Opinion | Linuxaria

A galaxy of Linux Distros

Dec 042011

The Internet is a great place to scratch the itch of curiosity. I’d heard some interesting things about Arch Linux so I Googled it. I wanted to know what the Distro was all about and a bit of it’s history.

I accidentally discovered The GNU/Linux Distribution Timeline which informed me where Arch Linux was derived from (Crux) and what had branched off from it (7 current branches)

It charted the Galaxy of GNU/Linux Distributions. Organized the mess that Linux Distros have become into an understandable chart. A huge svg graphic measuring 2,120 x 8,330 pixels

A chart that is very detailed. Remember that Distro of Linux meant to be a replacement for Windows, “Lindows”, that first appeared in 2001? It had it’s security dumbed down to about the Windows 95 level.

Is Linux being taken seriously?

Articles, Opinion 9 Responses »

Nov 302011

by
Frank Harris-Smith

As recent as the last 2 years I’ve noticed that the formerly Microsoft dominated PC world seems to be taking Linux more serious. Since Dell took that first pioneer foray into shipping systems with Linux pre-installed in 2008, other manufacturers have stopped ignoring the Linux world by writing drivers for Linux and porting their software for Linux.

I make some of my income through an on-line outsourcing agency called oDesk. When I first heard about the agency I looked it over critically and was struck by the serious business professionalism of the site.
Continue reading »

Windows vs Linux Software

Articles, Opinion 6 Responses »

Nov 242011

by
Frank Harris-Smith

Linux and Windows. It’s like comparing Apples and Oranges. Software can be compared, but how do you do so fairly and honestly? And what sort of presumptions should I make concerning where the reader of this article stands? I presume you are among the “rare” Linux users.

Not easy at all. Let’s start of with where I come from. I use Linux because I really prefer the stability and security of the platform. My system’s performance is better.. Hands down Linux is much better than any flavor of Windows in those three categories. But then there’s the software issue.

I’m going to compare software simply on a “Does it do the job?” and is there a Linux equivalent, or how close to equivalent they are.
Continue reading »

Linux for Work

Articles, Opinion 9 Responses »

Nov 172011

by
Frank Harris-Smith

I use Linux for work. There is a smooth work flow that I can achieve using the Linux Desktop that just doesn’t happen for me on any other platform. I find using Linux for serious projects not only is efficient but I also enjoy the process.

Both my home desktop and my laptop run Ubuntu Linux as the default OS. I do that for consistency. Having different Office Suites in the past has caused minor inconsistencies in documents I start on one and finish on the other.

Here is the list of software I use daily in my work:

LibreOffice 4.3 Writer and sometimes Calc
gEdit 3.2.1 for note-taking
FireFox 7 for Internet Research and Email
and Ubuntu Linux 11.10 to make it all run flawlessly

OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice – Two excellent choices

Articles, Opinion 4 Responses »

Nov 122011

by
Frank Harris-Smith

Just over a year ago the open source Office Suite world was disturbed by indecision, much the same way world stock markets have been upset by uncertainty today. Oracle had purchased Sun Microsystems and with it the “ownership” of the open source office suite OpenOffice.org.

Being unsure of what Oracle would do with OpenOffice.org a number of the key developers at OO.org left and formed the Document Foundation. They named their fork of the OO.org code “LibreOffice”. “Libre” meaning “little or no restriction.”
Continue reading »

Page 17 of 18 Newer Entries 1 2 … 15 16 17 18 Older Entries