Difference between revisions of "Manjaro FAQ"

Linux is an '''[http://opensource.org/osd.html open-source]''' operating system, meaning that you may freely use and freely distribute it. Originally developed in 1991 by Finnish Programmer '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds Linus Torvalds]''', Linux is an exceptionally robust and reliable system most commonly used for internet servers, mobile phones, and tablets (e.g., Android). Additionally, the use of Linux as an alternative operating system for personal computers has also been growing over the years, with several million users having already discovered the benefits of it.

There are quite a few. Linux is free to use, highly efficient, and very fast. The 64 bit version of Manjaro with the XFCE desktop boots up in only a few seconds, and uses only 200MB of memory to run. Linux systems are also very secure, and are not affected by the huge amount of Windows viruses, trojans, worms, or malware out there. Anti-virus software is not required. And as for the tens of thousands of software applications available --including fully compatible equivalents of popular Windows software such as MS Office-- these are also completely free. It is also possible to easily run many popular Windows applications on Linux using compatibility software such as ''Wine or PlayonLinux''. The examples given here are ''far'' from comprehensive!

There isn't one. Linux operates on a completely different philosophy than those of for-profit corporations such as Microsoft and Apple. Linux systems and software applications are funded through sponsorship, donations, and of course, the hard work of many, many enthusiasts. Linux has a dedicated and highly enthusiastic fan-base for a very good reason.

Different Linux distributions (variations of the operating system) have been developed for different types of users, for different purposes, and for different hardware capacities. For example, distributions such as ''Mint'' or ''Zorin'' are specifically designed to apply to newcomers or those without technical expertise. At the other end of the scale, distributions such as ''Arch'' are designed for computer enthusiasts. Manjaro is designed to bridge that gap. Different '''flavours''' of a distribution means it comes with different desktop environments --you're rarely if ever stuck with whatever desktop comes pre-installed.