I heard that we can download operating system .
Can they be downloaded for free.
2007-01-11 21:47:52 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
You seem to be talking about Linux.
Yes, Linux is an fully open-source Operating System (or OS) which can be 'downloaded' for free. The business model of the Linux community is based on Tech Support monetization. What it means is that you have to pay for having your operating system supported by technicians.
Here's a good starting guide for Linux:
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/
There are many variants of Linux also called Distributions or Flavors. A flavor is a version of Linux (Same core and same application) with a customized User Interface. Here's a good site:
http://www.unix.org/what_is_unix/flavors_of_unix.html
For a beginner, I would recommend that you use Ubuntu Linux, an offshoot of the Debian flavor. You can also order the Ubuntu CDs from the site and they will be delivered to you absolutely *free* of cost. You can fin the details about Ubuntu here:
http://ubuntu.org
Alternatively, if you are good with Windows, you can also try the RedHat distribution, the Fedora Series for the community:
http://www.redhat.com/fedora/
One bit of warning. There is no clear equivalent of Installers in the Linux versions. Ubuntu is the only flavor that comes anywhere close. I would recommend that you start off using Ubuntu and move on to the other flavors.
Cheers!
2007-01-11 22:21:26 · answer #1 · answered by Ho(a)rse Whisperer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Linux can be downloaded free but the restrictive GPL licence restricts what you can do with the source code. Consider it free software but it isn't very open-source.
FreeBSD (which the Yahoo servers run) is an awesome operating system and you can download it for free and you can even use the source code in it with very few restrictions (see the BSD license for details). FreeBSD however isn't that user-friendly and if you are coming from windows can take a little while to learn. See http://www.freebsd.org/
WIndows and Mac OSX can't be obtained for free legally.
Although free operating sytems won't cost you in terms of money they will cost you time.
2007-01-12 06:11:10 · answer #2 · answered by Luke S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Repeating what other guys said, you can download free operating systems developed under GNU License like Linux and all but not the copyrighted softwares like Windows, Mac etc.
2007-01-12 05:55:01 · answer #3 · answered by MaX 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Minix
http://www.minix3.org/
Solaris
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/
Debian
http://www.debian.org/
2007-01-12 06:03:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been in this business since 1984, there is no operating system that u can download legally. 99.99% of the time, u have to buy it.
2007-01-12 05:52:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Microsoft Windows, no - well not a version that will work correctly for any length of time.
Linux yes
google Linux
2007-01-12 05:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by Gowrie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ya sure but this is a illegal site and mostly your computer wont be able to access it but just give it a try and you'll get it. infact you can get anything downloaded free from this site
http://www.facedll.com/
so give it a go
2007-01-12 06:01:09 · answer #7 · answered by Bap 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Download full operating ?
Nope! sorry I think it can't be done
2007-01-12 05:52:23 · answer #8 · answered by Catalyst 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go buy it.
Yahoo Answers is not a place to ask that type of question. Go search it somewhere else.
andr.net
2007-01-12 12:17:22 · answer #9 · answered by The_Amish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Windows, Mac, Not legally
Linux, of course
2007-01-12 05:50:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋