Do You Speak Linux?
If you're also into Linux, I have a treat for you. I've created a line of Linux theme designs for t-shirts, posters, mugs, mouse pads, and other products. They're all available at my shop at Betchalikeit. These designs will let you proudly display your Linux salvation (or addiction) for others to see.
Even if you're not addicted to Linux, you may well know someone who is. If so, give the designs a look. They make wonderful gifts for your Linux oriented friends.
New Table of Contents
- Why Linux?
- Intimidated? Let A Good Linux Book Help You Out.
- Jump Start Into Linux With A Fully Equipped Linux Computer
- Show Off Your Preference For Linux
- If Your Geekdom Goes Beyond Linux, See Some Other Topic Designs At Betchalikeit
- Some Useful Linux Theme Links
- The latest buzz about Linux
- What's The Detailed Scoop On Linux?
- Videos on Linux
Why Linux?
What's In It For Me?
I've been asked the question many times. "Why do you like Linux so much?"It's a difficult question to answer. Not because there's no good reason, but because there are so many reasons. For a detailed answer, I invite you to check out my website on Linux at: Betchalikeit
Some concise answers might be:
Now that a pretty short list, but an impressive one. I think you might have to ask yourself -- "Why should I keep paying for a limited set of applications when I could get many, many more -- for free?"
My favorite distribution, by the way, is Debian. It's the most complete, most loaded distribution out there, with one of the easiest to use utilities for adding more applications. It's certainly not the only distro out there, but a fantastic place to start. Many popular Linux distributions are derived from the massive Debian library.
I use Debian's convenient web-based installation procedure. Download one CD image, burn the CD, then boot the CD to begin the web install procedure.
If you want to try Linux before clobbering your disk, consider one of the many live CD versions out there, including:
Note that this list is far from exhaustive, but contains some of the more popular versions.
Whatever you use a computer for, you'll likely find Linux has more support for it. For word processing, Linux offers the old professional standbys, Tex and LaTex. For the more GUI oriented, there's Abiword, Koffice, and Openoffice.
If you're into graphics, Linux is loaded. For drawing and rendering, there's xpaint and GIMP. For data graphics, there are many options including gnuplot, grace, plotmtv, plplot, pgplot, gre, and the graphics routines embbeded in the math languages scilab, octave, PDL, R, and yorick for starters. There are even more math languages in Linux that can be used to produce graphs.
Linux also has applications including spreadsheets, multimedia, many web browsers, and about anything else you can think of. You can find out more about the many applications of Linux at Migrating To Linux.
And if you want a real Linux fire hose treatment, then check out Distro Watch.
Intimidated? Let A Good Linux Book Help You Out.
While Windows lets you choose a few display and tuning options on their window manager, Linux has over 50 different window managers available, each tunable. From light weight to heavy weight, there's a perfect window manger for you. For the heavy weights, theres KDE or GNOME. On my W95 era laptop, I use a lightweight but very functional product called Fluxbox.
How about office products? Linux offers Open Office, K office, and some commercial solutions for answer your word processing, spreadsheet, and data base needs. And programming? Forget about it. Linux has dozens of programming languages just waiting for you to delve in to.
But to get in to all of that, you probably need some help. I suggest you check out this guide on Migrating To Linux.
Here's some books that you might also find helpful.
A Practical Guide to Linux(R) Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming
Amazon Price: $31.49 (as of 12/25/2009) 
Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition
Amazon Price: $26.39 (as of 12/25/2009)
Linux in a Nutshell, 5th Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Jump Start Into Linux With A Fully Equipped Linux Computer
You can avoid the risk of messing up your current computer, yet jump start into Linux for very reasonable cost by purchasing a laptop or desktop already configured. Just plug it in, connect your LAN, turn it on, and go.
fit-PC Slim Linux
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Show Off Your Preference For Linux
Whether you converted to Linux because it's overtaking the globe, because Linux is cool, or because it seems like Linux is the obvious choice of operating systems, there's an image for you at Betchalikeit.
Don't just be a Linux nerd. Be a proud Linux nerd, and show off your insight with a t-shirt or mouse pad that expresses your Linux loyalty. If someone pokes fun at your Linux t-shirt, let them know how you have 10 times as much software available for your system, and it's all free. (That's actually a low-ball estimate). So why again would one not want to use Linux?
Go to Betchalikeit and browse through my unique Linux t-shirt designs. I'll bet you find one you like.
If Your Geekdom Goes Beyond Linux, See Some Other Topic Designs At Betchalikeit
-
Funny Science T-shirts, Astronomy T-Shirts, Physics T-Shirts
-
The t-shirt design at left is a humorous look at what germs might feel like at being scrutinized by an over-curious human. It's a design I call Peek-a-Boo. As a person trained in physics, astronomy, and computer science, I've tried to wake up my sen...
-
-
Bowling Madness T-Shirts And Sweatshirts With Attitude
-
Come on in to Bowling Madness at Betcha Like It Designs and pick out a bowling design t-shirt that describes your style -- or fits your mood. There's sure to be a design that shows your interest in the sport, or maybe your frustration, but definit...
-
Physics Limericks And Science Poems
-
If you're like me, you enjoy poems and limericks with science themes. They seem clever, often humorous or downright funny, and generally a bit educational. Since I have a science background, I decided to begin publishing my own growing list of scien...
-
Funny T-shirts With Attitude
-
Whether you enjoy humorous t-shirts with clever sayings or funny t-shirts with cartoon illustrations, Betchalikeit has something for you. Some designs are just pretty, like the beautiful butterfly designs. Some just say how you feel. If you're somet...
Some Useful Linux Theme Links
Use The Internet Goldmine To Find Linux Solutions
I use the internet all the time to get the most out of my Linux computers. If I need some network solution, a how to on some utility, or some arcane system maintenance tip, I can always find it somewhere on the internet.
Here's a few links to get you started.
- Linux Theme Gifts at Humor For The Wise
- For the Linux geek (or person lucky enough to know a Linux geek), Linux theme t-shirts, sweatshirts, and mouse pads. Come in to buy a shirt, got away convinced to change operating systems.
- Debian Linux
- The official web site for the incredible Debian distribution of Linux.
- Linux Distro Watch
- Linux central, with information on many distributions of Linux.
- L D Smith's Linux Information Site
- Information on Linux, how to migrate to Linux, information on planetarium programs for Linux, and information on virtual machines that allow Windows to be ran from within Linux.
The latest buzz about Linux
What's The Detailed Scoop On Linux?
Linux (commonly , in English, also , Torvalds used in English. Torvalds has made available an audio sample with his pronunciation in English (: ) and in Swedish (: ) is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under licenses such as the GNU GPL.
Linux is predominantly known for its use in servers, although can be installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedded devices, mobile phones and even some watches to mainframes and supercomputers. Linux distributions, installed on both desktop and laptop computers, have become increasingly commonplace in recent years, partly owing to the popular Ubuntu distribution and the emergence of netbooks.
The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The rest of the system usually comprises components such as the Apache HTTP Server, the X Window System, the GNOME and KDE desktop environments, and utilities and libraries from the GNU Project (announced in 1983 by Richard Stallman). Commonly-used applications with desktop Linux systems include the Mozilla Firefox web-browser and the OpenOffice.org office application suite. The GNU contribution is the basis for the Free Software Foundation's preferred name GNU/Linux.
by BetchaLikeIt
You can see his latest novels at Novels, his artwork at Betchalikeit,... (more)
Explore related pages
Enterprise IT Solutions- Industry standard benchmarks illustrate that when you need performance, scalabil...
Ubuntu Linux- Ubuntu Linux started in 2004 as a fork of the already well-renowned Debian proje...
KDE4 Desktop Environment- This is a snapshot of fedora 11 (which was released on 6/10/09) with KDE4 deskto...
Geek Tees and Gifts- Ever been called a geek, nerd, or dork? Well that doesn't matter! Embrace your i...
