linux

Did you pay for Windows? Are you absolutely sure? If your computer came with a copy of MS Windows, then you most likely paid for it (even if the store didn't tell you). In fact, the price for a Windows license these days amounts to an average of one ... fourth of each new computer's price. So unless you obtained Windows illegally, it's a safe bet you probably paid for it. ;-) And unfortunately, a license of Windows doesn't imply that you own the software; it's like the road system and your driver's license: you bought and paid for your license, but you don't own the highway. In a nutshell, you ... (view more)

Have you ever lost your work because Windows crashed? How long has it been since you rebooted Windows because of a system error of one sort or another? When was the last time you received the infamous "Blue Screen Of Death" or other error messages ... demanding that your omputer needs to shut down and reboot for obscure reasons? Certainly, the latest versions of Windows, especially the XP and 2000 "Professional" flavors are considerably more stable than their predecessors. Nevertheless, the need for a spontaneous reboot happens often enough. Of course, no operating system is perfect, and people ... (view more)

Viruses, Trojans, adware, and Spyware... MS Windows lets all these enter your computer easily. In a recent report I read, the average time before a Windows PC connected to the Internet (with Service Pack 2 installed) gets infected in about 40 ... minutes time (and as little as 30 seconds). And on top of that, adequate protection isn't always enough. Even with a firewall, antivirus, antiSpyware software, plus a more secure web browser and email client (such as Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird instead of Internet Explorer and MS Outlook), you'll still need to pray that pirates aren't smart enough to ... (view more)

I was chatting with a handful of my friends the other day when my favorite subject was raised -- Linux! Over the next few weeks, I'll try to write down the various things we discussed; it may open your eyes and get you to thinking more about Linux. ... ;-) The topic that got the ball rolling was the question, "Can you give me just one good reason why Linux is better than Windows?" In fact, the question came from a Microsoft Certified Engineer (MCSE). He is one of those guys that has to have solid, factual, and absolute proof, and not just so-so reasons. The FIRST item off the top of my head was, ... (view more)

Die-hard Infopackets Reader Beverly C. writes: " Dear Infopackets Team, In a recent article , Brandon Dimmel was quoted stating to the effect that " ... frustration by victims of the Windows WGA spying will only build the momentum of Microsoft's ... growing list of competition." My question is: aside from the multiple variations of the Linux Operating System, what other options are there available for home users? Here's my frustration: in each release of MS Windows, there are excessive features that the average home users never accesses and does not (and probably will not) use in the future; yet ... (view more)

As we continue wandering along, there is one area of Linux operation you need to consider before taking the plunge and installing one of them. In fact, there are lots of things you will need to learn and we will get to those later, that is a ... promise. But the one area we need to talk about, though, is Updates and the Update process. Issues with Windows Updates Thanks to Microsoft's repeated issuance of Critical Updates over the years, the mere mention of the word "update" paints an ugly picture in most people's minds. However, an update in Linux does not need to be either as scary, ... (view more)

In my previous article , we discussed choosing a Linux 'distro'. As I pointed out, the choice is highly personal and depends upon your needs. The next step of course is installing Linux. With that said, I've highlighted key differences between the ... types of installations commonly bundled with Linux distributions. The Linux Desktop: Choose between Gnome, KDE, and XFCE Let's start with the Desktop. There are several to choose from. If you were to ask twenty people that used Linux regularly, which they would recommend, you would get a handful of answers, but the two that would get the most ... (view more)

Linux is on the rise and we can all thank Microsoft for it! People around the world are tired of Microsoft's heavy handedness in their marketing ploys and in foisting off a lousy Operating System commonly known as Windows. After years of putting up ... with high pricing, program bloat, and the constant need to Update and Upgrade because of coding errors and insufficient operation, people are turning to Linux in greater numbers. Are you one of them? This article is offered to help you decide which Linux will be right for you and to give you a few resources so you can make an educated decision. At ... (view more)

A short time ago, I found a cool web service called CosmoPOD that allows you to run a remote Linux PC from your desktop without having to actually install a Linux operating system. Once you are connected to the remote Linux PC, you are able to surf ... the web anonymously, plus have immunity to Spyware or adware attacks. But that's just one of the benefits of CosmoPOD. Once inside your new CosmoPOD desktop, you will have access to dozens of free or open source applications. For example: Open Office is one of the many installed applications and it lets you use and create most of the common ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'Robin' writes: " Dear Dennis, Regarding yesterday's Shell Extension City pick labeled ' SystemRescueCd ': According to the write-up, I understand that this particular rescue disc is (and I quote) 'a Linux system.' Question: does ... this mean that this is a rescue system for Windows XP that operates under Linux or is it a rescue system for people running Linux on their PC? I hope you understand what I mean. I'm confused! " My response: I was also very interested in this Shell Extension City pick, so I downloaded it and burned it onto a rewriteable disc. The answer to your ... (view more)