GNU/Linux: a Free Operating System

GNU/Linux is a mostly free operating system, though there are some commercial versions available. But why should you start using Linux?

One key reason, aside from the fact that it’s free, is that Linux runs efficiently on older hardware. This is because Linux has much lower hardware requirements compared to Windows. So, yes, your old box will be able to last more than a few years longer, with an installation of Linux of some sort.

Different Linux distributions (distros) have varying resource demands—some require more power, while others are designed to be lightweight, using minimal storage, RAM, and CPU power. There are even distros that aim to mimic the appearance of Windows, Mac, or even Amiga.

Which Linux Distro Should You Choose?

There are nearly a thousand different Linux distributions available, so you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Personally, I’ve been using Linux Mint Mate for several years. It’s a distro built on Debian and Ubuntu, which I see as a strength. Mint inherits the best parts of these systems while filtering out some of the less desirable aspects.

In Linux, the core system is called the kernel, and the graphical interface most users interact with is managed by X11. You can install multiple window managers (WMs) and switch between them as you please. Some people prefer to use different WMs for various tasks like browsing or working, or just for a fresh look.

How to Install Linux

There are several ways to install Linux. If you already have Windows installed and want to keep it, you can install Linux alongside it. You’ll decide how much drive space to allocate for each OS, and when you boot your machine, you can choose which OS to run.

For example, on my laptop with a 1000GB drive, I decided to install Linux Mint alongside Windows 10. I gave Windows 150GB and Mint the remaining 850GB. If I ever need to use Windows, I can still boot into it, but my default setup is for Linux Mint to launch automatically.

If you prefer to stick with one operating system but still want to experiment with Linux, you can use Oracle VirtualBox. This software allows you to run other operating systems inside your current one. VirtualBox is available for most major operating systems. By setting it up, you can run Linux inside Windows, or vice versa, without making any permanent changes to your system.

In VirtualBox, you’ll configure settings like how many CPU cores and how much RAM to dedicate to the guest OS, as well as how much virtual hard drive space and graphics memory it will use. Virtual machines (VMs) make it easy to test different OS installations, as they can be created and removed without affecting your main system.

Dual-Booting Linux and Windows

If you want to set up a dual-boot system with both Windows and Linux, always install Windows first and Linux second. Linux will allow you to partition your drive for both OS installations. If you install Windows after Linux, however, Windows will overwrite your entire drive, removing the Linux installation.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out my tutorial on installing a LAMP stack, available both as a video and a page on my website.