LINUX
GNU/Linux is a Unix-based open source operating system such that the source code is non-proprietary and any one can see how programs are written and either refine or add to the program. It is developed under the GNU (the original project) General Public License such that the source code is copyrighted for public, non-proprietary usage. Literally hundreds of programmers have contributed and co-developed the operating system and many applications and utilities. It is similar to UNIX operating system such that it is built around a kernel (the level at which hardware communicate). Thus, its strength is that it is not a fixed operating system. Rather, one can adapt it to optimize or customize the performance of a specific task.
The Linux operating system is similar to both Microsoft Windows and MAC OS such that it can perform multi-tasking, share libraries, create (swap) virtual memory, memory management, TCP/IP support.
Presently, version 2.4.X of the LINUX Kernel is available to be downloaded from the web (which translates into what your Internet connection is as the Kernel is large in terms of file size). The operating system is not applicable for older computers. There are different distributions (versions) of the Linux operating system (for instance, the Debian distribution, Red Hat distribution, SuSE distribution) on which available commercial versions are based.
The Linux operating system has not made much progress in capturing market share for desktop operating systems against MS Windows or Mac OS. Two versions of Linux for desktop, Mandrake and SuSE are really applicable for developers and not the consumer market. Recently, it has become available on request for installation on new personal computers sold by both IBM and Dell. There are already several word processing, text editor, graphics editing, audio and MP3 applications that support Linux. MS Windows applications do not run on the Linux operating system. There is not a single popular digital audio or MIDI sequencer program developed by the major music software companies that has been written to operate on Linux. In addition, if you were to install Linux you must also deal with the issue of hardware compatibility. Some of the distributors of Linux and peripheral component manufacturers do maintain guides on their respective web sites indicating compatibility with Linux and the availability of driver applications for their hardware.
Linux has had a great effect in capturing market share in the government, corporate and academic back end server market. Linux market share has grown faster than MS Windows-based operating system servers, while Unix-based servers have actually seen market share declines. At the server-level, Linux allows corporations and organizations to replace servers running more expensive proprietary software with an almost generic, commodity like, Intel-based server running Linux. Linux can be used as the operating system on which specific server applications can be installed for HTTP websites, intranets, databases, e-mail, files, accounting and so on.
Some of the large computer manufacturers do provide very good support for Linux, particularly IBM which has made code available to developers (although this has led to some problems of its own, see below). Compaq Computers has incorporated support for Linux in the source code of its Tru64 Unix (Compaq’s version of the Unix operating system). This indicates the Tru64 Unix can run Linux applications on Compaq servers. Database software manufacturer Oracle has also made proprietary code available to developers so that Oracle will run on Linux-based servers.
Sun Microsystems (low-end servers only), IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Apple and Dell now all offer Linux as a prepackaged server operating system option. The largest distributor of the Linux operating system in North America is Red Hat (which is the version included in IBM, HP and Dell’s option; Sun distributes its own variant) followed by Mandrake. Distribution outside the United States is primarily conducted by United Linux, a consortium of several companies that includes SCO Group (formerly Caldera), Conectiva, SuSE Linux and Turbolinux, that can design Linux variants (UnitedLinux) for specific country requirements, although the versions will all have the core UnitedLinux 1.0 operating system in common. There is the distinct possibility that various competing versions of Linux could be developed by hardware and software manufacturers.
Linux (and UNIX) are primarily server, scientific and professional command-line interfaces, however there are open-source graphical interfaces (GUI) offered, the 2 most well known being KDE and GNOME. These 2 interfaces offer a desktop-like interface (environment) similar to Mac OS and MS Windows. There are some audio applications available with the base distribution of KDE and GNOME: Aumix or Xmix (mixer utility), Wavplay (digital audio player/recorder), Sox (digital audio format converter), Playmidi (a MIDI file player).
Sun Microsystems has released a desktop environment for Linux named Java Desktop Systems, which has several applications and a web browser.
Red Hat offers both a personal version and a professional version of Red Hat Linux 9.0 (June 2003). The operating system (both versions) is based on an updated Linux Kernel than the 2.4.18-s kernel included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and uses a Windows-like graphical interface named KDE 3.0, with a graphical environment known as Bluecurve. Red Hat Linux 9.0 automatically partitions the hard drive during installation. Among additional applications (business, E-mail), version 9.0 also has the open-source Mozilla 1.0 Web browser application. Both the personal and professional versions may also be utilized as a server operating system as Apache Web Server 1.3, sendmail, FTP and DNS are also integrated, along with a personal/server firewall application. Unfortunately, Red Hat does not support .mp3, MPEG or Macromedia Flash (.swf) formats.
SuSE AG offers both a personal version and a professional version of a Linux operating system named SuSE Linux 8.0, which is also based on the Linux Kernel 2.4.18 and uses the Windows-like graphical interface KDE 3.0 and also the GNOME 1.4 graphical environment. Along with some productivity, E-mail, firewall (both personal and network) and a Web browser applications, SuSE Linux 8.0 may also includes server applications such as Apache Web server, sendmail, and databases. The 8.0 version also ships with XMMS application that will encode and play .mp3 files. SuSE improves on the Linux 2.4.14 Kernel by adding additional support for various soundcards.
The SuSE AG version of Linux, along with the assistance of IBM, received an independent security certification which has exceeded what was ever expected for the operating system (July 2003). Atsec Information Security GmbH of Germany, certified that the SuSE version running on Intel processor servers has low hacker vulnerability and upgrading also does not compromise the security of operating system.
Another Linux desktop OS is developed by Xandros, which is a Linux OS package based on the Debian distribution Linux, (kernel 2.4.19-x1), and includes the Mozilla browser, has desktop a environment (K Desktop Environment) based on version KDE 3.0., and has a MS Windows Explorer-like File Manager interface.
Unfortunately, a suit brought in U.S. federal court by SCO Group (formerly known as Caldera) against IBM in March 2003 has affected the distribution and adoption of Linux. SCO maintains in the suit that IBM passed on proprietary code either owned or developed by SCO to other Linux developers, thus SCO is entitled to licensing fees from any version of Linux operating system or application that utilizes the information distributed by IBM. SCO claims that it holds some of the underlying copyrights to Unix (the precursor to Linux) purchased from Novell in 1995. If proven accurate in federal court then this would entitle SCO to a substantial amount of money. Red Hat Linux has already (July 2003) brought a suit against SCO to reveal the source code publicly to determine if their or any version of Linux infringes SCO’s copyright as until it is proven anyone now using Linux or considering its adoption may be liable for additional licensing fees. To further cloud the issue, Microsoft signed a licensing agreement with SCO, which SCO claims translates into the legitimacy of their claim. Not only does this affect the inexpensive component of adopting Linux it also affects the open source nature of the operating system. Please see: Legal Page 6.
LindowsOS
LindowsOS is a variant of the Linux operating system (Corel Linux, Debian Linux and the KDE desktop graphical interface) designed for desktop computers. The OS will support some MS Windows applications. The recent history of the company is that it has been initially successful in defending a challenge to the use of “Lindows” as a trade name in court (Microsoft as Plaintiff). In addition, the company completed a transaction with Walmart Stores, Inc., to have LindowsOS pre-installed as the operating system in low end desktops sold by Walmart in its Walmart.com e-commerce retail system. The desire for Walmart to complete this transaction is that hardware components have become so inexpensive that the license for the MS Windows operating system has come to represent a third of the cost of a low end desktop.
LindowsOS 3.0 is not a freely distributed Linux operating system. Rather one must purchase an installation CD or download a copy of the operating system from the web site (approximately 400MB), which one then burns to a CD to create an installation CD. The relationship with Lindows is more like that of a license / subscription agreement with the developer such that one must regularly download operating system updates, utilities and applications, which one is entitled to do for one year as part of the initial purchase price. The license allows one to install Lindows on several computers.
LindowsOS presently has a few audio applications written for the operating system, primarily Jukebox / Player applications and presently there are no major audio production software applications written for Lindows. Some MS Windows applications can run on Lindows by means of the WINE emulator application.
UNIX
UNIX is primarily utilized as an operating system for servers and work stations. At one point, UNIX was an open source code. However, UNIX code has been revised into various proprietary formats offered by IBM, Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard. For many years Unix was the dominant server operating system but both MS Windows and Linux have come to control market share in the combined server market.
BSD
BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) is actually a group of operating systems. These operating systems are similar in structure to Unix but are not Unix and should not be confused as such. The code itself is very reliable and has very good security features. The basic code is free source and can be utilized in commercial-based products (portions of BSD are included in Windows and Linux). FreeBSD is very compatible with 32-bit, Intel-based computers and can also run many applications designed for the Linux OS. OpenBSD is an extremely secure operating system and if configured correctly it has an extremely low susceptibility to being compromised by remote hacking. NetBSD is very compatible for embedded systems, and is also quite adept operating on various old and new platforms.