Well, Linux isn’t exactly free. You do pay for a release of Linux, but that also includes bells and whistles and programs that make installing Linux a snap. You can even add Linux to a computer that already runs Windows and “share” both operating systems. Linux can be cryptic at times, but as long as you add a friendly shell, which adds a graphical user interface to the program, it can be easy to use. So, unless you’re a programmer or Unix maven, look for a version of Linux with a shell program that helps you get used to the operating system. (This is the trade-off for Linux being as powerful as it is — even more powerful than Windows.) Figure 13-3 shows Linux being run with a shell. Linux is similar to the Unix operating system. If you like, you can get the Unix operating system for your computer as well. But why bother when Linux can be had for next to nothing? Linux distributions go by product names such as Red Hat Linux, Mandrake Linux, and SuSE Linux. Linux is sort of available for Macintosh hardware. Still, why bother paying more for Mac hardware and not running Mac software? Instead, just buy an old used Pentium (or better) PC and try out Linux. With continued modification, Linux may one day be a popular alternative to the Windows hegemony