Friday, July 17, 2009

Disaster management

Emergency management (or disaster management) is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. It is a discipline that involves preparing for disaster before it occurs, disaster response (e.g. emergency evacuation, quarantine, mass decontamination, etc.), as well as supporting, and rebuilding society after natural or human-made disasters have occurred. In general, any Emergency management is the continuous process by which all individuals, groups, and communities manage hazards in an effort to avoid or ameliorate the impact of disasters resulting from the hazards. Actions taken depend in part on perceptions of risk of those exposed.[2] Effective emergency management relies on thorough integration of emergency plans at all levels of government and non-government involvement. Activities at each level (individual, group, community) affect the other levels. It is common to place the responsibility for governmental emergency management with the institutions for civil defense or within the conventional structure of the emergency services. In the private sector, emergency management is sometimes referred to as business continuity planning.

Emergency Management is one of a number of terms which, since the end of the Cold War, have largely replaced Civil defense, whose original focus was protecting civilians from military attack. Modern thinking focuses on a more general intent to protect the civilian population in times of peace as well as in times of war. Another current term, Civil Protection is widely used within the European Union and refers to government-approved systems and resources whose task is to protect the civilian population, primarily in the event of natural and human-made disasters. Within EU countries the term Crisis Management emphasises the political and security dimension rather than measures to satisfy the immediate needs of the civilian population.[citation needed] An academic trend is towards using the term disaster risk reduction, particularly for emergency management in a development management context. This focuses on the mitigation and preparedness aspects of the emergency cycle (see below).
The nature of management depends on local economic and social conditions. Some disaster relief experts such as Fred Cuny have noted that in a sense the only real disasters are economic. Experts, such as Cuny, have long noted that the cycle of emergency management must include long-term work on infrastructure, public awareness, and even human justice issues. This is not important in developing nations. The process of emergency management involves four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.


A graphic representation of the four phases in emergency management.
] Mitigation
Mitigation efforts attempt to prevent hazards from developing into disasters altogether, or to reduce the effects of disasters when they occur. The mitigation phase differs from the other phases because it focuses on long-term measures for reducing or eliminating risk.] The implementation of mitigation strategies can be considered a part of the recovery process if applied after a disaster occurs] Mitigative measures can be structural or non-structural. Structural measures use technological solutions, like flood levees. Non-structural measures include legislation, land-use planning (e.g. the designation of nonessential land like parks to be used as flood zones), and insurance. Mitigation is the most cost-efficient method for reducing the impact of hazards, however it is not always suitable. Mitigation does include providing regulations regarding evacuation, sanctions against those who refuse to obey the regulations (such as mandatory evacuations), and communication of potential risks to the public.] Some structural mitigation measures may have adverse effects on the ecosystem.
A precursor activity to the mitigation is the identification of risks. Physical risk assessment refers to the process of identifying and evaluating hazards.The hazard-specific risk (Rh) combines both the probability and the level of impact of a specific hazard. The equation below gives that the hazard times the populations’ vulnerability to that hazard produce a risk. Catastrophe modeling The higher the risk, the more urgent that the hazard specific vulnerabilities are targeted by mitigation and preparedness efforts. However, if there is no vulnerability there will be no risk, e.g. an earthquake occurring in a desert where nobody lives.
Preparedness
In the preparedness phase, emergency managers develop plans of action for when the disaster strikes. Common preparedness measures include:
communication plans with easily understandable terminology and methods.
proper maintenance and training of emergency services, including mass human resources such as community emergency response teams.
development and exercise of emergency population warning methods combined with emergency shelters and evacuation plans.
stockpiling, inventory, and maintain disaster supplies and equipment[5]
develop organizations of trained volunteers among civilian populations. (Professional emergency workers are rapidly overwhelmed in mass emergencies so trained, organized, responsible volunteers are extremely valuable. Organizations like Community Emergency Response Teams and the Red Cross are ready sources of trained volunteers. Its emergency management system has gotten high ratings from both California, and FEMA.)
Another aspect of preparedness is casualty prediction, the study of how many deaths or injuries to expect for a given kind of event. This gives planners an idea of what resources need to be in place to respond to a particular kind of event.
Emergency Managers in the planning phase should be flexible, and all encompassing - carefully recognizing the risks and exposures of their respective regions and employing unconventional, and atypical means of support. Depending on the region - municipal, or private sector emergency services can rapidly be depleted and heavily taxed. Non-governmental oganizations that offer desired resources i.e. transportation of displaced homeowners to be conducted by local school district buses, evacuation of flood victims to be performed by mutual aide agreements between fire departments and rescue squads, should be identified early in planning stages, and practiced with regularity.
Response


Brazilian Defesa Civil unit responding to an emergency São Paulo.
The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and first responders in the disaster area. This is likely to include a first wave of core emergency services, such as firefighters, police and ambulance crews. When conducted as a military operation, it is termed Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) and can be a follow-up to a Non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO). They may be supported by a number of secondary emergency services, such as specialist rescue teams.
A well rehearsed emergency plan developed as part of the preparedness phase enables efficient coordination of rescue Where required, search and rescue efforts commence at an early stage. Depending on injuries sustained by the victim, outside temperature, and victim access to air and water, the vast majority of those affected by a disaster will die within 72 hours after impact.[6]
Organizational response to any significant disaster - natural or terrorist-borne - is based on existing emergency management organizational systems and processes: the Federal Response Plan (FRP) and the Incident Command System (ICS). These systems are solidified through the principles of Unified Command (UC) and Mutual Aid (MA)
Recovery
The aim of the recovery phase is to restore the affected area to its previous state. It differs from the response phase in its focus; recovery efforts are concerned with issues and decisions that must be made after immediate needs are addressed.[1] Recovery efforts are primarily concerned with actions that involve rebuilding destroyed property, re-employment, and the repair of other essential infrastructure.[1] An important aspect of effective recovery efforts is taking advantage of a ‘window of opportunity’[7] for the implementation of mitigative measures that might otherwise be unpopular. Citizens of the affected area are more likely to accept more mitigative changes when a recent disaster is in fresh memory.
In the United States, the National Response Plan dictates how the resources provided by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 will be used in recovery efforts.[1] It is the Federal government that often provides the most technical and financial assistance for recovery efforts in the United States.[
In India, the role of emergency management falls to National Disaster Management of India, a government agency subordinate to the Ministry of Home affairs. In recent years there has been a shift in emphasis, from response and recovery to strategic risk management and reduction, and from a government-centred approach to decentralized community participation.[citation needed] Survey of India, an agency within the Ministry of Science and Technology, is also playing a role in this field, through bringing the academic knowledge and research expertise of earth scientists to the emergency management process.

Recently the Government has formed the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI). This group represents a public/private partnership, funded primarily by a large India-based computer company "Satyam Computer Services" , and aimed at improving the general response of communities to emergencies, in addition to those incidents which might be described as disasters. Some of the groups' early efforts involve the provision of emergency management training for first responders (a first in India), the creation of a single emergency telephone number, and the establishment of standards for EMS staff, equipment and training. It is hoped that this effort will provide a model for emulation by all of India, however, at the moment, it operates in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Assam, using a single 3-digit toll-free number 1-0-8. .
In India, the role of emergency management falls to National Disaster Management of India, a government agency subordinate to the Ministry of Home affairs. In recent years there has been a shift in emphasis, from response and recovery to strategic risk management and reduction, and from a government-centred approach to decentralized community participation.[citation needed] Survey of India, an agency within the Ministry of Science and Technology, is also playing a role in this field, through bringing the academic knowledge and research expertise of earth scientists to the emergency management process.

Recently the Government has formed the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI). This group represents a public/private partnership, funded primarily by a large India-based computer company "Satyam Computer Services" , and aimed at improving the general response of communities to emergencies, in addition to those incidents which might be described as disasters. Some of the groups' early efforts involve the provision of emergency management training for first responders (a first in India), the creation of a single emergency telephone number, and the establishment of standards for EMS staff, equipment and training. It is hoped that this effort will provide a model for emulation by all of India, however, at the moment, it operates in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Assam, using a single 3-digit toll-free number 1-0-8. .


The Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) is an integrated Emergency Response Services provider, the first of its kind in India. It launched 1-0-8 services on August 15, 2005 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh with a fleet of 70 ambulances.

1-0-8 is accessible from fixed and mobile phones without a suffix or a prefix. Apart from handling day to day emergencies, EMRI is also involved in research activities in the areas of medicine (prevention, diagnosis and treatment), crime, traffic disorders and fire. EMRI also provides Emergency Management Training programs for medical professionals, policy makers, public, volunteers and students. Its goal is to be the best in the world in Emergency Response. Throughout the journey, from conception to completion, a set of guiding principles and management concepts have been helpful to focus and deliver a world-class emergency management system that has received praise from international experts.[citation needed]

Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) provides a comprehensive emergency management service in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Chennai and Rajasthan, Karnataka and Assam and Meghalaya using a single, toll-free number (108). The number 108 is used as the centralized helpline for Medical, Police and Fire emergencies.

At EMRI, world class technology is at work to give the quickest response to any distress call. Supported by the latest technology in distress communication and management, EMRI extends quick and effective relief to any medical, police or fire emergency situation involving individuals.

EMRI has developed processes and state-of-the-art infrastructure and is operating successfully in the states of Andhra Pradesh,Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Assam and Meghalaya in India. The Governments of these states are committed to assist EMRI in regulatory aspects, canalizing funds, leveraging infrastructure, promoting public awareness, etc. In turn, EMRI is expected to provide its operational expertise, establish similar systems across the State, train the required manpower, etc. Unlike its counterparts in Emergency Management System (EMS) across India, EMRI focuses not only on the Sense aspect of EMS but also on the Reach and Care aspects, thereby addressing the entire delivery model of emergency response.

The intent to operate all these programs is to focus on providing quality Emergency Response with an emphasis on “The more we care…the more we value…the more we respect human life…the more we will develop as a nation…with humanity, humility and commitment to service”. This initiative contributes towards developing the future with state-of-the-art technology in Emergency Management. Satyam Computers provides all technological support to EMRI. International dignitaries and experts also visit EMRI and train the associates


EMRI began operations on August 15 2005 with a fleet of 70 ambulances deployed over 50 towns in the state of Andhra Pradesh. EMRI’s strategy and thought leadership being provided by the governing body, the organization had a total manpower of 2500 people including EMT’S (emergency Medical Technicians), Support staff, associates, fleet and call centre executives.

EMRI now having completed 3 years in providing reliable emergency response services, attends to an average of 4500 emergency call per day. EMRI-AP operates with a fleet of 652 ambulances covering 23 districts and saving an average of 108 lives in a day. The phenomenal success of EMRI has led to tie ups with 3331 private hospitals throughout the state along with many nations showing interest to launch EMRI services in their respective countries.

The government of Gujarat showing keen interest towards replicating a similar model in Gujarat, EMRI started full fledged operations in Gujarat on August 29 2007 and now has a fleet of 400 ambulances covering a total of 13 districts and 66 towns in the state. EMRI has also launched its operation of 108 services in the state of Uttarakhand with a fleet of 60 ambulances covering a total of 20 districts. EMRI has also created its presence in Goa with 18 ambulances and launched 108 services in Chennai a fleet of 33 ambulances on 15th September 2008.108 services were flagged off with 5 ambulances in Rajasthan - Jaipur on 20th September 2008 and now has a total of 40 ambulances spanning the respective districts. EMRI launched 108 services in Karnataka on 1st November with 66 ambulances to begin with and in Assam on 6th November with 20 ambulances and Meghalaya with 15 ambulances on 2nd February 2009. Having signed the MOU with State Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Punjab to launch emergency response services in their respective states, the day is not far when 108 will be recognized as a single number for all emergencies throughout India.

Working towards benchmarking with the best in the world EMRI has collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, AAPI, AAEMI, NENA, Richmond Ambulance Authority (USA), R.Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Centre, Stanford University, Singapore Health Services Pvt Ltd, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), GEOMED-Germany, Corporate Hospitals and NGO’s.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

story of david bexham

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on May 2nd 1975, in Leytonstone, London. Although living in the capital city, he always supported Manchester United and that's probably because his dad, Ted, was a massive Red Devils fan. He first saw Man. United when his dad took him to White Hart Lane. Since then, he started liking the stars as Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan, Frank Staphelon and Remi Moses. His parents always bought him a brand new football for Christmas. He also had a new Man. United kit every year and his mum's dad always bought him the new Tottenham kit.

David's dream of becoming a footballer began when he was about 8 years old. His first team Ridgeway Rovers was taken up in the local newspaper when they won the Fyfield five-a-side soccer tournament. In a later match they won 23-0! The article said that Big had played an outstanding game on the right wing. In the next three years, Beckham was scoring more than a hundred goals of the Enfield District League; at 11, watching Blue Peter, he saw a piece about Bobby Charlton's Soccer Skills Tournament. He won, with the highest score ever, and he won at Old Trafford, the home of the tournament and of Manchester United. The lifelong devotion of Beckham to United - "There was never another team for me" - said his father, was a source of some puzzlement to his resolutely southern friends and team-mates.

He's best known for scoring big goals for England - and scoring big with Posh Spice. We're talking about Manchester United mid-fielder, Big. He's known worldwide for his pinpoint accuracy on penalty kicks and his sweeping crosses. The star midfielder is has celebrated a decade of dominance with English Premiership powerhouse Manchester United.

Soccer (or football as those guys in Europe call it) has always been the biggest thing in Big's life. He used to play for hours when he was a kid. Beckham and his father would kick the ball around until it was too dark to see each other. Because he was always kicking the ball around, Big never did all that well at school. Beckham failed out when he was 16 and went to play soccer for Manchester United's Jr. Team. David played his first pro game for Manchester two years later when he was 18. By 1996, Big was a regular with the team and one of the most popular players in England - by helping the team win an FA Cup and a Premier Division title in the same year. In 2002, Big helped England advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup of Soccer in Korea and Japan, where the English lost to the eventual champions from Brazil.

Big's success in soccer means he's now making a ton of cash. Big made more than $12 million dollars a year playing for Man. United. That's allowed him to pick up some nice toys as well. Beckham now owns seven cars, including a custom built Ferrari, a Porshe 911, a Range Rover, and a Jaguar. When Big's not scoring goals for his team, he hangs out with his wife, Victoria Adams (Posh Spice of the Spice Girls) and their sons Brooklyn (born in March 1999,) and Romeo, (born in September, 2002. They also have two dogs named Snoop and Puffy (after Beckham's favorite rappers, Puff Daddy and Snoop Dog). David even makes sure to poop-n-scoop when the dogs do their business! So between scoring goals, making music and cleaning up after their son and dogs - this family keeps very busy.
Big, is moving to Spain! In Summer 2003, the star of England's soccer team, Manchester United, was traded to Spain's Real Madrid for over 41 million dollars.

biography of pete samprus

. His special combination of skill, determination and consistency has won the admiration of both fans and fellow professionals.

Played was born on August 12th, 1971 in Washington, D.C, the third son of Greek immigrants, Sam and Georgia Sampras.

From an early age, Pete showed signs of outstanding athletic ability. The young Pete discovered a tennis racquet in the basement and spent hours hitting balls against the wall.

In 1978, the Sampras family moved to Palos Verdes, California, and the warmer climate there allowed 7 year old Pete to play more tennis.

The Sampras family joined the Peninsula Racquet Club, where they played a great deal of tennis together. It was here that Pete's ability became apparent.

At the age of 11 he had already learned the solid serve and volley tactic that has become the hallmark of his game.

Pete entered the professional game in 1988 as a 16-year old qualifier and had a game that was considered 'dangerous' by fellow competitors.

During the 2 years that it took Pete to reach the World Top 10 he defeated several of the great tennis legends.

In 1990 he won his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. Along the way he defeated Andre Agassi Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe with his dominating serve.

At only 19 years 28 days, Played was the youngest tennis player ever to win the U.S. Open Men's title.

In 1991 Played won the IBM World Championship and in 1992 he played on the U.S. team that won back the Davis Cup.

His relaxed and friendly attitude made him an excellent team player, but it was in the singles game that he began to dominate.

Pete set a new ATP Tour record in 1993 when he became the first player to serve over 1000 aces in a season. This feat helped him to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and gained him his 'Pistol Pete' nickname.

At the time of writing, Played has won:

2 Australian Open titles (1994, 1997)
4 U.S. Open titles (1990, 1993, 1995-96)
7 Wimbledon titles (1993-95, 1997-2000)
50 other titles

Pete's one weakness is playing on clay. This has come between him and the fourth Grand Slam, the French Open. Although he already commands almost universal respect, a win at Roland Garros would silence even the harshest of critics.

Sampras once said of himself: 'I never wanted to be the great guy or the colorful guy or the interesting guy. I wanted to be the guy who won titles.'

Triple Wimbledon champion Boris Becker said: 'He was always the most complete player. He has the power, he has the speed, he has the touch. He is the best player ever.'

At the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, Played will aim to equal Bjorn Borg's record 5 successive titles.

Pete officially brought his legendary career to an end at the opening night of the US Open 2003 - a place where he had won his first and final Grand Slam.

After an emotional ceremony which left few dry eyes in Arthur Ashe stadium, Pete walked a final lap of honor holding infant son, Christian, in the arms that one year earlier held the US Open trophy.
Pete retired with 762 victories, 64 titles, including the all-time best 14 Grand Slam titles. He holds the record for most weeks at No. 1 and most consecutive years (6) as the top player in the World.

biography of mike tyson

Michael Gerard Tyson, who later earned the moniker "Iron Mike," was born on June 30, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents weren't married, and Michael's father Jimmy Kirkpatrick left the family behind when Mike was only 2 years of age. As a troubled youth from humble beginnings, he was often arrested for petty crimes. Big, fast, strong, but untamed, he was sent to the Tryon School in upstate New York, where Bobby Stewart, a social worker and boxing fan, taught Mike how to box.

Tyson took up boxing quickly, proving to be naturally skilled and boasting a big frame -- at 13 he weighed 200 pounds. Stewart saw potential in the boy, and in 1980, put him under the care of Constantine "Cus" D'Amato, a famous trainer of champs. D'Amato became Tyson's legal guardian and mentor in New York's Catskill Mountains.

As an amateur, Tyson was nearly unbeatable. His record was 24-3, which made him a prime candidate for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. But two losses to Henry Tillman ruined his chance to represent the U.S. After seeing his rival win the heavyweight gold medal, Tyson turned professional.

The 18-year-old Tyson made a spectacular pro debut, winning by knockout in the first round against Hector Mercedes. He finished the year with a stunning 15-0 record, all by KO, setting his sights on the championship. It took less than two years and 27 consecutive wins for him to do that. On November 22, 1986, 20-year-old Tyson let Trevor Berbick stay on his feet until round two. Tyson was crowned the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion, making him the youngest heavyweight champ ever.

One belt was only the beginning. On March 7, 1987, Tyson spent a grueling 12 rounds with World Boxing Association (WBA) champ James "Bonecrusher" Smith, winning by unanimous points. One more belt to go for Iron Mike.

That happened in August, in a bout against Tony Tucker. Again winning on points, Tyson claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt, and with it, the title of Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. He defended that title fiercely, pummeling the likes of Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks. In the latter fight, he made $20 million, the largest payment for an athlete to date.

With an unprecedented 37-0 pro record -- 33 of those by KO -- Tyson would next be involved in what was then called the greatest upset in boxing history. Outside the ring, there were rumors that Tyson's life was a mess. He was divorcing Robin Givens and his contract was being aggressively taken over by Don King. Also, the champ wasn't up to par in his training. It was in Tokyo, on February 11, 1990, against James "Buster" Douglas, that Tyson was taken down in the 10th round.
Jarred by the new reality, Tyson made a comeback, winning two fights that same year. In 1991, he won two bouts against Canadian tour de force Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. But he was really waiting for his chance to meet new champion Evander Holyfield.
That would have to wait. In February 1992, Tyson was found guilty of raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Washington. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Not long after his release, Tyson was ready for a massive return. It was the most anticipated comeback in generations. In August of 1995, Tyson beat Peter McNeeley in a matter of seconds -- 89, to be exact.
His next fight against Buster Mathis Jr. had to be postponed due to a broken thumb, but that hardly fazed the giant. Mathis was on the floor in the third round, unable to withstand Tyson's consecutive rights. In 1996, Tyson regained his WBC title back from Frank Bruno in the third round. Then he reclaimed the WBA from Bruce Seldon, after paying Lennox Lewis to forego a fight.

The wait was over, and on November 9, 1996, Tyson met "The Real Deal," the great Evander Holyfield. Tyson was no match for him, losing in the 11th round with a TKO. Holyfield became three-times world champion that day.

They would fight again less than a year later, on June 28, 1997. It was the highest-sold pay-per-view match, and also the most infamous, reputation-destroying sports moment in recent history. Tyson lost his temper after several head-butts from Holyfield. In the third round, he spat out his gum shield, grabbed Holyfield's head and bit his ear. Referee Mills Lane gave Tyson a stern warning, but he didn't listen. He bit the other ear, tearing off a good chunk of it.

Tyson was fined $3 million, and was banned from boxing for one year.
Tyson came back in January 1999 against South African behemoth Frans Botha. The victory was short lived, as Tyson was later sentenced to prison, serving nine months for assaulting two people after a car crash the year before. Things got more comical when Tyson fought Orlin Norris after his release. Norris, wanting to avoid a royal whoop-ass, faked an ankle injury.

In 2000, Tyson fought three times in Europe. His third, against Andrew Golota, was first a victory, but changed to no-contest after Tyson failed a drug test. The next year he fought only once, knocking out Brian Nielsen in the seventh round.

Tyson's reckless attitude cost him another fight, this time against Lennox Lewis in 2002. Pending sexual assault charges made the Nevada boxing commission think twice about giving him a license. A brawl at a press conference ruined it for good, and the fight took place in Memphis, Tennessee. Alas, Tyson lost in the eighth by KO.

By 2003, Tyson was already a running joke in the media. Tales of his lack of fitness, irresponsible spending followed by bankruptcy, and a new facial tattoo, stripped him of any semblance of dignity he had left. But in February of 2003, he knocked out Clifford Etienne in 49 seconds in round one, again in Memphis. In 2004, Tyson returned to the ring in July, and fought Danny Williams. Tyson was knocked out in the fourth round.
The man amassed a record of 50 wins (44 by KO), 4 losses, and 2 no-contests. Tyson divorced from his second wife, Monica, after she cited adultery. She took their two kids, Rayna and Amir.

biography of steve ervin

Born in Victoria, Australia and later relocated to Queensland, the Irwin family started a small reptile park in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. In 1973, the Australia Zoo opened their doors to the public and it became a true family business. The young Irwin literally grew up with the animals at the zoo, taking part in their daily maintenance and care.

The elder Irwin taught his young son everything there was to know about reptiles -- even teaching young Irwin how to jump in and catch crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland at night. His favorite boast back then (and to this day) is that every crocodile in their park (now numbering some 100 animals) was either caught by their bare hands or bred and raised in their park.

In 1990, Irwin received his break into television when he was reunited with his friend, television producer John Stainton. Stainton was filming a television commercial in the Australian reptile park and had extended an offer to shoot a documentary of Irwin and his animals. In 1992, Irwin's first documentary,"The Crocodile Hunter," aired on the Discovery Channel. The success of this documentary led to the production of one of the most popular nature series on cable television.

Irwin could not have made a more fitting choice when he decided to appear in the feature film "Dr. Dolittle 2"(2001), the Eddie Murphyvehicle about a doctor who who can speak to animals. One year later, Irwin's bold and courageous demeanor was showcased in his first starring feature role as himself in "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002). In it Irwin is joined by his wife Terri as they do what they do best...hunt crocodiles. A nature lover at heart, Irwin did not forget those who have helped him claim fame -- he donated a generous portion of his movie earnings to various crocodile and animal rescue leagues.


The park was a family run business, until it was turned over to Steve. He took over the running of the park, now called Australia Zoo (renaming it in 1992). Also that year, he appeared in a one-off reptile and wildlife special for television. In 1991, he met Terri Raines at the park, while performing a demonstration. The two married in June 1992, in Terri's hometown of Eugene, Oregon. The footage, shot by John Stainton, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The series debuted on Australian TV screens in 1996, and by the following year had made its way onto North American television. The Crocodile Hunter became successful in the United States and also, after repackaging by Partridge Films for ITV, in the UK.[4] In 1998, he continued, working with producer and director Mark Strickson, to present The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World. By 1999, he had become very popular in the United States, making his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. By this time, the Crocodile Hunter series was broadcast in over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people. His exuberant and enthusiastic presenting style, broad Australian accent, signature khaki shorts, and catchphrase "Crikey!" became known worldwide.[5] Sir David Attenborough praised Irwin for introducing many to the natural world, saying "He taught them how wonderful and exciting it was, he was a born communicator."[6]

A 2000 FedEx commercial with Steve Irwin lightheartedly dealed with the possibility of occupational death from snakebite and the fanciful notion that FedEx would have saved him, if only FedEx were used.[7]

Under Irwin's leadership, the operations grew to include the zoo, the television series, the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation (renamed Wildlife Warriors), and the International Crocodile Rescue. Improvements to the Australia Zoo include the Animal Planet Crocoseum, the rainforest aviary and Tiger Temple. Irwin mentioned that he was considering opening an Australia Zoo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and possibly at other sites around the world.[1]


Film
In 2001, Irwin appeared in a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr. Dolittle 2, in which a crocodile warns Dolittle that he knows Irwin is going to grab him and is prepared to attack when he does, but Dolittle fails to warn Irwin in time. Irwin's only starring feature film role was in 2002's The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, which was released to mixed reviews. In the film Irwin (who portrayed himself and performed numerous stunts) mistakes some CIA agents for poachers. He sets out to stop them from capturing a crocodile, which, unknown to him, has actually swallowed a tracking transmitter. The film won the Best Family Feature Film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards. The film was produced on a budget of about $12 million, and has grossed $33 million.[8] To promote the film, Irwin was featured in an animated short produced by Animax Entertainment for Intermix.[9]

In 2002, the Irwins appeared in the Wiggles video/DVD release Wiggly Safari, which was set in Irwin's Australia Zoo. It featured Irwin-themed songs written and performed by the Wiggles such as "Crocodile Hunter", "Australia Zoo", "Snakes (You can look but you better not touch)" and "We're The Crocodile Band". Irwin was featured prominently on the cover and throughout the movie.

In 2006, Irwin provided his voice for the 2006 animated film Happy Feet, as an elephant seal named Trev. The film was dedicated to Irwin, as he died during post-production.[10] Another, previously incomplete scene, featuring Steve providing the voice of an Albatross and essentially playing himself, was restored to the DVD release.


Animal Planet and later projects
Animal Planet ended The Crocodile Hunter with a series finale entitled "Steve's Last Adventure." The last Crocodile Hunter documentary spanned three hours with footage of Irwin's across-the-world adventure in locations including the Himalayas, the Yangtze River, Borneo, and the Kruger National Park. Irwin went on to star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including The Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets.

As a part of the United States' "Australia Week" celebrations in January 2006, Irwin appeared at the Pauley Pavilion, UCLA in Los Angeles, California. During an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Irwin announced that Discovery Kids would be developing a show for his daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin.[11] The show, Jungle Girl, was tipped to be similar to The Wiggles movies, with songs that surround a story. A feature-length episode of Australian kids TV show The Wiggles entitled "Wiggly Safari" appears dedicated to Irwin, and he's featured in it heavily with his wife and daughter. The show includes the song "Crocodile Hunter, Big Steve Irwin".

In 2006, the American network The Travel Channel had begun to show a series of specials starring Irwin and his family as they travelled on cross-country tours.


Media work

A poster from Irwin's Quarantine Matters! campaign.Irwin was also involved in several media campaigns. He enthusiastically joined with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service to promote Australia's strict quarantine/customs requirements, with advertisements and posters featuring slogans such as, "Quarantine Matters! Don't muck with it". His payments for these advertising campaigns were directed into his wildlife fund.[12]

In 2004, he was appointed ambassador for The Ghan, the passenger train running from Adelaide to Alice Springs in the central Australian outback, when the line was extended all the way to Darwin on the northern coast that year. For some time he was sponsored by Toyota.[13]

He was also a keen promoter for Australian tourism in general and Queensland tourism in particular. In 2002, the Australia Zoo was voted Queensland's top tourist attraction.[14] His immense popularity in the United States meant he often promoted Australia as a tourist destination there.[15]


Honours
In 2001, Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his "service to global conservation and to Australian tourism".[16] In 2004, he was recognised as Tourism Export of the Year.[17] He was also nominated in 2004 for Australian of the Year, an honour which was won by Australian Cricket Captain Steve Waugh. Shortly before his death, he was to be named an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland's School of Integrative Biology.[18] On 14 November 2007 Irwin was awarded the adjunct professorship posthumously by the University of Queensland.[19] In May 2007, the Rwandan Government announced that it would name a baby gorilla after Steve Irwin as a tribute to his work in wildlife conservation.[20] The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after late Steve Irwin.[21]


Environmentalism
See also: Wildlife Warriors
Irwin was a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat. He considered conservation to be the most important part of his work: "I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species."[14] Irwin bought "large tracts of land" in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States, which he described as "like national parks" and stressed the importance of people realising that they could each make a difference.[22]

He had urged people to take part in considerate tourism and not support illegal poaching through the purchase of items such as turtle shells or shark-fin soup.[23]

He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, which was later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, and became an independent charity. He was described after his death by the CEO of RSPCA Queensland as a "modern-day Noah," and British naturalist David Bellamy lauded his skills as a natural historian and media performer.[24] Irwin and his father discovered a new species of turtle that now bears his name, Elseya irwini — Irwin's Turtle — a species of turtle found on the coast of Queensland.[25]

He also helped to found a number of other projects, such as the International Crocodile Rescue, as well as the Lyn Irwin Memorial Fund, in memory of his mother (who was in a fatal car crash in 2000), with proceeds going to the Iron Bark Station Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Irwin, however, was criticised for having an unsophisticated view of conservation in Australia that seemed more linked to tourism than to the problems Australia faces as a continent.

In response to questions of Australia's problems with overgrazing, salinity, and erosion, Irwin responded, "Cows have been on our land for so long that Australia has evolved to handle those big animals." The Sydney Morning Herald concluded with the opinion that his message was confusing and amounted to "eating roos and crocs is bad for tourism, and therefore more cruel than eating other animals".[26]

According to Terri, Sir David Attenborough was an inspiration to Irwin. When presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Attenborough after Irwin's death at the British National Television Awards on 31 October 2006 Terri stated "If there's one person who directly inspired my husband it's the person being honoured tonight." She went on to say "[Steve's] real, true love was conservation - and the influence of tonight's recipient in preserving the natural world has been immense."[27] Sir David reciprocated with praising Irwin for introducing many to the natural world, saying "He taught them how wonderful and exciting it was, he was a born communicator."[6]


Filmography
Year Film Role Other notes
1997-2004 The Crocodile Hunter Himself
1999-2000 Croc Files Himself
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Himself Cameo role
2002 Mystery Hunters Himself One episode
2002 The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course Himself
2006 5 Takes: Pacific Rim Himself One Episode
2006 Happy Feet Trev (voice)


Personal life

Family

Terri Raines Irwin, the widow of Steve IrwinIn 1992, Irwin married Terri Raines from Eugene, Oregon, United States. The pair had met a few months earlier, when Terri had visited the zoo on a holiday; according to both of them, it was love at first sight. Terri said at the time, "I thought there was no one like this anywhere in the world. He sounded like an environmental Tarzan, a larger-than-life superhero guy."[28] Although he and Terri were happily married, they did not wear wedding rings; in their line of work, wearing jewelery could pose a hazard to them and/or the animals.[29]Together they had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born 24 July 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence "Bob" (named after Irwin's father) Irwin (born 1 December 2003). Bindi Sue is jointly named after two of Steve Irwin's favourite animals: Bindi, a saltwater crocodile, and Sui, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who died in June 2004.

Irwin was as enthusiastic about his family as he was about his work. He once described his daughter Bindi as "the reason [he] was put on the Earth." His wife once said, "The only thing that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more."[1]

Terri Irwin recently reported that Steve had an ongoing premonition that he would die before he reached age 40.[30] She wrote about this in her book Steve and Me about their lives together.[31]


Controversies
A controversial incident occurred during a public show on 2 January 2004, when Irwin carried his one-month-old son, Bob, in his arm while hand-feeding a chicken carcass to Murray, a 3.8-metre (12 ft 6 in) saltwater crocodile. The infant was close to the crocodile, and comparisons were made in the press to Michael Jackson's dangling his son outside a German hotel window.[32] In addition, child welfare groups, animal rights groups, and some of Irwin's television viewers criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse.[33] Irwin apologised on the US NBC Today Show.[34] Both he and his wife publicly stated that Irwin was in complete control of the situation, as he had dealt with crocodiles since he was a small child, and based on his lifetime of experience neither he nor his son were in any danger. He also showed footage of the event shot from a different angle, demonstrating that they were much further from the crocodile than they had appeared in the publicised clip.[35] Terri Irwin said their child was in no more danger than one being taught to swim. No charges were filed; according to one journalist, Irwin told officials he would not repeat the action. The incident prompted the Queensland government to change its crocodile-handling laws, banning children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures.

In June 2004, allegations were made that he disturbed wildlife (namely whales, seals and penguins) while filming a documentary, Ice Breaker, in Antarctica. The matter was subsequently closed without charges being filed.


MV Steve Irwin approaching Melbourne in February 2008After Irwin's death, the vessel MV Robert Hunter owned by the environmental action group Sea Shepherd was renamed MV Steve Irwin in Steve's honour.[39] Sea Shepherd is a controversial environmentalist group that conducts direct action operations including the sinking of whaling ships to protect marine species and environments. Shortly before his death, Irwin had been investigating joining their 2007/08 voyage to Antarctica to disrupt Japanese whaling activity. Following his death, as an alternative the renaming of the vessel was suggested by Sea Shepherd and endorsed by his widow Terri.


Politics
After questions arose about Irwin being paid $175,000 worth of taxpayers' money to appear in a television advertisement and his possible political ties, Irwin told ABC that he was a conservationist and did not choose sides in politics.

His comments describing Australian Prime Minister John Howard as the "greatest leader in the world" earned him scorn in the media.


Search and rescue effort in Mexico
In November 2003, Irwin was filming a documentary on sea lions off the coast of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula when he heard via his boat's radio that two scuba divers were reported missing in the area. Irwin and his entire crew suspended operations to aid in the search. His team's divers searched with the rescue divers, and Irwin used his vessel to patrol the waters around the island where the incident occurred, as well as using his satellite communications system to call in a rescue plane. On the second day of the search, kayakers found one of the divers, Scott Jones, perched on a narrow rock ledge jutting out from the side of a cliff. Irwin and a crewmember escorted him to Irwin's boat. Jones did not recognise his celebrity rescuer, as he had never seen Irwin on television. The other lost diver, Katie Vrooman, was found dead by a search plane later the same day not far from Jones' location.


Sports fan
Having grown up in Essendon, Irwin was a fan of the Essendon Bombers, an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League.[ Irwin took part in an Australian Rules football promotion in Los Angeles as part of "Australia Week" in early 2006.[After his death, a picture of Irwin wearing a Bombers Guernsey was shown by ESPN.com in their Bottom 10 ranking of the worst Division I FBS college football teams after Week 1 of the season in tribute to him.

Like many Australians, he was a big cricket fan. This was seen during his visit to Sri Lanka where he played cricket with some local kids and saying "I love cricket" and "It's a shame we have to go catch some snakes now". This was seen during the Crocodile Hunter episode “Island of the Snakes".

Living in Queensland most of his life, Irwin was also a fan of rugby league. As a teenager, he played for the Caloundra Sharks as a second-rower, and as an adult he was known to be a passionate Brisbane Broncos fan and was involved with the club on several occasions. On one occasion after turning up to training he asked if he could tackle the largest player, Shane Webcke. Despite being thrown to the ground and looking like he'd been crushed he was jovial about the experience. Irwin laughingly shared the experience with the Queensland State of Origin squad before the 2006 series. Irwin also supported rugby union, being a fan of the national team, the Wallabies. He once wore a Wallaby jersey during a demonstration at the zoo. A behind-the-scenes episode of The Crocodile Hunter showed Irwin and the crew finding a gas station in a remote part of Namibia to watch the Wallabies defeat France in the 1999 Rugby World Cup Final. Irwin was also a talented surfer.

Irwin loved mixed martial arts competitions and trained with Greg Jackson in the fighting/grappling system of Gaidojutsu.

biography of maradona

Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, in Villa Fiorito, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was raised in an underprivileged family and spent his adolescence playing football in the streets of his neighborhood.

He made his debut at the age of 16 and throughout his professional career he played 692 official games scoring 352 goals. He played 90 games for the Argentine National Team and scored 33 goals, 8 of them in world cups. He was a five time maximum scorer and got 10 titles with: National Juvenile World Cup (1979), Boca Juniors (1981), Barcelona (Copa del Rey 1983), World Cup (Mexico, 1986), Napoli (Scudetto 1987 and 1990); Italian Cup (1987), UEFA Cup (1989), Italian Supercup (1991) and Artemio Franchi Cup (1993).

His first team was called Estrella Roja (Red Star) and was founded by his father for the neighborhood boys. One of the players was Gregorio "El Goyo" Carrizo, who played in the lower divisions of Argentinos Juniors, and who helped Diego to be part of the team called "Los Cebollitas" (the small onions). With only 14 years of age, he astounded the public at his first game with the team and gained reputation and respect as a player. With "Los Cebollitas" he kept a winning spree of over one hundred games.

At 16 he made his debut in the first division of the club Argentinos Juniors and soon after he scored his first goal against San Lorenzo de Mar del Plata. He played for Argentinos Juniors until 1980, totaling 166 games where he scored 115 goals.

In 1977, he debuted with the Argentine National Team against Hungary and in the 1978 World Cup, Menotti (National Teams' coach) excluded him from the team arguing lack of experience.

In the Juvenile World Cup held in Japan in 1979, Maradona was the captain and the team had an implacable campaign winning the Juvenile World Champion in Tokyo.

Afterwards, Diego signed with the Boca Juniors Athletic Club and played his first game with them in 1981 scoring 2 goals against Talleres de C?rdoba team and the team eventually won the national championship by Diego Armando Maradona's hand.

In 1984 he began to play for the Italian club "Napoli" and debuted at the San Paolo stadium during the Italian Cup where he scored the winning goal. From then on, Diego started a winning spree with Napoli and earned them their first championship (Scudetto) in the history of the club during the '86-'87 season.

In the 1986 World Cup Championship, held in Mexico, the Argentine National Team led by the coach Carlos Bilardo obtained the world's title after defeating Germany 3-2 in the final game.

The most controversial game of the championship was against England where Diego scored two goals. The first one was very questioned by the famous maneuver later called "La Mano de Dios" (God's Hand) where it was argued that Maradona used his hand to score the goal, while the second goal is considered to be the best goal of all the times. Diego took the ball behind the midfield line and after avoiding all the English players who were trying to stop him, he kept going and scored. In the decade of 1990, his reputation and his ability were damaged by his addiction to drugs, which he tried to control in various opportunities, including a detoxification in a clinic in Cuba. In July of 1990, Maradona played his second final in a World Cup, Italy ' 90, where Germany defeated Argentina for 1-0.

Meanwhile, he continued his career in Naples, where he confronted a scandal involving an illegitimate child and was also they tied to the Camora (local Mafia). Maradona left the Napoli team in 1992, after a prohibition of 15 months, for failing drugs controls.

Between 1992 and 1993 he briefly and unsuccesfully played for Spains' Sevilla Team and for Argentina's Newell's Old Boys team.

During 1993, Alfio Basile, the National Teams's coach, included him in the national team's roster and he played during the classifying season leading to the 1994 United States World Cup. In November, 1993, the Argentine team, with Maradona in the leading role, qualified for the Worl d Cup after defeating Australia 1-0 (Batistuta's goal) at River Plate's Stadium in Buenos Aires.

In the game against Nigeria, Maradona reached the record of 21 goals in games disputed in world cups, record previously held by Germany's Uwe Seller and Poland's Wladimierz Zmuda. Argentina won 2-1 and Diego, again, had an excellent performance.

At the end of this match he was selected to take the anti-doping test that turned out to be positive and he was banned from the Championship. Soon after Argentina was eliminated. Upon his return to Argentina, Maradona unsuccessfully tried to work as a coach for two clubs but decided to try again as a player.

In 1995 Diego returned to Boca Juniors with whom he played 29 games scoring 7 goals and on October 25, 1997 he played his last professional game against River Plate where Boca Juniors won 2-1. On November 10, 2001 he had a farewell game played at the Boca Juniors stadium before 60,000 spectators. The game was played between a mixed team or Argentine players and a "Stars" team with international renowned players.

Maradona wore his number "10" shirt for the Argentine National Team and scored 2 penalty goals. Among the guest players were: Francescoli, Riquelme, Stoichkov and the Pibe Valderrama, among others. The game finished 6-3, with goals by Piojo Lopez, Aimar, Maradona and Castrom?n for the Argentine National Team and Suker (Croatia), Canton ? (France) and Higuita (Colombia) scored for the "Stars" team.

The game was a big party and 60,000 people witnessed this emotional day. Before the start of the game, Maradona entered the field with his daughters, Dalma and Giannina and with one of his nephews. The multitude greeted their idol loudly screaming "Diegooooo, Diegooooo" in honor and gratefulness for his career. The event finished like it had begun: with happiness, fireworks, more songs sung by the fans and Diego's tears.

Diego Armando Maradona was one of the best football players of all times.

biography of dylan thomas

Dylan Marlais Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales on October 27, 1914.
The name Dylan comes from the Mabinogion, a collection of 11 mediaeval Welsh tales. The word means "sea". In the tale Math, the son of Mathonwy, challenges Aranrhod, his niece who claims to be a virgin, to step over his magic wand.
"Aranrhod stepped over the wand, and with that step she dropped a sturdy boy with thick yellow hair; the boy gave a loud cry, and with that cry she made her way for the door.....
"Well," said Math, "I will arrange for the baptism of this one......and I will call him Dylan."
The boy was baptized, whereupon he immediately made for the sea, and when he came to the sea he took on its nature and swam as well as the best fish. He was called Dylan (sea) son of Ton (wave), for no wave ever broke beneath him."
Marlais is the name of a stream which runs from the hills near the birthplace of Dylan Thomas' great uncle Gwilym Marles Thomas. Marles is a variation of the name Marlais. Dylan Thomas' sister Nancy also bore a variation of the name Marles.
In November 1934 he moved to London and on the 18th December of that year his first book of poetry, Eighteen Poems appeared to critical acclaim. Dylan Thomas had just turned 20 when this volume of poetry was released. He had written nearly 30 poems in late 1933 and early 1934, of which 13 were published in this volume. Between May and October 1934, he completed another five for inclusion in the book. Dylan Thomas was an incredibly conscientious wordsmith, as shown by this description by his long-time friend Vernon Watkins:
"....the composition of his poetry, for which he used separate work sheets and would spend sometimes several days on a single line, while the poem was built up phrase by phrase, at glacier like speed."
(Vernon Watkins, Adventures in the Skin Trade, introduction)
In April of 1936 he met Caitlin MacNamara, and in September his second volume of poetry Twenty-five Poems was released. In July 1937 Dylan and Caitlin were married and in 1938, they moved to Laugharne, Wales.
Their first child, Llewelyn Edouard Thomas was born in January 1939. The Map of Love was published in August 1939 and The World I Breathe was published in December 1939, in the United States.
In April 1940 Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog was published and in September, Dylan began working for Strand Films which he continued for the duration of World War II.
His second child Aeronwyn Bryn Thomas was born in March 1943. Deaths and Entrances was published in 1946. In 1949 his third child, Colm Garan Hart Thomas was born. In 1952, Collected Poems, 1934-1952 became the last book published in his life time. He also published many short stories, wrote filmscripts, broadcast stories and talks, did a series of lecture tours in the United States and wrote Under Milkwood, the radio play.
During his fourth lecture tour of the United States in 1953, (which he made under a doctor's care) and a few days after his 39th birthday, he collapsed in his New York City hotel. He died on November 9th, 1953 at St Vincents Hospital, in New York City. His body was sent back to Laugharne, Wales, where his grave is marked by a simple wooden cross.
His unfinished novel, Adventures in the Skin Trade, was originally rejected by his London publisher for not being "the great, serious autobiographical work to which they had looked forward so long." The novel itself is the incredibly funny story of a young man, Samuel Bennet, who moves to London, after metaphorically (and nearly literally) burning his bridges behind him. In the few extant chapters, Samuel gets involved in a series of inextricable situations, beginning with getting a finger permanently stuck inside of a Bass Ale bottle. The title, in typically Dylan Thomas fashion refers, of course, to the young man's trading one life for another, a metaphoric trading of skins. In correspondence with Vernon Watkins, he describes the work-in-progress as:
"It's a mixture of Oliver Twist, Little Dorrit, Kafka, Beachcomber, and good old 3-adjectives-a-penny belly-churning Thomas, the Rimbaud of Cwmdonkin Drive."
In July 1994, his wife, Caitlin Thomas died in Italy, where she had spent most of the years of her life after the death of her husband.
Dylan Thomas, often described as a "classic Welsh writer", never actually learned the Welsh language himself. Though he achieved much notoriety during his short life, he received little financial gain. It was only after his death that his work truly began to be appreciated. There is no doubt, however, that he is one of the great English (language) poets of the twentieth century, arguably the greatest poet of our time. Dylan Thomas' incredible use of metaphor, meter, and a comic wit, allows his work to stand alone, balancing a reckless neo-Romantic sensuality against the more staid Puritanism of his time and culture. Thomas' lust for life and love of drink may well have contributed to his premature demise, yet his work remains, a testament to both his skill and mastery of The Word. The work of Dylan Thomas has been ingrained into our modern psyche in countless ways, ranging from a surprisingly stirring recital of "Do not go gentle into that good night" by none other than Rodney Dangerfield in the 1986 movie Back To School (in itself proof of the poet's powerfully enduring skill) to a more highbrow choral symphony based on three of his poems.

php summary

PHP is a scripting language originally designed for producing dynamic web pages. It has evolved to include a command line interface capability and can be used in standalone graphical applications.[2]
While PHP was originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995, the main implementation of PHP is now produced by The PHP Group and serves as the de facto standard for PHP as there is no formal specification.[3] PHP is free software released under the PHP License, which is incompatible with the GNU General Public License (GPL) due to restrictions on the use of the term PHP.[4]
PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. It generally runs on a web server, which is configured to take PHP code as input and create web page content as output. It can be deployed on most web servers and on almost every operating system and platform free of charge.[5] PHP is installed on more than 20 million websites and 1 million web servers.[6]
Usual file extensions .php, .phtml
Paradigm imperative, object-oriented
Appeared in 1995 (1995)
Designed by Rasmus Lerdorf
Developer The PHP Group
Latest release 5.3.0/ 2009-06-30; 8 days ago
Latest unstable release 6.0.0-dev[1]
Typing discipline Dynamic, weak
Major implementations Roadsend PHP, Phalanger, Quercus, Project Zero
Influenced by C, Perl, Java, C++, Tcl[citation needed]
Influenced PHP4Delphi
Programming language C
OS Cross-platform
License PHP License
Website http://www.php.net/

PHP originally stood for Personal Home Page.[3] It began in 1994 as a set of Common Gateway Interface binaries written in the C programming language by the Danish/Greenlandic programmer Rasmus Lerdorf.[7][8] Lerdorf initially created these Personal Home Page Tools to replace a small set of Perl scripts he had been using to maintain his personal homepage. The tools were used to perform tasks such as displaying his résumé and recording how much traffic his page was receiving.[3] He combined these binaries with his Form Interpreter to create PHP/FI, which had more functionality. PHP/FI included a larger implementation for the C programming language and could communicate with databases, enabling the building of simple, dynamic web applications. Lerdorf released PHP publicly on June 8, 1995 to accelerate bug location and improve the code.[9] This release was named PHP version 2 and already had the basic functionality that PHP has today. This included Perl-like variables, form handling, and the ability to embed HTML. The syntax was similar to Perl but was more limited, simpler, and less consistent.[3]

Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans, two Israeli developers at the Technion IIT, rewrote the parser in 1997 and formed the base of PHP 3, changing the language's name to the recursive initialism PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor.[10] The development team officially released PHP/FI 2 in November 1997 after months of beta testing. Afterwards, public testing of PHP 3 began, and the official launch came in June 1998. Suraski and Gutmans then started a new rewrite of PHP's core, producing the Zend Engine in 1999.[11] They also founded Zend Technologies in Ramat Gan, Israel.[3]

On May 22, 2000, PHP 4, powered by the Zend Engine 1.0, was released. [3] As of August, 2008 this branch is up to version 4.4.9. PHP 4 is no longer under development nor will any security updates be released.[12][13] On July 13, 2004, PHP 5 was released, powered by the new Zend Engine II.[3] PHP 5 included new features such as improved support for object-oriented programming, the PHP Data Objects extension (which defines a lightweight and consistent interface for accessing databases), and numerous performance enhancements.[14] The most recent update released by The PHP Group is PHP 5.2.10 (stable).

In 2008, PHP 5 became the only stable version under development. Late static binding has been missing from PHP and has been added in version 5.3.[15][16] PHP 6 is under development alongside PHP 5. Major changes include the removal of register_globals,[17] magic quotes, and safe mode.[12][18] The reason for the removals was that register_globals had given way to security holes, and magic quotes had an unpredictable nature, and was best avoided. Instead, to escape characters, magic quotes may be substituted with the addslashes() function, or more appropriately an escape mechanism specific to the database vendor itself like mysql_real_escape_string() for MySQL. Functions that will be removed in PHP6 have been deprecated in PHP5.3 and will produce a warning if used.[19]

Many high profile open source projects ceased to support PHP 4 in new code as of February 5, 2008, due to the GoPHP5 initiative, provided by a consortium of PHP developers promoting the transition from PHP 4 to PHP 5.[20][21]

PHP currently does not have native support for Unicode or multibyte strings; Unicode support will be included in PHP 6 and will allow strings as well as class, method and function names to contain non-ASCII characters.[22][23]

It runs in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments, but on Windows the only official distribution is 32-bit, requiring Windows 32-bit compatibility mode to be enabled while using IIS in a 64-bit Windows environment. As of PHP 5.3.0, experimental x64 bit versions are available[24].




Difference between xp and linux

Both Windows and Linux come in many flavors. All the flavors of Windows come from Microsoft, the various distributions of Linux come from different companies (i.e. Linspire, Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, Xandros, Knoppix, Slackware, Lycoris, etc. ).
Windows has two main lines. The older flavors are referred to as "Win9x" and consist of Windows 95, 98, 98SE and Me. The newer flavors are referred to as "NT class" and consist of Windows NT3, NT4, 2000, XP and Vista. Going back in time, Windows 3.x preceded Windows 95 by a few years. And before that, there were earlier versons of Windows, but they were not popular. Microsoft no longer supports Windows NT3, NT4, all the 9x versions and of course anything older. Support for Windows 2000 is partial (as of April 2007).
The flavors of Linux are referred to as distributions (often shortened to "distros"). All the Linux distributions released around the same time frame will use the same kernel (the guts of the Operating System). They differ in the add-on software provided, GUI, install process, price, documentation and technical support. Both Linux and Windows come in desktop and server editions.
There may be too many distributions of Linux, it's possible that this is hurting Linux in the marketplace. It could be that the lack of a Linux distro from a major computer company is also hurting it in the marketplace. IBM is a big Linux backer but does not have their own branded distribution. Currently there seem to be many nice things said about the Ubuntu distribution.
Linux is customizable in a way that Windows is not. For one, the user interface, while similar in concept, varies in detail from distribution to distribution. For example, the task bar may default to being on the top or the bottom. Also, there are many special purpose versions of Linux above and beyond the full blown distributions described above. For example,
NASLite is a version of Linux that runs off a single floppy disk (since revised to also boot from a CD) and converts an old computer into a file server. This ultra small edition of Linux is capable of networking, file sharing and being a web server.
Graphical User Interface: Hide Show top
Graphical User Interface (Last updated July 10, 2008 / June 20, 2005)
NOTE: Added July 10, 2008: On July 2, 2008 Walter Mossberg wrote an introduction to the Mac OS X user interface for Windows XP users. I then blogged on the same interface topics that he mentioned on my CNET blog:
Introducing the Linux user interface. In my opinion a Windows XP user switching to Ubuntu 8.04 will feel much more at home with Ubuntu compared to Leopard.
NOTE: The paragraphs below were last reviewed in June 2005
Both Linux and Windows provide a GUI and a command line interface. The Windows GUI has changed from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 (drastically) to Windows 2000 (slightly) to Windows XP (fairly large) and is slated to change again with the next version of Windows, the one that will replace XP. Windows XP has a themes feature that offers some customization of the look and feel of the GUI.
Linux typically provides two GUIs, KDE and Gnome. See a screen shot of
Lycoris and Lindows in action from the Wal-Mart web site. The lynucs.org web site has examples of many substantially different Linux GUIs. Of the major Linux distributions, Lindows has made their user interface look more like Windows than the others. Here is a screen shot of Linux made to look like Windows XP. Then too, there is XPde for Linux which really makes Linux look like Windows. Quoting their web site "It's a desktop environment (XPde) and a window manager (XPwm) for Linux. It tries to make easier for Windows XP users to use a Linux box."
Mark Minasi makes the point (
Windows and .NET magazine, March 2000) that the Linux GUI is optional while the Windows GUI is an integral component of the OS. He says that speed, efficiency and reliability are all increased by running a server instance of Linux without a GUI, something that server versions of Windows can not do. In the same article he points out that the detached nature of the Linux GUI makes remote control and remote administration of a Linux computer simpler and more natural than a Windows computer.
Is the flexibility of the Linux GUI a good thing? Yes and No. While advanced users can customize things to their liking, it makes things harder on new users for whom every Linux computer they encounter may look and act differently.

Text Mode Interface: Hide Show top
Text Mode Interface
This is also known as a command interpreter. Windows users sometimes call it a DOS prompt. Linux users refer to it as a shell. Each version of Windows has a single command interpreter, but the different flavors of Windows have different interpreters. In general, the command interpreters in the Windows 9x series are very similar to each other and the NT class versions of Windows (NT, 2000, XP) also have similar command interpreters. There are however differences between a Windows 9x command interpreter and one in an NT class flavor of Windows. Linux, like all versions of Unix, supports multiple command interpreters, but it usually uses one called BASH (Bourne Again Shell). Others are the Korn shell, the Bourne shell, ash and the C shell (pun, no doubt, intended).

Cost: Hide Show top
Cost
For desktop or home use, Linux is very cheap or free, Windows is expensive. For server use, Linux is very cheap compared to Windows. Microsoft allows a single copy of Windows to be used on only one computer. Starting with Windows XP, they use software to enforce this rule (Windows Product Activation at first, later Genuine Windows). In contrast, once you have purchased Linux, you can run it on any number of computers for no additional charge.
As of January 2005, the upgrade edition of Windows XP Home Edition sells for about $100, XP Professional is about $200. The "full" version of XP Home is about $200, the full version of XP Professional is $300. Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with 10 Client licenses is about $1,100. Because they save $100 or so on the cost of Windows, Wal-Mart can sell a Linux based computer for $200 (without a monitor) whereas their cheapest Windows XP computer is $300 (as of January 2005).
The irony here is that Windows rose to dominance, way back when, in large part by undercutting the competition (Macs) on cost. Now Linux may do the same thing to Windows.
You can buy a Linux book and get the operating system included with the book for free. You can also download Linux for free from each of the Linux vendors (assuming your Internet connection is fast enough for a 600 MB file and you have a CD burner) or from
www.linuxiso.org. Both these options however, come without technical support. All versions of the Ubuntu distribution are free.
You can purchase assorted distributions of Linux in a box with a CD and manuals and technical support for around $40 to $80 (some distributions may be less, others may be more). Regular updates and ongoing support range from $35 a year for a desktop version of Linux to $1,500 for a high-end server version. August 2004 Red Hat started selling a desktop oriented version of Linux for under $6 per user per year.
After the initial cost (or lack thereof) of obtaining software, there is the ongoing cost of its care and feeding. In October 2002, ComputerWorld magazine quoted the chief technology architect at Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York as
saying that "the cost of running Linux is typically a tenth of the cost of Unix and Microsoft alternatives." The head technician at oil company Amerada Hess manages 400 Linux servers by himself. He was quoted as saying "It takes fewer people to manage the Linux machines than Windows machines." Microsoft commissioned a study that (no surprise) found it cheaper to maintain Windows than Linux. However, one of the authors of the study accused Microsoft of stacking the deck by selecting scenarios that are more expensive to maintain on Linux.
I don't know if there will ever be an objective measure of the ongoing care and feeding costs for Linux vs. Windows. If there were however, it would have to consider:
Dealing with bugs in the operating system
Dealing with bugs in application software
Dealing with viruses, worms, Spyware, etc.(big advantage to Linux here)
Dealing with software upgrades to new versions (both the OS and applications)

Getting Linux: Hide Show top
Getting Linux (Topic re-written June 2007, then again in January 2008)
Note: See the next topic too.
July 9, 2008
Ubuntu Linux goes retail. You can now buy an Ubuntu Linux CD with v8.04 at Best Buy for $20 in a package that includes 60 days of technical support to help you started.
Nothing need be said about getting Windows. As for Linux, you can buy a computer with it pre-installed, but usually not at major retailers. All the major PC vendors have been selling Linux based machines on their web sites for years. In large part though, these were server computers targeted at businesses not consumers. Linux pre-installed on consumer machines has been hit or miss, mostly miss. But, there are signs that this is changing (see the next topic - low cost laptops - for more on this).
There seems to be (as of November 2007) a new trend in targeting Linux for consumers. Many different companies are offering computers with low end CPUs targeted as second machines, or for use by children. This could be a Windows Vista backlash. Moving from Windows XP to Vista requires more complexity, more hardware horsepower and learning a new interface. Plus, it's expensive both for the hardware and the software. In contrast these latest Linux based computers machines have a simplified user interface and require the same or less hardware horsepower than Windows XP. And they are much cheaper, both for hardware and software reasons. The Linux interface can be customized, and every company selling a Linux based machine customizes the look and feel. Some go for simplicity hoping the machine can be used by children and non-techies. Other try to mimic the Windows XP interface.
An interesting article on cheap Linux computers for consumers is
Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC by Erica Ogg of CNET dated January 24, 2008. The subtitle is: A rash of supremely affordable PCs preloaded with Linux has hit mainstream retail stores. And trying one is not as risky a proposition as you might think.
Wal-Mart was a very early player when it came to selling computers running Linux. In November 2007
they started again, after backing away from it. The Everex Green gPC TC2502 is $200 (just for the computer, no monitor), emphasizes online applications but comes with Open Office, runs a version of Linux called gOS (which itself is a version of Ubuntu v7.10) and comes with 512MB of RAM, an 80GB hard disk, a CD burner/DVD reader and both Ethernet and a modem for connecting to the Internet. According to a CNET review in also includes 24/7 toll-free tech support. Shortly after its release, it appears to be popular. See also Review of the Everex TC2502 Green gPC and $200 Ubuntu Linux PC Now Available at Wal-Mart. I have used this machine. I hated it - for the software not for the hardware.
Previously, Wal-Mart sold PCs with Lycoris, Lindows and SuSE also for as low as $200. In March 2004, they started selling Sun Microsystems' version of Linux, the Sun Java Desktop, starting at $298. In December 2004, Wal-Mart
started selling a $498 laptop computer running Linspire. I don't think these were big successes.
In January 2008, Sears
started selling a Linux based tower machine for $300, with a $100 rebate that brings it down to $200. The hardware is from Mirus Innovations and it comes with a Celeron processor, 80GB hard disk, 1GB ram, a CD burner and Freespire version 2.0 (a version of Linspire).
The
Zonbu Desktop mini is small, silent and cheap. It is approximately 5 x 7 x inches with no moving parts, 512 MB ram, and 4GB of flash based storage. It costs $100 to $300 depending on the service plan you chose (as of January 2008). Service plans include continuous online backup. See One week with Zonbu by Peter Glaskowsky at CNET September 14, 2007.
In June 2007 Dell started selling consumer machines with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed. See
Dell picks Ubuntu for Linux PCs at CNET News.com. As of December 2007 they sell machines with Ubuntu Linux version 7.10. As of July 2008, Dell was still offering Ubuntu 7.10 despite the fact that version 8.04 had been out for a couple months. Also as of July 2008, Dell also offers Red Hat and Novell Linux on various machines. See here and also dell.com/linux and linux.dell.com.
In January 2008 Shuttle introduced a
$200 Linux based computer running Foresight Linux 2.0 with no optical drive, no keyboard and no mouse. See the Shuttle KPC home page. As of July 2008, a $229 model had a Celeron processor, 512MB ram and an 80GB hard disk. For $300 you got a Pentium dual-core, 1GB of ram and a 160GB hard disk. Like all Shuttles, it's small: 6.4" high, 11" long, and 7.5" wide. CNET reviewed it in May 2008.
Also in January 2008
Asus said it will release a desktop version of the Eee PC to be called the E-DT. The E-DT is expected to cost between $200 and $300 (obviously this is without a monitor).
In August 2007 Lenovo announced plans to sell laptop computers with Linux pre-installed. They ran a Linux distribution from Novell and went on sale in January 2008. I blogged about
a Linux Thinkpad in May 2008. In September 2008, Lenovo backed off, they no longer offer Linux pre-installed. See Lenovo Exits pre-Installed Linux Desktop Business.
HP dipped their toe into consumer Linux, but as of June 2007, every HP consumer desktop is running Windows Vista. On their 38 consumer laptops, 37 are running Vista, one uses XP. Even their small business desktop machines are all Windows. They only sell server versions of Linux. Back in 2004 HP was planning to offer a business notebook computer, the Compaq nx5000, with SUSE Linux pre-installed.
Linux Certified sells normal laptops (that is, not the newer low end laptops such as the Asus EEE) with Linux pre-installed. In August 2008 they had three models for $700 and they also sell ThinkPad T61 models with Linux for prices from $1,300 to $1,800.
Emperor Linux loads Linux distributions on laptops from Dell, Lenovo (ThinkPad X61s), Fujitsu, Sony and others. They offer a tablet computer running Linux and the Panasonic rugged Toughbook CF-U1 with Linux.
Pogo Linux sells custom-built desktops, workstations, blades and servers loaded with your choice of seven Linux distributions.
Affordy sells the Titan line of computers with a customized version of Ubuntu, called Titan LEV, pre-installed. Desktop machines start at $218 (last checked October 2008).
ZAReason sells laptops, desktops and small form factor comptuers with Linux pre-installed. As of November 2008, their cheapest laptop was an Asus Eee PC 1000 running Ubuntu 8.10 for $599. Among their other offerings is the Shuttle KPC, also runing Ubuntu 8.10, for $210.
system76 sells laptops, desktops, netbooks and small form factor comptuers with Ubuntu pre-installed. As of April 2009, their netbook was $360, a 12 inch laptop was $740 and a 15 inch laptop was $760. Desktops ranged from $250 to $790 and came in multiple form factors.
In August 2008 Dana Blankenhorn did a series of blog postings at ZDNet about buying a
Linux Laptop.
Low cost laptops: Hide Show top
Low Cost Laptops (Topic added January 2008)
NOTE: This topic was written in January of 2008 and as of now (October 2008) it is very outdated. The Netbook market has grown and expanded immensely.
An exciting new trend is the appearance of Linux pre-installed in many new lost-cost laptop computers.
The most popular example of this is the
ASUS Eee PC 4G which was released in November 2007. I have briefly used one and it's very impressive. Prices range from $300 to $500 (as of January 2008). The $300 model strikes me as a huge bargain, even if the screen is a bit too small.
The $200
XO laptop from the One Laptop Per Child Foundation has gotten much publicity. I used one and hated it. That said, it is targeted at children in developing countries and being an adult living in New York, I'm not the target audience. As far as I can tell you can't buy one anyway (as of January 2008).
Everex started selling their small Linux laptop, called the CloudBook, in February 2008 for $400. It is being sold at Wal-Mart, Newegg and TigerDirect, and ZaReason.com. It seems to compete directly with the Asus EEE laptop. See Engadget and Gizmodo. It has a 7" 800 x 480 display, 512MB of ram, a 30GB traditional (not flash) hard drive, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, a 4-in-1 card reader, a webcam and an Ubuntu-based version of Linux called gOS. It will weigh two pounds and the size is approximately 9" x 7" x 1".
Intel makes the
Classmate PC. Quoting Intel they are "mobile personal learning devices for primary students (ages 5-14) in emerging markets." The Classmate was never intended for sale to the general public. I've read that this was out of fear by Intel that low cost Linux laptops would cut into their profit margins. As far as I can tell, they are not being sold in the United States. The Classmate uses many of the same parts as the Asus EEE laptop. It has a 7" screen with an 800x480 resolution, a Celeron processor, WiFi and 2GB of flash based hard disk storage.
Zonbu
offers a laptop but it is a full size machine with a 15.4" wide screen and a built-in DVD-ROM/CD-RW. As of January 2008, it sells for $280 to $480 depending on the service plan.
If I had to bet, I'd say that low cost Linux laptops will take off. The cost, simplicity and portability are likely to be the big appeal. Not to mention immunity from most malicious software and the lack of a normal disk that increases the battery life and makes the machine more rugged. Linux can only run a handful of Windows programs, but out of the box these machines (except the XO) can do what most people need most of the time. I've read that Intel is working on a new processor called Silverthorne (for now) that will be cheap and engergy efficient and may spurn more cheap Linux laptops to appear on the market.

Installing: Hide Show top
Installing the Operating System (This topic was re-written twice in June 2007)
There are three ways to install Windows XP: a clean install, an upgrade install and a repair install. Then, there is a "recovery" install, which is not an install in the true sense of the word but rather the restoration of a disk image backup.
A clean install refers to starting with nothing (either an entirely empty hard disk or just an empty partition or just unallocated space on the hard disk) and ending up with just Windows.
An upgrade install refers to starting with an older version of Windows and ending up with a newer version. Existing data files and applications should not be affected by the upgrade to the newer edition of Windows.
A repair install refers to installing the same version of Windows on top of itself. This is used to fix a broken copy of Windows and existing data files and applications are not affected.
A "recovery" is typically used to restore a computer to its factory fresh state. All data files are wiped out. All applications installed since the computer was new, are wiped out. All upgrades to Windows itself (patches, service packs) are lost. Applications pre-installed by the computer manufacturer are restored. Originally this was done from CDs, then DVDs. Now it is normally done from a hidden area of the hard disk.
Then there is Windows Vista where much has changed. I'm not familiar with the install options for Vista. Andy Pennell, a Microsoft employee, wrote about his problems installing Vista on June 21, 2007. He is very familiar with Windows and installed Vista onto a second internal hard disk, leaving the existing hard disk with Windows XP unchanged. At least that was the plan. See
Installing Vista: My Personal Hell. Installing Vista on a computer with an existing copy of Windows, with the intention of dual-booting, is much trickier than it used to be with earlier versions of Windows.
There is a huge variation in the Linux installation procedure. Different distributions of Linux have their own installation programs (which may even change with different versions of the same distribution). Installing Linux on a computer without an existing operating system is much easier than installing it on a machine with an existing OS that you want to preserve.
I'm sure that installing Linux is getting easier all the time. While I haven't done it all that often, I have seen it become easier over time. Is it easy enough for you?
Ed Bott blogged about his experience installing Linux on July 31, 2006.
Linux, XP, and my old PC
In March 2007, he tried again with mixed success.
Why does Linux hate me?
A picture is worth a thousand words so this July 2007 picture show at ZDnet on
Installing OpenSUSE 10.2 is instructive
In June 2007, I installed Ubuntu v7.4 on an IBM NetVista machine that was about four years old. The system would only run at 640x480 and things went downhill from there. The problem may have been due to a KVM switch that prevented the system from querying the monitor. However, instead of asking me or telling me anything about a failure to detect the monitor, it just ran at 640x480 with no GUI based facility to increase the resolution.
When installing Linux on a machine where you don't need to preserve the existing operating system, there is likely to be an option to clobber the existing OS as part of the Linux installation procedure. Or, you can use a program to totally wipe everything off the hard disk before installing Linux. The free Darik's Boot and Nuke is fairly famous for this. Better yet, the hard disk vendor should have a free utility that not only wipes the hard disk but also can run diagnostics on the disk.
You can also buy a new computer without any operating system. A low end Dell server, the PowerEdge 840 sold for $600 in June 2007. You can buy an HP ProLiant server starting at $500 that is certified to run six Linux distributions. IBM is big on Linux, quoting their web site: "The entire IBM Systems product line is Linux enabled." They sell computers both with no operating system and with Linux pre-installed. Nothing there is cheap however. Wal-Mart used to sell Microtel machines without an OS, but no more.
Installing Linux for dual booting, that is, keeping the existing operating system in tact, is probably best left to techies. It is all too easy to lose the pre-existing OS. You need to be familiar with hard disk partitions and some Linux terminology. With Red Hat Linux 8, the booklet on how to install the OS was over a hundred pages.
In his Linux book, Mark Minasi said that installing Linux on a desktop computer was more likely to be successful than on a laptop computer.

Running Linux Without Installing It Hide Show top
Running Linux Without Installing It (This topic was re-written in April 2007)
Added November 23, 2008:
ZAReason sells a bootable copy of Ubuntu on a 4GB USB flash drive for $39.99. In general new computers can boot from a USB flash drive, however older computers may not be able to. According to the company, the drive is configured to support persistence, but it is not the default option. That is, by default it functions like a Live CD and throws away all record of your actions. However, at bootup you can select persistence if you want. That said, the company noted in an email that versions of Ubuntu prior to Intreped were "somewhat buggy with persistence".
Added July 10, 2008: From my CNET blog
Why you want a Linux Live CD.
One thing that Linux can do that Windows can not, is run from a CD. To run Windows, it has to first be installed to your hard disk. Normally Linux also runs from a hard disk, but there are quite a few versions of Linux that run completely from a CD without having to be installed to a hard disk. The term for this is a "Live" CD.
Running a Live CD version of Linux is a great way for Windows users to experience Linux for the first time. Among the Linux distros that have a CD-only version are
Knoppix, Ubuntu and Open SuSE). I tried SuSE Live Eval version 9 in October 2003 and had some gripes. FreeBSD, a version of Unix (rather than Linux), also has a LiveCD.
That said, if Windows is broken to the point that it can't start up, there is a free program called
Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) that can run a few Windows programs from a bootable CD. However, this is not from Microsoft and is only intended to fix a broken copy of Windows, it is not for everyday use. BartPE can only run a handful of programs that have been set up ahead of time for use with it. BartPE fills an important need, but creating the CD is not trivial, it requires a Windows CD (not recovery CDs or DVDs) and it only works with Windows XP and 2003 (not sure about Vista). The main point stands, in and of itself, Windows can not run from a CD.
The CD based versions of Linux differ in their use of the hard disk. Some, such as Lindows, do not write anything at all to your hard disk, making it the safest and easiest way to experience Linux. The downside of this is speed (CDs are much slower than hard disks) and continuity (being able to save data between uses). Other versions, such as SuSE 9 (this is now up to v10.2), do use your hard disk (SuSE 9 creates over 200 MB worth of files). What you give up in safety, you gain in speed. For reviews of Linux distributions that run from a CD see
A Taste of Linux by Jim Lynch at ExtremeTech January 23, 2004 and A Taste of Linux, Part Two by Jim Lynch March 5, 2004.
In addition to kicking the tires on Linux, a Live CD can also be used to insure that your hardware is supported by that specific version of Linux. Bootable Linux CDs are also used to recover files when Windows breaks to the point of not being able to start up. A recent Live Linux CD should be able to see all Windows files (they can read NTFS) and copy them to an external USB device or another computer on a LAN. Older CD based versions of Lindows and SuSE could not read files stored in an NTFS partition.
In October 2005 a whole new way of running Linux without installing it was introduced: Virtual Machines from VMware. Virtual machines let you run multiple operating systems on one computer at the same time. You can't beat it (virtual machines are used to run Windows on the Intel based Macs).
Using the free
VMware Player you can download pre-built Linux virtual machines. Think of the VMware Player as analogous to the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Creating virtual machines costs money, but playing them does not.
VMware has been creating virtual machines on PCs for a long time. Running a virtual machine previously required their expensive software (VMWare Workstation was $200 in April 2007, only a couple years previously it cost almost twice that). Now it can be done for free. And prior to October 2005 there were no
pre-built virtual machines available from VMWare, if you wanted to run Linux, you had to install it.
Now you can get a pre-installed virtual copy of
Ubuntu v7.04 Server, OpenBSD 4.0 and CentOS 5.0. Even better, many pre-built Linux virtual machines come with pre-installed applications. Want to run the Apache web server and the MySQL database? Just download a VM with them installed.
For years you could have installed Linux into a new virtual machine. It is a great way to learn and experiment. However, creating a new virtual virtual machine required the somewhat expensive VMWare workstation. Now, the free VMware Server software can be used to create a new virtual machine into which you can install any operating system. You can also download new, empty virtual machines from
EasyVMX.
VMWare Server has another big plus: it supports a checkpoint (a.k.a. restore point, synch point). You can take a checkpoint in your virtual machine, work on it a while and then revert the VM back to the checkpoint. All for free. How things change.
Microsoft also has free virtual machine software but there are no-prebuilt virtual machines for it. Needless to say, Microsoft is not going to provide Linux virtual machines and they make a lot of money selling Windows so they're not going to give it away. Also, their software is not as mature as VMware, not as robust and I've read that it runs slower.
VMware is not the only free virtual machine software.
VirtualBox is free and open source.
Yet another way to run Linux without installing it is from a flash drive (a.k.a thumb drive, USB drive, pen drive, memory stick, etc.).
In June 2006 David Pogue wrote about Linux distros can run from a thumb drive (
A Handy Tip From a Reader on Flash Drives) where the two distros mentioned are 50MB (Damn Small Linux) and 70MB. In fact, Damn Small Linux does even more tricks. It can run from within Windows! And, if you have 128MB of ram to spare, it can run completely in ram, which has got to be fast. See Linux in Windows .. Again at ghacks.net.
In November 2005, you could have purchased a 3GB MicroDrive (1 inch hard disk) with Ubuntu Linux. The drive plugs into a USB port and is fully powered by the USB port. See
Taking Linux On The Road With Ubuntu at Toms Hardware. I'm not sure if this is still available.
And work is ongoing on creating
portable Linux applications (as of March 2007).
Application Software Hide Show top
Application Software (This topic was revised in May 2008)
There is more application software available for Windows. Then again, there may be sufficient Linux software for your needs.
Obtaining application software: If you buy a copy of Windows on a CD-ROM, you get no application software with it. If you buy a copy of Linux on a CD-ROM (or two or three) it typically comes with gobs of free application software. Likewise, Linux ISO downloads usually include lots of application software. The exception are Linux distributions that are small on purpose such as Damn Small Linux or Pen Drive Linux.
A new computer with Windows pre-installed normally comes additional application software, exactly what to include is up to the PC vendor. On one extreme, I have seen a new Sharp laptop machine that came with no software other than Windows itself. This is rare. In contrast, Sony VAIOs, for example, are more mainstream and come with a lot of software. However, there are two problems with the pre-installed application software on Windows computers.
First, much of it is junk. So much, that a new term "crapware" is being used to describe it. The PC vendors make money by installing this software that many people consider worse than useless. In fact, the first thing many techies do is un-install this software, someone even came out with a PC de-crapifier program to automate the un-installs. Windows computers sold to businesses tend to have less undesirable application software pre-installed compared to computers sold to consumers. I have never heard of anyone complaining about the software that comes pre-installed in the normal, popular versions of Linux.
Second, important software is often missing or old. For example, the Adobe Acrobat reader, may not pre-installed by the PC vendor. In February 2008, I
blogged about a new Lenovo computer that came with terribly old versions of application software.
On the Linux side, to get a feel for the application software that comes with Ubuntu version 8.04 see
Adventures with open source apps on Linux - Part 1 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes from May 23rd, 2008.
Application software installation: The installation of applications under Windows, while not standardized, is generally consistent and generally pretty easy. Installing software under Linux varies with each distribution and has not been nearly as simple, easy or obvious as Windows. A couple articles from 2004 griped about how hard it was to install software in Liunx: The
May 20, 2004 issue of the Langa list newsletter and a July 4, 2004 review of Linux in the Washington Post (Linux, Still an Awkward Alternative) where Rob Pegoraro called application software installation "Linux's biggest embarrassment".
That said, current Linux distributions have an application somewhat akin to Windows update that can be used to install software. I don't have much experience doing this. However, in April 2008 I used one of the new $200 Walmart Linux gOS machines and found the application for installing software very confusing, and it failed every time I tried to install something.

Crossing the OS Boundary Hide Show top
Crossing the OS Boundary (This topic was revised in October 2007)
A program written for Linux will not run under Windows and vice versa.
For example, Microsoft makes a version of Office for Windows and another version for the Mac. They are two different products, each capable of only running on the operating system it was designed for. There is no version of Microsoft Office for Linux.
On the other hand, some programs, such as Firefox, are available for multiple operating systems. Firefox runs on Linux, Windows, Macs and more. Open Office competes with Microsoft Office and
comes in versions for Windows (all the way from Windows 98 up to Vista), GNU/Linux ("Linux"), Sun Solaris, Mac OS X (under X11), and FreeBSD.
The process of making a new version of a program that will run on a different operating system is called "porting". But there are other ways to get a program to run on an operating system other than the one it was designed for.
Virtual Machines
The most ambitious approach is to install one operating system inside another. Perhaps the most popular example of this is with Intel based Macintosh computers. Software from Parallels (Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac) and from VMware (Fusion) lets you run Windows at the same time as Mac OS X. In this example, the Mac OS X is referred to as the host or native operating system, it's the one that gets run when the computer is turned on. Windows is referred to as the guest operating system. This approach is called Virtual Machines. Assorted virtual machine software is available that lets Linux, Macs and Windows operate as either the host or guest operating system.
In a guest copy of Windows, running under either Linux or Mac OS X as the host OS, you can install any and all Windows programs. Somewhat like a split personality, one computer can run two (or more) operating systems at the same time.
VMware was the first to market with a virtual machine product (also called VMware) for personal computers. Virtual PC, has competed with VMware for a long time. Parallels is a more recent competitor. VirtualBox is free and open source virtual machine software. Virtual Machine products from these companies differ in their supported host and guest operating systems.
Win4Lin is virtual machine software that only supports Linux as the host OS and only supports Windows (95, 98, Me, 2000 or XP) as the guest OS.
Specific Applications
Less ambitious than virtual machine products (which let you run any application in the guest OS) are approaches targeted at only running a handful of Windows applications under Linux.
The simplest example is probably
IEs 4 Linux which lets you run Internet Explorer versions 6 and 5 under Linux. It's free. For more, see Run Internet Explorer on Linux by Brian Smith Oct 11, 2007.
Some distributions of Linux include commercial software called Crossover Office from
CodeWeavers that runs Microsoft Office (versions 2003, XP, 2000 and 97) and some other Windows applications under Linux. While this approach does less, it does not require a Windows license. Codeweavers has a list of supported applications and a comparison of their approach vs. virtual machines.
Since Crossover Office is a commercial product, it is not included in the free distributions of Linux. As of October 2007 CodeWeavers sold it for $40 or $70 depending on the version.
CrossOver is based on the
Wine project. Wine is free software and is included with many GNU/Linux distributions. After 15 years of development, the first "finished" version of Wine was released in June 2008 (see Run Windows Software on Linux with Wine 1.0). Wine is, to a computer nerd, very interesting. It lets Windows applications run under Linux without a copy of Windows and without any virtualization. Windows applications talk to Windows using a specification known as the Windows API. Wine intercepts each Windows API command/request made by a Windows program and does, in Linux, the functions Windows does in response to the same command.
Wine does not, and will not, provide 100% compatibility; it will never run all Windows applications perfectly. Even applications that it runs well, may not have all their features and functions available. The Wine Project maintains
a list of applications and how well they run under Wine. LifeHacker did a good intro to Wine in June 2008: Run Windows Apps in Linux with Wine 1.0.
Mary Jo Foley wrote that the Microsoft WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) program looks for Windows programs running with Wine and purposely generates an error. See
Microsoft Seeks to Bottle Up Open Source Wine (February 18, 2005).
As far as I know, the first Linux distribution that could run Windows applications was Lindows. As far back as October 2002,
Xandros Linux Desktop v1.0 (previously Corel Linux) could run Windows applications. (ExtremeTech review). When SuSE Linux Office Desktop was released in January 2003, it too could run Microsoft Office applications thanks to Crossover Office.
TransGaming makes WineX which allows Linux users to run various Windows games that require OpenGL and DirectX. The combination of CrossOver Office and WineX should let you run many Windows programs under Linux. In July 2004 TransGaming gave WineX a new name, Cedega, and announced support some DirectX 9 games. (Linux Takes on Windows Gaming from ExtremeTech July 28, 2004)
On yet another front, Ximian (owned by Novell) is developing Project Mono, which will allow Microsoft .Net applications to run on Linux.
On still another front, Adobe Air lets you run the same application on multiple Operating Systems.
Interesting article on whether running Windows applications under Linux is a good idea:
GNU/Linux Desktop: The Case Against Running Windows Apps by Bruce Byfield February 26, 2008.
Server Based Applications
There is yet another approach to crossing the operating system divide that goes by the names Terminal Services, Server Based Computing and Thin Client Computing. This approach runs applications on a server and sends a picture of the output to another (client) computer. From the client computer, keystrokes and mouse movements are sent back to the server. This approach is totally dependent on a network.
Windows applications are run by a server version of Windows and use the Terminal Services feature to communicate with a client computer. Depending on the software used, the client computer may be running Linux or Windows or a Mac. The all Microsoft solution can be supplemented with software from other companies (Citrix being the market leader) to provide advanced features. Years back, I used an earlier version of the Citrix software, then known as WinFrame, to provide Windows NT applications to client computers running Windows 95 and 98. Quite cool.
On the Linux/Unix side, Tarantella supports the display of Unix server applications on non-Unix, non-Linux machines.

Security Hide Show top
Security (Created November 2008)
The vast majority of malicious software (of all types) runs on Windows. I don't know the actual percentages, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was 98% or so. Windows users are burdened with the need for anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Linux users are not. Why is this?
In
Linux vs. Windows: Which is Most Secure? (March 2007) Kenneth van Wyk writes:
Linux [has] ... the notion of an administrative (root) user that maintains and operates the system, and desktop users who only run the software on the system, is completely ingrained in most Linux distributions. Now it’s true that many Linux users ignore these features and run all their software from a root-level account anyway, but that’s a choice that they’ve made. The system defaults to protecting the operating system components from its user’s actions (intentional or otherwise). That feature alone must account in large degree for the dearth of viruses and other malicious vermin on Linux and UNIX platforms. Windows, on the other hand, started life as a single user system, with that single user being all-powerful. Although that’s no longer the case, the general attitude can still be found in many Windows-based software products – many of which just can’t be installed and/or run properly without desktop administrator privileges. This is all changing for the better, but it took Microsoft far too long to adopt this default-secure configuration practice.
In November 2008 I purchased an Asus Eee PC 1000 which came with a modified version of Xandros Linux. Surprisingly it also came with a version of the NOD32 antivirus program from Eset.

Users and Passwords Hide Show top
Users and Passwords (Last big update August 2005)
Both Linux and Windows 2000/XP require a userid and password and boot time. That said, Windows XP supports users without a password (a very bad idea), I'm not sure if Linux does.
Windows can be configured to either ask for the userid/password at startup time or a default can be set instead. In Windows 2000 it is very easy to set a default userid/password, in Windows XP the method varies between the Home and Pro versions - in one it is straightforward, in the other it's a pain.
I've been told that in Linux the KDM and GDM login managers support automatic login. I've also been told that most versions of Linux do not allow the root user to login automatically. Windows, in contrast, is happy to let an Administrative user auto-login.
Get started faster in Ubuntu explains how to configure Ubuntu to boot without asking for a userid/password.
A new Windows XP machine used by a home user is likely to not ask for a userid/password at start-up. However, this depends on the number of users defined to Windows. When you create a new user in XP the default is not to require a password (user friendly triumphs over security - the Microsoft way). Windows 98, never mind.
Windows XP, 2000 and Linux all support different types or classes of users. Windows XP Home Edition supports Administrator class users that have full and total access to the system and restricted users that, among other restrictions, can't install software. Windows XP Pro and Windows 2000 support additional levels of users.
Both Linux and Windows can group users into groups (finally, something well named) and assign privileges to the group rather than to each individual user. Windows XP and 2000 come with some pre-defined user groups (such as Power Users), I don't think Linux does (but I'm not sure). In XP and 2000 user "Administrator" is a member of the Administrators group.
Linux privileges are basically whether you can read, modify or execute a file. Files in Linux are always owned by a specific user and group. Windows has similar file-related privileges but only when using the NTFS file system. The earlier FAT and FAT32 file systems had no file level security.
I'm told that Windows NTFS permissions are a bit more functional than those in Linux, but that Linux distributions are starting to use extended Access Control Lists as a part of the file system, bringing them more on par with NTFS. (I won't swear by this)
Very often Windows users use an Administrator class userid which gives viruses total access to their system (see
Why you should not run your computer as an administrator from Microsoft). This obviates the security rules discussed above. In contrast, Linux users often run as regular non-root users which not only means better security it also means that, if they get a virus, the operating system greatly restricts what the virus can do.
I have tried a couple times to set up a Windows XP computer for use by a family, creating Administrator class userids for the parents and restricted userids for children. Both cases failed because there were too many programs that did not function correctly when run by a restricted Windows user (
more details here). While Linux has supported the concept of root and restricted users from the get-go, this is a relatively new thing to Windows. It will be a long time before all Windows software is designed to be used by a restricted user. Until then, viruses and malware will have free reign on Windows machines. Certainly software written for Windows 95, 98 and Me expects total system access and may not work when run from a restricted userid.
See also
Windows v Linux security: the real facts by John Lettice October 22, 2004 in The Register Security Report: Windows vs Linux by Nicholas Petreley October 22, 2004
Bugs
All software has and will have bugs (programming mistakes). Linux has a reputation for fewer bugs than Windows, but it certainly has its fair share. This is a difficult thing to judge and finding an impartial source on this subject is also difficult. Fred Langa wrote an interesting article on whether Linux or Windows has fewer bugs in
Information Week magazine January 27, 2003. The article also addressed whether known bugs are fixed faster with Linux or Windows. In brief, he felt that bugs used to be fixed faster in Linux, but that things have slowed down. See this article too Security research suggests Linux has fewer flaws December 13, 2004 from CNET News.com.
In March 28, 2003, Microsoft
decreed that it will not issue a Windows NT4 bug fix for a security problem that effects Windows 2000, XP and NT4. They would prefer customers to move off of NT4, thus making Microsoft more money. It is their ball, their bat and their field. This is not true with an open source operating system such as Linux. No one can decree that a bug will not be fixed in a specific version of Linux.
The difference in OS development methodologies may explain why Linux is considered more stable. Windows is developed by faceless programmers whose mistakes are hidden from the outside world because Microsoft does not publish the underlying code for Windows. They consider it a trade secret. In contrast, Linux is developed by hundreds of programmers all over the world. They publish the source code for the operating system and any interested programmer, anywhere in the world can review it. Besides the wide audience for peer review, there is likely to be pride of ownership on the part of the developers of Linux that can not exist with Windows. The official term is "egoboo" which refers to the rush a programmer gets from public recognition, especially for something done for free. Bruce Perens (
Business Week magazine, March 3, 2003 issue) commented on why open source software works well:
...it taps into the true motivation of programmers in a way that corporations often don't. Programmers are like artists ... They like to showcase their best stuff for their peers. In open source, they can. But at most corporations, their best work is hidden behind locked and guarded doors.
As to Microsoft's OS development methodology, Michael Miller of PC Magazine reported that Chris Jones, Vice President of the Windows Client team, "stressed" that Microsoft's priority when developing Vista "was to change the process of developing Windows to ensure that the underlying code was tighter and more secure." Vista will be the tenth version of Windows produced by Microsoft and they admit that the development process needs to be improved. See
Vista: I Can See Clearly Now July 25, 2005.
Note: Shortly after I revised this section, all heck broke loose on the Internet due to a bug in the Plug-and-Play portion of Windows (see
Fast-Moving Worms Slam Media, Enterprise Networks eWeek August 17, 2005). On August 9, 2005 Microsoft issued a fix for this bug. Within a week there were a dozen different malicious programs actively attacking computers without the bug fix. Many large companies were hit. This is par for the course, but it in light of this topic, it occurred to me that no story on the problem looked to find/blame/name the programmer that wrote the buggy Plug-and-Play code. No doubt, the world will never who caused all this grief. When faceless programmers can hide behind a corporate wall, these things are more likely. Microsoft claimed that the Plug-and-Play bug only affected Windows 2000. Anti-virus companies claimed to have seen many other versions of Windows get infected. Was Microsoft lying to minimize the bad publicity? Were anti-virus companies trying to make their products seem more useful? Without access to the source code for Windows, no one can know for sure. I wonder if Microsoft fired the person(s) who wrote the buggy code or if they even know who did it?
Is It Soup Yet? (Last updated August 2005)
When is a new version of an Operating System done? Hard to say. All software has bugs and OSs, being very large software are very likely to have many bugs. When a new version of an Operating System is being developed, someone, at some point, has to say "enough is enough". That is, someone decides that a reasonable number of bugs have been found and fixed and the OS can now be considered finished. Linux and Windows differ greatly in how this decision is made.
With Linux, the decision is made by a computer nerd with a public reputation to protect. With Windows, the decision is made by business people with billions of dollars in profit at stake. Speaks for itself.
Be sure to read the excellent
How Microsoft's Misunderstanding of Open Source Hurts Us All by Robert X. Cringely (October 23, 2003). The article argues in favor of Linux and ridicules comments by Steve Ballmer. Addressing the "Is it soup yet?" issue, this article includes a quote from Mr. Linux, Linus Torvalds (the nerd with the reputation to protect):
"Because the software is free, there is no pressure to release it before it is really ready just to achieve some sales target. Every version of Linux is declared to be finished only when it is actually finished, which explains why it is so solid. The other reason why free software is better is because the personal reputation of the developer is attached to every release."
In contrast, Microsoft makes huge profits on a new version of Windows. Whoever decides when a new version of Windows (currently Longhorn/Vista) is ready to ship, has a lot more on their plate than just bug fixes. No doubt, Microsoft defenders will cite the many months, if not years, that a new version of Windows is beta tested by thousands of people before it is released. It's not enough. Anyone who recalls the bragging done about stability when both Windows 2000 and XP were released must wince with the hundreds and hundreds of bug fixes both versions have required over the years.
Microsoft defenders may also note that Windows is a frequent target of attack by the bad guys just because it is so widely employed. True. But this just magnifies the fallout from any corners that may get cut on the way to releasing a new version of Windows.
He's Dead Jim
(August 2005) On the other end of the life cycle, just as a particular version of Windows gets reliable, and everyone gets used to its quirks and other software interfaces with it well, Microsoft walks away from it. Not enough profit in it.
I am not familiar with the retirement policies of the various Linux vendors regarding old versions of their Linux distributions. But at least there is choice in the Linux marketplace.
Supported Hardware Devices
While Linux itself runs on many more computers than Windows, when it comes to hardware peripherals, many work with Windows but not with Linux. The hardware vendors write drivers for Windows more often than they do for Linux. Market share and all that. Some hardware vendors will release technical specs so that someone in the Linux community can write a driver for the device, but other vendors aren't so open minded.
Everything isn't rosy in the Windows world however. When Windows XP was released, many existing peripherals would not work with it because XP required new drivers and the vendors had little motivation to write drivers for old hardware. The exact same scenario played out all over again when Vista was released. I think it's fair to say that hardware support was pretty lame when Vista was first released. This is not a knock on Microsoft.
The poor hardware support in Linux is drastically illustrated in an article by Fred Langa. He wrote about problems getting nine different Linux distributions (versions) to work correctly with two different sound cards (one real, one virtual) that all versions of Windows, even back to Windows 95, dealt with perfectly (see
Linux's Achilles' Heel, Information Week magazine. April 19, 2004).
In
Ten key differences between Linux and Windows (September 2008) Jack Wallen, a Linux devotee, about this: "One issue that is slowly becoming nonexistent is hardware support ... You can grab a PC (or laptop) and most likely get one or more Linux distributions to install and work nearly 100 percent. But there are still some exceptions; for instance, hibernate/suspend remains a problem with many laptops, although it has come a long way."
Hardware the OS runs on (Last updated March 2005)
Linux runs on many different hardware platforms, not so with Windows. For example, Windows NT used to run on MIPS CPUs until Microsoft changed their mind. It also used to run on Alpha CPUs, again, until Microsoft changed their mind. No one gets to change their mind with Linux. It runs on a very wide range of computers, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high. The supported range of computers is all but stunning.
Because of its ability to run without a GUI, and thus need less hardware horsepower than Windows, Linux can run on very old personal computers such as 486 based machines. I took a Linux class where the server the students used was a 100 MHz Pentium. To get more mileage out of old hardware, Papa John's
converted 2,900 pizzerias to Linux. On the high end, Linux runs natively on IBM mainframes (the Z series) and on other high end IBM servers. eBay runs their web site on Linux as does Google. IBM's family of "Blue Gene" supercomputers, used by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for nuclear weapons simulations, run Linux. NASA uses it on supercomputers that run space-shuttle simulations. On the small side, the iPodLinux Project created a version of Linux that runs on Apple iPods. NEC is working on Linux-based cell phones and Motorola is going to make Linux its primary operating system for smart cell phones. Debian Linux can run on on a computer the size of a deck of playing cards (100mm by 55mm) with an ARM cpu. In the home, Sony and Matsushita (parent company of Panasonic) will use Linux to build increasingly 'smart' microwave ovens, TVs and other consumer gizmos. Likewise MontaVista Software will release a version of its embedded Linux for use in consumer electronics devices. Web site linuxdevices.com seems to track this.
Clustering
Linux has an edge here. It has been used to make enormous clusters of computers. In October 2002, ComputerWorld magazine
said: "Linux clusters provide supercomputer-type performance at a fraction of the expense." The same article reported that Merrill Lynch runs a cluster of 50 Linux computers. In March 2005, Forbes magazine reported that: "Linux now has become so technically powerful that it lays claim to a prestigious title--it runs more of the world's top supercomputers than any other operating system."(see Linux Rules Supercomputers by Daniel Lyons March 15, 2005).
Multiple Users
Linux is a multi-user system, Windows is not. That is, Windows is designed to be used by one person at a time. Databases running under Windows allow concurrent access by multiple users, but the Operating System itself is designed to deal with a single human being at a time. Linux, like all Unix variants, is designed to handle multiple concurrent users. Windows, of course, can run many programs concurrently, as can Linux. There is a multi-user version of Windows called Terminal Server but this is not the Windows pre-installed on personal computers.
Networking
They both do TCP/IP. Linux can do Windows networking, which means that a Linux computer can appear on a network of Windows computers and share its files and printers. Linux machines can participate on a Windows based network and vice versa. See
Mixing Unix and Windows By Larry Seltzer (July 2002).
Hard Disk Partitions (Last updated August 2006)
Windows must be installed to and boot from a primary partition. There are a maximum of four primary partitions on a single hard disk (a computer with two hard disks can have eight primary partitions). Linux is better in this regard as it can be installed to and boot from either a primary partition or a logical partition. Logical partitions reside inside a special type of primary partition called an extended partition. There is no practical limit to the number of logical partitions that can exist on a single hard disk. Thus you can easily experiment with a dozen different Linux distributions by installing each one in a different logical partition.
Windows must boot from the first hard disk. Here too Linux is better, it can boot from any hard disk in the computer.

Swap Files: Hide Show top
Swap Files
A swap file (a.k.a. page file) is used by the Operating System when the demands on RAM exceed the available capacity. Windows uses a hidden file for its swap file. By default, this file resides in the same partition as the OS, although you can put it in another partition, after Windows is installed. In Windows XP, the swap file resides initially on the C disk as a file called pagefile.sys. Linux likes to use a dedicated partition for its swap file, however advanced users can opt to implement the swap file as a file in the same partition as the OS. I'm not sure if this issue is clearly presented and explained when installing Linux. Probably not. Xandros v4, for example, may use a separate swap partition or not, depending on the partition environment it finds at install time. Xandros 4 does not explain any of this.
Updated August 2006: With Windows XP the default size of the swap file is 1.5 times the amount of RAM in the machine at the time Windows was installed. I don't know how Linux chooses a default swap file size. In Windows XP you can change the swap file size and location with Control Panel -> System Properties -> Advanced tab -> Performance Settings -> Advanced tab again -> Change button, which opens the Virtual Memory window. Be aware that this window violates user interface standards. It is the only window I know of where clicking the OK button after making a change, does not activate the change. To change the size of the page/swap file, you must click the Set button. I don't know how to change the size of a Linux swap file.

File Systems: Hide Show top
File Systems (Last big update: September 2005)
Windows uses FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 and/or NTFS with NTFS almost always being the best choice. The FATx file systems are older and have assorted limitations on file and partition size that make them problematical in the current environment. Linux also has a number of its own native file systems. The default file system for Linux used to be ext2, now it is typically ext3. Other supported file systems includes XFS, JFS, JFFS and Reiser3. Reiser4 is in development. (Added December 2008: The ext3 file system is being replaced by
ext4. Among the improvements in ext4 is an increase in the maximum filesystem size from 16 terabytes in ext3 to one exabyte. The largest file in ext3 is 2 terabytes, in ext4 it is 16 terabytes. OpenSolaris includes ZFS which seems like a drastic change in file system design.
File systems can be either journaled or not. Non-journaled systems are subject to problems when stopped abruptly. All the FAT variants and ext2 are non-journaled. After a crash, they should be examined by their respective health check utilities (Scan Disk or Check Disk or fsck). In contrast, when a journaled file system is stopped abruptly, recovery is automatic at the next reboot. NTFS is journaled. Linux supports several journaled file systems: ext3, ext4, reiserfs and jfs.
All the file systems use directories and subdirectories. Windows separates directories with a back slash, Linux uses a normal forward slash. Windows file names are not case sensitive. Linux file names are. For example "abc" and " aBC" are different files in Linux, whereas in Windows it would refer to the same file. Case sensitivity has been a problem for this very web page, the name of which is " Linux.vs.Windows.html". At times, people have tried to get to this page using " linux.vs.windows.html" (all lower case) which resulted in a Page Not Found error. Eventually, I created a new web page with the name in all lower case and this new page simply re-directs you to the real page, the one you are reading now (with a capital L and W).
Fragmentation: (Added January 2008) Windows file systems all suffer from fragmentation, which results in a file being scattered all over the hard disk. I'm told that Linux file systems are much less prone to this, but I don't know the details and whether it applies to all or some of the Linux file systems. With classic magnetic platter based hard disks, fragmentation can be a big deal as the disk is much slower than the RAM or CPU and having to walk all over the hard disk to get a file slows things down. How this will play out on newer SSDs I don't know. While there is no waiting for spinning platters, SSDs have to deal with wear leveling, a feature designed to extend their limited lifespan. Speaking of fragmentation, I've heard very good things about
Raxco's PerfectDisk for Windows.
Crossing Over: (Last Updated: June 2007) As for supporting each others file systems, Linux can read/write FAT16 and FAT32. When I first wrote this topic, only some Linux distributions could read NTFS partitions. Now more can both read and update NTFS, a feature critical to using Linux as a Rescue CD for a broken copy of Windows.
Captive-NTFS was "the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux". It is no longer being maintained. In its place is the NTFS-3G Read/Write Driver which the website describes as "an open source, freely available read/write NTFS driver for Linux, FreeBSD, OS X, and NetBSD." NTFS-3G is fairly new, being considered stable only since February 2007. It can deal with the multiple versions of NTFS used by Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. At least 85 distributions support NTFS-3G in some manner, among them: Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian, Knoppix and Mandriva.
In September 2005,
PC Magazine reviewed a product called NTFS for Linux from the Paragon Software Group that gives Linux read/write access to NTFS partitions. For more information on Linux and NTFS, see the Linux NTFS Project.
On its own, Windows can not read partitions formatted with any Linux file system. However, a number of products (I haven't tried any of them) enable this:
Explore2fs by John Newbigin can be used to read Linux ext2 and ext3 partitions. Portable version
Ext2Fsd claims to be an Ext2 File System Driver for Windows
An open source project, the
Ext2 File System Driver for Windows
The free
Linux Reader for Windows from Diskinternals can read the Ext2/Ext3 file systems (added September 2007) Portable version
The
Ext2 Installable File System For Windows is free and provides full read and write access to partitions and floppy disks formatted with either Ext2 or Ext3. It works with Windows NT4, 2000, XP and 2003. It's also referred to as Ext2 IFS for Windows. If you are running a NAS device, it may very well be storing files using the Ext2 or Ext3 file system.
File Hierarchy: Windows and Linux use different concepts for their file hierarchy. Windows uses a volume-based file hierarchy, Linux uses a unified scheme. Windows uses letters of the alphabet to represent different devices and different hard disk partitions. Under Windows, you need to know what volume (C:, D:,...) a file resides on to select it, the file's physical location is part of it's name. In Linux all directories are attached to the root directory, which is identified by a forward-slash, "/". For example, below are some second-level directories: /bin/ ---- system binaries, user programs with normal user permissions /sbin --- executables that need root permission /data/ --- a user defined directory /dev/ ---- system device tree /etc/ ---- system configuration /home/ --- users' subdirectories /home/{username} akin to the Windows My Documents folder /tmp/ ---- system temporary files /usr/ ---- applications software /usr/bin - executables for programs with user permission /var/ ---- system variables /lib --- libraries needed for installed programs to run
Every device and hard disk partition is represented in the Linux file system as a subdirectory of the lone root directory. For example, the floppy disk drive in Linux might be /etc/floppy. The root directory lives in the root partition, but other directories (and the devices they represent) can reside anywhere. Removable devices and hard disk partitions other than the root are attached (i.e., "mounted") to subdirectories in the directory tree. This is done either at system initialization or in response to a mount command.
There are no standards in Linux for which subdirectories are used for which devices. This contrasts with Windows where the A disk is always the floppy drive and the C disk is almost always the boot partition.
Hidden Files: Both support the concept of hidden files, which are files that, by default, are not shown to the user when listing files in a directory. Linux implements this with a filename that starts with a period. Windows tracks this as a file attribute in the file metadata (along with things like the last update date). In both OSs the user can over-ride the default behavior and force the system to list hidden files.
Case: Case sensitivity is the same with commands as with file names. When entering commands in a DOS/command window under any version of Windows, "dir" is the same as "DIR". In Linux "dir" is a different command than "DIR".
Modems
To save money, many internal modems do not include their own processor, instead they rely on the main cpu in the computer for their processing needs. These cheap modems are referred to as "winmodems" because they typically include low level calls to the Windows operating system that can not be replicated in Linux. For the most part, winmodems will not work under Linux. If you need to run a winmodem under Linux see
Linmodems.org and www.linuxant.com/drivers.
Scripting
Windows started with BAT files (a combination of OS commands and optionally its own language) and then progressed to Windows Scripting Host (WSH) which supports two languages, JavaScript and VB Script. Windows also has WMI, the Windows Management Interface which makes many functions available to scripts. The lastest scripting engine from Microsoft is
Windows PowerShell (originally called Monad). The first release (excluding Betas) was November 2006. PowerShell requires version 2.0 of the Microsoft .NET Framework and runs only under Windows XP, Vista and Server 2003.(Updated May 2007)
Linux, like all Unix variants, provides multiple scripting languages, referred to as shell scripts. Among them are the Bourne shell, the C shell, Perl, Python and Ruby. I have used the first three, but not Python and Ruby. I find the Linux scripting languages cruder than WSH but much more powerful than BAT files. They tend to use special characters instead of English commands and don't support objects (this only matters to programmers).
One scripting language that can run on both Linux and Windows is PHP. It always has to be installed under Windows, it may have to be installed under Linux. PHP is typically found running on Linux based web servers in combination with Apache, but it is capable of running "client side" (on your computer).
(The below was added May 2007)There is a philosophy to scripting and starting with PowerShell Microsoft has changed theirs, to follow/copy that of Linux. The issue I'm referring to is the main interface to the operating system.
On Linux/Unix the scripts are the main interface to the system and any GUI is built on top of the scripts. Thus a Linux system can have multiple GUIs to accomplish the same thing as they all end up calling the script interface anyway. You can even run Linux without any GUI at all.
Windows has always been locked into and keyed off its GUI interface. Scripting was an after-thought. With the introduction of PowerShell, Microsoft says it will adopt the Linux way, making the script inteface the main one. This should mean that anything and everything can be scripted. We'll see.
Printer Drivers
Every computer printer ships with drivers for last last few versions of Windows (at the time it was manufactured). Running the printer on a very old or too new version of Windows may or may not work. Still, this a far better situation than with Linux which does not support as many printers as Windows. In an environment with many Linux users, shared network printers a tech support staff, this should not be an issue as you can limit yourself to well supported printers. Home users of Linux however, will no doubt suffer from the relatively poor support for printers. Stephen Manes
wrote in Forbes magazine (October 2002) that "Linux printer drivers tend to handle the simplest of printing functions and leave out the rest".
The $99
Zonbu computer works with 1,500 printers (according to the company).
Help
Stephen Manes
wrote in Forbes magazine (October 28, 2002) that Linux "Help screens often omit everything but the most rudimentary information and the most arcane." For commands, both OSs offer help on the syntax and options of individual commands, providing you know the command. In Linux it is often done by appending --help or -h to the command. In Windows it's often done by appending /? to the command.
Owing to it's command line history, Linux also offers help via the man (short for manual) and info commands. The man documentation for the ls command, for example, is referred to as the man page for ls. From the Linux command line you can search the man database with "man -k somestring" which produces a list of manual pages containing "somestring".
Windows offers help in the GUI interface for the GUI interface. On the Linux side, both KDE and Gnome also have built-in help about using themselves. I'm told that the Windows help is better for newcomers (nerds hate writing documentation, especially on an introductory level, and Linux is done by volunteers).
User Data
Windows allows programs to store user information (files and settings) anywhere. This makes it impossibly hard to backup user data files and settings and to switch to a new computer. In contrast, Linux stores all user data in the home directory making it much easier to migrate from an old computer to a new one. If home directories are segregated in their own partition, you can even upgrade from one version of Linux to another without having to migrate user data and settings.
Shutting Down
Both have to be told to shut down and for the same reason, to quiesce in-flight activity in an orderly manner. You shut down Windows thru the Start button, then select Shutdown. In both the KDE and Gnome GUIs for Linux, you shut the system down by first logging out (equivalent to logging off in Windows). In Gnome, you select the Halt option, in KDE, the shutdown option. Linux can also be shut down from a command prompt using the shutdown command which can either shut the system down immediately or be told to shut it down at some time in the future. Windows XP also has a shutdown command, earlier versions of Windows did not
(Updated December 2005) The scheduler built into Windows XP is not able to schedule programs to run at shutdown time. I find this annoying, because its an excellent time to schedule backups. Linux can schedule programs to run automatically at shutdown time. I haven't tried this but a quick glance at
How Linux boots makes it seem complicated. I'm told to follow the instructions in this article but replace runlevel 5 with runlevel zero, which represents shutdown time.
Odds and Ends: Hide Show top
Odds and Ends
Both Windows and Linux have desktop shortcuts to applications. Linux even has the equivalent of the quick launch toolbar, a favorite feature of mine. In Ubuntu, add a shortcut to the panel at the top of the screen with: right-click an empty area of the panel, choose Add to Panel, select the program you want to add, click the Add button.(added March 2008)
According to
ComputerWorld blogger Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, "Linux needs to do a much better job of managing power. With more and more of us doing our work on laptops, netbooks, and the like, getting the most out of battery life is becoming increasingly important... To really get the most from a battery requires power-aware device drivers, power-aware applications and fine granular control over each component in a system. Linux has miles to go before it can equal Macs or even Windows in this area." (added August 11, 2008)
Updating Software: Hide Show top
Updating Software (Created: July 2008, Last Updated: January 2009)
This is a big topic that I should have added long ago. I haven't used Linux enough to form my own an opinion on this from the Linux side, so I present the opinions of others. In Windows, while each program has its own custom built installation procedure they very often follow the same pattern. In Linux, each program is installed in a standard way, but there are way too many standards. The software that installs everything in Linux is called a package manager.
There are way too many package managers. Ubuntu Linux, for example, has three. What's the difference between them? Ubuntu offers no help. The Advanced Packaging Tool (apt-get) is used by Debian, Ubuntu, gOS, Linux Mint and Knoppix. YUM is used by Fedora and CentOS. OpenSUSE uses YaST. Gentoo uses Portage. Mandriva uses urpmi. and there's also Synaptic and PackageKit.
From the January 2009 article
A Beginner's Guide on How to Install Linux Software: "There are several different types of installation files for Ubuntu, and few of them are as easy to install as the EXE installation files found on Windows. If you need to download an application to your system that is not found in Add/Remove Applications, then you will find yourself with one of several different types of files: .deb, .rpm, .bin, .tar.gz, INSTALL, .sh, etc. These different files all have a different method of execution." The article explains how to deal with these types of files to install software.
Computerworld blogger Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is pro-Linux. Yet,
he admits that new Linux users will be thrown for a loop when they first try to install software. In February 2009 he said "When we live with any technology, we start taking for granted knowledge that we have that's a foreign language to others. So, while package manager programs ... make installing software easy, they don't give new Linux users much of a clue what it is they're installing." He also wrote Linux software installation myths in November 2008.
Jack Wallen is a Linux enthusiast who wrote
the following in September 2008: "With Linux you have (with nearly every distribution) a centralized location where you can search for, add or remove software. I'm talking about package management systems, such as Synaptic. With Synaptic, you can open up one tool, search for an application (or group of applications), and install that application without having to do any web searching (or purchasing). Windows has nothing like this. With Windows, you must know where to find the software you want to install ... For many years, it was thought that installing applications on Windows was far easier than on Linux. And for many years, that thought was right on target. Not so much now. Installation under Linux is simple, painless and centralized."
Ed Bott is a Windows enthusiast. In July 2008 he wrote about this:
Windows Update vs. Ubuntu Update.
11 Linux-only Things: Hide Show top
11 Linux-only Things
This is a summary of an article by Dan Martin called
Things I can do in Linux that I can't do on Windows from March 3, 2007. (added September 2007)
The first item on his list strikes me as very important - you can update "every single piece of software on my system with a single action." Windows and Microsoft Update only do a handful of Microsoft applications. With Linux, the OS updater application handles software from other companies too. Huge plus for Linux. Huge.
An interesting point was the ability to "Run Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 7.0 on the same desktop" using software called IEs4Linux. Other points included the fact that most updates don't require a re-boot, Linux has a lesser need for anti-malware software and the ability to take "settings" with you when traveling.
Overall, Mr. Martin is very biased. For example, with portable applications, Windows users can carry entire applications with them with traveling. He also brags that Linux users can understand everything going on inside their computer, but, he doesn't offer software for doing this. Windows users have the excellent Process Explorer program which shows tons of information about what's going on under the hood. Process Explorer is a great program. Finally, some items on his list strike me as un-important.
March 10, 2008: Here's another Linux only thing, the ability to keep an application's window on top of other windows. From
CNET blogger Dennis O'Reilly: "A nice feature of Ubuntu that Windows lacks (unless you tweak the Registry or download a separate always-on-top utility) is the ability to keep a window on top of all others. Just right-click the bar along the top of the window, and select Always on Top from the drop-down menu." According to reader comments this is really a GNOME thing, rather than an Ubuntu thing.
Choosing Linux vs. Windows: Hide Show top
Choosing Linux vs. Windows
(These three paragraphs added May 1, 2007) When this page was created XP was the current version of Windows. Now it is Vista. I mention this because many people find the Vista experience stinks. It is expensive, buggy, slow and suffers from both hardware and software incompatibilities. There seems to be a growing backlash against Vista, which is changing this topic of choosing Linux vs. Windows.
Some Windows people (the smart ones in my opinion) are opting to stick with XP and avoid Vista. Dell initially converted all their new consumer machines from XP to Vista, although they and others always sold business targeted machines with XP. Responding to consumer demand (businesses were not going to use Vista for a long time anyway), Dell backtracked in April 2007 and re-introduced new consumer machines with XP pre-installed. Heresy. Microsoft could not have been happy.
And then ... along came Linux. In May 2007 Dell announced they would start to offer consumer machines with Ubuntu Linux vesion 7.04 pre-installed. You have to wonder if Vista is driving people to Linux. Oh, and
Michael Dell runs Ubuntu Linux on a computer at his home (April 18, 2007).
Martin Ultima, the person behind the
Ultima Linux distribution, does not see a future for Linux on desktop computers. His reasons: video drivers are too hard to set up, many distributions omit Flash, a working media player, 3D graphics and some fonts, there are too many distributions, software development on Linux is "painful", poor support for WiFi, printers and other hardware, and poor OS documentation. He also points out the 12 years after Windows introduced CD auto-mounting, it is just starting to appear in mainstream Linux distributions. (paragraph added July 20, 2007)
On the
Personal Computer show in December 2003 John C. Dvorak predicted a bright future for Linux. His main points being: it's free, the applications are getting more mainstream, Open Office is a "fabulous" product, the GUI is pretty much like Windows, it's high quality, bullet proof and resistant to the thousands of Windows viruses and worms. If he owned a company with thousands of PCs, he would put everyone on Linux.
To date the only organizations (that I've heard about) using hundreds or thousands of Linux based computers are government agencies in countries all over the world. They may be driven by cost and/or security concerns (practically speaking there are no Linux viruses). Some countries also may not like being beholden to a U.S. based company for so much of their software.
See
More Balls Through Windows from The Economist April 20, 2004 on cfo.com. Is Microsoft finally about to face real competition in desktop-computer software? This article raises a point I agree with. The next version of Windows, the one that will replace XP, is not going to be delivered for a long time opening up a window of opportunity for Linux. In addition, the upcoming version of Windows is likely to be expensive and require new hardware, two other areas where Linux competes well. It may also involve too many changes. By the time it's delivered, more and more Linux distributions will look more like Windows, just as Microsoft rolls out a new user interface. People accustomed to the current Windows UI may resist the change.
However, Microsoft fights the spread of Linux at all costs. For example, when Thailand was going to make government subsidized Linux based computers available throughout the country, Microsoft cut a deal with the Thai Information, Communication and Technology Ministry. People in Thailand can buy Windows XP and Office XP (without Outlook) pre-installed, activated, and ready to run for the equivalent of $37 US dollars. See
Microsoft offers cut-rate Windows from CNET News.com February 9, 2004. Then again, the governments of China, Japan and South Korea are teaming up to create their own Asian flavor of Linux.
My 2 Cents: Hide Show top
My 2 Cents
The above are facts, to the best of my knowledge, not opinion.This is opinion.
Will Linux spread to the point of becoming a serious competitor to Windows on the desktop? No. And this has nothing to do with which is better, no matter how you judge "better".
Consider the keyboard in front of you. The key arrangement was made long ago when keeping the metal wires connected to the keys from hitting each other was the big consideration. Now that that no longer applies, does anybody switch over to a keyboard with a better design? No. All of us who know how to type, are used to the current arrangement of keys. Switching to a new layout would be a major disruption and thus have to pay back in a major way. I don't think desktop versions of Linux will pay back enough to encourage people to switch. My Linux experience is not extensive, but coming to it with a Windows background, as most people will, it is often frustrating to figure out how to do ordinary everyday things