When I started my adventure into PC computing long ago, I was using the DOS operating system. I remember everyone’s excitement when DOS 3.0 came out. We then moved to Windows, and today I’m still there for the most part. So are most of us at the Tampa Bay Technology Center.
When you walk in our front door on Range Road and turn right, you’ll see a little alcove where you’ll find Paul. He is one of our technicians and also serves on the board of directors. Do you know what Paul likes a lot? He’s passionate about the Linux operating system.
Now, I know virtually nothing about Linux other than the fact that whenever I see software available on YouTube or the internet, it says “available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.” I know what Windows and Mac are, but this Linux thing has always been a bit of a mystery to me.
As it turns out, Linux was created long ago by a programmer named Linus Torvalds. He developed it as a free alternative to the expensive Unix operating system that was used on large computers at the time. The key difference between Linux and other operating systems of that era is that he made it open source. This means anybody could take it, develop it, and make it better. And boy, have they ever!
There are so many versions (called “distributions” or “distros”) out there right now, including:
- Ubuntu
- Linux Mint
- Debian
- Fedora
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- CentOS
- Arch Linux
- OpenSUSE
- And probably several others
According to my research, the two most popular Linux versions for everyday users like you and me are Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Ubuntu is the most widely used Linux distro, especially for desktops and servers. Linux Mint comes in second place and is very popular for desktop use.
Choose Ubuntu if you:
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- Want a modern, polished UI with frequent updates
- Need good driver and hardware support
- Prefer a distro with commercial backing or plan to do development/enterprise work
Choose Mint if you:
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- Are switching from Windows and want something familiar
- Use older or less powerful hardware
- Want a stable, reliable desktop with lower maintenance