: When you "get Linux" you are usually getting a "Linux distribution" that contains not only the basic Linux operating system, but also programs that enhance it in many ways. Anyone who wants to put together his or her own Linux distribution is free to do so, and we know of more than 200 different Linux distributions that fill special "niche" purposes. But we advise new users to stick with one of the five or six most popular general-purpose Linux distributions until they know a little about what Linux can and can't do.
You can get Linux from a number of online software repositories, including the official Web sites for each distribution. For example, at http://www.linux.com/relocate.pl?id=a49f1e81960fddc0066b30a889280074 you'll find the Mandrake distribution; at http://www.linux.com/relocate.pl?id=57d20f1491b4a9826b6ac220f8401347 you'll find Red Hat Linux.
It helps to have a fast connection and a CD burner so you can quickly download an .ISO image of the distribution and burn it onto a CD. You then can load the bootable installation programs that lead you, step by step, through the process of getting Linux on your computer.
If you don't have a CD burner, you'll be better off if you buy a CD pre-loaded with the distribution (or distributions) of your choice. The more popular distributions are available in many computer stores and directly from each distribution's publisher. They sell full boxed sets of CDs or DVDs that come complete with a fancy user manual and official technical support. The average price is $25 to $80 USD. The convenience of a distribution on CDs, including manuals, generally makes your first installation so much easier that it is well worth the money, and even if you pay full retail price for a Linux distribution you will still get an incredible value.
Linux.com editor tried to figure out how much he would have had to spend to get Windows software equivalent to the software that came with his USD $70 Mandrake 8.0 "PowerPack Edition," and stopped counting when he reached USD $1,500. He was only adding up the desktop software he used every day, and didn't count the server packages that were included and he didn't need. If they had been included in his tally, he probably would have concluded that his USD $70 investment in Mandrake Linux was the equivalent of $5,000 or more in Windows software.
And when comparing Linux to Windows, don't forget that Linux is a better match for "commercial grade" Windows 2000 or XP Pro than it is for "consumer grade" Windows 95, 98, ME or XP when it comes to stability and networking ability -- except that Linux is generally more stable than Windows, and will run on less expensive or older hardware than current Windows versions.
If you're on a tight budget, and feel you are skilled enough that you don't need documentation or support to get started with Linux, you can pick up Linux CDs from any number of online shops that burn them and sell them for just a few bucks each. Here are four of many, in no particular order:
CheapBytes.com LinuxCentral EverythingLinux.com.a u Linux-download-cds.com
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