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Technology and computers are now essential to the learning processes of the youngest generations. Students must be proficient with computers at younger ages than ever and, while you may want to give your child a technological edge, purchasing expensive educational software for them can be a challenge. If your budget won’t allow for the purchase of kid’s computer software, consider a Linux-based program. Here are three top Linux-based software choices popular among today’s youth.

KDE Education Project

The KDE Education Project includes a great collection of educational software. These applications are directed towards mid-aged youths and provide assistance with everything from fractions to geography. The applications are available in multiple languages to meet varying cultural needs.

Tux Paint

Tux Paint helps your child develop their creativity with a variety of interactive paint and drawing tools. The application is designed to help children learn while also having a little fun.

TuxTyping

Learning the way around a keyboard is now essential to childhood development. If you want your child to advance quickly in the classroom, you must encourage the development of their typing skills. TuxTyping is a free typing program designed to assist with advancing this skill set.

While you may want the best for your child when it comes to their educational development, your budget may place certain restrictions on your aspirations. Since the cost of a new computer can already be high, consider using free Linux-based software rather than costly alternative versions. These free applications are expertly designed and provide the tools your children need to excel with computers and technology.

GIMP

The GIMP application is free and is designed for image composition, authoring and photo manipulation. A few books have even been published on GIMP to assist users when they’re first learning how to use the application. Whether you want to recolor an image or retouch a photographic element, GIMP has the tools you need.

Inkscape

If you’re a vector artist, consider downloading Inkscape. This open source software has functions similar to high end programs such as Illustrator and CorelDraw and can be a great tool to utilize in developing your vector illustrating skills.

Avidemux

Video production and editing is one of the most expensive design fields. The prices of cameras, software and other video editing gadgets can quickly become unmanageable for new editors. However, Avidemux is designed to relieve the expense-load by offering free applications for cutting, filtering and encoding, among other tasks.

Finding free design based software can be immensely helpful during your beginning years as a designer. These programs can assist you in creating wonderful designs while helping you maintain a reasonable budget.

 

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AssaultCube

If you prefer an assault style of gaming, test your skills at AssaultCube. This game is high action and requires sharp shooting skills to overcome your opponents. If you’ll be playing at work, consider wearing headphones to avoid alarm among your coworkers at the sounds of shooting and explosions.

The Battle for Wesnoth

 

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The Battle for Wesnoth is aimed at fantasy gamers and is more strategic in nature than other open source games. To win the battle, you must build a powerful army, overtake villages and defeat your enemies in either a single player or multi-payer setting.

Vertigo

Vertigo is a free arcade-styled game. Stuck within a warp tunnel, you’re a pod that must navigate through treachery at every angle. The game includes 4 modes, each with a different objective.

You’re never too old for gaming. Games can inspire creativity and provide a much needed break from reality. The next time you need a break from the daily stresses that plague you, play a few open source games. These games provide entertainment, mental challenges and, best of all, are free.

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Having problems connecting to the Internet using Linux? You’re not alone. Those who are new to Linux find that Linux is a different language altogether from the typical operating system they’re used to. With so much connecting and booting, and altogether assembling of the computer, it is easy to miss something.

Some suggestions on getting you through the turmoil:

• Talk to an expert that you know. This could be a friend or family member or someone from you work who is a geek at this sort of thing. Don’t be afraid to ask around until you get an answer you think will help. If the person can come to your come, even better.
• Join a Linux Forum. Forums are organized to get answers to you quickly from folks that understand the intricacies of Linux.
• Try a newsworthy Linux blog. Blogs like this one are written by folks who love the tech stuff, and are usually prepared to spell it out in language a newbie geek can understand. Watch a Linux video tutorial or a quick Linux tutorial for answer to your questions.
• Websites are also good sources of information. Though not updated as frequently, they yet provide solutions to those hairy Internet problems as well as others you may encounter in the future. Search the directory to find an answer to your question, watch a video on the subject, or get involved within the web community. Find the latest how-to information at this website, for example.

Getting the computer help you need is really not difficult, but it does take some time and a bit of thought as you work your brain through the process.

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What are some fun and noteworthy gadgets for Linux that are still going strong this year?

Google gadgets for Linux include digital clocks, weather gadgets, arcade gadgets, WiFi meters, and more. Any or all of these fun gadgets can’t help but get your heart pumping.

You might want to try these geeky gadgets for Linux as well:

• How about a USB thumb drive that supports Linux? This military drive from IronKey sports a potted metal case that can easily be restored to a new IronKey if the key is lost.
• The powered sub notebook, RazorBook 400, runs on 512 MB of RAM. Built in WiFi. Just a bit larger than your hand, the RazorBook can be toted to class or the grocery store.
• Watch for the CherryPal Cloud PC. Can you believe it uses just two watts of power? Get 4GB of NAND flash memory instead of a hard drive and 256MB of RAM. See it here.
• Assemble some modular Linux gadgets such as engineering, control and industrial automation gadgets.
• Try some Screenlets. Check out the information guide, downloads and FAQ page here, to learn more.
• Kernel Linux, Data Recovery Software 4.02 does what it says. Recover your damaged, deleted, formatted, or corrupted partitions when operating systems such as Mandrake Linux, Turbo Linex, and other systems have been used.

Geeky gadgets, might, well, appear geeky, at least upon first inspection, but you know what happens when you’re willing to open your eyes and give something new a try. You just might like it.

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You’ve chosen Linux as your operating system, and you find that it serves you well in many arenas. You like that the system is open software with no hidden secrets. Though Linux is difficult for many new users, it isn’t for you, and you’re glad that the low cost for software, the portability of the unit, and the ease in window manager use specifically keeps you traveling happily forward.

Are these the best benefits of the program you love?

Here are a few others you might want to consider or remember:

• Free desk-top applications. Get your spreadsheet, audio player or CD writer free of charge.
• Specialized applications and commercial programs are all the rage. How does advanced graphics, modeling and visualization sound to you?
• Try what you like in Linux distros CDs and narrow the choices down to a favorite like Gentoo.
• Build the computer yourself, and supply it with whatever your heart desires.
• No more viruses. No more invasions of privacy or forced upgrades you really don’t want.
• Try some exciting school applications. No more closed or locked software here, just hands on opportunities with charts, graphs, models, scientific formulas, diagrams, dictionaries, history apps, even a study guide.
• Free tools and applets that work together to perform a more detailed task.

You know you’ve made the right choice with a Linux operating system if you’ve tried one of the above benefits and have found the benefit to be more than useful. Multiple benefits of Linux, tried and true, just confirms what you’ve known all along.

Ubuntu is a popular operating system for people who are looking for options other than Windows or Macintosh. The desktop edition is free and is easy to access, install, and operate. There are other versions like 32 and 64bit versions that use the KDE desktop interface instead of the GNOME. But the Ubuntu Netbook Edition is the most different of them all.

The KDE and GNOME versions base their look and feel on Windows and Mac operating systems respectively but the Netbook Edition is taking a risk. The task bar is no longer across the bottom or the top of the screen; it has the dock-like app launcher on the left side of the screen which is different than what typical users may be used to.

In this left-side launch application, the main programs include Firefox, Evolution Mail, Empathy Instant Messenger, Cheese Webcam, Ubuntu Software Center, Rhythmbox music player, Applications folder, Files & Folders, and Trash. This set-up utilizes the available screen area without wasted space.

The Unity Interface that is the base of Ubuntu Netbook Edition is soon to become the basis for all Ubuntu operating systems in the future. The Ubuntu Desktop will be discontinued and all future Ubuntu developments will be based on Unity.  Interestingly enough, Fedora and openSUSE have just dropped their plans to integrate the Unity interface into their operating systems.

IBM released a statement that states that the organization will work with a voice recognition firm called Nuance Communications to integrate the technologies into the Linux-based Watson computer.  These technologies may help the company perform roles in the healthcare industry.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Columbia University School of Medicine are also participating in this project. Physicians at the University of Maryland are evaluating opportunities to determine ways that Watson can provide maximum assistance to health care practitioners. At Columbia, the doctors are looking for critical issues in health care that Watson can address.

The fact that Watson can understand the human language – both in meaning and context –and quickly process information opens up avenues to help doctors and nurses.  The computer may be able to surf through large amounts of information and discover answers that the medical professionals may not have considered. For example, Watson should be able to go through a patient’s medical record, summarize the information, and suggest possible areas for concern. Watson may also be able to alert physicians about how a specific treatment has worked on patients of similar backgrounds and diagnoses. Watson may also be able to help with patient office visits; the cumulative effects would be that Watson could perform as a Physician’s Assistant.

The first projects and products should be available for use in 18 to 24 months. Nuance and IBM also have a 5-year research initiative to advance the field of natural language processing.

This release does not contain a lot of new features – unlike new releases for other Linux products like Ubuntu or Fedora. However, this fact may be a feature for some Debian users who appreciate the stability of the product. IT managers will not have to set up upgrades for the company computer system or training sessions for the workers. The software included in the release typically has been tested and most bugs have been worked out.

Some features that are included in the Debian release include the Google Chrome web browser and the latest versions of GNOME and KDE 4. An interesting software inclusion is OpenOffice.org. Other Linux releases have switched to LibreOffice which is a version of OpenOffice.org that will remain free no matter what Oracle decides to do with the licensing of OpenOffice.org. Debian has already made the switch. Debian has also taken some ideas from other Linux applications; some of the software management tools from Ubuntu are now available in Debian.  Ubuntu’s Software Center and Management Update Tools are part of the Debian version 6 release.

For installation, you can use a network-based install media which allows all of the pending updates to be grabbed during the installation. There is also a LiveCD version available which allows users to try out the system before they install it on their hard drive. Debian has also managed to remove all non-free firmware from the installation.

Debian 6 offers stability for users who enjoy open source and the freedom it offers.

As Linux is an open source system, it is often used as a platform for rescue tools for both Linux and Windows systems.  The anti-virus companies use Linux because it is open source and because it is free. The Linux kernel is modular and can support a large number of hardware. Linux is also not susceptible to Windows-based viruses.

A technology that also enables that use of Linux as a repair and rescue tool is the ability to have a live distribution.  A live distribution can be run from a memory stick and takes up little disk space or RAM. One version of this – called Klaus Knopper’s Knoppix – allows the user to inspect the hard drive and run a test drive of programs without writing to the hard drive. There are other live distributions like Puppy or Damn Small Linux; all of these distributions can be used to inspect the hard drive and restore if needed.

Other Linux distributions are specifically created for rescue operations so that the user can look for and save data while using very little memory. Most live distributions of Linux can perform these tasks; however, the typical distribution may be too unwieldy and large to easily perform the search and search operations.

These Linux rescue and repair programs can also be used to recover other operating systems like Apple and NTFS.

At the end of December, hackers targeted Google 38% of the title; however, Google accounted for almost 70% of these attacks back in June. Google has increased its security even as the number of attacks has increased.  The competitors have also noticed an increase in malware attacks as well. These criminals had placed 30% of their software on the Yahoo search engine which is up by 18% from those in June. The Bing search engine accounted for 24% which was an increase of 12% since June; Twitter has had an increase from 1% to 8% in malicious attacks over the same time frame.

In order to lower the number of malware attacks, Google has improved itself security cleaning; the company is being more aggressive with identifying and scrubbing attempts to prevent search-poisoning. Originally, if you stayed away from porn sites and other illegal or suspicious websites, you could avoid worms, Trojans, viruses, and other types of malware. Now, the cyber-thieves are infecting the search engine results which make it more difficult to avoid these dangerous programs.

Studies have shown that 1 out of every 3 popular search terms could produce results that lead to malicious codes. Once the code is on your computer, hackers can look around for important information on your computer like bank account information, Social Security numbers, tax information and other financial data. Once infected, your computer can also be used in other scams by the hackers – without your knowledge.

Security companies are working on more anti-virus programs but search engine organizations are trying to shift the focus to these types of malware. The rival companies are even sharing information with each other to better determine ways to defeat the hackers.

Citadel is a complete, open-source collaboration suite that offers a groupware server and an online PIM suite. Citadel also had been popular for use as a bulletin board system.  Over time, the developers have added shared calendars, mailing lists, instant messenger services, and a wiki. Other features of Citadel groupware are included email filtering services, built-in listserv, RSS feeds and a high-performance server engine.

The architecture of Citadel is also very versatile; it is organized in concepts called floors and rooms. You can use the floors and rooms to organize the server to suit your organization’s needs.  A floor can consist of any number of rooms and each room can be different things like an email folder, a calendar, task list or a bulletin board. A room may also host several of these functions at the same time.

Installation for Citadel is very simple – you can use the Easy Install option, use either an Ubuntu or Debian package or download it via a VM appliance. Another benefit is that this system is easy to distribute across multiple servers which increase the options for scalability.

Users can access the Citadel services through a web-based interface or through other clients like Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Evolution. Citadel also offers great support through support forums, administration manuals, and frequently asked questions applications. The groupware itself is also updated regularly which makes it a good option for your organization.

It is free to download and use.

The Horde server is available in two editions – one with no access to email and one with webmail. Users can share calendars, task, notes and contacts; additional modules that can be added include Kronolith which is a calendar application, Turba which is a Horde address book and contact manager, Mnemo, a note manager. Each of these applications allow for significant functionality for scheduling and organization. Other modules that you can add are a file manager, a wiki, bookmark manager, and a photo gallery.  With the separate email application, users can create distribution lists and contains a WYSIWYG editor and spellchecker.

Other features of Horde groupware allow for further customization of the application among users. There are unlimited resources for each user, multiple interface themes, a customizable portal screen interface, and support for over 40 languages. Horde users can sync with Evolution, Outlook, Thunderbird and other mobile platforms.  You can also import groupware data from other applications and the user can establish his or her own user preferences. The Horde groupware also provides support for databases like MySQL or Oracle.

Horde Groupware Webmail edition may be a bit more difficult to install than the other version of the groupware. Both systems have strong online support services with an active frequently asked question section on the Horde website, bug tracker and mailing lists. There is also documentation for the server program as well.

You can download the groupware software from the Horde project website; patches are also available at the website for the current release.

To prevent data integrations, data directory applications or synchronization issues, SoGo uses existing services like an active directory from Microsoft, a SQL database or a specific server.  SoGo uses few resources and thus is a very fast program; a single server can manage thousands of clients.

Users can access the server through the web, a mobile device or desktop clients. The web interface can be available in over one dozen languages; supported desktop clients include Thunderbird, Apple iCal, and Microsoft Outlook. The connectors for both Outlook and Thunderbird are free no matter what version you employ. All modern web browsers are supported and mobile devices use the Funambol connector to interact with the server.

Installation of SoGo can be done quickly. You can establish a test server or use a binary Linux distribution. The architecture of SoGo is horizontal and allows more servers to be added easily. Support for this platform is also strong; there are installation guides, configuration guides, frequently asked question documents, and mailing lists for answers.

The free version has unlimited capabilities unlike other groupware platforms; however, there is a commercial edition that adds Oracle Corporation support and load-balanced clustering. The open-source version includes everything except the Oracle support, clustering and any Outlook support.

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We keep hearing about “cloud computing” but the average computer user may not really understand what the term means.

Almost all computer users have been using cloud-based computing services for quite a while. Cloud computing allows you to have all of your mobile devices in sync and being able to access all of you private data at any time. Examples of cloud computing that you might be aware of are Gmail and Google Docs.

This type of computing means that your computing is location-independent; it does not matter where you are. The processing occurs in an unknown location.  In a cloud, you can sync up your data between all of your devices and access shared data – like data from social network sites, blogs, banks, and newsrooms. Cloud users do not own the servers and rent their usage from third-party vendors.

This convenience is great but are there any concerns or pitfalls you should be concerned about?

• Your cloud of personal information connects to other people’s personal clouds – and to the public cloud itself. Every place on the Internet – as well as every person — that you visit can be connected to each other. You can determine what you want to make public or private. But some privacy experts complain about the ease that the companies that run the cloud servers can monitor your communications or data without your permission. Social networks will have to develop more levels of privacy than what exists currently; privacy may be one of the biggest concerns.

• Security of your data is also a concern; however, the cloud companies spend significant resources to ensure the security of the data. An organization called Cloud Security Alliance is one of the several organizations that have been formed to promote best practices in security for cloud computing. Security of your data is also another important concern.

Over the long run, cloud computing may lead to devices that can predict your next move and desire. While this may seem unnecessary, cloud computing is a part of our world that will only continue to grow.

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Considering buying a new cell phone or laptop? When you upgrade your cell phone or computer, it is sometimes a challenge to figure out what to do with your old gadgets. Some people sell their older electronics on eBay or Craigslist. However, there are other newer options for getting rid of your gadgets – some which might get you a little money back.

Several major retailers are allowing you to sell your old electronics back to the store and may offer an in-store credit towards the purchase of an updated product. These brick and mortar stores are operating these programs in conjunction with different websites that look to sell old electronics. These websites then work with eBay or Craigslist to resell those items. Some of the retailers that are participating in these programs include Target, Best Buy and RadioShack.

All parties in this transaction can gain a benefit. The stores themselves experience increased foot traffic with people who are looking for new electronics and some stores are viewing the buy-back program as a type of loyalty program for future purchases. The stores and resellers can also make extra money because the price that the consumer typically pays for electronics is significant less than the retail price; resellers will pay the store closer to the retail price. The reseller can then increase the price on online auction sites or for other outlet stores.

Some of the websites that are working with the retailers include NextWorth, CExchange, and Gazelle.  Gazelle also purchases electronics back from customers through their website and through other stores on their branded websites.  Nextworth purchased more than 500,000 iPhones, cell phones, video games and iPods back from customers last year.

The interest in this service will only increase. For example, when a new phone release is scheduled, the business for these buy-back programs increases significantly. The resellers start laying the groundwork for the re-purchase by sending pre-addressed mailers or free packaging materials. But having the option to buy back the electronics in-store as well makes selling your electronics very convenient.

The application allows doctors to view medical images and make diagnoses on the Apple iPad or iPhone. The software is called Mobile MIM and gives the physicians the opportunity to look at either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The application was not approved for the viewing of mammograms or regular x-rays. This technology is not meant to replace workstations but can be used when there is no access.

The Mobile MIM technology allows the images taken by the diagnostic machines to be compressed so that it can be transmitted securely across the network and then sent to the appropriate wireless device. The physician can look at the image in a format that allows the doctor to measure distances on the scan as well as display annotations and measurement lines on the scan.

When testing the application, the FDA evaluated its performance on several devices while looking at the resolution of the scans or any distortion or noise in the images. Radiology specialists were employed for some of this testing; the images were examined under different types of light to see if there were any variances in quality.

The FDA also noted that the application contains safety features and labeling to lower any risk that may occur because of poor lighting conditions. To further mitigate the risk, an interactive contrast test is also included where a small portion of the screen is lighted differently than the rest of the screen. If the doctor can identify this area of the screen, it is a sign that lighting conditions are not interfering with the physician’s ability to note differences in contrast in scans. A safety guide is also being included with the application.

The Mobile MIM app is available in 30 countries already but will be available in the US Apple store during the middle of February 2011.

The DreamPlug is so small that it does not need a power adapter; you can plug the whole thing into your wall outlet. This tiny computer also does not have video graphics array, digital visual interface, or high definition multimedia interface because there is no graphics processor present. You can’t plug in a monitor and keyboard and use this computer in that manner but there are still a lot of functions this system can perform for you.

This system has a 1.2 GHz Marvell Sheeva ARM-based processor, 1 GB of storage, 512 MB of DDR2 memory along with USB, Ethernet and eSATA connectors. The DreamPlug also has WiFi, Bluetooth, a SD card slot and a headphone jack. If you would like to listen to music, you can use the S/PDIF audio jack to stream your tunes.  With the components that are present, the DreamPlug is best suited for managing a home security system, network storage as well as home automation. You can also use it as a media or web server that is always on and connected. It only needs 5 watts of power.

There are other plug computers available on the market like the GuruPlug Display. This plug computer is somewhat bigger and also contains a HDMI which would allow you to obtain 720p resolution.

The DreamPlug starts shipping later in February but you can pre-order your copy for around $149. If you want to develop applications for this tiny computer, you can add a JTAG board for debugging and programming; this add-on costs about $30.

Once your computer has been infected a little pop up screen will say you’re computer’s been infected, or 100+ browsers will pop up. Don’t worry, there’s a way to fix that obnoxious virus on your computer.

First open your Internet browser. Click on “tools” under the toolbar and click “internet options.” Be sure you’re in the general tab and hit the “delete” button that’s in the “browsing” section. Hit “delete files,” “delete cookies,” “delete history” and “delete forms.” Delete these things will get rid of your entire temporary Internet files that were infected by that pesky virus.

Then go ahead and click on “my computer” and go to your “properties” folder. Hit “system restore” and choose the option “turn off system restore.” Hit apply then OK. Majority of the viruses will copy the file into the system restore folder. By turning it off you’re stopping the virus from being able to reinstall when the computer is restarted.

Go ahead and hit “star” and click on “run.” In the “open” box type “winmsd,” but without the quotes. Hit OK. You now want to expand the program called “Software Environment” by hitting the plus sign that’s next to it. Click “startup programs.”

Under “startup programs,” go ahead and click on the programs and run an anti-virus software program. If any viruses pop up, you can run a virus scanner online to remove the viruses.

Viruses can do a lot of damage to a computer, but if it’s caught in time you can eliminate the program before serious damage is down.  Don’t let a nasty virus destroy your computer, stop it before it spreads.

Go ahead and pop in your Install CD for Mac OS X or your Leopard Install Disk into your computer. If the computer was included with Leopard, you’ll want to pick the first option. If you’ve upgraded earlier and you already have Leopard installed than use the second choice.

Once you’ve finished with the install CD you will want to restart your computer. Hold the “c” down so the computer can boot from you install disk. This could take a couple of minutes.

When the option comes up, go ahead and choose the language you want and hit accept under the licensing agreement.

Now you want to choose the type of installation you want to do. When you choose the option “install Mac OS X” you will replace whatever operating system is on your computer now. “Archive and Install” means you’re saving the previous operating system folder that was previously on the hard drive. Nothing will actually get erased. Picking the option “erase and install” will remove everything that’s on your computer and install the operating system Leopard. This option should only be used if you want certain files backed up.

Hit Install and let the installation complete. This could vary, but it could take anywhere between n20 minutes to a couple hours. Once the installation is done, restart your computer and remove the installation disk.

Reinstalling Leopard on your Macintosh might take a little bit of time to do, but it’s super easy. You can easily do a little housework while you’re reinstalling it.

Updating Your Software

At the top of your Mac desktop go and select software update that is located under the apple logo. Once you’ve chosen that, you’ll notice the option that says “checking for new software” on the progress bar. This is where you should find your application called software update. This is where you can check to see your computer’s settings and whether or not you have everything updated.

If there are any programs that need to be updated than a popup screen will appear with the items that need updating. Mac computers offer the great option to receive notices that you need to update some programs. You will see in the pop up box what software needs updating and how large the file is. You can do all your updates all at once through this box. This will make everything upgrade quickly and easily. Once everything is installed you might have to restart your computer before the updates take affect. Make sure you save whatever you’re working on before restarting your computer.

Going to your system preferences folder will also allow you to access your software update. You can find your system preferences folder under the apple logo.

Updating your software on your Mac computer is really important. Not updating files could cause a few problems later down the road. Thankfully updating your Macintosh is super easy and doesn’t even take that long to do. There’s really no excuse for not updating your files when needed.

When you purchased your Mac computer it came with the original software disks for Mac OS X and simple instructions you can follow to reinstall your Mac OS X software.

If you feel like you should, be sure to backup all our data on an external hard drive or CD. When you reinstall the software you could lose everything on your computer.

Once everything is backed up, insert you OS X install CD and double click on “install Mac OS X” when the option pops up. Click on “restart” when the next windows opens, which should say “install Mac OS X.” This is going to install the software onto your computer.

You’re going to need to type in your username and password when the box pops up requesting you to do so.

Choose your language preference when your computer restarts. Then hit the blue arrow to continue.  You’ll then be asked to agree to the TOS on your computer’s license agreement. Click continue.

Next click the hard drive as the destination for the installation.

You need to choose what type of installation you want. “Archive and Install” will install the newest version of OS X onto your computer. It will leave your old files and move them over to the folder called “previous system.”

If you want to save all your files and accounts choose, “preserve user and network settings.”

If you choose “erase and install” if you want to completely wipe out your computer, removing all your files, folders and data.

Now let your computer install the software. This can take several minutes to several hours.

Some businesses have a negative score. They’ve alienated customers, usually through a lack of communication. Failing to properly interact with customers not only means companies lose future business from one customer, but it also damages relationships with other customers.

Most companies have a neutral net promoter score. This means people are mostly satisfied with their experiences, but they aren’t impressed enough to become active promoters. Only the best companies have net promoter scores that are high enough to turn consumers into active promoters.

The Internet provides numerous opportunities for businesses to achieve this elite status. Companies that score highly with consumers seek out critiques and respond; they understand the beauty of tools such as online feedback forms and online surveys. The most effective companies use social media to establish and maintain relationships, a strategy that makes the company look customer friendly. They gather feedback through surveys to discover the issues that are affecting their sales. Even though people generally like being asked for their opinion, it’s a good idea to incentivize survey participation by offering a contest in connection with the survey. It’s far more cost effective to maintain a customer than to find a new one, and getting new customers with word-of-mouth advertising is cheaper than purchasing ads. Companies that build relationships will thrive.

Using Windows Install Clean Up Utility

Download the software “windows installer clean up utility.” Click on the link to install it and read the instructions on how to install the software onto your computer.

Once it’s installed click once on file you want uninstalled. Click “remove.” This will completely uninstall and remove the program from you computer. Once it’s finished uninstall a message will pop up saying it was removed successfully. Go head and hit “OK” and close the program if you’re finished uninstalling everything.

Using the Uninstall Tool

First you’ll want to download the uninstall tool. Like with the previous program, click the link and follow the instructions on how to download the program onto your computer.

Once the downloading is done, open the uninstaller. You should see a lit of all the programs you have installed on the computer. Just click once on the software you want to uninstall. Once you’ve done that click the option that says, “Uninstall selected application.” This can be found in the “actions” section that’s on the left hand side.

It will ask if you’re sure you want to do this, click “yes.” Once everything was uninstalled, you’ll get a popup messaging saying it was successful.

There are times when we’ll have a few problems uninstalling programs off our computers. If you don’t fully uninstall a program, there will be problems if you decide later on you want to reinstall that particular program.

Figure out what features are included with your digital camera and its editing software. You could be surprised at all the different functions the software performs. If needed, check out the user manual that came with the digital camera, it should have all the functions and features listed for you.

Before buying an additional photo editing program, mess around with your current photo editor. You might actually like it. If not, go ahead and purchase your new photo editor. This will be your way to see which features interest you and which don’t. Also take advantage of trial offers, this is the perfect way to see what programs you like and which ones you don’t.

When purchasing anything it’s always good to set a budget for yourself. While a limited budget could make finding a great photo-editing program hard, you don’t want to go broke finding a program that you probably don’t need. You can find a great program at an affordable price. Do some shopping around and see what you could get for your money. Don’t spend too much if you don’t have to. If you’re a student see if your school has the software, you can get yourself a nice discount for being a student.

Make sure you’re getting the product you want. Know what features you want to use and which ones you don’t. Make sure the product has majority of the features you would use. This will help you save money.

Figure out what the needs are of your company. If you need to write a list to make things easier, that’s OK. Try and do a little bit of research to see what options you’ve got out there for you. You basically want to make sure that you’re purchasing the correct software. The last thing you’ll need is realizing you’ve got all the wrong software.

Figure out if you’re going to have to get a programmer in to create software that’s custom made for your business. You can find some programmers online who are willing to work at a great rate. The best way to do this is by finding someone from a company that’s reliable. Be sure to get references to make sure the programmer can do the job. You don’t want to waste any money so be sure to be thorough.

Make sure your computers are able to handle all the software you’re planning on putting on them. It’s always good to make sure that each program will be utilized and won’t make your computer crash.

If possible try and download some free trials. This is the perfect way to see if the software will meet your business’ needs. This could help you avoid having to return something that doesn’t work.

Purchasing computer software for your business can seem like a daunting task, but if you’re fully prepared and know what you want than you won’t have much to worry about. Save all the worrying to something else.

For instance, Apple Computer has a Software License Agreement for those using Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. According to that agreement, you’re not allowed to install, use or run any Apple software on another computer that isn’t a Mac. There is a way to get around this little issue. Here are ways to build a Mac computer using all the items and software you’re able to purchase.

Before you start building your computer, think about what the computer is going to be used for and how fast you want it to go. If you’re thinking about building a high-end computer than you will need parts that are much better, which means they’ll be more money.

Choose what components you’re going to use. There are multiple websites that offer a complete list of components that will work with your Mac computer. You want to make sure that all the parts are going to work together.

Now you can start building your Mac computer in the same manner you would if you were building a PC. Make sure to read all the manuals and follow any instructions when building your Mac.

Once you’ve got your ram and hard drive installed, it’s time to set your BIOS by typing DEL during POST. Get your mouse and keyboard working. Exit BIOS and install your OS X software. The computer will restart and you’ll have the option to choose the drive you’re going to boot from.

Follow the instructions to load OS X and format your drive and you’re good to go!

Linux is an “open source” and anyone can add to its coding. This is the ideal computer for those who want to be able to really get the most out of whichever computer they’re using. While the Linux operating system could look a little scary, the system is really easy to use and learn, not to mention it’s user-friendly. Here are tips for customizing your Linux desktop.

Changing the background on your Linux desktop is pretty easy. You can use a preinstalled image or one of your own. All you’ll have to do is right-click onto your desktop and pick the icon that says, “change desktop background.”

You can even change the theme of your desktop. The theme is a bunch of options that you could change at the same time. This will be everything from the font to the icons and desktop image. In order to change your themes, go under the “system” menu at the top of your desktop and go to “preferences.” Once you’re in your preferences folder, hit the icon that says “themes.” From there you can change your theme.

If you’re not a fan of the icon or certain colors, you are able to tweak certain things from you Linux desktop theme. Go back to “systems,” hit “preferences” and then click on “customize.” Go ahead and check the option “appearance” and choose the option available that you like the best.

Working on a Linux desktop might seem like an intimidating thing, but it really is easy to use. Don’t be too scared to make the switch to using the operating system Linux. It really isn’t much different than using a PC.

Figure out how much money you are able to invest on your new Apple Mac computer. Apple computers are an expensive item to purchase and you want to make sure you can afford one. Even though the computer is expensive, it will last for a really long time given that you take good care of it.

If you’re looking for information on Apple computers, check out the Apple store to get information on all the computers. Don’t purchase the computer from the store since it will cost you more money. There are a few legitimate wholesale websites that sell Mac computers for $200 to $300 less than retail.

Figure out what type of computer you’re looking to purchase. Are you leaning towards an iMac (desktop) or the MacBook Pro (laptop)? If you need something that’s portable and space isn’t an issue, than a MacBook Pro will be perfect for you. If you need something with a lot of space and a fairly large screen, you will be better off with the iMac.

When purchasing anything expensive, it’s good to read reviews. It will also tell you what other Apple users think about the products.

If you really want to save money on a Mac computer, check out Craigslist, Amazon and eBay. People are always selling Mac computers on these websites at affordable prices. But keep in mind these are used computers.

Buying a Mac is a fun experience, but you need to know which computer is right for you. You’re spending a lot of money on this product and you want to make sure you’re purchasing a computer you’re going to love.

Having that remote access to your desktop will save you so much more time if you’re trying to get onto a server or an additional computer but there isn’t one nearby. Remote access can also be used if you don’t want to add additional monitors and keyboards. The great thing is, you can actually access you Linux from a completely different system like Mac OS X or Windows.

Here are tips on how to access your Linux desktop remotely.

You’ll need to get your VNC server set up and use the VNC viewers in order to get onto your Linux desktop. With the VNC you will need a server, which will be on the computer you’re working remotely from. You can purchase the VNC software for free online.

If you’re unable to find VNC, you can use another program called FreeNX, which is another remote access software that’s similar to VNC. All operating systems have packages available for both client and servers. FreeNX will use SSH that has a much better encryption and stronger security for protecting you from a bad computer or critical data.

If you can take advantage of the VNC software that is usually with all the Linux distributions than you should. A lot of distributions will have their own VNC servers that will make setting your remote access up super quick and easy. You can check with your distribution for any information or documents to see if your computer has the software needed to work remotely.

With the proper software Linux users can now access their desktops remotely without any major problems.

The use of the Internet in the home is a common as the placement of a television in the living room, but people are no longer viewing the Internet as something they needed some of the time. These days the Internet is something they needed all of the time. Companies who recognize this have started offering their customers the laptop connect card. These cards are inserted into a USB port and from there it hooks up to the local wireless network in the area. Then the user, whether they are at an airport or the local coffee shop, are instantly connected.

The big deal for most users is the price. There is an enormous differences when you get through price. Some companies are offering them as an add on to the home service they provide. Many users might find this to be a little out of their price range. For others they offer the connect as a stand alone service. For these companies it becomes about reliability. There is no doubt that in the next few years these will become a staple of internet service. People are demanding that they get their Internet wherever they want and where there is a want, money can be made.

Recently, Microsoft announced strong gains for its first quarter, having what some called an exceptional quarter. While sales for the company’s computers were up, the company is seeing a return on some of the products it has branched out into in recent years.

The report shows a record gain for the company. According to compilations bys Thomson Reuters, Microsoft delivered $5.41 billion in net income. That’s a 50 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago. While Wall Street analysts estimated shares at 55 cents, they actually earned 62 cents. Overall, the company’s revenue should grow 25 percent.

What’s behind Microsoft’s success? For starters, the company was success in tapping into the gaming industry with the Xbox gaming console and games. It’s also seeing success with its smartphones devices, which are really miniature laptops with the dual purpose of being a phone.

The increased sales will allow the company to diversify into other areas, such as Internet search and software for smartphones. Currently, Microsoft offers a fraction of the apps of its top competitors, which consumers definitely take into consider when shopping for a new phone.

In October, Microsoft released its latest software for its smartphone. The Windows Phone 7 is getting great reviews and shows the strides Microsoft will take to capture its fair share of the market. Microsoft also made a deal with Facebook to boost its search engine, Bing. When users like a certain product, company or organization on Facebook, Bing will include the recommendations in its search results.

Of course, Microsoft won’t stop there. It also made a deal with a subsidiary of Alibaba to host shopping searches for Taoboa.com on Bing. And its corporate sales are going strong. All in all, there’s only one sure bet about Microsoft: It’s going to keep fighting to maintain its place as a computing giant.

More and more people are thinking about taking out their existing home service for Internet On The Go. It’s a common problem most people have. They believe that getting an internet service that will take them anywhere is going to be the answer, but in truth it’s a falsehood. There aren’t very many reasons to get the service, but there are a couple of reasons to avoid it.

The first reason is that the need for you to take your computer to a location other than work or home(where you presumably have the Internet, or at least a computer there with access to the Internet) probably doesn’t exist. This makes the majority of the time in a day around a provided Internet service. And of course don’t forget that many coffee shops and other public places have free wi-fi. That’s a big deal in whether or not to get something that a person will spend their hard earned money on.

The other issue comes down to coverage. Many of these wireless cards are for companies that don’t have a good coverage map. All that does is make it a waste of time to purchase an Internet on the Go card that doesn’t let the user be on the go.

For those that don’t know, the Internet on the Go is a mobile internet USB port. You slide it in and it connects to the services closest Internet signal. It’s becoming all the rage and for a few very good reasons. Let’s take a look at a few of those reasons now.

Portability

If it wasn’t stated well enough previously, there are a large number of people who can’t handle just a smart phone. They need more because their lives require them to do more. Perhaps you are working on a paper prior to a class. Rather than have to get to a central location, this allows you to sit anywhere on campus and take care of your homework. You can email it to your teacher before class begins.

Better Network

There are those that will try and sell you on the other Internet networks in the free wi-fi spots. The problem with wi-fi is that in a central location there are a number of people all pulling from the same network. This only causes to create a slower Internet connection. You, on the other hand, can use your wireless card and get a much faster connection which will make it easier to get work done.

The first thing to do is consider the company. Not all companies are alike. It’s risky to go with a mobile provider if they don’t have experience working the wireless. You are best going with a company that does the Internet as part of their brand. For many of the people out there it’s a big difference between the service so make sure that you go with a pro and not an amateur.

The next thing, and arguably more important, is the coverage that it provides. There is no sense in paying for a service if it isn’t capable of reaching the heights that it should. So before you put down your hard earned money to pay for a service you want to go the website and simple check the coverage map. Checking these maps will be a great way to see if the areas that you are in a lot are covered by the service. If they are not, or if they are on the fringe then you might want to consider going with another service. You want to pay for a service you can use.

Keeping up with the various staff in a hospital can be very difficult. There are a number of issues that can occur by being disorganized. Doctors may float between departments and not being able to coordinate their schedules can cause for a lot of issues with double scheduling. These days there are a number of hospitals that are employing top of the line software to help make business more efficient.

Here is the way it works. There are programs out there that can help businesses become better by simply making a coordination change. For instance, businesses out there set up a scheduling system in the mainframe. They start by assigning all hospital staff a profile. They can use that profile to assign each staff member a sign on. This, of course, makes it easy then for the staff to go in and request time or to clear there schedule if they are going to be at a conference or a meeting.

Once their online profile is set up they are funneled in and through the different departments they are working for. From there those departments can see their schedules and the department heads can see their schedules and approve time off. The nurses who run the hospital scheduling can also see the time off for the rest of the nurses and assign scheduling on the basis of need first. It’s these kind of improvements that are making the front end as organized as patient care.

The fact these days is that there are more and more patients whose health care isn’t with one hospital and isn’t simply with the same doctor. The world of medicine has become compartmentalized and for that it’s tough to know what is going on with a patient in one area of their health is not always communicated back to the other departments.

For that there have been advancements in the way that hospitals have set up their computer system. They are making things a centralized process. They are creating a profile for each and every patient that walks through their doors. They are putting in the basic information including address, phone number, email address, medical history, allergies, and health conditions. These things are the backbone of what a patient should have in their history. From there every thing that happens to a patient should be on the computer. So when a patient goes and sees a doctor about their kidneys and that doctor orders tests, not only will the test orders be on the system, but there will also be the results so that a liver doctor might not need to order more tests if they tests that were ordered covered information that they needed to know.

This keeps not only the hospital well organized but the patient also gets the kind of care that they need. They are alerting doctors to what is being done with them so that they don’t have to remember as much information. It’s these things that are making hospitals better at taking care of their patients.

It’s not secret that most companies are on the computer these days. Even if they have a physical location to sell their goods and services, there is still enough to do that being on the computer is a must in the business world. Google is saving companies a ton of money when it comes to the interoffice workings. Here are just a few of those ways:

Many companies are reluctant to use Microsoft Office because of the cost of having it installed on the computer. There are a similar number of companies that are reluctant to have Open Office installed because there is no real networking function between documents. They are employing the use of Googledocs because of it’s ability to be worked on by a large number of people within a network. They are also looking to use it because of the ability it possess’s to be done at zero cost to the company. The software is provided and there is no need for any other process.

Companies using this can create a series of documents and those documents be shared within a group of users. By creating a giant google account, users can log into the system and add to an existing document. This is a tremendous way for a group of people to improve upon the document. These ways are becoming the norm in the normal office setting and it’s part of the reason why there are so many people who have embraced all that Google can do for them and their small business.

The first thing that companies install is the Google Chrome browser. There are a lot of web browsers available but very few are as good or as clean as Google chrome. It doesn’t have adware on it, and it isn’t cluttered with useless icons that make the screen look too busy. It’s simple. It can be used for anything and it has an integrated search bar in the web address bar. Companies like the clean look of it and are making it the web browser of choice for their office.

Next they implement the use of the Google Calendar. This calendar has a great function for syncing multiple calendars. If the offices have several work production or payroll schedules to coordinate, this can be a great way to do it. Every user must fill out their calendar and their schedules and open it up to the main office schedule. Then once everyone has done this there will be a great opportunity for many of the people in the office to get a look and see what is going on when it comes to the overall office workflow.

Google is making work simple and more cost effective. It’s not something that small businesses are ignoring. They are taking advantage of this everyday.

Something must change — and Linux seems suddenly appealing. Linux systems can make your need to find Los Angeles apartments easier. With a Linux system, you can search the internet faster looking for Los Angeles  apartments

While all in the surrounding Los Angeles apartments may cling to their Microsoft products (and the subsequent worries), you understand that software is meant to serve you. Your desires are to be recognized; and so you look to Linux for its open sources.

Simply explained: an open source code is the unprotected language of a specific piece of software. This language can be accessed by the individual and can then be rewritten. A program’s purpose can be shifted as needed, allowing for complete freedom.

This revolutionary idea is one you now covet. You’re tired of applications that can’t meet your expectations. You’re lamenting every new software you must buy (simply because one can never satisfy). Linux offers the advantage you’ve been waiting for.

Through open sources you can accomplish:

One: Sustainability. Defining programs to your needs ensures that they will last. Each is tailored to you and offers constancy.

Two: Cost Efficiency. Dollars can be spared when you’re not having to seek out new software again and again. You can instead redesign what you already have.

Three: Creativity. Discover your own abilities as you manipulate codes. Your computer can become a tribute to clever programs — each created by you.

Linux is not the common choice. This does not, however, make it less of a convenience. It’s the discovery of freedom and the evolution of all applications.

It works.

The answer to this lies in the type of business that a person is planning on getting started. What has been the advantage to the Internet has been it’s disadvantage. Opening a business has been much easier because the physical workspace isn’t needed the way it was back in the 1950′s. There a person had to have an office or a storefront to which they operated out of. Now the store front in a web page and these pages don’t cost as much in insurance and monthly rent.

However, what happens is that the storefront, which was visible in the local client base, is no longer as easily seen. These days being in cyberspace might make the marketplace bigger, but it also makes the business harder to see. If a small business has a rather large budget for ad space and advertising it’s possible to get the word out there and increase the visibility of the site, but in most cases the budget is small and so are the efforts to increase the visibility.

The real question isn’t about the sustainability of the business as much as it is the quality of the goods or services provided. There has to be a point where the small business person must ask themselves if what they are trying to sell is really worth the effort it takes to give themselves a cyber presence. If it is then they should proceed. If it’s not then it’s time to cut their losses and move on.

Force10 Networks recently announced plans to create an Oracle VM server for use with the x86 virtualization. This plan will network the Oracle Linux and its resources using an Open Automation Framework. In doing so, Force10 will be able to harness more of the power of the technologies behind Oracle.

Force10 is one of Oracle’s gold-level partners, which means it is very familiar with the system. It plans to improve flexibility and efficiency through the network. The program will specifically benefit data centers, but it may have other applications, as well.

The network is currently in development, but Force10 has stated it will include architectural and management tools to allow administrators access to the infrastructure. You can think of this as being similar to other virtual machines.

One of the main benefits to the integration is the improved quality of service and enhanced security. Under the Oracle VM server, the x86 virtualization will allow administrators the ability to make provisions that will automatically transfer security measure to virtual machines based on local server resources.

Oracle works with partners like Force10 as a way to leverage its system to improve service to joint customers, or for those individuals likely to use products and service from both companies. By doing this, it makes it easier to deploy new products. According to the senior director of Linux, virtualization, and MySQL, Monica Kumar, the relationship allows the companies to keep up with changes in business priorities for their clients.

At the heart of Force10′s plan is its Open Automation Framework. This element works with Force10′s Operating System software (FTOS) and allows a data center to streamline information. Built-in programs allow the data center to respond to applications that change. Another feature of the system is the ability to allocate real-time workload.

As Force10 continues with development, it hopes to add additional features that will appeal to mid-size businesses.

When it comes to choosing clothes for holiday parties, it is important to consider who will be attending the event. That can have a big influence on what you wear.

Personally, I like clothes that are kind of edgy. They make me feel attractive and youthful. The clothes that I might wear out on the town, though, are not necessarily the ones that I choose to wear to dinner at my in-laws’ house. I can only imagine the looks that I would get from them if I came to dinner wearing some Dereon jeans and a t-shirt. I’m pretty sure that it wouldn’t go over very well.

Instead, I’ll usually wear a skirt or maybe a pair of slacks with a sweater. It seems that the more people there are at the party, the fancier they get.

That same Dereon outfit, though, might be perfect for an informal gathering at a friend’s house. In that context, you might look pretty weird showing up in a nice dress. People would look at you like you’re crazy. In fact, I would probably feel pretty crazy sitting around in a dress while everyone else is wearing jeans. What’s the point of getting all dressed up like that when everyone else just wants to relax and have a good time?

I think that the key to dressing for your holiday party is to anticipate what other people will be wearing. Now, my family is pretty laid back. They don’t get dressed up much except for weddings and funerals. That means my little family unit can come as we are when we visit them. When it comes to my husband’s family, though, things are a little more formal. Dinner over there usually means a nice skirt on me and maybe a sports jacket for him.

These days the Internet is becoming the platform for the experience needed. Those who are looking to get work and create samples to give to prospective employers can do so online. Its practicality is becoming an attractive option for the frustrated job seeker. For instance a writer looking to get in to the sports writing game may find that serious newspapers and national publications aren’t interested in giving a job to a scribe who has little to no experience. With the Internet at your fingertips you could hone your skills on a site that will give you the opportunity to write about whatever you want.

The one trade-off is that pay is often minimal, and you would have to be willing to generate a lot of content if you wanted to make any sort of living off of it. However, that doesn’t mean that you are not allowed to try it out. You can get better at your craft and amass some samples that can be given at your next interview. Showing your employers that you have worked on your skill and that you are able to do the kind of work they require will go a long way in considering you for the opportunity. The Internet can be a great way to get the experience you need for the job you want.

If you’ve been paying attention to the Linux EXT4 filesystem, you probably have seen one of the many reports addressing its improved function. One report specifically highlighted the improve speed for the filesystem on flash media. If you aren’t sure why this is important, you need to consider the current situation with flash media.

Microsoft uses FAT32 for its flash media. It offers the typical compatibility users expect to find with any type of Microsoft product. Almost every operating system can understand—read/write—FAT32. While the compatibility and the 2 GB storage limit are nice, Microsoft has begun to pursue patent issues with developers using FAT32, leading many to avoid it all together.

Another option is NTFS; however, this runs into some trouble. For starters, NTFS doesn’t offer the compatibility of FAT32. Many devices don’t support it, which means it is hit and miss to use. Some believe this is intentional as Microsoft is keeping it locked up.

With these issues, it’s no wonder people want another option, and the Linux EXT4 filesystem may be just the thing. In its benchmark tests, the EXT4 showed faster speeds over both FAT32 and NTFS filesystems. This increase speed may make it the perfect option for smaller devices, and especially for flash media.

Those considering using the EXT4 filesystem may want to know that overall this product has stood the test of time. Many consider it a stable alternative to FAT32 and NTFS. The best operating system to use with the filesystem is Linux, which is obviously the most compatible, but the EXT4 will work with other operating systems, too.

Other benefits to using the EXT4 include reducing the amount of garbage in the system, including defragmented files and other junk. This also helps boost the speed. In comparison, the NTFS holds a reputation of file corruption. With all the added advantages, you may want to consider switching your filesystem.

And yet the world doesn’t seem to share your (obviously correct) opinion. Sites refuse to allow you access. Programs become corrupted, unable to meet the demands of your hardware. There is no compatibility. There is not even the attempt of it. Your beloved Linux is branded a futility, thought to be too much of an effort to match.

And because of this most online casino games cannot be placed onto your computer. They’re dependent instead upon the more common browsers, unable to comply to your needs. You think this proof of absurdity. After all, you deserve to play as others do. You have earned the right to test your skills. No game should deny you. No software should be beyond your reach. The majority, however, will be — and you must instead look to the streaming alternatives.

Linux (despite its abilities) is not a typical choice. There are other brands that dominate and sites therefore depend on them for all software decisions. Those still wishing to play, however, can consider the streaming ability. By utilizing programs like Java or Shockwave, users can enter rooms without downloading them. The game is instead hosted by the casino itself. Through this any individual can access poker, blackjack and more — without being limited by a platform. And, this is vital for those who wish to remain loyal to Linux.

Streaming can be found on most virtual casinos. No applications beyond basic plug-ins are required and games are often free.

It’s not impossible to enjoy online gaming. It merely must be redefined.

“Onebase Portal” could be called a “System Management Center” for Onebase Linux. It is browser based and has different modules that include desktop, hardware, system, packadmin, autosetup, autotask, multimedia, network and software. It performs many tasks such as desktop searching, photo album creation, download and setup of Desktop karamba themes, desktop setups and create personal backup. It also has a feature called Autotask which accomplishes many small tasks like copying files, archiving and file conversion.

Linux can be utilized in a variety of ways. What makes it even better is the fact that it is free and anything free is definitely worth a try, even if it doesn’t come pre-installed on computers. This is probably the whole point behind customization. If the software came pre-installed then it wouldn’t be customized. Easy installation is touted as one of its best features but once installed there is a whole world to explore. Help on the net tends to be virtually impossible to understand so find a friend who can’t resist a good day of computer programming. Perhaps the computer geniuses out there will hear the cry of the masses and write a book that is easy for the rest of us to comprehend. One can hope, right?

Every year, Linux developers rally at the Ubuntu Developer Summit, often called the UDS, to collaborate on ideas. Like any trade show, this is also a time when companies will unveil new projects and announce changes. This year’s meeting has proven to hold true to these expectations.

At the 2010 UDS held in Florida, called the Natty UDS, founder Mark Shuttleworth announced some changes to the user interface, stating that Ubuntu will be changing from the GNOME shell to a Unity shell. Shuttleworth also called a press conference to discuss the five-year plan for Ubuntu. In it, he reported on the projected adaptation of form factors. As an operating system, Linux works for desktops and netbooks, but Ubuntu wants to expand that to other markets.

One direction Ubuntu may go is into the auto industry. The company is currently working on developing in-vehicle and mobile systems for automobiles. It also hopes to be able to sync with mobile platforms. While it has plans to integrate with platforms like the Android, Ubuntu does not plan to expand into table devices, yet.

While the company focuses on other areas, Shuttleworth is aware that people are using the basic ideas from Ubuntu to create tablet devices. These ideas include the touch framework designed by the company and its core.

As a company, Ubuntu understands the need to release something new every six months and plans to do just that. In actuality, the company realizes the need to release something new every day. Because of this, the company is working to build a system where designers can achieve the goal while continuing to advance the company toward its goals.

In a world where everything can change at the speed of a click, Ubuntu seems to be preparing for the future with a solid plan that considers creativity.

- More opportunities. Getting a degree can provide you with not only more work opportunities, but more work at home ones as well. The more schooling you have, the better your credentials and the more likely you are to get advancements and other job offers from home.

- Better pay. It’s no secret that the more education you have, the more valuable employees tend to view you and your skills. This often results in higher pay, whether you work from an office or from home.

- Plenty of options. Moms who work from home typically have flexible schedules. This means they can attend either an online school or traditional campus school and complete their degrees on their own schedule.

If you do want to go back to school but are unsure of where to start, here are some tips:

Decide if you want to go online or to a campus. A website like earnmydegree.com will give you an overview of various programs and schools best suited to your interests and needs.

Make sure the program is accredited. A program that is not accredited ends up being a waste of both time and money.

Check to see what type of financial aid they accept. Some schools don’t accept federal student aid, so make sure you know exactly how they take tuition before you sign up.

Always talk to an enrollment or guidance counselor. They can help you make sure you’re getting the right classes so you can finish your degree as quickly as possible.

And what a success it is, Linux besides it’s use in home and business desktops with such applications such as Mozilla Firefox and OpenOffice.Org, has now been widely adopted for the use of local and national governments. Brazil, Russia and China are some of those nations that are well known supporters of Linux. Not to mention that the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world are run by Linux. This work has encouraged those in the commercial software industry to embrace free software principles.

Linux is one of the best examples of free and open source software. Free doesn’t so much describe the price as it does the freedom to copy, re-use,and make various changes or improvements to the design. Open source software refers to the collaboration of peers. Together this approach to operating systems has revolutionized the commercial software industry.

The old adage “two heads are better than one” definitely proves true in the case of software development. The open source principle with an unprecedented spirit of cooperation and collaboration is allowing technological advancement at astonishing rates. Linux can be credited with providing the catalyst to a revolution that will be the foundation of significant breakthroughs for years to come.

With new operating systems getting bigger and more complex, they can eat up half your hard drive before you even get the computer out of the box. Linux is more compact then most OS, but what if you wanted an even smaller Linux OS? One that is so small it can fit on a small USB pen drive? Look no further; here are two good ones — and they’re completely free.

NimbleX is one of the most compact and handy operating systems you’ll ever see. It’s so tiny it can be stashed on a jump drive, Mp3 player or even a mini CD. It doesn’t require an installation and can be expanded to do pretty much anything. It supports a high resolution and Bluetooth too. Many types of software are built in so that you have all the normal tools at your finger tips. CD burner, Internet tools like FTP and lots more. NimbleX was made to be tiny and versatile, which is exactly what it is. Software for download for NimbleX is available even if you get the smaller version of the OS.

DSL or “Damn Small Linux” is the best known compact operating system for Linux users. It’s 50MB in size and can be run inside other operating systems or on its own. DSL comes as a full OS, with applications that were chosen to be fast and tiny. The entire operating system can run in a computer with as little as 128MB of memory.

Most Windows and Mac operating systems come with loads of pre-installed software. Most of it is useful, but there are dozens of bells and whistles that just eat up your RAM and hard drive space. Starting with OS like Linux gives you a clean slate and only the most necessary tools. OS like NimbleX and DSL give you the very basics and leave lots of space to expand.

Convirture makes managing software for virtualization software, specifically KVM-base and Xen. Founded in 2006, the company provides an alternative management tool to VMware’s Vcenter tool. Convirture’s tool is Linux-based.

According to the announcement from CEO Arsalan Farooq, Convirture is ready to take on VMware, which has been the industry leader to date in the virtualization game. New competition in the market is great news for consumers. It means more competition for prices, and it will force companies to work on improving solutions in order to capture a larger share of the market.

Convirture decided to get into the game by using Linux’s virtualization technology with enterprise-grade management tools. To generate demand for the product, the company released a version in 2006 under an open source agreement. This resulted in over 30,000 downloads and has encompassed several versions of the product.

Now, Convirture is ready to boost sales for its commercial product, Convirt 2.0. The virtualization program has two versions. In Convirt 2.0 Enterprise, users will get a system geared toward cloud or hosted models. It will feature delegated control, resource limiting, and multi-tenant security. With Convirt 2.0 Enterprise Starter Edition, users will get virtualization for SMBs or enterprises in pre-production.

At the beginning of 2010, Convirture began selling the commercial versions directly; however, the increase in demand has led to the decision to take on partners. Craig Bauman, who is the acting VP of sales and business development, will manage the new partnership program. With its global reach, Convirture will also be looking to expand with worldwide partnerships.

In July 2008, SAP closed an office in Bryan, Texas. The company also feels Oracle is just trying to use the case harass its competition; however, Oracle is seeking billions of dollars in restitution. SAP lawyers planned to ask the court to reduce the length of the trial in order to move beyond the problems created by what it calls a now-defunct unit of the company. The trial is currently set to begin November 1, but Oracle is seeking an extension until the 4th in order to revise the company’s trial plans.

It appears that SAP’s lawyers won’t contest the charges Oracle is bringing against TomorrowNow, the Texas-based unit. However, it will contest the fact that SAP should be held liable for the actions of the defunct unit. The courts will have to determine whether SAP will be liable for the decision of a unit under its control or whether the unit holds all the blame for the infringement. The decision to not contest the case should shorten the trial, as well, because the courts won’t have to wade through as much information as it would should SAP contest the lawsuit.

With SAP’s new strategy, it will be interesting to see whether the decision pans out for SAP. Oracle in the meantime will continue to pursue its case in the hopes of gaining compensation for the infringement.

People addicted to smartphones and iPads can hardly wait to find out the latest apps on the market. Apps can transform a smartphone from a communication device into an electronic babysitter with streaming TV and games. For some, apps allow a smartphone to become a canvas for a new project. People in this group will love the new software application coming out from onOne Software.

The company recently previewed an updated application that is a Photoshop plug-ins for iPads and Macs. Perfect Photo Suite 5.5 will allow graphic designers and hobbyist photographers to edit their images right on their devices using the plug-ins. The iPad has its own version of the program, DSLR Camera Remote. OnOne Software will have seven plug-ins available under the suite.

With the photo editing software, users can work with several software editing programs, including Adobe Photoshop, Apple Aperture, and Lightroom. It offers Perfect Layers and the latest version of Genuine Fractals, which is going by the name Prefect Resize 7. The new software program will allow users to work in layered files across multiple programs.

As cool as the app is, users will need a Mac system with OS x 10.5. Later versions will work as well. With the app being a plug-in, people will need to have some version of Adobe Photoshop, or one of the other programs compatible with the plug-ins. The latest version of Adobe Photoshop is for sale along with the plug-ins at a price around $500.

OnOne Software is accepting pre-orders through its website and hopes to have a release date in December. Other software programs from the company will focus on software for cameras in iPhones and iPod touch remote control apps. The DSLR Camera Remote HD will offer shutter firing, LiveView previews, control settings, and more to offer users a better interface.

If you’ve been waiting for more companies to jump on board the netbook train, you may want to pay attention to Jolicloud. The company is planning to enter the netbook market, and once again, Twitter proves its use in creating buzz for businesses.

On October 25, 2010, Tariq Krim, the CEO of Jolicloud, posted pictures of the new netbook designs the company will soon be offering for sale. What makes Jolicloud different from the other companies vying for sales is its Linux distribution.

With its Linux operating system, Jolicloud is already able to offer a design that is compatible with netbooks. It offers a user-friendly interface, which means you won’t have to be a program designer to operate the system. The company also plans to offer apps for the devices. They operating system will run on its own, or you can merge it with other popular operating systems, such as Microsoft’s Windows.

But, Jolicloud won’t be stopping at just offering the Linux distribution. It will be making its own netbook devices, according to Engadget, which confirmed the information with Jolicloud.

The prototypes featured in the photos provided by Krim indicate a fun, urban design. The company hopes its 10.1-inch model will appeal to the younger generation, and it is targeting individuals in their teens and twenties.

While the design appears to be hip and cool, Jolicloud has yet to release more information on the device. People interested in updates may want to follow Krim on Twitter. To date, the specs for the Jolicloud netbook include a VGA out port, USB connections, and the capability of running 720p video.

The company has yet to set a release date for its netbooks, but should announce it soon. As for speculation on price, Engadget anticipates the company will price the netbook below the $500 range, which could also be attractive to the target audience.

While many companies are working on new products, PTC has announced that it will release the next generation of CAD programs. The company hopes its new line will allow PTC to integrate its system with its partners’. This could improve developmental opportunities while allowing PTC to offer better services.

PTC hopes the new line will put it back at the top of the CAD market. According to James Heppelmann, the CEO for PTC, this new release is the first step in a 20-year plan designed to keep PTC at the forefront of 2D and 3D design software. The company has been beta testing the software under the name Project Lightning. A formal release of the project is set for summer 2011. It will have seven applications in the suite. Once that hits the market, PTC will follow up with version 2.0 in the fall of the same year.

As for the reason for the new software, PTC reports the new design should solve problems with CAD software that have negatively affected CAD design for the past several years. One of the problems the software address is interoperability. The new system will allow users to work in multiple CAD system and use information designed in other CAD software. That means a person can take a design from PTC’s Pro/Engineer and not only open in the new program but edit it, too.

Everyone knows the real power of smartphones comes from the applications available to download on the devices. When it comes to offering these apps, the Android market far exceeds the competition, making Motorola’s Droid phones an in-demand product. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the phone can be just any old phone. People expect their cell phones to work as well as possible. After all, nobody likes to spend a hundred dollars or more on a phone and have it fail to live up to expectations.

While Android keeps the market packed with fun applications, developers have to constantly work to offer new products and to update old ones. The same is true for cell phone manufacturers. Consider the Gingerbread for the Motorola Droid 2. This product has been getting a lot of hype because of it promises to fix some of the major issues with the original design. While people expected Verizon to roll out the update, it appears the update may not be quite what everyone was expecting.

Despite this, the upgrades will make some well-needed improvements. Users who upgrade to the new Gingerbread will see improved battery life, better screen response, a more sensitive proximity sensor, a weather widget that automatically shifts from portrait to landscape, better notifications, easier set up, improved email syncing, improved sound, help center, better GPS tracking. Users will also be able to use Gallery photos to identify callers. As an added enhancement, individuals will be able to transfer all the phone’s contacts to the SD card.

The Gingerbread 2.3 is already released, but more user reviews will need to come in before people can determine whether the phone is enough of an upgrade to make it worth the investment. If not, it may be better to skip this version and wait for the next upgrade.

In recent weeks, Microsoft has been boasting strong revenue while promote its current strategies to regain a larger section of the market in everything from Internet browsers to smartphones. The company seems to be on the rebound from the years when it was a little slow in upgrading its systems, which left room for competitors to step in. Still, a new announcement from Google seems to have Microsoft on edge.

Google has already dipped its business into Microsoft’s waters by releasing it own browser Chrome. Not to mention the amount of traffic Google’s search pulls over Bing. Now, it appears Google wants a bigger chunk of the market because it announced it plans to purchase ITA Software in a $700 million transaction.

The announcement immediately brought the other software and web giants out to play, namely Microsoft, Kayak, and Expedia. Together, they hope to stop the transaction. The main opposing coalition actually doesn’t have Microsoft’s name on it, leading many to question whether the company is staying in the background while trying to maneuver things to its favor. FairSearch.org is going to bat to try to keep Google from completing its purchase.

While Microsoft has not put its name on the coalition, it is speaking out against the acquisition, specifically to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department is looking at the deal due to competitive concerns. Google already has the second highest Internet traffic on the web, second only to an ISP provider, so in all actuality, this acquisition could be another nail in Microsoft’s coffin.

But people would be remiss to think that this would put Microsoft out of the game. The company continues to diversify and is having success with its new lines and products. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt Microsoft if Google were unable to complete the transaction.

CenterStone 2011 will offer computer aided facility management, also called CAFM. The new program will offer several improvements, as well as additions, to earlier software versions. These include program integration with Audodesk Revit and Esri ArcFIS 10. It will also offer enhanced search capabilities and visual reporting. As an added benefit, users will be able to take advantage of project-based scenario planning, which can help with scheduling important business aspects, such as preventive maintenance.

Several thousand companies already use the previous version of CenterStone to help with facility management. The program is able to manage large portfolios and helps maximize profit while reducing expenses. Manhattan’s clients can use CenterStone to create information across platforms, as it integrates databases, BIM, CAD, and GIS. The graphical reporting tools are simple to use, increasing the user-friendly feel to the program. Facility planners will be able to use the software to coordinate programs, further improving the software’s effectiveness.

Overall, clients are ready for the new release. This may be in part because Manhattan Software consulted them on what they wanted to see from the software in order to improve it. It could also be that people are ready for more tools and integration. With the new features in place, it’s easy to see why so many enterprise real estate firms will want to begin using the new program as soon as possible.

In the great Linux vs. Windows debate, many people will point out that while Linux has less compatibility with other operating systems, it has better protection from bugs, viruses, spam, and malware. If you’ve ever had to deal with computer crash after computer crash, this is a great selling point. In general, this is true. However, this won’t keep Linux users safe from a new bug in Adobe Flash Player.

Adobe recently announced that the Flash Player has a problem that might affect versions 10.185.3. This vulnerability can affect several operating systems, including Mac, Windows, Solaris, and Linux. The company found the problem after having to patch its Shockwave Player. According to Adobe, the problem can cause systems to crash, leaving files vulnerable to attack.

Currently, cyber criminals are using the bug to attack systems through other Adobe programs, such as Acrobat 9.x. and Adobe Reader. So far, the hackers seem to be leaving Adobe Flash Player alone. The vulnerability also affects Adobe Reader 9.4, and may cause problems for all the aforementioned operating systems and UNIX

Now that Adobe is aware of the program, it is devoting resources to patch the vulnerability. Adobe users can expect to have the fix available in early November. The company is also preparing to release Flash Player 10.x for several operating systems, including Android, Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Adobe recently offered a zero-day patch for a bug with the Shockwave Player. The massive update also clears up issues with ten other bugs. Until the company releases patches for the new vulnerabilities, consumers will want to take care. Hackers will typically jump at any chance to manipulate vulnerability, as is often the case when Adobe makes a new announcement.

In the grand scheme of things, Linux still remains one of the best operating systems to use if you want to keep your computer safe from attack and hackers.

Google’s got its head in the cloud. You might think this means in the literal sense as Google moved up to take the second place for the most Internet traffic (second behind an ISP provider). But that’s not what it means. Google is making a move to enter the cloud computing game.

Cloud computing is an old form of computing with a new take on it. Think about applications like Yahoo mail or Google mail. You don’t have to download any software on your computer in order to access and use your email programs with these companies. Instead, they host everything you need and you simply log on to use the programs. Well, that’s cloud computing at its most basic form.

Now, expand that by several times. Consider tossing the hard drive out the window. Say goodbye to Linux, Microsoft, and Mac. Is this possible? Some think that Google may be able to convince consumers that it is. If everything you needed happened to be in one cloud, why couldn’t you ditch the hard drive? While you’re at it, you can store files, access applications, and manage all aspects of your life in the cloud. Just think how much faster your computer would be if it didn’t have to search through old files and clogged registries.

Google’s cloud computing system will piggyback off another successful Google tool, its Internet browser Chrome. The cloud operating system will operate under the name Chrome OS. According to Google, there’s no reason not to make a switch to the cloud. The current operating systems relied on hard drives because technology wasn’t at the point it is now.

Most computers won’t be able to take advantage of cloud computing at this point in time, but Google expects the next versions of computers to begin backing off on hard drive programs and downloaded software as more and more companies develop clouds.

When it comes to computing, speed matters. Just ask anyone who’s vying for the latest high speed Internet connection and the smoothest operating system. If you want to know who has the world’s fastest computers, you can usually find out by consulting the Top 500 Supercomputer List. While the list won’t come out until early November, many experts are expecting to see the Tianhe-1A topping it.

Tianhe-1A, or the Milky Way, is a computer in use by the National University of Defense Technology, located in Tianjin, China.

Another thing to note is that many of the top operating systems, and almost all the fastest ones will be using Linux as its operating system. That’s what the Milky Way uses, and experts say it blows the competition out of the galaxy. One person who agrees with this is Jack Dongarra, who is the computer scientist with the University of Tennessee who creates the Top 500 list.

The second fastest machine is the Cray XT5 Jaguar, in use by the National Center for Computational Sciences. Research indicates the Milky Way is 1.4 times quicker than its closest competition. Statistically, the machine hits 1.206 petaflops and moves at 563.1 teraflops.

While reports don’t provide specific information onto which Linux system the Milky Way is using, some suspect it is Red Flag Linux. This program is China’s software version based on Linux code. Other super speed computers also use Linux, which may be one reason why the operating system is making its way onto more and more computers. One reason change that caught media attention was the London Stock Exchange who switched from Microsoft to Linux.

So, if you want better speed for your computer, it’s time to consider what operating system you’re using and determine what exactly is keeping you from switching over to Linux.

Cyber crime is one of the fastest growing arenas for thieves, so much so, that it has surpassed traditional crime. The nature of the Internet is such that it allows thieves to operate from anywhere they can connect to the Internet and their malicious servers. When it comes to Internet crimes, information is the commodity. Thieves want usernames, passwords, bank accounts, credit card numbers, and any other personal information they can get.

With cyber crime being a real reality, people often do everything possible to try to protect their computers and their information. After all, it’s a common practice for malware and viruses to disintegrate your registry after digging out any personal information it can report back to the hackers. One thing to consider is whether the operating system you use may play a role in protecting your computer.

In some ways, the answer is yes. Hackers usually will try to gather as much information from each hit as possible. When you consider that Microsoft is on the majority of computers, it makes sense that hackers would target viruses to be able to interact with Windows. In fact, the level of attack often goes right along with popularity. Macs tend to have more attacks than Linux operating systems.

Just like anti-virus programs can help protect you from some of the junk used by hackers, a Linux-based computer can offer some benefit. But, it won’t eliminate all attacks. Many hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in programs compatible with Linux as a way to hit more operating systems at once. Recent attacks that have target Linux systems include a vulnerability with Adobe and the Jawa Trojan.

The bottom line is that while a Linux operating system may reduce the risk of some cyber crimes, it won’t protect you from all attacks. However, it can help.

A very popular open source software is Linux. This software is very common among webmaster and developers, although new beginners to the software industry also find that it is very helpful, as well.

You will find that much of the open source software materials and resources are those that are commonly available and accessible to the public. Since the concept relies on peer production to be successful, finding other interested parties to share it with is commonly and frequently done.

Open source materials also use social media software in addition to Linux software to share with users. The front-end user is able then to take the technology and customize it to fit his needs. Businesses and individuals find that they can manage their systems better if they use custom systems set to their preferences and style.

Users can also use their social media and social networking connections to find access to other software that is available for mass usage, free of charge. Users often share their findings on Internet discussion sites and forums, as well as social sites like Facebook and Twitter. Very often, helpful users leave links and web addresses that point others in the direction of where they can find other open source information.

By interacting on social platforms, users can also exchange their personal and professional opinions about any open source document. They can tell what they liked about it and what may need a little tweaking for it to be ideal. The weight of the opinions on these types of sites is very important for the software users.

If you’re looking for software, why not consider open source programs?

Chances are you use Windows. It’s about as likely as flipping a coin twice at getting heads at least once. However, as with many Microsoft users, you’re not likely to be fanatically devoted to your OS. In fact, if you could be convinced that something better existed, you would probably make a switch. Linux may provide that solution. It’s not a system for everyone, but it does offer a lot of great features. In this series, we will compare and contrast various aspects of the Windows and Linux operating systems. Today, we will discuss customization.

Windows is known as the “customizable OS” by those who chose it over Macintosh. It simply allows greater access to deep layers of the system itself, not to mention extra layers of customization through software and driver additions. However, Microsoft has limited how much Windows can actually be customized for the sake of maintaining stability.

The GUI customization allowed by Windows is, by default, little more than the ability to change graphic elements. This means you can change the screen sizes, resolution, the color scheme, your background, and so forth.

You can change even more graphic elements by downloading third-party software. More importantly, software of this nature can help you change how Windows reacts to your input. Sadly, since it was not designed for this purpose, Windows will sometimes throw a fit when you try to go into this more advanced customization. Alternatively, this customization can be emulated through an application. This is more stable but requires more system resources.

As usual, it’s difficult to pin an exact answer on how customizable Linux is. This is largely because it has so many different distributions which provide varying layers of customization. Some environments offer similarly limited customization to Windows. However, others allow you to customize well more than your GUI, giving you access to system code which allows you to change the input reactions for your system. While only advanced users can really take advantage of this, it’s highly beneficial for that niche group.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

It’s said that you can complete about ninety-five percent of Windows tasks on a Linux system. That five percent that can’t be accomplished either has to do with gaming or media too, so Linux is completely viable as an office environment. Nonetheless, some rage and wail when thinking about transitioning to Linux. “The software!” they say. “What will I do without my software?!” In today’s entry, we will discuss the differences between Linux and Windows when it comes to getting your precious software in line.

Windows Software: “Exploring the Infinite Abyss”

Windows has a ludicrous pool of software to jump into. While there is some level of a compatibility struggle when it comes to older programs, the truth is that software coders have been developing for windows for over a decade now. This means that everything you can possibly imagine has been developed.

Perhaps most importantly, Windows is the primary platform that game designers look to when determining how to write their code. That means that many games simply will not run on your Linux system, but sail smoothly across your Windows interface. Games and other pieces of software are also relatively easy to install thanks to the installation wrapper (“Windows Installation Manager”) that interacts well with the OS.

The presence of countless pieces of software does create issues of its own. Software can negatively interact with either your system or your other installed applications. This means that one wrong step can result in a lack of system stability. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to uninstall the program by using the add/remove program feature, or even restore your system if it comes down to it.

Linux: Yes, Basically, It’s All Free

Linux provides fewer programs, but they cover all the basic needs.  You can go to openoffice.org to get office software.  You can find FTP software like FileZilla.  You can even get a free media player with vlc media player and p2p software like Ares.  It’s also easier to find and install the programs due to the software manager found within the OS. This allows you to locate, install, uninstall, and otherwise interact with whatever software you need. Thanks to testing from the distro you’re using, the software found here is also more likely to be stable and trustworthy.

We discussed software availability for Windows and Linux in a previous entry. To briefly summarize, Windows is a vast whirlpool of software. While it is massive and contains all you could possibly want, it can also be dangerous to maneuver. Linux, on the other hand, has a more elitist approach; it gives you the software you need, but makes sure that it’s “worthy of you.” Additionally, most programmers design with Windows in mind, meaning that Linux winds up as the ugly step-child. Beyond software presence, however, there are some major differences in the installation process, both for software and drivers.

Downloading and Installing for Windows

Software for your Windows computer can be found on disks or on the web. These executable files will either use the Windows installation manager or their own installation program. Downloads for software must be hosted by the software creator, so it is less certain that you’ll find a current and available version of what you’re looking for. Once downloaded, the installation itself should be relatively quick and painless.

Windows does have an automated program which allows you locate the most current version of your drivers. If you can’t find the desired driver through this program, you can generally find it on the web and install it separately. Most drivers are also set to check for updates on their own.

Most software and driver installations require that you reboot your Windows system.

Downloading and Installing for Linux

It is possible to find packages for Linux on the web, but the most popular and trustworthy method of getting software is through an application manager. Most distros have some software finder installed. This application can help you browse, search for, download, install, and remove the software you’re looking for.

Literally hundreds of different software types can be found here. Productivity software, media players, system settings tools, and more can all be located. The selection isn’t nearly as large, but the programs themselves are more tried and tested.

Drivers will update on their own. After installing drivers or software no reset is required.

The day that they aired the last “I’m a PC and I’m a Mac” commercial was a sad day indeed. This clever commercial lineup illustrated how Mac could be a viable alternative to Windows in a humorous but effective way. What is truly missing is a “Mac vs Windows vs Linux” commercial that discusses all three systems. This is largely due to misunderstandings about the broad capabilities of Linux itself. In today’s entry, we will discuss Windows’ processing scheduling and file fragmentation behavior.

Windows uses a disk format known as NTFS. This disk formatting system creates the framework for all future process scheduling by defining thirty-two separate levels of program priority. The NT kernel (the driving force of the Windows system) can change the priority tier a program belongs on based on its computer usage, internal structure, and whether the user is interacting with it. This allows Windows to bring certain programs “into focus,” devoting more CPU power to the programs you’re actively trying to use.

This prioritization schedule has seen many advances over the years. The swap in priority didn’t exist in any viable format until Windows 2000, the first Windows system to use the NT kernel. As of Vista, Windows stepped up its prioritization routine by using a cycle counter instead of an interval timer to interrupt and redesignate an appropriate place on the priority scale.

In order to keep these files running smoothly, Windows NT systems use what is known as a “dynamically allocated pagefile.” This “pagefile” is a section of the hard drive memory (as opposed to RAM memory) that is dedicated to store infrequently accessed files and routines. Over time, this (as well as general file transfers and installation) causes fragmenting of the hard drive. This will slow the system dramatically by interfering with the pagefile.

The Windows system can be regularly defragmented in order to prevent these errors. Additionally, moving the pagefile to a separate partition can help, although it runs the risk of halting vital memory dumps. In an upcoming entry, we will discuss Linux process scheduling and fragmenting.

No one has ever pretended that Windows is an perfect operating system. Perhaps that does give them a certain leg up over Linux users, many of whom tout the system as if it embodied deity-like flawlessness. However, the arrogance of some of its users is no excuse not to give Linux a fair shake. In this series, we are discussing the major differences between Linux and Windows in a wide variety of areas. In today’s entry, we will discuss the support and training provided for each.

Getting Support from Microsoft

There are many communities available on the web where you can find great resources for Windows. These include the Developer’s Network, TechNet, and a huge variety of smaller name forums. This active community is generally glad to provide some assistance free of charge, although some of the higher end communities require some form of subscription fee.

It’s also very possible to get assistance directly from Microsoft. The best way to do this is typically through their phone support. While it comes with a hefty price-tag, these experts are typically well trained enough that they can get your issues resolved quite quickly.

Due to its longstanding presence as the dominant operating system in the market there are also many training programs offered for Windows. These range from courses at community colleges to DVD or CD-ROM series to help guide you through your system to a large collection of books on the topic.

Support for Linux

If Windows has a solid community backbone, then Linux’s is made out of titanium. It’s easy to track down helpful advice in one of many free forums. The advanced users found here, many of whom are programmers for the Linux framework, are more than glad to offer their assistance. There is the added advantage that bug reports can actually be addressed by these communities.

Many of the different Linux distributions offer some degree of independent support. To some degree, these things can be found free of charge. However, advanced extras like phone support typically come with a fee, and many of the free distros are lacking in that particular department.

In a previous entry we discussed how Windows behaves when it comes to process scheduling and hard drive fragmentation. To give a summary, Windows using a thirty-two string priority process on its NTFS formatted hard drive. The use of an “internal pagefile” speeds up the processes, but can be slowed significant due to fragmentation. The use of this pagefile, as well as issues inherent in NTFS formatting, means that the hard drive will become severely fragmented over time. So how does Linux compare?

The Linux kernel has evolved over time, and while it once had a poor scheduling algorithm, it is currently comparable to Windows mechanics. As with Windows, the Linux scheduler favors any process that the user is interacting with. This ensures that whatever the user is trying to do will happen quickly, and that any system resources being allocated too heavily to other tasks will gladly “take a break” to benefit the user’s desired behavior.

There were formerly issues with incorrectly privileged files taking up more than their fair share of the system’s CPU power. However, thanks to the scheduler known as CFS (“Completely Fair Scheduler”), this issue has been resolved. CFS is currently the foundational schedule processor.

Linux is programmed to use a pagefile located on a “swap partition.” Instead of having the process storing pagefile located on the hard drive, it creates a separate partition exclusively for this purpose. This means that no fragmentation occurs due to pagefile use. Unlike Windows, where such a separate partition is possible but dangerous due to its interference with memory dumps, Linux is designed around the idea, and thus it is completely safe.

Linux also provides more freedom with its Kernel, allowing advanced users and (more importantly) programmers to determine what processes will stay in RAM and which will be sent to the pagefile location.

Because of these behaviors and the different file formatting scheme, Linux doesn’t suffer from any fragmenting. This means no fragmentation slowdowns, no need for consistent defragging of the hard drive, and more stability in general.

The Linux operating system performs the same operations as any other, but it can also perform operations that are unique to Linux itself. Further, the Linux operating system uses a “kernel” as its core part of the system. The “kernel” is divided into several sections, all of which work together to run Linux and, in turn, operate your computer.

The Linux operating system is also different in another way. Rather than having been developed by one or two companies, which allows them to “own” that particular operating system, the Linux operating system is the collaborative effort of many different corporations. For this reason, Linux is considered to be a free and open source software operating system. This makes it available to anyone who wants to use it.

Other operating systems are available; however, you may have to pay a fee or otherwise “receive permission” to download and use them. You don’t do this with Linux; you simply install the necessary hardware (if needed, which is rare) and install the software. This makes it quicker for you to access the top affiliate programs you need in order to successfully carry on your business.

More and more people are falling in love with Linux as a desktop operating system. However, like a cult fiction, Linux is still invisible to much of the public eye. Windows remains the reigning champion of the OS world. More users are migrating to Linux’s open source elysium each year, and part of what’s sending them there is the desire to escape the persecution of viruses in the Windows world. In this entry, we will compare and contrast Windows and Linux malware issues.

Windows: You May Want to Get Tested for That

Almost all Windows systems come pre-configured with either fully fledged or trial version antivirus software. This is more than bells or whistles; this is mandatory wisdom. There are over two millino different malware programs designed to target Windows. Windows itself works to protect you from many of these, and in reality there are only a few thousand left which pose a threat. Most of these can be weeded out by your antivirus program.

However, not all can be weeded out so easily. Due to a lack of security in software installation, Windows systems are vulnerable to a plethora of viruses. Much of the malware is “smart enough” to interfere directly with your antivirus program, which means that some of these bugs will require a full reinstall of your system.

Windows works actively to fix reported bugs, crashes, and malware issues. Typically, it provides a solution after about a month. Some fixes have taken notably longer.

Linux: You’re Safe with Us

Linux isn’t virus free. There are, in fact, nearly a thousand different types of malware which target it. Yes, a thousand – or about point zero five percent of what Windows has. Many of these viruses are actually spread through Windows systems that are linked to Linux systems.

The absolute rarity of viruses means that most Linux users don’t even use a virus blocker. However, if you want to protect yourself completely there are options such as Panda Security and ClamAV.

Most reported malware issues, bugs, or crashes have a fix within days. Some take as little as twenty-four hours.

In this series, we have covered many of the major ways in which Linux and Windows systems vary. While Windows certainly has the majority of support for personal computer users, server space is far more based in Linux. Perhaps the reason for Microsoft owning so much of the “personal use” market is the presence of gaming options. In today’s entry, we will discuss how gaming differs between a Linux and Windows system.

Windows: The Gaming Addict

Windows has no shortage of games to play. Out of the box, Windows will support the majority of games that can be found on the market with just a update driver. There are some compatibility issues when it comes to games older than a few years, especially ones designed for Windows 98 and earlier. Even these compatibility issues can often be resolved. Windows Compatibility Mode, a variety of patches, and a devoted PC gamer community have all led to a resilient approach to gaming.

Almost all games are designed with Windows in mind. This means that there is no lengthy process to get your game on. Additionally, Windows has advanced graphics drivers which are required for many games. Without these, advanced hardware acceleration may not be possible.

Linux: It’s Getting There

Linux does a decent job of playing Windows games. Wine and Cedega are two of the most popular additions to help your Linux system use software designed for a Windows platform. These aren’t emulators, so they can reach high speeds, sometimes even surpassing Windows velocity.

Copy protection, undocumented features, and requirements for advanced graphics acceleration all make this battle uphill for Linux. While many of these hurdles can be leapt over, doing so is far from easy for standard users. The community actively seeks to fix these issues, but sound and interface drivers remain problematic.

Linux has fewer compatibility issues for games it can play. Almost any game that plays on one distro can be played on all of them. Ironically, some older games designed for Windows and DOS play more easily on a Linux system than they do on current Windows versions.

It is has been clear for a long time that computers are only safe if you secure them correctly. This isn’t equally true of each platform, however. While the Macintosh has only a few known security issues, and many Linux distros are seen as airtight, the standard PC is a haven for the bacteria of the programming world. As we approach a new form of platform, we must again ask the question of “how safe is this?” The platform we are referring to are the mobile applications for both tablets (such as the iPad) and mobile phones (such as those on the Apple, Android, and Microsoft network).

This really hasn’t been a concern until just recently. We can peg the lack of concern on a lack of interest in the field in general. It was only once the Apple iPhone and Android market were fully introduced that people began raising concerns. Among the top concerns is the level of access granted to applications.

Free applications were surveyed in mid-2010 to examine their level of access to the data on the phone. Almost fifteen percent of Apple apps and almost ten percent of Android apps were able to access contact data on the phone; something neither necessary nor comforting for app users. The same survey showed that nearly half of Apple applications use insecure third party coding which could be used to change the phone data.

There are hundreds of different application developers creating thousands and thousands of applications. While it may be true that most of them are safe, there are still plenty which have security issues. It would be a false assumption to say that these developers are maliciously trying to access your data. However, their less than careful approach to programming the software may create security cracks: cracks that can be exploited by those of less than pure intent.

As with Linux distros, the application markets review all software prior to making it available. This is a great level of security, but one that must be increased for maximum safety.

Linux is no stranger to debate. After all, it is the most hotly contested issue when it comes to server and personal operating systems. However, among the issues being debated with Linux is one that is somewhat surprising: “Why on earth did Linus Torvalds choose a penguin as the logo?”

Let’s clarify, first, exactly what sort of penguin we’re looking at. It is not merely “a random penguin.” Rather, it is a somewhat overweight, obviously contented penguin. This, says Torvalds, is where the brilliance of the logo shines through.

Linus wrote a lengthy letter explaining the selection of the penguin. He admits that it isn’t the best logo in the entire world. The penguin looks like it “is not really strong enough to hold up the entire world,” even that it might soon be crushed by it. But “strong” wasn’t what Linux was trying to present. What they were trying to present was “happy and content.”

Torvalds, who claims to be an expert on penguins, says that there are two things that make a penguin look content” and it certainly looks content in the Linux logo. Either that penguin has just gotten some action, or that penguin has just eaten so much that it’s full. Linus clarifies that he’s not trying to point to a penguin who just got laid, but to one that is “filled to brimming.”

The idea is that Linux is filled to brimming as well. Certainly, this accurately describes many of the great open source features provided by Linux systems. The versatility, security, and other great features are enough to make even the most feature desperate junkie feel satisfied.

Still, some have complained that the Linux logo doesn’t reflect the grace, precision, and beauty of the operating system. The fluidity and power of Linux are some of its high points. To this complaint, Linus Torvalds replied by saying those complaining “have [clearly] never seen an angry penguin charging at them in excess of 100mph.”

Microsoft isn’t exactly the most reputable company. Sure, they provide a lot of very functional hardware (such as the Xbox 360). They even have some software that isn’t buggy all of the time. However, rumors have always flown about Microsoft’s business tactics. Most recently, revelations about an anti-Google push by Microsoft has heightened this poor reputation; something that could be much more easily ignored if they hadn’t done the same thing to Linux back in 2003. It was in the 2003 legal proceedings against Linux from the SCO Group that this revelation occurred. No, the SCO Group isn’t Microsoft. What the SCO Group IS, however, is funded by the Larkspur Investment Group. And who was one of the top investors in Larkspur at the time? Of course, none other than Microsoft. What this meant was, directly or indirectly, the Windows making giant was applying legal pressure to a competitor while under the guise of another company. Of course, Larkspur denied that Microsoft’s funds motivated any of the actions of the SCO Group, or that SCO Group’s proceedings had any impact on the investments from MS. The idea was that the two companies were completely unrelated. It was in October that a memo was leaked revealing that this was simply not the case. The SCO Group and Microsoft were quite soundly in cahoots over software and hardware decisions, working and communicating intensively on a number of projects. Shortly after the memo was written, further funding was granted to SCO, a chunk of which was used to continue the assault on Linux. Is Microsoft trying to do the same thing to Google? Maybe. Three companies are currently in early stage legal proceedings against Google, claiming that their sites are being ranked poorly on the search engine due to the fact that they have competitor related websites. The fact that these proceedings are related to Microsoft owned companies make the allegations suspicious. Beyond suspicious, however, the accusations show a dark underbelly to Microsoft’s business tactics: if you can’t be better than them, sue them.

Once Linux was introduced as an open source and stable server platform, Microsoft began losing territory. In an attempt to “rally their troops,” Microsoft conducted several studies and unleashed an advertisement campaign. The campaign was called “Get the Facts,” and it was driven by the idea that users would actually spend more money on the open source Linux alternative. So do they have a point, or is Microsoft just full of it?

The TCO (total cost of ownership) of each server has changed somewhat since the original 2004 studies, but the overall concept remains much the same. Microsoft’s idea was relatively straightforward. Users of Windows servers were able to interact with a “simple to use” platform that would save labor hours and make life simpler. They further indicated that their own security, reliability, and cross-platform capabilities were higher.

But is this the case? Microsoft touted specific clients who had “saved money” and benefited from the security of using Windows servers. One of the major groups who was put on a pedestal was the London Stock Exchange, frequently called the LSE. However, in 2009, downtime in the Windows servers created painful losses from the company, and in 2010 they switched to Linux.

This isn’t the only case study indicating some shortcomings in Microsoft’s studies. Immediately after the facts and figures were presented, several major Linux loving companies came to their server platform’s defense. Two major companies included Novell and The Register, both of whom discussed their own positive experiences and attacked inaccuracies found in the MS studies. The studies, it seems, included figures from the Unix and Solaris system as if they were Linux server statistics. They also noted that while the TCO may seem to increase due to higher salaries for Linux admins, these admins also tended to be more efficient and accomplish more.

In the United Kingdom, Microsoft was not even allowed to fully launch its advertising campaign, since it fell within the legal definitions of “misleading advertisements.” While there certainly are varied costs of operating with Windows and Linux systems, it’s clear that Linux isn’t “more expensive.”

Linux is a marginal entity when it comes to operating systems. There are very few people who argue this tragic but appropriately cited fact. However, there is still a problem of miscalculation when it comes to actually Linux market share. This includes operating systems and, far more importantly, servers.

According to statistics cited by Microsoft, Linux has only two percent of the market share for desktop environments and twenty percent for servers. However, both of these statistics are based on faulty calculations. Many of the numbers have been retrieved from official registries. While you would think this is an accurate enough location, the truth is that the registry usually contains whatever the was pre-loaded with prior to shipment. The vast majority of Linux distributions, both for standard desktop OS use and as a server environment, are installed after the system is received.

It’s easy to see why, since post-market installation is free and easy with Linux. Only a select few notebook PCs are actually shipping with some form of Unix environment prior to reaching the shelves, and while this number may be increasing, it definitely doesn’t make up for the full volume of Linux systems in use.

So how much market share does Linux really have? According to website trackers and self-reported surveys, Linux has actually reached almost five percent of the desktop computer operating systems in use. Similarly, while noted as a minority player in the server wars, Linux actually runs nearly seventy-five percent of currently active servers.

The cost of Linux based servers is simply lower, and many tout it as a me reliable and secure medium. Notably, the German Foreign Office and the French Gendarmerie both reported that their maintenance was low, security was high, and their TCO had decreased by millions of dollars.

While Linux may still be on the fringes for desktop environments, they’ve become the conquering heroes of the server world. Even when it comes to standard operating systems, this powerful system isn’t given nearly enough credit.

What Is a GUI?

The GUI, or Graphic User Interface, is what you see when you’re using the operating system. It allows the user (you) to execute commands in the system by interacting with graphics. In other words, any time you click on a folder, click and drag a file, push delete on an icon, or otherwise do something that interacts with pretty pictures, you’re using a GUI.

The GUI concept was really pioneered by Windows and early Apple systems that wanted to make the personal computer more accessible. The general public has become reliant on a graphic interface, and only coders and advanced users are really familiar with any other option.

What Is a CLI?

A CLI, or Command Line Interface, is a text-based interface that allows you to execute word based commands in your system. The CLI that most people will be used to is similar to MS-DOS, with individual root files and directories playing a key role alongside programmed text commands.

Using a CLI offers a great number of advantages. The level of access and number of commands surpasses that of a graphic user interface on almost every level. Additionally, a CLI requires far less from your system resources in order to function correctly. This means increased stability and reliability, and less required cost for your system.

In upcoming entries, we will compare and contrast Windows and Linux approaches to these two major interface alternatives.

Windows vs Linux: GUI

The Graphic User Interface used by Windows is familiar to almost any computer user, and it varies only slightly as time goes on. While there are notable differences between Windows XP, Vista, and 7, the basic framework remains the same. While they are customizable, the ways in which the GUI can be altered are limited.

When contrasting Linux, the first thing to note is the sheer versatility of GUI alternatives. While specific desktop environments are more popular (such as Ubuntu and Mint), there are literally dozens of different interfaces that you can choose from. These environments are also far more customizable for users. This provides great advantages for those who are familiar with programming and advanced customization, but can be confusing for newer users, and can lead to a more difficult learning curve when switching to a new Linux distro.

Windows vs Linux: CLI

Older versions of Windows (up through XP) had a fully functional command prompt built into the system which allowed for equal system access from the CMD. However, current versions of Windows use an emulated command prompt interface in order to achieve the same purpose. This means that some older command based programs won’t work, but it does allow some level of CLI access.

Linux, on the other hand, offers an in-depth CLI which allows users and programmers to access system data at almost every level. One of the great advantages of the command line alternatives in Linux is the level of community support that it receives.

Stay tuned for more entries comparing Windows and Linux!

It’s a well known fact that Windows comes with a variety of pre-loaded software. Much of what you receive is Microsoft based, such as Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Paint, and so forth. However, additional pieces of software are also included in many market ready computers. These will include everything ranging from antivirus software trials to free games.

There’s plenty that doesn’t come with your PC computer, however. This frequently includes more advanced media software, office suites, and similar important software. While trials of these programs are often installed, these “thirty day executables” are often little more than marketing gimmicks. However, savvy users will be able to pick up open source software from the web in order to cover these unseemly gaps.

Linux is a little harder to classify when it comes to the “on installation package.” This is largely due to the wide variety of distributions. If we are to generalize, however, we can say that Linux systems almost always come with all the necessary productivity software. This includes internet access, an office suite, basic system utilities, photo and image editing, sound editing and recording, media players, and more. In brief, Linux will generally come with a more complete package than Microsoft.

This isn’t the full picture, however. Linux lacks one fundamental sector in its installation package: codecs. In order to play most standard media, including MP3s and Mpeg4s, you will need to download and install a codecs package for your computer. While not difficult, this additional step is certainly inconvenient.

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Those of us who aren’t old enough to be raised on DOS were probably raised on Windows. This means an in-depth familiarity with the system’s resources, its crashes, and the areas where it speed screeches to a halt. Like it or not, it’s the known devil. Linux, on the other hand, is a new territory filled with wonder, majesty, and (for most of us) terror. This compare and contrast series will help you note the differences between these two powerful operating systems, either keeping you in the safety of Microsoft’s trenches or pushing you to take the plunge into the world of Linux. In today’s entry, we will discuss the difference in playing media with various programs like WinAmp or Xvid. Windows: The Media Powerhouse Windows has designed itself around media, especially in its most recent releases. Their well rounded media center has seen years of fine tuning, and it can cover almost all media types. They have the great advantage of being a key player on the market, which means that most media creators will stick to file types Microsoft recognizes. Out of the box, Windows will play almost any media file known to man. Certain codecs are required to play specific file types (such as the xvid codec for .avi files), but can usually be downloaded directly through the media software that is pre-installed on your Windows system. Graphics drivers to play Linux: Media Guru in Training Linux has a problem with media. It’s not that it doesn’t it (it really does!). It’s that there are legal issues with a free platform providing access to unlimited media types. Because of legality issues in a handful of countries, Linux distros are not able to include a large chunk of the codecs in their installation. This includes the most popular media formats, such as the ever popular mp3. Since this is of issue for many, the Linux using community has made codecs packages easy to locate and install for your system. Additionally, a huge variety of free media playing resources are available to keep your eyes and ears happy.

Microsoft is a giant. It has enough resources that it was able to sell the original Xbox at a loss for several months in order to get its foot in the door. It has enough high salary programs that it can tackle any issue in its closed source software easily. And yet . . . they made Vista. Linux, on the other hand, is the kid who’s picked last for soccer during recess, but who always manages to score the winning goals. In today’s entry, we will compare and contrast the general stability of the Windows and Linux operating systems.

Windows Stability: You’re Kidding, Right?

Windows has absolutely been improving when it comes to general stability. They currently run off of the NT Kernel, granting them much greater levels of painless use. Those who recall using Windows 98, the final OS using a non-NT system, will remember how frustrating that system was.

As a core system, Windows is basically stable. It can be destabilized quite easily, however, due to the variety of programming languages and styles used to create software and drivers for the system. This, far more than anything, is what causes the traumatic “blue screens of death.” Installing new softwares, hardware, or even just updating drivers has a chance to destabilize your system, especially in more recent 64-bit versions.

Linux Stability: Linux Just Works

Let’s not pretend for a moment that Linux can’t become destabilized. The Linux kernel, while even more stable than the NT, can still be thrown off by software or driver issues. The difference is that this open source operating system has both professionals and hobbyists who can repair these issues more quickly. It’s of note that many reported bugs are given a fix within twenty-four hours.

The core drivers, the approval system for software, and the more smooth updating process for Linux all mean that the system will rarely, if ever, crash. It’s not perfect, but users who are accustomed to Windows level stability will find that Linux provides a refreshing change.

Three out of four people use Windows. Only one in ten uses Linux. Why? Well, among other reasons, Windows is just “how we were raised.” There’s nothing wrong of this in and of itself. Windows isn’t a terrible operating system (excluding Vista). However, it’s important to understand the actual differences between these systems if you’re to make an informed decision. In today’s entry, we will discuss the system recovery options for Windows and Linux computers.

Windows: Clunky but Resilient

Windows, unfortunately, has a strong need for system recovery due to stability issues. These stability issues, whether software or driver based, have led to the development of many resources over the years. The recovery alternatives can happen at one of three levels.

First, the standard recoverable level, in which the user can force close a problematic program. In all Windows systems from XP on, the task manager can be used to escape a troubled GUI and exit a program manually. Sadly, this doesn’t always work. Since many problems bug the GUI and the task manager is a GUI based solution, issues can be difficult to solve without a restart.

Second, the non-recoverable level. This is when the system notes that it can’t run safely, shuts itself down, and performs a memory dump. This is commonly known as a blue screen of death, and it will generally restore stability.

Third, the restoration level. If your system can no longer function correctly as it stands, a system restore can be used to get your OS functioning again. The current backup and restore options allow you to effectively revert your system’s state to what it was prior to experiencing issues. If this doesn’t work, you can perform a full system reinstall. Most market desktop and notebooks have a separate partition prepared to help you restore your system from scratch without too much difficulty.

While it may not be great that the system requires all these alternatives, the “treat the symptom approach” is nonetheless effective. In our next entry, we will discuss Linux’s very different approach.

Linux is a pretty cool operating system. You can customize it in a variety of ways, it’s a stable operating system, and you never have to worry about having to get someone’s permission (or mess around with a fancy license) in order to use Linux. Using Linux, an older computer can be made useful again because there are no memory leaks, or the other annoyances that creep in over time with the other kinds of operating systems (including that poser that rhymes with “sin doze”). And if that weren’t enough, people who use Linux don’t need to get unlimited cell phone plans, just to call some useless excuse for a tech support line that’s based in a foreign country.

Linux is the kind of operating system that assumes you are smart, and that you want your computer to just work. There is no garbage involved with a Linux distribution, because it wasn’t made by some huge company that just wants to sell you a bunch of crap. The people who developed (and continue to work on) Linux are programmers who have a passion for a well made, highly functional operating system. The fact is, you won’t get the same kind of attention to the positive details out of a company whose main goal is to give you a flawed product, just so that you’ll eventually get frustrated enough to go buy a new computer… even though the computer isn’t even the problem!

Basically, Linux is the option that people who know what they’re doing take, just by default. And if you’ve never used Linux, it’s no big deal. At one point, you’d never tried your favorite kind of food – there is a first time for everything, after all. And if you don’t like an operating system that doesn’t think that you’re an idiot, you can just uninstall it, without ever having wasted any money.

Everyone in the world seems to have a love-hate relationship with Microsoft. This may be a toxically co-dependent romance, but it has served the majority of the population well over the last two decades. It’s hard to break away from someone you know so well. However, Linux would like you to know that you have other options. It’s there. It’s waiting for you. And it loves you. In today’s entry, we will discuss Linux’s system recovery options. For information on Windows system recovery, see our last entry.

Linux: Smooth, Simple, and Command Based

The good is that Linux has far fewer problems when it comes to general system stability, and that means less need for recovery itself. That doesn’t mean that the system is flawless, however. If you get into really exploring the system’s capability, chances are you will run into a bug or two. So, what happens when you do?

System recovery for Linux happens at either a standard “recoverable” or a “non-recoverable” level. The recoverable level is what occurs when a program or individual driver is breaking your system’s functionality. Unlike the GUI based task manager solution of Windows, Linux provides a CLI termination option in addition to a system independent “terminal,” either one of which can force close programs and get the system running correctly. GUI based alternatives are also present, including simple “click to force close” option.

Many more of the problems fall into the “recoverable” category for Linux because of its ability to reset its entire graphic interface and drivers without rebooting the system. Even driver updates can be completed without shutting down the OS.

It is possible that the system will simply “break,” however, and that means that an emergency memory dump needs to happen. Much like the dreaded Windows “blue screen of death,” Unix systems can enter a “kernel panic mode,” dumping memory and keeping your system from eating itself alive.

Sadly, if worse comes to worst, there is no system restore for Linux. A Live CD of the OS can be used to fix most issues, however.

It would seem like the world, with its Mac and Windows obsession would have no use for such things as a Linux model but what you might not know is that Linux makes its market share elsewhere. Its found on many a servers like the same serves that host the site Offers.com. This operating system has had twenty to forty percent of the market share for the last couple of years. So why is Linux around if it owns so little of the market share? The answer is that people, programmers in particular, love the Linux system because it is an open source sharing system.

What this means is that the technology is available to anyone so that you can learn how they make it and that way you can learn how they use it and even manipulate it. This is great but with so many great minds working on the system there are advancements everyday.

The down side to Linux is that it is unlikely to gain more popularity. The Windows and MAC OS have quite the market share and since most people and businesses have most of their computers networked through it, you are not likely to see many Linux operating systems unless you are online.