Distribution Confusion

One of the most overwhelming aspects of Linux for a former Windows user is the "distribution" phenomenon. You can't just walk into a store and buy--or go online and download--Linux. Instead, you have to choose a "distribution", which is conceptually nothing more complicated than a brand or "flavor".

Windows, of course, comes in a few different "flavors" -- Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP Professional and Home, for example. Initially these different "editions" were nothing more than new versions and updates. These days, however, Windows comes in some more complicated flavors, such as Windows XP Tablet PC edition, Windows XP Media Center edition, and so on. Each edition comes with its own set of capabilities and its own limitations.

Linux, on the other hand, comes in a bewildering array of flavors, called distributions. If you find the link to DistroWatch in the right sidebar, you can see over 100 different distributions tracked (although some of these are for a related operating system, BSD). Each distribution builds on the same architecture (the same, or similar, kernel and shell), but there are significant differences among them. The chief differences include

• Platform: Some distributions are designed to run on non-Windows computers, such as Macintosh. There are distributions that run on legacy computers like the Commodore Amiga. Other distributions are tailored to notebook and tablet computers. There are even distributions that run on handhelds (although they are more properly viewed as emulators since they sit on top of the native handheld operating system). Some distributions simply won't run properly on certain computers, for reasons that are not always clear. This is why starting with a live CD version may be best.
  
• Size: One of the advantages of Linux is its scalability. There are Linux distributions that can run on the oldest, smallest, and slowest computers available. Other distributions are monster systems that run best on powerful computers with large amounts of storage. If your older computer is running too slowly or running out of memory, you might find a smaller Linux distribution to be just the trick to bring it back to life.
• Features: The primary difference among distributions is the "packages", or software programs, that come along with them. Some distributions include only the operating system and a bare minimum of programs; others have a full panel of both open-source and proprietary software included. Some distributions even include commercial software, although these distributions generally must be purchased, rather than downloaded for free. If you're looking to get up and running with a full set of software right away, one of the more full-featured distributions may be right for you.
• Software installation: Because of the open-source nature of Linux, there are a number of ways to find and install software once you've installed the operating system. Some of these are a bit cumbersome (compiling and installing the source, for example), while others are simpler (installing binaries directly). Each distribution has its own particular way of installing software, and some ways are more user-friendly than others. Many programs have to be specially-built for a particular distribution; you will find that the more popular distributions have more software pre-built (as "binaries") than the less-popular distributions.

Choosing a Distribution
The debate about which distribution is "best" is lively, and, as yet, unanswered. I will not even attempt to take a position on the issue. The best recommendation I can give is that the less familiar you are with computers, the more you should stick with the "larger" distributions. The DistroWatch website includes a "Page Hit Ranking" sidebar that lists how frequently each particular distribution's page is accessed on the website, which serves as something of a surrogate for how popular the distribution is.

Each distribution's website gives information about the philosophy behind the distribution, the packages that are included, and some of the hardware limitations and bugs they've found. If there is a known issue regarding a component on your own computer, you would be advised to stay away from the distribution until it's addressed.

Once you find a distribution that seems to be a good fit, try downloading the "Live CD". This is a version of the distribution that runs completely on one bootable CD (or, more often, DVD). You will find links to an "iso" file, which you can download and burn directly onto a disc. Boot with the disc in the drive, and you will load the new operating system instead of Windows. You can then try it out to make sure your hardware is compatible. You might need to do some configuration from within the OS to make sure all of your hardware is recognized.

You can even try downloading several live discs to see the differences between different distributions. The only costs will be the time spent downloading and the cost of the blank disc. Many power Linux users actually have multiple distributions installed on the same computer, to take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of each. You'll probably want to stick to one at first.

Taking the Plunge
Once you've found the distribution you like, it's simply a matter of downloading it from the website. Many websites also have mirrors, which are exact copies of the website in other locations. Instead of going to the main website, you can go to a mirror site closer to you--this will unload the main website and probably give you a faster download time.

Distributions generally come in CD or DVD form. If you have a DVD burner, the DVD iso is usually a better bet, since most distributions will fit on one DVD. If you opt for CD's, you may need to burn and install several CD's worth of data. If you choose, you can also purchase a pre-burned CD or DVD -- follow the links from the DistroWatch website, or find a software retailer for the full retail package.

One caution: when you're looking to download the distribution, beware of "alpha" or "beta" releases, "release candidates", or "unstable releases". These are all code-words for test versions. You will want to find the "stable release".

Installing Linux is a whole separate process, and we'll discuss that in upcoming days.

Regards.