My Journey To Linux
(Computer Nirvana!)
I began to use computers around 1986 when I bought my first 'home computer' - an ORIC ATMOS. It had to be connected to the television to view it's output. There was no hard drive or floppies for program or file storage - you had to use a cassette tape - and that wasn't very dependable at the best of times! As such it didn't really have an operating system apart from a very basic command-line interface using the language BASIC.
The interpreter (the software which codes the 'English' commands into a language the computer could understand) was fairly slow so I began to learn Machine Code. Machine Code is the set of commands which the CPU chip understands and as a result it is very very fast - even on that computer which had a clock speed of 1MHz (million cycles per second). These days the chip clock speeds are around 2,500MHz and more!.
Around 1995 I began to use computers which had various Microsoft operating systems. Over the years I heard mention of the Linux computer operating system but for one reason or another I never got around to doing anything about it.
Then in 2006 I received a free Linux (Ubuntu) Live-CD. A 'Live' CD means you can test out the new operating system just using the CD - without the need for installing it - in most cases you put the CD in the tray before restarting the computer and the computer loads the new operating system from CD but does NOT install it.
It was very strange at first. Everything looked different. The names of the hard drives were different. The directories (folders) were all different. Nevertheless very very soon I liked what I saw. I tentatively began to use Linux in March 2008 and after a very short time I realised that I had finally found the true controllable operating system which I had always wanted.
After about a month I (I have to admit 'nervously') switched over to Linux full-time and have enjoyed learning how to control my computer the way I want it to work. I have never never for even one second looked back or regretted the change-over.
There are so many extra features in the Linux operating system (I use KDE for the 'windows interface') - that I always become frustrated when I have to use a computer running under the Microsoft windows operating system - it has so few features - there are so many things you cannot do.
One of the great features of Linux is the ability to write small and very quick scripts to perform tasks which would take hours, or even be nearly impossible using the Microsoft system. Although I consider myself still only a 'Linux' beginner - a 'newbie' - I have decided to upload some simple scripts which you may find helpful - especially all you other newbies out there!
Linux is such a joy to use. I know it may sound stupid using the term 'joy' in relation to a computer operating system but that describes how I feel every day I am using the computer with Linux. It is a great operating system. Day after day I am able to do things with the computer which would be impossible, or very very very difficult, using a Microsoft operating system.
In this part I show some screenshots of my system. I also give some hints and tips, though I would still consider myself a 'newbie'. There are also some scripts which may be of use to other Linux users.
Lastly, Linux is FREE - and there are many different 'varieties' of it around. To a computer user - it is heaven! You will never be bored ever again!
 
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