Introduction

i've finally got around to installing Linux. i'd used Unix systems plently of times before during a four year computer science degree, however i never really got my head around the whole Unix thing. i'm now confident using Linux all the time. i've decided to detail everything i have learnt in these task orientated guides.

The guides serve two purposes, to help me keep a log book of what i did just in case i need to do it again! and hopefully to provide help and useful information to others.

Why use linux?

Linux is so much better than Windows! It has better security, performance and stability for a start. i was thinking of upgrading my computer to a many gigahertz beast, but since migrating to linux i don't really need to. Linux doesn't churn your hard disc for no aparent reason as windows does. Also, compression of DVDs to the legally dubious DivX format is around 3 times faster!

i almost forgot to mention the best bit, Linux is completely free! and so is 99% of the software available for it.

Hardware support?

Yes it is true hardware support for Linux is not as good as Windows. However for mainstream standard hardware driver support is excellent. i have successfully got my graphics card, tv card, and infra red receiver working just fine. Support is not always supplied by the manufactures as it is with Windows, it is often written by random programmers - a google search may be necessary!