to give you a speed advantage on newer, 64-bit PC-compatibles, as those applications are designed to take advantage of the faster processors.
So, what does all that mean to you? Well, the 32-bit versions of Linux are designed to work on the average PC-compatible, commonly called the x86 (i386 to i686)
series. The 64-bit versions work best with x86-64 processors.
Current x86 (32-bit) processors are: Intel Pentium 1-4, Pentium M, Celeron, 32bit Xeon, Celeron D, Core Solo/Duo,
AMD K6, Duron, Athlon, Athlon XP, Athlon MP, Sempron
Current
x86-64
(64-bit) processors are: AMD Opteron, Athlon 64, AMD Athlon 64 X2, Sempron 64, Turion 64,
Intel Xeon, Xeon MP, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium D, Core 2 Duo, and any other processors based on AMD's AMD64 & Intel's EM64T (Intel's implementation of AMD64).
So, if you know what processor you have (In Windows, you can find this in your Control Panel's "SYSTEM" area), just find it in the list above, and choose your Linux OS accordingly!
Q. What exactly IS Linux, anyway?
Linux is an OS like Windows that has its roots in Unix. Its Open Source community, security, reliability and cost has made it a popular choice in homes and businesses worldwide.
Linux was originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers from around the globe.
These days, there are various versions, also called "distributions" or "distros", each having their own strengths and visual appeal.
When asked which Linux is better, it's more a question of which Linux is better for YOU. That will take a little browsing and decision making.
Most Linux distros are distinguished by 5 main features:
- Installation Media (ie, does it come on CD or DVD, and how many disks does it require)
- Graphical Interface (ie, which window managers does it include? KDE, Gnome, XFCE, ICE, etc... How easy is the migration from Windows to this GUI?)
- Package Management System (ie, is it RPM, DEB or Gentoo-based?)
- Hardware Support and drivers (how up-to-date is it, and how does it handle things like WiFi and obscure printers)
- Packaged Software (ie, just what's included, and what's installed by default?)
All of these factors will make an impact on which OS to choose. Some folks like to try 2 or 3, especially if they are on "live" disks, which allow them to try the OS before they install it.
Q: What is OpenOffice (or OOo, as it's abbreviated)?
OpenOffice is an office-productivity suite which is approximately comparable to MS Office. It was previously known as StarOffice before it became an open-source project.
As open-source software, it is freely distributable, and can be placed on as many computers as you wish, at home or in the office, thus saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the average user.
OpenOffice is currently available for Linux, BSD, Windows and Mac.
The OpenOffice.org 2.x office suite includes the following components:
Writer (word processor) -
Writer is a feature-rich tool for creating letters,
books, reports, newsletters, brochures, and other
documents. You can insert graphics and objects from
other components into Writer documents. Writer can
export files to HTML, XHTML, XML, Adobe’s
Portable Document Format (PDF), and several
versions of Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect files. It also connects to
your email client.
Calc (spreadsheet) -
Calc has all of the advanced analysis, charting and
decision-making features expected from a high-end
spreadsheet. It includes over 300 functions for
financial, statistical, and mathematical operations,
among others. The Scenario Manager provides “what
if” analyses. Calc generates 2-D and 3-D charts, which
can be integrated into other OOo documents. You can
also open and work with Microsoft Excel workbooks
and save them in Excel format. Calc can export
spreadsheets to Adobe’s PDF and to HTML.
Impress (presentations) -
Impress provides all the common multimedia
presentation tools, such as special effects, animation,
and drawing tools. It is integrated with the advanced
graphics capabilities of OOo’s Draw and Math
components. Slideshows can be further enhanced with
Fontwork’s special effects text, as well as sound and
video clips. Impress is compatible with Microsoft’s
PowerPoint file format and can also save your work in
numerous graphics formats, including Macromedia
Flash (SWF).
Draw (vector graphics)
- Draw is a vector drawing tool that can produce
everything from simple diagrams or flowcharts to 3-D
artwork. Its Smart Connectors feature allows you to
define your own connection points. You can use Draw
to create drawings for use in any of OOo’s other
components, and you can create your own clipart and
add it to the Gallery. Draw can import graphics from
many common formats and save them in over 20
formats including PNG, HTML, PDF, and Flash.
Base (database) -
Base provides tools for day-to-day database work
within a simple interface. It can create and edit forms,
reports, queries, tables, views, and relations, so that
managing a connected database is much the same as in
other popular database applications. Base provides
many new features, such as the ability to analyze and
edit relationships from a diagram view. Base
incorporates HSQLDB as its default relational database
engine. It can also use dBASE, Microsoft Access,
MySQL, or Oracle, or any ODBC- or JDBC-compliant
database. Base also provides support for a subset of
ANSI-92 SQL.
Math (formula editor) - Math is OOo’s formula or equation editor. You can use
it to create complex equations that include symbols or
characters not available in standard font sets. While it
is most commonly used to create formulas in other
documents, such as Writer and Impress files, Math can
also work as a stand-alone tool. You can save formulas
in the standard Mathematical Markup Language
(MathML) format for inclusion in webpages and other
documents not created by OOo.
Can I put this software on as many systems as I like? What if this is for a school, small business, or similar environment?
Situations such as yours are the perfect reason for using Linux, OpenOffice and other open-source software.
All our software is freeware/open-source softtware. We simply supply it on disk, sometimes with our own custom installers and additional documentation.
You are entitled to set this up on as many machines as you like, and can do so without worrying about license or copyright infringments! You can give it to friends and relatives, or use it in an office setting.
Please refer to our Legal Section for an explanation of the GNU General Public License, along with a copy of the license itself.
Do I have to delete Windows or repartition my hard drive to install my Linux distribution?
Absolutely not. If you would like to keep Windows AND have Linux running on your computer, you can do so quickly and easily.
This type of installation is called a "dual boot" system, and most Linux installers choose this by default if a Windows OS is already on your computer.
In a dual-boot system, Linux is installed to a separate partition that has been created from free space on your existing hard drive, or it can be placed on a second hard drive if you have one installed. It will leave Windows unharmed, with all your apps and files just as they were.
Linux will use a "boot manager", usually Grub or LILO, to allow you to choose which operating system you want to work in each time you reboot the computer.
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What is the difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu?
Excellent question!
The main differences are:
(1) The biggest difference is that Kubuntu is on a DVD, while Ubuntu is on a CDROM. Since a DVD holds 6.5 times the data of a CD, this means Kubuntu carries with it hundreds more applications, packages, and libraries than the CDROM version.
(2) Kubuntu includes both the Gnome and KDE (default) desktop interfaces, again due to size difference between DVD and CDROM. Ubuntu INCLUDES ONLY Gnome by default, although you can download KDE if you like. That's the reason for the K in Kubuntu - because it includes KDE.
KDE looks slightly more like Windows, while Gnome looks a little prettier, but a little less familiar.
(3) Documentation. Both disks include the familiar Help system you're used to with windows. However, Kubuntu includes a complete and easy to follow tutorial with the DVD that you can access simply by opening up the Konqueror system/web browser (Kubuntu also includes other browsers, such as Firefox and others).
To access that extra documentation in Kubuntu, just open your Konqueror browser, which has an icon in the familiar Quick Start Icons area similar to Windows (it's the 3rd icon from the left).
When Konqueror starts, it shows you icons that allow you to access your storeage devices, system configuration, applications, and so forth. In the lower right corner, you'll see a link that says "Kubuntu Documentation" (see image below) . Just click that link, and you'll enter a nearly-300-page book that accurately and clearly describes how to do absolutely everything with your new Kubuntu Linux OS. It's simple, clear, and easy to follow, with lots of visual samples.
(click to enlarge)
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