It's an "operating system" ... the "behind the scenes collection of software that makes your computer work, and of course decides how it works. Linux has been evolving with participation from the public. Real participation.
The main operating systems are Windows, Mac OS and Linux. With Linux you get a choice from heaps of point-and-click software (distributions). These user interfaces are commercial, but the underlying operating system is a product of the Linux community. Well, a core of people make the Linux operating system, and there's a vast community of enthusiasts and businesses freely making and doing all sorts of Linux stuff.
I've got a free distribution, but I think everybody else buys theirs ... for a lot less than Windows.
I've gone no further than Win98 and am confident that Linux is more reliable, comprehensive, capable, secure .... and just plain well-made. I've heard that the later versions of Windows are fundamentally improved, but then again, with my friends installation of Windows XP I could not find any reference to firewall in the "help" system. This is fundamental to system security. I fully expected that by now Microsoft would build some firewalling capability into their latest product, or at least make some acknowledgement of the conscept. It looks like my distrust of Microsoft isn't so out of date as I would have hoped.
With Linux you aren't kept in the dark and fed patronising bullshit when you ask questions. You are allowed to find out what's going on. In fact it's the most outstanding cultural difference between the Linux and commercial worlds - freedom of knowledge. Personally, this freedom seems to be the cause of my feeling of being at home with Linux ... just knowing that I'm in an environment where I'm not only allowed to know anything, but that the Linux community seems to want to pass on knowledge.
I get no support with my Linux troubleshooting, and yet I feel as if it's more supportive. And I work exclusively in the user unfriendly console environment (text only stuff, like a powerful DOS).
Linux was conceived and evolved in the public domain - not the guarded product of a corporation. A corporation that will subtly manoever you into serving it's own interests. Anyone can access anything and improve it ... by just doing it.
Linux is "straight" with you. You can learn anything about it. All information is given to you from collections all over the world assembled from contributions of enthusiasts. We are free from any suspicions that unseen people have other thoughts on what we should be told.
I assert that the pervasive trait in the Linux world is doing things properly. It was developed for computers to work properly ... properly for users that had some idea of what they should be doing. Basically it never was a get-rich-quick scheme, let alone a devious, ruthless one.
Many people make different "Linuxes". That's loose speaking. So far I understand that Linux is actually the core of the operating system ( the software needed by the computer to run itself). Other people make software systems that run on it, so you can use the computer. Those software systems are called distributions but most people call any of them "Linux", and why not? Linux, the core of the OS, is made for the worldwide public, and anyone, including corporations, can make a distribution to run on it. Some are given away freely.
Windows is used by everyone not because it's good, but purely because of corporate manoevering - Microsoft has got the public by the balls. It's produce is bought by those who don't know better. Which is all of us. I believe its a self perpetuating monopoly. We've been sucked in. I have a bit of a rave about Microsoft deficiencies on another page.
SO WHY IS LINUX SO UNKNOWN? BECAUSE IT'S MADE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST PEOPLE AND THEY ARE ALSO MICROSOFT'S COMPETITION!
Installing it on your computer:
... same as Windows but different.
Do it yourself if you are computer litterate. You need to have some
technical details about your monitor/video card.
Using it is the same as windows - little superficial differences here and there.
NEXT TIME YOU BUY A NEW COMPUTER ASK THE SHOP TO RECCOMMEND AND INSTALL A LINUX FOR YOU.