Chapter 1. Why Run Linux?

Welcome to Linux, the operating system everyone's talking about. Unlike the weather�which proverbial wisdom says you can't do anything about�you can do something about Linux. You can run it on your own PC, so that you can see firsthand what the talk is about and perhaps contribute suggestions to its future development.

This chapter is the first leg of your journey into the land of Linux. Here, you'll learn whether this particular journey is right for you and what you can expect down the road. If you're impatient to get started, you can jump ahead to the next chapter, which helps you prepare your PC for installing Linux. But, if you'd like to know more about the history and capabilities of Linux, read on.