In 1991 Linus Torvalds, at the time studying in Helsinki, Finland, created the very first version of Linux for his own needs. This very rudimentary program was intended to run on the PC 80386 of the age. But Linus Torvalds had the good idea of making it "free" and to involve all those who wanted it. Thanks to the support of the emerging Internet network and the new born community of developers, but also thanks to the preexistance of the Gnu project (http://www.gnu.org) started some years earlier by Richard Stallman, Linux went on to become some years later a full operating system. Its power is unrivalled, its stability is now legendary and it improves with every day!

Linux is distributed by means of multiple "distributions" of which the very first were called SLS and Slackware (http://www.slackware.com) . Certain distributions are purely commercial like Caldera Open Linux (http://www.caldera.com). Other are totally "free" like Debian (http://www.debian.org) . Between the two and of special note is Red Hat Linux (http://www.redhat.com) which is a much sought after Linux distribution, particularly due to its relatively simple installation procedure.

2 Free Software/Open Source

It is important to know that Linux is only the tip of an iceberg called "Free Software" (http://www.fsf.org) or Open Source (http://www.opensource.org/osd.html).

The particular characteristics of Open Source Software are as follows: they are redistributable at will and without cost, their source code is available, and it is modifiable by anyone sufficiently experienced in programming. This concept is used principally by GPL license systems (General Public License) although these are not the only ones. Apart from Linux, a gem of Open Source Software is called "Apache" (http://www.apache.org) , which is a web server program for the Internet and represents 50% of the market share in its sector. The majority of software which serves to make the Internet work (at all levels) is Open Source Software.

3 The "K Desktop Environment"

For a while, Linux has only operated with "multi-window" graphical interfaces inherited from proprietary Unix^tm systems. Entirely based on the "X Window System", they are named mwm, olwm, fvwm, afterstep. Towards the end of 1996, a small team of developers brought together by Matthias Ettrich decided to aim higher and to create a true graphical desktop having advanced fonctions such as "drag-drop" with integrated HTML display. This suite called "K Desktop Environment'' (http://www.kde.org) or more simpy "KDE" immediately experienced great success as its quality was immaculate. KDE is the graphical interface installed by default with the Linux-Mandrake distribution.

4 Linux-Mandrake

As for the Linux-Mandrake distribution (http://www.linux-mandrake.com) , it was created from a simple idea: to supply the user with a solid system compatible with a proven distribution which is already known (Red Hat Linux) and by simplifying use thanks to the addition of the most powerful graphical desktop available: the "K desktop Environment" as well as a certain number of improvements and programs to remove the need for the user to spend hours searching the Internet for packages needed to be able to work efficiently and in a user-friendly way. We also think that Linux-Mandrake is the most simple distribution to install and configure, and the quickest to get up and running. Looking forward, we are convinced that your new Linux system will bring you much satisfaction. Nevertheless, bear in mind that Linux is not used always like other well-known operating systems and that to start with you will probably be put off. You will begin to appreciate the phenomenal power of Linux from the moment you discover its coherence, its extraordinary dynamics linked with communities found on the Internet, but also the philosophy of Free Software and the new intellectual perspectives which it opens up.

5 How to start with Linux?

It's not so hard: just find a Linux CD (the single Linux-Mandrake GPL Edition CD or the PowerPack Edition for example) and install it on your PC! You can of course keep your old operating system: Linux will install a dual-boot loader and you can choose which OS you want to run each time you switch on your computer! Usually, an experienced Linux user can install and configure Mandrake in less than half an hour...