What is linux and what are the benefits?

I dont really know much about linux, but i know its open source and its community based but other than the fact that its free, why would anyone want to use it? And I want to use it just to try it but i dont know where to start. Is it like a program I install? If i do run it can I go back to running windows if i dont like it? help?What is linux and what are the benefits?
its just a different operating system. I say the main benefits are the safety of it. 90% of virus' are written for windows based computers since its the 'norm' then about 9% on mac. Linux is less than 1% problems with malware/virus.



Another as you mentioned its FREE.



There are TONS of different versions and builds, but i prefer and just recently switched from using windows for over 20 years to linux. I use Linuxmint which is a good crossover.



You can get it here : http://www.linuxmint.com get ersion 12 the DVD version if you can, burn it to a disk and boot to the disk. If you just want to try it out you dont even have to INSTALL you can just run it from the live disk. However if you want to install it and still keep windows you can dual boot (partition your drive and have 2 operating systems and choose which one to use)



That info is here: http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/06/11/dua鈥?/a>



Enjoy man!What is linux and what are the benefits?
What is Linux

http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/cha鈥?/a>



Why Linux is Better

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/



Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using OSS. However Linux does have its limitations particularly in gaming.



Grab a budget pack of blank DVD-R's and head to DISTROWATCH.COM download a few distros. and create some LiveDVD's

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resourc鈥?/a>

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Burnin鈥?/a>







LUg.What is linux and what are the benefits?
There are none, would you want a jet that you are flying on to have it's own rules and communication processes?

ok, I was being a bit harsh, if you are a serious about it you can learn a lot of course
It's good for writing codes... Then again you can find alternatives for it on windows/mac (it may not be free, though)