Welcome!

Linux is a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system that runs on many platforms; including Intel x86/IA-32 ("i386), Motorola 68K ("m68k"), Sun SPARC ("sparc"), DEC Alphas ("alpha"), Motoroloa/IBM PowerPC ("powerpc"), ARM ("arm"), MIPS CPUs ("mips" and "mipsel"), HP PA-RISC ("hppa"), IA-64 ("ia64"), and S/390 ("s390"). It implements a superset of the POSIX standard. Linux interoperates well with other operating systems, including Apple, Microsoft and Novell.

It supports a wide range of software, including X Windows, Emacs, TCP/IP networking (including SLIP/PPP/ISDN), the works. Many people have executed benchmarks on 80486 Linux systems and found them comparable with mid-range workstations from Sun and Digital.

Linux (often pronounced with a short "i" and with the first sylable stressed - LIH-nucks) is freely available -- it can be copied and redistributed without fees or royalties. The source code for Linux is available on the Internet to anyone who wants it.