The TechNow

I have been a long time Windows user. For my whole life, I’ve used Windows; from 95 to XP, XP to Vista. I even forked up some extra cash to get my own copy of Vista Ultimate for my laptop. But recently, I’ve found something better. Linux, specifically a distribution called Linux Mint.

Windows versus Mint

Linux Mint is a modification of the very popular Ubuntu distro (which is actually a descendant of Debian), and is very awesome. It comes preloaded with some well-known applications, like Firefox, Thunderbird and GIMP. It also has some apps that I myself had never used (but I’m now in love with), like Rythmbox and OpenOffice. These are all open-source and completely free, but that doesn’t make them any worse than programs on Windows. All the utilities I’ve found on Linux (for free) are just as good, if not better, than Windows equivalents.

Some people are afraid to switch to Linux because of the apparent lack of built applications, the need to use the CLI, or command line interface, for regular tasks, and the lack of support. The first issue is easily solved through Synaptic, a package manager that gives you everything you need- in one place. Far easier than scouring the internet for the installer files (that will just end up using extra space) like you need to do in Windows. The second myth is also completely untrue, copying and pasting, deleting, and all other file operations are easily done through the GUI. The CLI, however, makes these tasks simple and quick, and with a little practice, you won’t fear the terminal so much as you will enjoy using it! The last problem is also completely untrue. The countless forums, IRC channels, and websites you’ll find are full of people who know Linux well enough to help you with just about any problem you could have!

All of this, plus the facts that viruses are virtually nonexistent and essentially all programs are free, make Linux far more likeable than Windows.

Ubuntu versus Mint

After I’d used Mint for awhile, I thought it appropriate to test out its big brother, Ubuntu. I decided to get the Alpha release of the Lucid Lynx release, and installed it on my laptop. I have to say, Linux Mint blows it out of the water. The GUI of Mint is set up far simpler than Ubuntu’s, not to mention Mint comes with preinstalled support for DVD’s, MP3’s, etc., something you have to add manually in Ubuntu.

I have to say, Linux Mint is quite amazing. Snappy interface, helpful people, awesome programs, and all in a free, open-source package. Simply wonderful.

This post was written by BMatt, and he/she may not represent the opinions of this website or it's owner.

Paranoid Linux is an operating system that assumes that its operator is under assault from the government (it was intended for use by Chinese and Syrian dissidents), and it does everything it can to keep your communications and documents a secret. It even throws up a bunch of “chaff” communications that are supposed to disguise the fact that you’re doing anything covert. So while you’re receiving a political message one character at a time, ParanoidLinux is pretending to surf the Web and fill in questionnaires and flirt in chat-rooms. Meanwhile, one in every five hundred characters you receive is your real message, a needle buried in a huge haystack. ~Cory Doctorow (Little Brother, 2008)

At the time of writing of that passage, it was mere fiction. Since about this time last year, developers have been working to make this reality. Their result? An “alpha-alpha-alpha-alpha” that was released a few months back.

Not a lot of people know about this Linux Distribution; partially because it is nowhere near complete. I haven’t installed it or run it; at the moment I am downloading the ISO.

Jrabbit edit: https://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4439431 Torrent http://alexbobp.servebeer.com/share/ParanoidLinux_alpha-alpha-alpha-alpha.iso HTTP Mirror (please seed!)

Today marks a monumental occasion build one of paranoid linux. Now i’m not going to admit we’re anywhere near done, and to quote alexbobp “is “slightly paranoid ubuntu” kind of like “slightly pointy coconut”". Well yes, it is. But being slightly pointy is better than being not point at all (that’s basically a Richard Dawkins quote)

So go out, find bugs, report them here and help the distro grow! If anyone knows how to take a ubuntu distro and create an svn tree that we can use to build cd’s more quickly, that would be greatly appreciated.

Sam Phippen

This post was written by j.dhanani, and he/she may not represent the opinions of this website or it's owner.