Linux is a computer operating system. The trade magazines tell us that IBM has set up Linux so that it is used on their 390 mainframe. IBM's workstations and servers using Linux are selling well. The trade magazines further state that Linux is now on 30 per cent of the world's servers and is used in millions of businesses around the world. Recently, Corel is reported to have "bet the farm" on Linux, and they put on a great show of Corel Linux in Tampa recently. I bought my first book on Linux in 1995. It is Using Linux by Que books, and it contains a Linux CD ROM. Since then, I have toyed with the program but have not tried to go into it seriously. I first used UNIX at USF in 1982 on the mainframe, and I have been using it at USF since. We used it on the command line in the course "Internet" in the summer of 1994. We did not use a browser much during that course. In other words, no GUI. All of you who have been using the Freenet have been using the command line and a DOS browser called LYNX. It doesn't require graphical interface of any kind, i.e. no Apple, Mac, or Amiga. So you all use UNIX and you all use LYNX, one way or another, in my opinion.

I wanted to find out a little about the Linux computer operating system, because I plan to have my computer loaded with Linux ONLY.

On the Internet, http://www.linux.org/users/index.html lists people in your community that are interested in Linux. Also, on the Internet at the URL http://www.linux.org/hardware/, you can find many, many companies that manufacture and sell computers with only Linux installed. Linux comes with Office Suites and programs to connect to the Internet, etc. The interesting feature of this URL is that you may now buy a Linux computer that contains Winux. Winux is a program that allows you to have a computer that has Linux as the main operating system, however, you can call up Windows 98 like a shell and run the Windows programs even though you have Linux running your computer. If you do not understand what this means, simply go to several of the companies above and read the story for yourself. I spent about five hours looking these URL's over to be sure I can run the computer after I have the Linux programs installed. I also called many people to verify that I can run the computer once it is set up, just as they did at the Corel show.

At Best Buy, SUSE Linux costs $29.99. On the box, it says there are six CD ROM's inside, and they contain 1,500 programs. There is, also, a large, easy to understand manual. u