Choose The Right Linux Distribution For Smart Computing

Linux is one of the most popular operating systems out there after the Windows family. What sets Linux distinctly apart from others is the fact that you can download it for free. Unlike Windows operating systems which come with a hefty price tag, Linux does not cost absolutely anything and Linux setup is quite easy. Even you dont need to use any virus remover as there is very little or no chance of virus infection.

For beginners, it can be quite daunting to decide which distribution would be best for them. This is because there is a plethora of Linux distributions out there from which you can choose from – Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, Mandriva, Opensuse, and so on. Each distribution, or distro, has its own strengths and features unique to it.

The first and foremost concern that you should consider is your hardware. All Linux distros are not built the same. Although most Linux distros try to be as hardware friendly as possible, you might discover that some work better with your hardware than others. So the best way to decide which distro would be right for you is to try out a handful of the most popular distros and see for yourself as to which of them work the best on your hardware. You will discover that some distros will detect all your hardware and work flawlessly, while others may not even boot on your PC or laptop.

The next thing you should consider is codec availability. Some popular distros like Ubuntu and Fedora do not ship with any kind of codecs to play common files like your mp3s or high-definition videos. There are distros based on these very distros that are more usable and ship with support for all of your audio and video files. Linux Mint, based on Ubuntu, is one such distro.

Ubuntu is probably the most popular and widely used Linux operating system that there is. It is based on Debian, another huge distribution with a very loyal fan following. Ubuntu also has one of the largest communities out there and you are more likely to find help on anything related to Ubuntu than any other distro. This is one of the great advantages of using Ubuntu or anything based on it, such as Linux mint. You will find it easy to look for help online should you get stuck with anything.

Fedora, sponsored by the Linux giant red hat, is also quite popular among Linux users. Like Ubuntu, it cannot come with any codecs pre-installed due to patent issues. Not all software companies allow Linux distributions to pre-install their proprietary software. For example, Microsoft license does not allow Linux distributions to contain programs like internet explorer or windows media player codecs. Similarly, popular Linux distros like Fedora, Opensuse and Ubuntu cannot ship flash, java, and other such proprietary software. If this is a concern for you, then download distros like Linux mint or PcLinuxOS, which come with all these necessary programs pre-installed.

So if you have really decided to move on to Linux, just take the plunge and set up Linux on your PC. You will not regret the freedom and liberty that Linux comes with.

Windows Vs Linux Web Hosting The Linux Advantage

Of the many factors that one should consider while choosing web hosting plans, the operating system is the most important. Based on the operating system used, there are many options such as Windows web hosting, Linux web hosting, PHP web hosting and many others for businesses as well as individuals to choose from. Most customers choose Windows web hosting since it is a popular operating system for personal computers. They do not realize that though this is the best for personal computers, it is not a wise choice for server machines. On the other hand, Linux is a relatively lesser known operating system, but this is the best choice for servers since it offers the best operating platform.

PHP web hosting and Linux web hosting are renowned among the technical experts for their simplicity. More often than not, the tendency of a common man is to compare any operating system with Windows since it is the only one they are aware of. Therefore, based on this comparison, they feel that the user interface of Linux is too complicated to understand. However, it is not true. In fact, this operating system is too easy to handle and operate once you work on it a couple of time. Customizing the website using the Linux or PHP platform is extremely easy as compared to customizing the website using Windows operating system.

Linux web hosting and PHP web hosting are preferred because they come with the 3S assurance. Speed, stability and security are the three main aspects that people look for in any web hosting plan they choose. There is hardly any other operating system that is comparable to Linux in terms of performance. The Linux based servers are highly efficient and can respond quickly to any command or query. Websites that are present on either Linux or PHP servers respond faster to customer requests as compared to those that are present on Windows based servers. Irrespective of the applications that have been integrated onto the website, you can be assured that the websites will perform well since Linux servers are famous for their stability. They do not crash easily and do not require extensive maintenance too. Therefore, there are lesser disruptions to website operations.

If you have an ecommerce website and want it to become the most sought after destination for shopping, Linux web hosting or PHP web hosting is the right choice. Most ecommerce websites require some form of database. Since Linux and PHP are both built using open source code, they are compatible with many types of database programs such as PostgreSQL, MySQL and many more. The Linux and PHP hosting plans also offer Perl support, which is something that Windows OS is not capable of.

Linux web hosting and PHP web hosting trump over Windows web hosting plans because they use open source code. This is the main reason for PHP and Linux hosting plans to be more affordable than Windows hosting plans. Unlike Windows operating system, there is no need to pay any licence fee for using Linux or PHP. Flexibility is also one of the perks offered by Linux and PHP, but is absent in Windows. You can make changes to the websites and preview them easily with Linux and PHP platforms without downloading and uploading the files and data.