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Linux InstallationΒΆ

Several methods for installing Linux distributions (Ubuntu for example):

Oracle VM VirtualBox is a technology for x86 virtualization. You can install this software on you current (host) operating system (MS Windows or Mac OSX) to create a virtual machine (guest) for installing Linux.

Pros

  • Risk-free: screwing up the guest machine will not mess up the host
  • Portable: virtual machine image can be duplicated

Cons

  • Overhead: running virtual machine has sizable overhead and may not be as performant as native installation
  • Less scalable: resources (e.g., memory/disk space) allocated by the running guest will be unusable by the host

Live USB (or Live CD) provides a device that one can use to boot a computer into a full-fledged Linux distribution.

Live USB is also commonly used for Linux installation

If your goal is to assess Linux specifically for your machine, you might want to avoid executing the installation shortcut.

Pros

  • Realistic: live USB provides a good assessment of hardware support as well as operating performance (apart from the initial loading time of each program via USB drive)
  • Low-risk: it does not mess with your Windows/OSX installation if you don't start the Linux installation

Cons

Install Linux side-by-side with Windows

Pros

  • Realistic: when you boot into the Linux or Windows, you get full performance for both
  • Keeping Windows option

Cons

  • Intermediate-risk: mistakes can mess up your existing data
  • Windows partition takes up disk space (especially, many people stop using Windows after experiencing Linux)
  • Technical

By continuing the Linux installation using Live USB, one achieves the full installation.

Pros

  • Realistic: you cannot get more realistic Linux experience than having a full Linux installation
  • Harness full power of the machine

Cons

  • Intermediate-risk: mistakes can mess up your existing data
  • Windows partition will be gone
  • Technical (slightly less technical than Dual Boot)