Stories by: Matthew Newton

As you already know, if I have to sit down in front of a computer, I want it to be running the Gnome desktop on Linux. I've watched it mature from a downright ugly, needlessly complex playground for geeks, to an attractive, simple interface that holds its own against commercial alternatives. And yet, every day I still encounter rough edges that make me think there aren't nearly enough folks out there hacking away at this stuff. I'd like to watch.

I'm writing this column on my trusty IBM Thinkpad, which has been running the newly released Gnome 2.12 for about a week now. This is thanks to Ubuntu Linux, which has gotten so much praise in my recent reports, a colleague suggested I should change the name of this column to "Ubuntu Agent." Ahem.

Matthew Newton continues his love affair with the new Ubuntu distribution, finding two killer tools for this particular Linux.

I've been working on a Linux Tips column for an upcoming issue of PC World US--a much tougher assignment than my monthly Free Agent ramble, for two reasons: First, I've got only one magazine page to work with, so I'm a bit restricted in what I can tackle. Second, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of our magazine's readers run Windows, not Linux. Since we do our darnedest to make every page of PC World engaging to our readers, I'm out to craft a Linux column that might prove relevant to those who are still computing Bill Gates-style.

Not so long ago, the only way to see whether Linux would run on a particular PC was to install the OS on its hard drive. Times change. Nowadays, many so-called live CD versions of Linux boot and run solely from a CD-ROM. Ubuntu Linux, our 2005 World Class winner for Best Linux Distribution, has a live CD version available for download. You may be asking yourself, "How do I download a CD-ROM?"

Matthew Newton gives his recommendations for those of us who are thinking of taking the Linux plunge, but need a little coaxing.

Linspire Five-0 is the latest edition of the Linux distribution once known as LindowsOS. Hence, it is geared toward Windows refugees. I tested a beta version of the OS and soon realized why I'm glad competition exists in the Linux realm: If Linspire were my only option, I'd probably stick with Windows.

Want to give Linux a try with little fuss and bewilderment? Xandros may have just what you're looking for. We took the $129 Xandros Desktop OS Deluxe 2.5 for a spin and were pleased to find that everything just plain worked.

Six years ago this month Linux became my primary operating system; it happened almost overnight. The startup company I had been working for imploded. I was at home, working on my resume, when my Windows PC crashed for the umpteenth time. I knew a bit of Unix (when I first started using the Internet, my only means of access was a Unix shell account) and was not at all intimidated by the idea of installing something Unix-y on my PC. I took the plunge and never looked back.

PC purchases traditionally involve choosing a Windows operating system. But now your OS choices are broader. Walmart.com, the online arm of the world's largest retailer, is offering a line of ultrabasic Microtel Computer Systems Inc. PCs equipped with a Linux-based OS from Lindows.com. We took a look at the US$299 Sysmar701 with LindowsOS 1.1, an interesting entry-level PC somewhat hampered by LindowsOS 1.1's odd mixture of polish and omissions.

Our recent LinuxWorld.com.au survey has revealed that the majority of people visiting the site have not yet used Linux. If you are in the process of deciding whether or not to take the plunge, find out all you can first. This feature article contains a whole heap of frequently asked questions, and their answers, about Linux that is sure to shed more light on the alternative OS.