So you are a Bowie State (or any type of) student and are tired of Microsoft Windows. Scared that the Mac won't be around much after the year 2000. You have been reading computer magazines and want to put up a web page, get experience with databases or started programming in Java or C/C++ without driving to the computer lab (when it is open that is). Yet you don't want to spend twice the cost of your computer in software. Well, I have just the thing for you. It is the formerlly little known UNIX like operating system name Linux.

Linux allows you (with some help and effort :) ) to do just about anything Microsoft Windows and any other operating system does. It comes with a free C/C++ compiler. There is a port to Sun Microsystems Java developmental toolkit (Java jdk). Database Management Systems are also offered on Linux. Many of which are free like mysql and PostgreSQL and well as Oracle, Sysbase, Informix and IBM's DB2. Want a suite of office applications? Linux has StarOffice, ApplixWare, Siag Office and WordPerfect "Does that bring back memories :-)". And best of all. Linux is free. And so is most of the software.

What does Linux mean for students who attend Bowie State University? Well, the possibilities are endless. Bowie students now have a very powerful operating system at there complete disposal. For almost nothing students can have a powerful server in there home or dorm room. Students on campus who have computers that are connected to the campus network can put up webservers for there personal homepages or set up websites for class or personal projects. With the availibility of SQL complient database management systems, they can also practice and experience with database design and development. I could go on and on, but I will leave it at this. Linux could be the best thing that has happend education since the personal computer.

This page though created with Bowie State University students in mind has a lot of general information for anyone who wants to get into Linux. So please feel free to come as often as you like and and pass on the link to the page. Also, I am a computer science major myself, so if there is something on the page you would like to see or something you feel I left out, please send me e-mail and tell me what you think. And remember, Think Linux ;-).