How many Linux operating systems are there?
 

Please help an old man's curiosity!

Just how many Linux operating systems are there?

Lots. Have you been to distrowatch.com ? Have a look at the distros listed there. And there are more.....

And every time someone builds a LFS (Linux from Scratch) system, or modifies something in their own system, wham! New distro, even if only one person is using it

Thank You, Esteeven!!

I have been within the Microsoft Gulag for so long that I did not have any idea at all of what other operating systems existed in the real world.

I am too old to catch up and/or get up to speed on all of that. I am not even going to try.

I do feel a little sorry for myself, and the multitude of others, who have shovelled crap against the tide trying to deal with what Bill Gates forced down our throats by having his operating system in the computers we bought at the stores.

I was indeed taken for a very nasty ride.

hey cousinlucky ---- you have got this far. It appears that you are running Suse 10 and you are on the right forum. You have already caught up !!!!! What do you mean you are not going to try? Not try what? You are already there. Or here ;) You are only as old as your last update.

Cousinlucky, I don't be-lieve.... you! :D Jump on in, the water's fine.

When you really get your Linux system clicking like it should, you won't go back! :D

It's kinda like that ol' 57 Chevy. 400 cubic inches, 4 barrel carb, 100-octane gas. (To the rest of you: if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you have never seen a 'real' automobile.) When it ran, it ran like a bat out of a hot place. Now, sometimes it went Kof! * Splat! * Phooey! * and sometimes it just gave this nice ominous *Ping!* just to keep you on your toes, but most of the time ....

... ahh, you left 'em all in the dust, didntya? :)

... the only thing the rest of 'em could see was your tail lights, remember? :D

Yeah, Linux is kinda like that... :cool:

"Windows?" *snicker!* That's a Chevy, oh yes... a Chevette.

Well, Esteeven!!

I am not going to try to understand the many differences between Linux operating systems or all that is available on them.

I am truly, truly very glad for this great forum.

Age and experience can bring a person wisdom if they are not deluded by their ego or continually lying to themselves.

I am a Computer Illiterate; and it would be just impossible for me to hide that from anyone.

I would need a new lifetime to get into Linux the way I have gotten into other things.

When I was a child I remember my grandfather being in awe of the first television set he owned.

I am in that kind of awe with Linux. Not scared, just amazed!!

Hello Sundialsvcs,

I can see by the many, many Networking programs within this SUSE Linux 10 operating system that Novell put it together with the small and medium sized business with multiple computers in mind.

I am a senior trying to keep All computers out of mine. One of the hijack programs that I have suffered through set my XP operating system up on a LAN and took control of my computer entirely.

Believe me you do not want me telling you about my past Microsoft suffering.

I must know at least 50 people who have abandoned the Internet entirely because of the suffering and loss of money they have endured. And Please, do not get me started talking about dial up ISP's.

I am very glad to be here among you gracious people; even if all I can do right now is to ask dumb/stupid questions.

Fear not great adventurer.
You don't have to learn them all!

For the most part. I'll repeat most.
Linux distributions are interchangeable,
it's all just Unix on a desktop. :)
If you're that old you must have learned Unix no?

:)

And the great thing is that you really do not need to know about every Linux distribution.
The quick and dirty story goes like this.
Any Linux distribution starts with some version of the Linux kernel ( www.kernel.org/ ). This is the heart of how the operating system operates.
Most utilize some set of the GNU ( www.gnu.org )programs. There are many basic utilities and other stuff there.
The source code is made available so that anyone creating their own distribution can make it the way they want as best they can. A Linux distribution can be created by one person or many hundreds, or be produced and maintained by a business.
Specific distributions then create system utilities, choose programs and defaults based on their goals and philosophy.
While each of them will have a lot in common there can be some very good reasons why specific distributions meet your needs better than others.
The basics for Linux security are to run a firewall program and learn to get the security updates for your distribution.
Good Luck.

How many linux disributions are there?
There are 42!
<geesh>

if linux was to be talked in car terms would say it is am oldsmobile 440 no a 57 chevy. windows well that would be that 72 gremlin sitting on the side of the street.

...yeah, after it crashed for no reason.

To the original poster, jump on board. I'm coming up on my 6-month anniversary, Windows-free, and have never felt better about computing. There are so many good books and tutorials online, you're only limited by Google. Also, there are a lot of threads and how-to's on here. Chances are if you've had a problem, ten other people have had it before you, and they've all got some advice. Don't be scared.

i could have compared windows to a Yugo.

Just one.

It's called Linux.

As others have observed, there are truck loads of distributions built on this.
More by the minute.

Nice to see an "older folk" joining the ranks. I intermittently do spiels for U3a. Generally on security/viruses, sometimes just general PC stuff, but convincing them to jump to Linux is damn near a lost cause.