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[judyz]

Here is a few terms and definitions to get you started...

Open Source: The free software movement that has created many of the programs we enjoy in Linux. Open Source means anyone can alter the program however they see fit as long as they make any improvments available for free to the community. Not all linux software is open source or free but a lot of it is. http://www.opensource.org/


Bash (aka Terminal, Command Line, Console): No we are not going to hit anyone:) Remember good old DOS? Consider Bash the linux equivlent. It is very powerfull and much more user friendly than DOS ever was. HELPFULL TIP: you can get help on any command in BASH by typing the name of the command and then --help and hitting enter. For instance "dpkg --help"


Distro: Short for Distribution. With the freedom linux provides many people and companies have created their own linux OS by selecting their own group of packages. Some like Xandros have even created their own custom applications. These different linux distributions are called "distro's" for short.


Kernel: The one thing all linux distributions have in common is they all use versions of the linux Kernel. Think of the kernel as the foundation of your house. You don't see it but without it the house would fall over. These kernels are constantly updated and new versions are released. When a new version has proved stable enough it will be included in the next version of Xandros or an update will become available in XN.


X window system: The basic graphical interface you see most of the time. In keeping with the "house" idea think of the X Window system as the basement. It adds functionality but is still not quite as polished or as comfortable a place to hang out. Previous versions used a version of X called XF86. Xandros is using a new version of the X window system created by xorg. http://www.x.org/

KDE: This is the final element or "main floor" in our linux "house". Kde is a "window manager". This final layer offers many of the applications and features that make a linux desktop so user friendly. Linux also offers Gnome and several other "window managers" however Xandros has chosen to use KDE for stability and ease of use. http://www.kde.org/

Root: This is a special user account with added privledges. This account is only for use when installing or performing certain maintainence tasks. It is not a good idea to use your Root account for day to day use as this is considered a security risk. It is much better to create a user account generally your first name or a nickname but it is up to you.

Wine: stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator. Wine allows you to run versions of selected components of the Windows operating system. This makes it possible to run some Windows programs under linux. Generally the programs need to be Windows 98 compatible. Wine is still a work in progress with improved versions released about once a month. http://www.winehq.com/ Crossover Office is a commercial product based on Wine. It comes with Xandros Deluxe Edition however it is not made by the Xandros Team. http://www.codeweavers.com/ TIP: Volunteer to test your favourite application under Crossover Office as an advocate. Right now if you are chosen to join the advocate team you will recieve updates of Crossover Office for free as long as you continue to contribute. We like FREE.

Firefox: A simple to use yet powerfull internet browser designed by the folks who brought us Mozilla. Firefox is safer and faster than Internet Explorer. Firefox is also available for use in Linux, Windows and Mac! http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ Tip: Try out the many handy free extensions available for Firefox! https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/?application={ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}

Debian: Debian is another linux distro that was started by a couple looking to make a user friendly version of linux (Deborah and Ian...debian). Debian uses .deb package files for installing and updating. Since Xandros is based on Debian we can also use .deb files. We also have access to the vast Debian library of FREE applications. It can be enabled in Xandros Networks.
http://www.debian.org/

.RPM: Red Hat Package manager files. These files are designed to be used with Red Hat Fedora and several other linux distros however Xandros users can install them via Xandros Networks however they are not supported by Xandros so if they don't work no complaining. http://www.rpm.org/
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Judyz
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig.
Xandros 4 Premium and Every Other OS I Can Get.
Ontario, Canada