Unix vs Linux: what are they and how to install for free?

How would I install Unix and Linux on my Windows Vista laptop for free and without messing up anything.





I am very new at this, are both easy to use, learn and what are they for?





Many thanks

Unix vs Linux: what are they and how to install for free?
Look at one of www.openbsd.org or www.netbsd.org or www.freebsd.org or www.opensolaris.org. At this time, for you, being a new comer to Unix/Linux, I suggest you use only Linux until you get used to it. Unices are a bit difficult to install and use and their user and support community is small and focussed. The above mentioned ones are some of freely available UNIX variants. Look at www.distrowatch.com for more such.





Use Ubuntu or Debian. I suggest you go for Debian. It does take a lot of work to install Debian as opposed to Ubuntu. But after installing, Ubuntu takes a lot of work to get it to your tastes while Debian takes almost no work to come to your tastes.





For Unix as well as Linux, this quote is true. "Unix is user friendly. It chooses its friends.". Both are operating systems. They are for doing things that you want done using your computer. Much the same as Windows. They differ by being a tad cleverer than Windows.





I suggest you go to www.debian.org and look at the installation manual. In short steps, this is what you have to do to install Debian successfully. Download Debian CD1. Delete a partition. Brun the CD1 to a CD. Boot your laptop with the CD1. Ask the installer to use the empty space that you created by deleting a partition from Windows. Answer a few network related questions such as domain name, DNS, IP address and such. Let it install the CD1 for a laptop configuration. Pop the CD out when the installation is over and reboot into the Linux system.





After you boot into the Linux system, open System%26gt;Administration%26gt;Synaptic and install xchat. With xchat, join #debian on irc.freenode.net to start asking questions and getting answers live.





Also join some of the many Debian user mailing lists.
Reply:First off, Unix and Linux are like Polar bears and Grizzly bears. They are related, but fundamentally different from each other.





There are loads of Unix variants out there, just like there are loads of Linux variants out there. Picking one can be a huge chore.





For a beginner to Free and Open Source software, I'd recommend starting off with Ubuntu. It's popular, easy to get help, easy to get started, and coexists well with Windows.





You can download the Ubuntu 7.10 CD, burn it to CD, and boot your PC from it. You will get a LiveCD version of Ubuntu Linux to use. If you like it, you can double-click on the INSTALL icon to put it on your HD.





If you do decide to install onto your HD, make sure you choose the FREE SPACE option! Otherwise it will erase your Vista installation as well. Aside from that, you shouldn't have any problems.
Reply:Unix and Linux are operating system like Microsoft Windows only it is free and will either replace Vista or configure your computer to "Dual boot"





Unix has been around for many years and was developed by universities (Which is why it is free). It is highly stable however extremely user violent. Its interface consists of a text type command set similar to that used by MSDOS (It actually preceeds MSDOS by many years).





Linux was developed on top of the Unix foundation by a man called Linus. Thus the name Linus + Unix = Linux. This operating system was developed to make life a little easier for the developers of Unix platforms. It contains a better subset of API (Advanced Programming Interfaces) and it is ALOT easier to use.





This said Linux could still be considered user violent to those inexperienced with how a computer functions and could be frustrating for anybody wanting to use their computer to play games. Linux DOES HAVE GAMES but it cannot play those developed for the windows platform unless run through some sort of emulation program like WINE.





These operating systems are great. they are older and faster smaller (at the core) and more stable then windows and can really unlock the potential of your computer.





I reitterate though that they are not easy to use and if you are unsure about these things you should not install them...





On a side note for windows operating systems Id advise you DOWNGRADE to Windows XP. It is a far superior operating system then the latest Vista platform. Its smaller, faster and just as easy to use. Microsoft screwed up big time on Vista they just refuse to admit it.





Hope this was helpful