Thanks for the explanation, I didn't realise it was available for anyone to modify and to do with what they pleased.
Okay so one further question ... anyone I have spoken with that has Linux has Mint. They say that it resembles Windows (not interested in how it looks) and is the easiest to install and get the hang of. Mint has been described as the Linux equivalent of windows 7.
Not withstanding the (apparent) fact that Linux wont run microsuck programs, is what I have been led to believe reasonably accurate?
Does Linux make equivalent programs to those made by windows? Or, is there somewhere I can see a list of all the programs available for the Linux Operating System?
I am a big fan of Linux Mint also, and it has been my go-to daily computer OS for many years with just a few breaks. Yet, there are many others that I like for various reasons too. That's why I encourage folks to try out several by running a "live version" on DVD or USB just to get a basic feel for some of the differences in aesthetics or function. Mint is one of the best at detecting hardware, especially wireless adapters, so that they usually work without a lot of fuss. This is a big part of what makes it so user friendly.
As I said above, some Windows programs can run in Linux using a tool called
Wine. But for most Windows programs, there is a Linux alternative. One of the best known is LibreOffice (instead of Microsoft Office), and it comes already installed in most major Linux distros. The
Linux Alternative Project is one place for you to compare other popular Windows software versus their Linux alternatives, though that list may not be exhaustive. Some other alternative lists are
here and
here. There may be many other such lists.
Of course, don't forget that many software companies make versions of their products for both Windows and Linux, so there is no need for an "alternative" for some favorite programs. Mozilla Firefox and many other browsers (Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi) are readily available, and you can bring your bookmarks or settings over with you.
Linux has come a long way, but it isn't perfect. You still need to figure things out sometimes. If you want to use Linux full time, you want to consider hardware purchases in the future and look for things that are Linux friendly... like HP printers versus other brands. HP has the best (not perfect) support for Linux, but some other brands may also work with Linux too.... you just need to do some homework sometimes to consider these things and investigate so you aren't disappointed after a purchase.
And ask questions! We help when we can, and Google knows just about everything if you learn how to ask it. As you become more adept, you find more and more solutions on your own with Google. It's all part of the journey.