Linux - the other operating system

A brief History of Linux

• In June 1971, Richard Stallman becomes part of MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory             

  as a programmer.He gains popularity among the hacker community and becomes known as RMS.

• In 1980, with the advent of portable software, (i.e. software that can be compiled to run on different   computers.),

  companies begin to restrict copying and redistribution of their software by copyrighting it. 

  In response to this trend, Richard Stallman establishes the Free Software Foundation.

  Stallman had always believed that software should free always and used this as the foundation's guiding   principle.

• In 1985, Stallman publishes the GNU Manifesto. This book outlines his motivation for creating a free OS   called GNU

  which would be compatible with Unix. In this same year, a professor by the name of Andy Tanenbaum wrote a      

  Unix like Operating system from scratch and names it Minix.

• In 1989, Stallman released the first program independent GNU General Public License now known as GPL.

  He also published all is work under this license. The only thing that GNU lacked was a completely free OS   kernel.

• In 1990, a young Finnish student by the name of Linus Torvalds came into contact with Andy Tanenbaum's OS   Minix.

  Linus wanted to upgrade Minix by putting in more features and improvements.

  But Tanenbaum would not allow this. Linus decided to write his own kernel and release it under GPL.

  This kernel is now popularly known as Linux.

• After 1997, another programming model emerged. This model is now known as the Open Source Initiative.

  Bruce Perens is credited for creating the Open Source definition.

• Now the rest is history.....

Linspire Highlights

System Requirements:

      • PC with 800 mhz or higher processor

      • 128 mb ram (256 mb recommended)

      • 4 GB free hard drive space

      • SVGA or higher resolution monitor

      • CD-Rom or DVD drive, Keyboard & Mouse

      • Linspire-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones

      • Linspire-compatible 56Kbps hardware modem, cable modem, or DSL modem

      • Ethernet card for Internet/LAN connectivity

Highlights of Linspire Operating System:

      • Complete Office Suite

      • Instant Messaging

      • Lsongs-all-in -one music manager

      • Lphoto - photo management program

      • Nvu - easy - to - use web design program

      • CNR - click and run software delivery service