The Linux operating system is used on thousands of computers worldwide including the Ubuntu distribution installed on the laptops used in the Penn Manor 1:1 program. Here is brief time line of the history of the development and uses of Linux.
1991: Finnish computer scientist Linus Torvalds begins to program the Linux kernel as an independent project.
1992: Linux kernel Version 0.01 is released onto the internet.
1993: The first Debian Linux is distributed; Mark Ewing and Bob Young establish Red Hat Incorporated.
1994: Linux 1.0 is released.
1996: The mascot of Linux, Tux, is created by Larry Ewing; Linux 2.0 adds support to more processors.
1998: IBM invests one billion dollars toward Linux development.
1999: The GNOME desktop environment is released for Linux.
2004: Ubuntu 4.10 is released.