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Siguís refiriendovos alternadamente a unu y a otru, ¿hai dalguna diferencia?

Orixinalmente, Linux refierse a una parte central del sistema, denomada kernel o nucleu, qu'allúgase dientro del sistema GNU. Lo que los usuarios usen nos sos ordenadores son, pa ser precisos, "distribuciones del sistema GNU/Linux".

Na práutica, la pallabra "Linux" tuvo meyor recibimientu, y anguaño la xente usa cenciellamente "Linux" pa referise al sistema enteru. (Nun creyeríeis la controversia que xenera esti fechu...)

Calling the system GNU/Linux is much more meaningful, technically (end-users use a lot of "GNU" and a little of "Linux") but also philosophically: the strength and momentum of the Free Software movement started with and are still carried by the GNU project.

Denomar Linux al sistema ye más práutico y cenciello pa usuarios de ordenadores que creen que Windows ye lo único sobro la Tierra.

To avoid confusion, we use "GNU/Linux" to refer to operating system distributions that include GNU software and the Linux kernel. When we use "Linux" without the GNU part, we refer to the kernel.

When Richard Stallman started to design GNU, the main system in use was Unix, which is proprietary. Because GNU is similar in function to (and compatible with) Unix, but is free software, he coined the term GNU which stands for GNU's Not Unix. It's a recursive acronym. If you enjoy that kind of humour, check out what GNU Hurd means.

Yes. You cannot sell any random software under the name of Linux®. The trademark is held by the Linux Mark Institute.

Non. GNU/Linux ye, con muncha diferencia, el sistema llibre más usáu; sicasí, esisten dellos sistemes más que tamién son llibres.

These include the UNIX derivatives FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, the BeOS clone Haiku OS, the Windows NT clone ReactOS, the DOS clone FreeDOS, and Syllable, just to name a few.

No. There are a few free software components in macOS, and it is technically similar to GNU/Linux systems. But overall, it is proprietary software: all the issues about Windows apply to it as well.

Yes and no. Technically, the great majority of open source programs are free software and vice-versa.

Filosóficamente, son mui distintos. El términu "códigu abiertu" acuñóse pa facer ver al "software llibre" más atractivu; los que lu sofiten venlu como una meyor forma de desendolcar software.

Supporters of the "free software" term value the freedom, not merely the way software is made, and thus argue that the term "open source" misses the point.

El términu que vusté decida usar dependerá de la so visión del software.

Some websites actually sell distributions of GNU/Linux. So, why do you write it is "free as speech and available at no charge"?

The concept of free software, refers to freedom, not price. You have the freedom to copy, study, modify, and give free software away.

La mayoría de les empreses que desendolquen software llibre ganen dineru vendiendo servicios rellacionaos col so software, n'arróu de vender el propiu software. De vezu esto faise vendiendo too como un paquete: el cliente merca'l CD, el manual y el contratu de serviciu téunicu al mesmu tiempu. El software entá garantiza los tos drechos.

Más:

• Cómo malinterpretar el software llibre
• FLOSS concept booklet

Some GNU/Linux distributions are available at no charge, but include restrictive software. Why is it so?

Normalmente hai trés tipos de polítiques rellacionaes cola inclusión de software privativu:

• Dalgunos creadores de distribuciones de GNU/Linux permiten software privativu p'activar funciones del hardware. This happens because some hardware manufacturers such as NVidia do not care about their customers' freedoms, and only release restricting firmware and drivers (some of them don't even release anything, like Broadcom). These are available at no cost (they are freeware) but under restrictive licenses. Distributions such as Ubuntu and Fedora thus include such components to improve hardware compatibility.
• Some GNU/Linux distributors do not compromise on the freedom of software, and make sure their distribution are entirely free. Such is the case of Debian (though non-free software can be installed if necessary).
• Dalgunos creadores de distribuciones de GNU/Linux empaqueten software llibre y privativu ensin distinción. A ellos nun-yos presta que los usuarios camienten na so llibertá, y prefieren dar publicidá a les carauterístiques téuniques del so productu. L'usar tales distribuciones nun ye muncho meyor qu'usar Windows. ¡Nosotros valoramos la to llibertá y encamentamos qu'escueyas con procuru!

Do all the reasons for avoiding Windows apply to macOS?

Ye habitual que los usuarios de Mac crean tar llibres de les torgues asociaes con Windows. Desafortunadamente, nun ye'l casu.

macOS does have some low-level components which are free software; and Apple puts less energy into customer lock-in (with some notable efforts such as BootCamp).

However, the end-user is still fundamentally restricted – because of the proprietary license, he/she cannot use macOS for all purposes, nor copy, study, modify, or redistribute it.

Happily, because these freedoms matter a lot, it's possible to run popular GNU/Linux distributions (such as Ubuntu) on Mac computers.

Isn't GNU/Linux about cracking, "piracy" and illegal download websites?

No. Wherever you read or heard this, you should update your views. GNU/Linux is completely distinct from such things. Whether you want to do them, or whether you prefer intelligent, legal downloads, GNU/Linux will work just as well as Windows. Unfortunately you can't identify gangsters by the make of their cars; the same thing goes for their operating system.

GNU/Linux creóse por persones a les que nun-yos presta la idea de que tolos ordenadores del mundu usen los productos privativos d'una mesma empresa. ¡Y eso, definitivamente nun tien res de malo!

Más información nel artículu: Cómo malinterpretar el software llibre.

"Everything has to be free" and "No one owns anything" sounds somewhat frightening. Are GNU/Linux and its GPL something for anarchists or communists?

GNU/Linux has nothing to do with a political system and anyone – regardless of their political views – can use it. We have this explained simply in our article "Cómo malinterpretar el software llibre".

Yes it does. LinuxPreloaded.com has built a website specially for that purpose, listing vendors that sell GNU/Linux desktops and laptops.

¡Pero nun necesites mercar un ordenador nuevu pa usar GNU/Linux!

Si. Toles distribuciones principales, como les qu'encamentamos, tan disponibles en delles llingües, y sofiten munches tribes de tecláu.

A la escontra de Windows, toles llingües tan incluyíes en cada CD d'instalación, asina que nun fai falta que descargue (¡o pague!) otra versión completa pa camudar la llingua del so equipu.

There is a shiny Windows sticker on it! Am I allowed to erase Windows or use it together with GNU/Linux?

Yes. It is absolutely, completely legal, provided of course it's your computer!

La etiqueta ye pura publicidá, nun tien valor llegal. Creemos que ye un drechu fundamental escoyer qué software instalar nel nuesu propiu hardware.

In fact this right is threatened by the rise of things such as DRM and Trusted Computing. Read our article "La importancia d'una sociedá llibre" for more information.

Definitivamente, non. Furrulará tranquilamente nel to ordenador actual.

The only thing you might be worried about is using very recent special hardware, such as graphics cards. Otherwise, almost all GNU/Linux distributions can run on normal PCs (often called "i386" or "x86" computers), 64-bit-processor computers and Apple Mac computers. Read how you can try or install GNU/Linux on your computer, be it instead of or together with Windows.

It depends on how you use it.

The desktop applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

No. Microsoft does not release a native version of the installed Office suite for GNU/Linux. While there are technical workarounds (like Wine), they are often buggy and unreliable for daily use.

Microsoft 365 (the web version)

Yes. You can use the web-based versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint inside any modern GNU/Linux web browser (like Firefox, Chrome, or Edge). This is officially supported by Microsoft and works exactly like it does on Windows.

Native desktop alternatives

For a traditional desktop experience, you have two excellent open-source choices:

• Most GNU/Linux distributions come pre-installed with LibreOffice. It defaults to the OpenDocument Format (.odt), a truly open standard used by governments worldwide. It is feature-rich and powerful, while still fully capable of opening and saving Microsoft Office files (like .docx, .xlsx, .pptx).
• If strict visual compatibility is your priority, OnlyOffice is a strong alternative. It handles Microsoft formats natively and uses a familiar "Ribbon" interface, often preserving complex layouts better than LibreOffice when sharing files with Windows users.

Yes.

MP3s & music

This is no longer an issue. The patents for MP3 expired years ago, so modern GNU/Linux distributions play MP3s out of the box without any special setup. Streaming services like Spotify and YouTube also work immediately in your web browser.

DVDs & Blu-rays

This is slightly more complex due to copy protection restrictions.

• Encrypted DVDs: Most commercial DVDs use an encryption system called "CSS". To play them, you need a software library called libdvdcss. While most distributions make this easy to install (often via a "Restricted Extras" package or a simple terminal command), the act of bypassing this encryption is technically a legal grey area in some countries.
• Blu-rays: Playing commercial Blu-ray discs is significantly harder. Unlike DVDs, Blu-rays use a more complex encryption system (AACS) that requires updated "keys" to play newer movies. While you can install software to play them (like VLC with libaacs), you often have to manually find and update a key database file yourself. Because of this hassle, many GNU/Linux users prefer to "rip" their Blu-rays using software like MakeMKV rather than playing the disc directly.
• Home videos: Non-encrypted discs (like home-made DVDs) play perfectly well out of the box using only free software.

Más na web:

• Formatos restrinxíos n'Ubuntu
• Elementos prohibíos en Fedora

Yes, for the vast majority of titles.

The landscape of Linux gaming has changed dramatically. While native Linux versions exist for major titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Baldur's Gate 3, and the Tomb Raider series, you are no longer limited to just those games.

Today, most Windows-exclusive games run seamlessly on GNU/Linux thanks to Proton, a compatibility tool integrated directly into Steam. For the average user, this means playing a Windows game is now as simple as hitting the Play button.

Key things to know:

Steam & Proton

This is the easiest way to play. You can check the compatibility of your games library using the community database ProtonDB.

Other game stores

You can easily play games from GOG.com, Epic, and itch.io using community-built launchers like Heroic or Lutris.

The exception

The only major hurdle remaining is competitive multiplayer games that use aggressive anti-cheat software (such as Valorant or Fortnite). Many of these titles still do not work on GNU/Linux. If you are a competitive shooter fan, you should check compatibility on ProtonDB or Are We Anti-Cheat Yet? before switching.

Here's the short version of the answer: No. If you simply never run untrusted executables while logged in as the root user (or equivalent), all the "virus checkers" in the world will be at best superfluous; at worst, downright harmful. "Hostile" executables (including viruses) are almost unfindable in the GNU/Linux world – and no real threat to it – because they lack superuser authority, and because GNU/Linux admins are seldom stupid enough to run untrusted executables as a superuser, and because GNU/Linux users' customary and recommended sources for privileged executables enjoy paranoid-grade scrutiny (such that any unauthorised changes would be detected and remedied).

Here's the long version: Still no. Any program on a GNU/Linux box, viruses included, can only do what the user who ran it can do. Real users aren't allowed to hurt the system (only a superuser account can), so neither can programs they run.

See our "GNU/Linux virus FAQ" for more details on this subject.