Linux
How to Create / Move / Resize Partitions with GParted
0Partitions on your hard disk are like logical areas that are created to separate information or operating systems. Most PC’s will only have one partition by default, and that partition will take up all of the available space on your computers hard disk. (more…)
How To Try a Linux OS On A Virtual PC
0OK, so you want to learn more about Linux but you’re not ready to lose part or all of your hard disk in order to do so. That’s a perfectly valid argument, after all, there’s no point in shrinking your Windows hard disk space, or deleting Windows completely, unless you know that you’re ready to make the switch. (more…)
Store And Share Files Online With Dropbox
0I’ve shown you how to use Skydrive to share files and folders online before. But there’s an even easier way to do so using a service called Dropbox.
With Dropbox you receive 2GB of online storage space for free, which is more than enough to store all of your important files or share your photos and videos with others. (more…)
Review – Kubuntu Linux 10.10
0As the name suggests, Kubuntu is a variant of the worlds most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu.
The difference with this version is that it uses the KDE Plasma Desktop as apposed to the GNOME environment that Ubuntu uses. This leads to some fundamental differences in the way KDE looks and operates, but the underlying components are more or less the same.
KDE has a bit of a reputation for being more “Flashy” than Gnome, and this is generally a lot more customizable than the original Ubuntu. Lets see how this reputation stacks up as we go through the installation of Kubuntu and then see what it’s about.
Installation
The Kubuntu installer operates in pretty much exactly the same way as the original, only with slightly more graphical flare. The cursors are better animated and the display generally has a cleaner look about it.
You’re taken through exactly the same options as with Ubuntu, first selecting language, then preparing the installation, setting up your hard disks, setting the timezone and keyboard settings before finally setting up your user settings and installing Kubuntu. Exactly as shown in the video below.
Look And Feel
Kubuntu certainly does have a different look and feel from that of Ubuntu, and it would definitely suit someone who’s more used to the Windows user experience, the menu is located in the bottom left as apposed to across the top of the screen with Ubuntu, and it’s broken down into several sections; Favorites, Applications, Computer, Recently Used and Leave.
You also have a tool box in the bottom right corner which displays time and date, network connectivity, sound options and notification messages, all features that are very similar to Windows.
Another feature that’s been, uhum, “borrowed” from Windows is the ability to add widgets to your desktop. As with Windows there are quite a few included, but many more are available online. This is a feature that many people have warmed to quickly within the Windows community, and many Linux users will find it a good way to organize themselves as well.
Performance
The main gripe that people have had with the KDE environment has historically been that it can often perform less well than GNOME, and unfortunately Kubuntu 10.10 is another example of this.
Although it was still perfectly usable, I did experience a noticeable difference in performance compared to the GNOME based Ubuntu 10.10. The boot time increased significantly, and having more than two or three programs open introduced a lag that simply wasn’t there with Ubuntu.
That being said, I’m running both systems on a virtual PC with modest specifications, those users with higher powered systems will likely not experience the same kind of degradation in performance, in which case Kubuntu’s performance will be as good as the majority of Linux distributions out there.
Included Software
Kubuntu comes bundled with the major open source applications that you would expect. OpenOffice.org and Firefox are both included, though most of the other internet, media and office tools are available explicitly for KDE based operating systems. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with them at all, in fact some surpass their GNOME equivalents in terms of features and usability.
Kubuntu also has access to a massive online repository of free additional software which is accessed via “Software Management” in the System menu.
From here you have the same kind of access to additional applications that you have with Ubuntu’s Software Center. Different applications are broken down by genre, and if you know the name or function of an application then you can search for it using the built in search facility.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands of applications that can be used on Kubuntu, all entirely free. That kind of functionality is hard to argue with.
Conclusions
Kubuntu could just be the perfect Linux distribution for the average Window user who’s looking to convert to open source software. The user experience is as close to Windows 7 as you can get without shelling out £100 for a license. Kubuntu should also run on PC’s that Windows 7 would struggle with, so it’s a great alternative to upgrading to a more powerful machine.
The customizable options of the desktop and toolbars should keep the majority of users happy, as will the masses of applications available for download for free.
If you’ve never tried Linux before, you could do a lot worse than starting off with Kubuntu 10.10. Likewise, if you tried Ubuntu but found the user interface lacking, give Kubuntu a go.
Review – Puppy Linux
0Up until now I’ve been looking at Linux distributions that are aimed at replacing Windows on your home computer. But for this review I’m taking a look at a Linux OS that’s designed for an all together different purpose.
Puppy Linux is primarily designed to be installed on a bootable USB memory stick which you carry around with you at all times. The reason being that you can walk up to any PC made in the last 6-7 years and boot off of your drive, immediately being presented with your own familiar interface (on PC’s that allow booting from a USB device).
There are a few reasons why you would want to do this…
1) It can help with fault finding if you suspect that your normal Windows OS has a virus or spyware application installed.
2) It prevents you from leaving any trace of personal information on a shared PC.
3) On any PC that you use you’ll have access to your own interface, applications and files.
Most people will only be interested in points 2 and 3, so let’s go into slightly more detail with them. As computers become a larger part of our day to day lives, it’s easy to let your guard down and divulge way more than you would normally deem acceptable when using a public of shared computer. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve visited a PC or Mac store and found that people had saved logins to Email, Facebook, Myspace and even bank accounts on the display computers. Doing so leaves you open to all kinds of dangers, the most severe of which being the unauthorized use of your bank and credit accounts.
Using Puppy Linux ensures that no trace of personal information will be found on the host PC once it’s been shut down and the USB key removed. All of the information, including things like passwords that have been saved in browsers, will be held entirely on the USB key, which you can also encrypt to ensure that no one can gain access to it should it be lost or stolen. The OS will also save all of your personal preferences and settings to the USB key before turning off, meaning that the next time you use it you’ll be presented with the same state as when you last used it.
Installation of the OS was a breeze, insert the CD and it’ll throw you straight into the user interface with little or no information required from you. Once there you can have a quick play around with the OS and applications, and even take a look at the contents of any hard disks attached to the computer. Once you’re satisfied that you can work the OS well you can transfer it to a USB key, hard disk or any other type of storage medium for future use. Doing so is relatively simple with clear instructions written in plain English for those who aren’t that familiar with Linux. Once the OS is loaded onto your removable disk you can then boot from it forever more. What’s more, you can allocate a set portion of the disk or USB drive to act as storage space for your personal documents and files. Doing so allows you to carry a full Linux installation with you wherever you go.
As well as being extremely quick to load and operate, Puppy Linux is incredibly small. The reason for this is simple; USB flash drives are still very small when compared to traditional hard disks, and the guys at Puppy Linux wanted to make sure that you had the maximum space available to store your own files (i.e. the OS doesn’t hog all of your storage space). For that reason the number of included applications is quite small. You get a basic web browser, document writer, spreadsheet app and a few other tools like a calander and address book. That being said, Puppy gives you the option to install additional applications should you choose to do so. Firefox, for example, is available to replace the bundled browser should you so choose. In doing so, you can make your personal installation of Puppy as small or as large as you wish, providing you have a USB key big enough to contain it.
All in all, I’ve found Puppy to be extremely user friendly when it comes to basic day to day tasks like web browsing or light office work. The one quirk that will take a bit of getting used to is the “single click to open” functionality that Puppy uses, as apposed to the traditional double click. This is a small price to pay, however, for an entirely usable, personalised and safe portable OS. I now walk around for most of the time with an 8GB USB key containing Puppy, just in case I need to check Email or my bank balance while on the go. All of my logins and passwords are stored on it, and the drive is protected by a random password which I’ve dedicated to memory.
If you find yourself excusing yourself to check your Email or the outcome of that eBay auction, I recommend you give Puppy Linux a try. Not only will you have a safe, secure way to access your information, but you also won’t have to go digging through your host’s Windows PC to get there. In practice, I’ve found Puppy to be a faster and all together better alternative.
Review – Fedora Linux 14
0The latest Linux distribution that I’ve decided to take a look at is Fedora 14.
Fedora is the official branch from an older Linux version called Red Hat, which is now developed purely as an enterprise solution. Although Fedora is still considered a “home” Linux operating system, it doesn’t find itself as easy to use as some other distributions, like Ubuntu.
The installation is pretty painless though, and resembles some of the other Debian based versions in terms of simplicity and look/feel:
The process is as simple as any other Linux distribution out there, which makes it just as simple as installing a Windows environment as well.
But it’s after the installation process that ordinary users might begin to have trouble with Fedora. I’ll start off by saying that there is nothing wrong with Fedora; it’s a perfectly usable OS and has a lot of bundled software. Unfortunately though, it doesn’t seem to have developed as far as Ubuntu when it comes to things like software libraries and social networking integration. It still feels very much like a business tool. There’s nothing wrong with this whatsoever, if that’s what you’re after, but if you want to use your machine for consuming media or remaining in touch with friends then this may not be the version for you.
There is a software download center included, but it seemed to be lacking a fair few packages that I’d taken for granted with Ubuntu based versions of Linux. Things like Acid:rip and Boxee were both missing, leaving a user to try and install these applications manually which is beyond the scope of most ordinary users. This could also be a blessing though; if you don’t want your kids downloading every available package or playing around on Facebook and Twitter all night then this might be a better alternative for you.
In terms of performance, I found Fedora to be slightly behind what I had come to expect with Ubuntu, and miles behind what I had seen with the specialist distros like Lubuntu. In a time where people are demanding quicker and easier access to their data and the internet it doesn’t bode well for Fedora to appear more sluggish than the competition.
That being said, for all it’s faults, Fedora is as reliable as any Linux operating system and does include a fair assortment of software “out of the box” so if you want a Linux installation for work rather than play, this may be the one for you.
Review: Lubuntu Linux 10.10
0Although Ubuntu is the most well known Linux distribution available, it is one of literally hundreds of different interpretations that ordinary people can lay their hands on.
Over the coming weeks I’ll be taking a look at some of these other distributions in order to establish their strengths, weaknesses, uses and features.
In the first such review, I’ve chosen to look at Lubuntu 10.10.
Now, the shrewd amongst you will notice the similarities in the names of these two versions of Linux, and it’s not a coincidence; Lubuntu stands for “Light Ubuntu”. In essence, this version is a stripped down and streamlined version of the original which is designed to run on less powerful machines and to be more energy efficient in operation. These two attributes make it ideal for use on older notebook computers and the more modern “netbook” computers. Not only should it run faster but it should also squeeze more life out of your battery which is a neat accomplishment in anyone’s book.
Lubuntu achieves this by swapping the Ubuntu desktop environment “Gnome” for a lightweight alternative named LXDE; the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment. Although the name is far less important than the fact that this thing runs fast…. Really fast. In fact, in testing I found it to be significantly faster to load than the original Ubuntu, as well as a lot more responsive once it had loaded.
In terms of bundled software, Lubuntu fairs well with other Linux distributions, especially when you consider that this version is designed for lower powered PC’s. A few of the names may have changed, such as the Chromium web browser in place of Firefox, but the functionality is still very much there. The picture to the right shows the bundled “Aqualung” media player suite which,
although basic, offers excellent functionality in a sleek package.
Lubuntu also includes light productivity tools for office work, such as the Abiword word processor and the Gnumeric spreadsheet application, both of which offer modest compatibility with Microsoft Office.
There are also a selection of bundled games such as Freecell and Minesweeper, though few would expect to play many games on a Linux based machine.
One area where Lubuntu falls behind the competition is the lack of any social networking integration such as is found on the last two Ubuntu releases. Users of sites such as Twitter and Facebook will have to manually check their accounts via the web browser as apposed to from the desktop as in Ubuntu. That being said, Lubuntu does include the popular Pidgin instant messenger client which allows connections to multiple networks such as Windows Live, Yahoo, Google Talk and AIM. Many people won’t find this disection too much of an inconvenience, though those who have made good use of Ubuntu 10′s features may be left wanting.
Overall, Lubuntu offers a great alternative to those who want to use Linux on an older or lower specc’d machine. The cut down nature of the operating system produces some noticeable improvements in system performance, which can only be a good thing for those to whom time is money (or to anyone with little patience). It’s also worth considering Lubuntu for it’s green credentials; although no official stats have been collated (that gives me an idea), it does seem reasonable that a less processor intensive OS would lead to increased battery life.
Whatever your motivation, I encourage you to check out Lubuntu Linux 10.10 now.
Is An Ubuntu Tablet On The Way?
0Apple have kick started the market for tablet devices in 2010, and 2011 looks to be bringing an huge wave of Android based devices from pretty much every major technology manufacturer and retailer in the market, but could an Ubuntu Linux tablet PC be on the cards for 2011?
Yes, if you believe the writers over at Chinese based technology website Giz-China who definitely believe that an Ubuntu slab will soon be hitting retailers sometime in the near future.
The rumoured device is alleged to feature an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and a 32GB Solid State Disk. From the pictures it also looks like a 10″ device. It allegedly runs Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Remix.
I say allegedly as we’ve seen these kind of pictures emerge from China before, and a lot of the time it turns out to be some guy who took some screenshots of his home computer and set it as a wallpaper on his portable device. That’s not to say I wouldn’t welcome the device with open arms, though to be honest; any existing Windows tablet should be able to run Ubuntu Linux instead so perhaps it’s not something to get too excited about after all.