Author Archives: fanboi

I’m inclined to think that all Open Source software is great, the whole concept of Open Source, Free, Libre software is wonderful. What’s not to like? Turns out, there are some issues.

Linux comes in a wide variety of packages or collections called distributions, often shortened to ‘distros’. A distribution usually contains not only the Linux Kernel, but also a number of utilities and programs that make the collection useful. Most distros … Continue reading →

In a previous post I shared my sad story of backup and restore woes – mostly restore woes… Fortunately for me, there is a solution.

If you’ve been using computers for a while, you probably know that it’s a good idea to back up your files. Although the technology continues to improve, there is always the chance that something is going to break, and if … Continue reading →

One difference between Linux and operating systems such as Windows or OSX is that many Linux users make frequent use of the command line. This scares off a lot of people. It is entirely possible to use Linux without ever … Continue reading →

Some proponents of Linux claim that Linux is immune to malware. Unlike Windows, Linux simply doesn’t get viruses or trojans or other nasty stuff. This isn’t correct. It is true that reports of malware on Linux are fewer than on … Continue reading →

Most people don’t use Linux on their personal computers.  I would say that most businesses don’t use Linux, either.  Windows by far has the greatest share of users, followed by Apple.  And yet, Linux is used by many corporations, universities, … Continue reading →

One of the most attractive features of Linux and related software is that it is free.  This has created considerable confusion, because “free” has several meanings. Many people, myself included, were first attracted to Linux because it was “free as … Continue reading →

Despite what many of my fellow fanbois would say, Linux is not for everyone.  In fact, if you’re thinking about trying Linux, you should ask yourself what benefit is there for you to do so. Many people start using computer … Continue reading →

Strictly speaking, Linux is the kernel of an operating system.  This operating system is composed of this kernel, as well as various libraries, utilities, and programs that use the kernel to function. In the early days of Linux, there weren’t … Continue reading →