Apart from my weather fascination, I have a keen interest in Linux operating systems and open source software in general. Put briefly, Linux operating systems are an alternative to Windows operating systems like XP, Vista and Windows 7 etc. In the Linux world most operating systems are open source and anyone can download and use them for free. That's right, you can re-install them many times without the need to activate the installion with Microsoft because Linux isn't owned by anyone - its free and available to all. A number of Linux versions in my opinion are in some ways better than Windows; much less chance of virus or malware infections (better for online banking etc), lots of free, very good software, a more secure way of installing software and generally just a better way to do your computing.
Perhaps the best thing about Linux is that you can get involved with helping others. There are numerous avenues to work in; support forums, beta testing new software etc. Millions of people world-wide will benefit from the help that volunteers provide. Its very rewarding.
Some of the best Linux operating systems are Ubuntu, Linux Mint (based on Ubuntu but a bit fancier) and PC Linux OS but there are plenty of others as well. I would say Ubuntu is the best for beginners although perhaps even Linux Mint is even more suitable but I don't know it as well. Have a look at the Distro Watch link in the menu for more Linux distros and how popular they are in the rankings there. I have used Ubuntu since mid 2008 for 99% of my computing time and would give it 8.5/10. Its very good. Windows still has its place, of course.
NB: If you don't want to install Ubuntu onto a hard drive as per the instructions below, you can just load up the Ubuntu live CD that you will create and play around with Ubuntu that way. Its slower via the CD but it is still a fully working version of Ubuntu. This way, your computer is not changed in any way but you can still learn all about Ubuntu.
Some notes on installing Ubuntu
Please follow these basic instructions at your own risk. There is no guarantee that everything will work out okay for you, especially if you haven't installed operating systems before. Its best to follow this procedure on an old computer you don't need or by using a spare hard drive in your computer.
1: You can dual-boot with Windows but typically you need a spare hard-drive or old computer to install Ubuntu on, unless of course you are happy to get rid of Windows on your current PC. If you choose to use your current Windows computer to install Ubuntu, make sure you have backed up your Windows operating system by making an image of it, just in case you want to use it later or you can always just re-install Windows via the install CD but that takes longer. You can make an image of Windows with imaging software like Clonezilla (free) or Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost - both commercial programs.
2: Download the iso file from the Ubuntu link above. Most people would be better off using the 32 bit version of Ubuntu, so if you are not sure, just go with that. Its around a 700MB file, so if you have a slow connection, you can also order Ubuntu on CD via the link in the above menu and sometimes computer magazines also have Ubuntu and other popular Linux versions on the magazine CD/DVD.
3: If you downloaded the Ubuntu file, burn this iso file to a good quality CD. If you are in Windows, use Nero or whatever CD burning software you have to burn an image. When you open your burning software, you need to select the Ubuntu .iso file that you downloaded and then select from the menu something like 'burn an image to disk'. You can't just copy this .iso file to a blank CD, the image must be 'burned' to the CD. Read your software manual for this or Google how to burn an .iso file if you are not sure.
4: Once the .iso file is burned to a CD, you then insert it into your CD ROM bay and reboot your computer which should be set to boot from your CD drive first. If its not you can also just load the CD from within Windows and it will tell you what to do.
5: Ubuntu should now install if its compatible with your computer, which in most cases it will be. There are exceptions of course and maybe your computer isn't compatible so fingers crossed.
6: Once Ubuntu is installed, you will be asked to reboot your computer and everything should work but of course in some cases that may not happen, that is life with computers...sadly. Its impossible to have every piece of hardware that is compatible.
Tips and Tweaks after installation
1: The first thing you need to do is update your system. In the menu system on the top left, go to System>Administration>Update Manager and install any updates for Ubuntu.
2: Go to the Applications menu at the top of your screen and select the Ubuntu Software Centre menu. Type into the search box there, 'Ubuntu Restricted Extras' and click on install. This will install a good number of the needed codecs and Flash etc, so you can watch You Tube videos and more.
3: Install a printer. If you have a Hewlett Packhard Printer you are in luck as many of them are just turn on and auto install printers in Ubuntu. Other brands can be a bit more tricky and cannot be covered in this simple tutorial for now. Just try turning your printer on anyway and see if its recognised automatically, quite a few are.
4: Install more applications. in Ubuntu and Linux in general you don't just install programs off the internet or from a CD, this is one of the dangerous things about Windows, its so easy to get viruses or malware that way. For Ubuntu, just go to the Ubuntu Software Centre mentioned above and check out the huge amount of programs you can safely install. Some I use are; Gimp (like photoshop), DEVEDE (to make DVD videos), Kino (to prepare videos for YouTube), Ufraw (to work with raw images in Gimp).
5: Learn how to make an image of Ubuntu, once it is installed. That way, you can quickly restore Ubuntu if something goes drastically wrong. This can be done for free using Clonezilla. Type Clonezilla into Google and read the FAQ on their website. You will need to download a Clonezilla .iso file and burn it to a CD like you did with Ubuntu then follow the instructions on the website, that you should have downloaded first.
This is just a very basic tutorial on Ubuntu so please head to the links in the menu at the top of the page to learn more. Ubuntu and other Linux distros are a great way to enjoy a much safer environment for computing.