OSNews

When I first started using Linux in May, 1998, I was only looking for a cheap way to learn UNIX to help me with my job. I purchased and installed Red Hat 5.1, and for the first time in well over a decade, was totally lost. I had been using MS-DOS since 1984, and CM/M and other things before that. I was very familiar with MS-DOS and Windows (3.0 - Windows NT 4.0). I was a power-user and had been a sys admin in another life. Now, I just stared at the console screen and wondered what to do next. Finally, I did what we all hate to do, I opened the book that came with Red Hat and started looking it over. In a very short amount of time, I had learned enough commands to be able to get around in the console. I even took notes, so I wouldn't have to look them up again ;-)

As time went by, I learned more and more. I now run two Debian boxes, a Mandrake 9.0 box and two FreeBSD machines (4.8 and 5.0). I did have to adjust. I bought more Linux and FreeBSD books than I had ever bought for MS-DOS/Windows. It's a different world, but not so different that you can't learn it.

To all the people that feel threatened or intimidated by the thought of using Linux, I would suggest (if you can afford to) buying a used computer that you wouldn't feel too bad about if it got wiped-out. I pick them up all the time for under $50. This will give you a machine you can experiment on. I run Linux/FreeBSD on some old hardware with no problems. Pick one of the easy to install distributions (Mandrake 9.1, Lindows, Xandros, etc...), install it and just play around with it. Buy a book if you have to.

I learned that Linux/FreeBSD are NOT Windows. The entire mind-set is different. I also found I much prefer that mind-set. I have become a dedicated Linux/FreeBSD fan, and only keep one Windows machine in my house, my notebook, which has Windows 2000 loaded on it. The only reason it still has Windows loaded is because I am a consultant, and do need to work with Windows because of my clients.