Congratulations!
As a new user, you've successfully installed one of today's most advanced computer operating systems.
What began in 1991 as a hobby for a young Finnish student named Linus Torvalds has ballooned from a ''hacker's darling'' into an important tool for both home and business users.
Just six years ago, there were an estimated 100,000 users. Today, about 12 million users world-wide depend on Linux to manage finances, use and control Internet services, create artwork and more. The number is rapidly growing; every day, new users are discovering the power and potential of Linux.
This free, UNIX-like operating system is a multitasking, multi-user environment that has superior memory management, great security features, and more.
In other words, power, and once you become more comfortable with Linux, ease of use.
Linux is most frequently pronounced with a short ''i'' and the accent on the first syllable, as in ''LIH-nucks''.
What do you do next? Relax.
In the chapters that follow, we hope to show you the basics of how to get the most out of your new system. If you're interested, we will also show you the roads to take which can lead you to becoming a Linux guru.