Is Linux easy to install

Answer 1

Depending on the distribution (or distro) one chooses to install, the installation process can be quite simple. As Linux is largely distributed via internet downloads, users seldom start with a physical CD or DVD and installation manual. Still, for most distros - especially the more common or popular flavors - there is a wealth of documentation online. Some of the more popular "entry-level" distros include OpenSuSE, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, and PCLinuxOS. Each of these has a large community base of home users and dedicated developers that maintain online manuals and upgrade each distro for future releases.

Most entry-level Linux distros offer at least an option of progressing through a graphical installation process; that is, one starts the computer with a bootable CD/DVD in the drive, and the installation process starts automatically with a visual series of screens through which the user selects (often by mouse-clicking) different options for installation. Some distros go one step further by allowing the user to select a "preset" installation method (e.g. "Home User," "Workstation," etc.), where the most suitable options are automatically used. Other distros can be geared toward users more comfortable with the Linux OS, and may rely on more advanced text-based installation methods

Additionally, many Linux distros are packaged as "Live CDs" which can be used to boot the computer into the OS without installing it, so the user can preview the distro or just use it without having to install onto the hard drive. Live CDs are a good way to introduce oneself to the distro without altering any existing information on the hard drive.

As a final note, a user considering installing a Linux distro onto a computer should bear in mind that installing any Linux distribution makes certain changes to the boot sectors of the hard drive, and these changes will most likely render any existing operating systems (like Windows XP) unusable. There are ways to avoid this, including dual- or multi-booting, and ways to recover and re-enter a previous OS after installing Linux, but these processes are typically fairly advanced and involved, and the risk of permanently damaging or losing some or all of the information/files on a hard drive can be high. For the first-time Linux user, a Live CD (or at least installing onto a blank primary hard drive with no other files on it already) is usually the best way to preview a distro.

Answer 2

It's no different or any more difficult to use compared to Windows or macOS if you started learning how to use a computer from the beginning. That being said, the amount of information you may need to learn is somewhat more compared to mostly "set-and-forget" systems like Windows and macOS, but once you get into the habit of practicing using Linux on a regular basis, you will find that it's not any different.

Answer 3

"Ease of use" is highly subjective. Most people don't find Windows difficult to use, but Mac users like to claim that their system of choice is easier to use. Others find the Mac operating system difficult and awkward to use. Nobody is going to agree on whether one is easier to use than the other. And, in general, nobody agrees on whether or not Linux is easy to use, or if it is easier or more difficult to use than Windows.

Linux has the ability to use a graphical user interface, complete with a cursor, icons, and menus. Some Linux distributions are styled to look almost exactly like Windows. You are not required to know how to use the command line to use Linux. The command line, however, is the key to unlocking the power to any operating system, be it Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. So you would be well off learning to not be afraid of it.

Part of the stigma surrounding Linux is the myth that you need to know how to program to use it. This is not true. Programs for Linux are available pre-programmed and pre-built. The process of installing software is alien to Windows and Mac OS X users, but actually much simpler. To install programs, you use what is called a "package manager." A package manager basically presents a list of software that you can install or have installed already. You can choose the program you want to install, and the package manager will download it, install it, and make sure it has everything it needs to run. It will also check for updates, so you can always be running the newest version and get security updates as soon as they are available.

Answer 4

As with all operating systems (be they Windows or Linux), there is a period of learning to become familiar with the chosen OS. Ubuntu and Linux Mint are two OS often recommended for beginners. As the various distributions radiating out from the Linux kernel are free to download and use (even to copy and pass on to friends!), it is not usual to try several varieties before settling on one - Ubuntu 14.04 in my case.