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It’s all well and good to have apps that play music, give you great recipes and entertain you while you’re waiting in line, but is your phone ready for the unexpected — and are you? Having instant access to great tunes won’t help you in a severe weather situation, during an attack or when your phone gets lost, but there are many apps that will. Be prepared for any disaster, big or small, by downloading apps that keep you and your phone a little safer every single day.

Prepare for the Unexpected

From little inconveniences to life-threatening weather situations, life happens on a daily basis — and it’s full of pitfalls. Be prepared, even for the unexpected, with phone apps that will keep you much safer.

• Protect your phone against loss and theft with apps such as F-Secure. This anti-theft app can be used remotely to lock your phone or wipe its data if you think it’s been stolen. Your private pictures, texts and other files will stay safe. Using the app, you can also track and locate your phone. If you tend to lose your phone, download the Where’s My Droid app to track it easily. Use the app to send a text to your phone to turn off silent mode, make the ringer volume loud and start making noise to help you find it easily.
• When disaster strikes, entire infrastructures can be destroyed. Electricity and phone lines may not work, but the Life360 app may. Use it to get quick access to family GPS tracking, emergency messaging, disaster planning and other helpful functions that help you stay safe in disaster situations.
• You never know when you might be in danger — that’s exactly why it’s unexpected. Download Safety Button and keep yourself safe. Start the app, push the big red button and it will instantly start tracking and reporting your movements. If you’re in distress, press the button again to send a panic message to an emergency contact. The app will function in panic mode or medical mode, and will alert everyone in your “SafetyNet” by sending them a distress call. The world isn’t always safe, but you can be protected from even the unexpected.

Download and Install Safety Apps

There are so many apps out there, finding just one is like looking for that old needle in the haystack. You may search through pages of results before discovering an app you want, and by then you may not even feel like trying the app. Look for non-market Android apps on Technofied.net and other websites that provide online guides and easy-to-follow links. Comprehensive search tools make it easy to find just what you want to be prepared for the unexpected.

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A lot of Windows users may experience serious operating system problems. These problems may be a result of spyware, viruses, software issues or hardware that was improperly installed. Any one of these issues can render the system partially or in some cases, completely unusable.

Fortunately, Windows comes with a System Restore utility that, in most cases, can solve the problems. It is a very speedy task — as long as you did not disable this feature.

Windows XP or ME Restore Instructions
Click the “start” menu and navigate to “programs.” Then go to “Accessories,” “System Tools” and finally, to “System Restore.”

Choose the” restore my computer to an earlier time” option and click “next.”

Select a date from the calendar that is presented. This calendar will only present dates that contain available restore points.

Click on your preferred date, followed by clicking on “next.” You will then click OK and “next,” at which time your computer will automatically shut down. Upon restart it will be restored to the point you previously indicated.

Windows Vista or 7 Restore Instructions.
Go to the start menu and navigate the following:
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore

From “system restore,” click on “choose a different restore point,” followed by clicking on “next.”

Click on your desired restore point, followed by clicking on “next,” and the finally the “finish” option.

You will then click “yes,” when you are prompted. The restore feature will automatically shut down your computer. Once again, upon start up your system will have been restored to your chosen restore point.

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Many people rely on Windows Media Player to view and listen to their videos and music files. This player relies on codecs, otherwise known as drivers to playback the digital media files. Codecs are a small piece of software that lets the player compress and decompress files, allowing Media Player to perform its playback functions. Codecs can also reformat files to create different file types. An example of this is when you rip a CD song for playback on your computer.

If Media Player finds that it is missing a necessary codec, it will often just automatically download and install it. If the player can’t download or find the necessary codec, you will be presented with a message. These drivers can also become outdated or even damaged, causing the Media Player to malfunction. You may need to reinstall the entire Media Player application to alleviate this problem.

If you get a missing codec message, click on the “web help” button. Click on the subsequent WMPlugins.comlink. From this website you can find the codec you need. Simply click on the link and follow the install instructions.

If you think your codecs are corrupt, go to the Windows Media Download Center. From there, you will select the download Windows Media Player option. Click on the “download now” option. Once the application is download, follow the installation instructions. This will replace your current version of Media Player, as well as all the necessary codecs.

As you can see, keeping your Windows Media Player up-to-date is a simple process.

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Because the Linux operating systems is more customizable than the traditional operating system, users can run Linux on computers that have limited resources. Many of Linux’s user interfaces and programs are design to be lightweight and can help your system performance. With the correct interface and software choices, you can make an older computer run well. For instance, here’s look at programs that you can choose that will reduce CPU usage.

Graphical User Interface
Determine which window managers are currently installed by booting the computer, go to the login screen and then go to the “session” menu to look at your options. From here, select a user interface that is very lightweight, such as LXXDE, Openbox or Fluxbox. Continue logging in and you should notice the lighter interface that is reducing your system resource usage.

Lightweight Software
Look at your installed software — browsers and word processors, in particular. OpenOffice and Firefox are considered system resource hogs. Try Chrome or Opera as a Firefox option. Abiword is a very good word processing option to replace Open Office and gnumeric is a great piece of software for spreadsheets.

You can also consider using a simple text editor instead of a full-fledged work processor. A text editor can be just as efficient as a regular word process, while using less system resources.

Finally, monitor your system resources by using the “htop” command from within the command shell to give you system monitor. You will be able to examine which software and programs are consuming the most system resources.

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An operating system is only as good as its flexibility. If a user cannot load the hardware or software needed to make the computer function at its peak capacity as well as provide the user with the programs needed to perform daily tasks, then that operating system can be very frustrating to use.

The Linux operating system is constantly being updated and improved so that it will accept changes as they occur. This is because the Linux operating system was originally made possible through the collaboration of many people in different parts of the United States as well as the world. For more information on how Linux stays on top of technology changes, go to thelinuxgurus.org.

Probably one of the most cited reasons for changing or upgrading to a different operating system is the fact that the one being implemented has newer features. These can include more access to different software programs and more sharing ability, something that is becoming increasingly important as more and more people begin to learn about “cloud computing.”

“Cloud computing” simply means that when you access a program, you may be receiving that program from an internal web system or it may be coming from a source outside the office, even from the Internet. You get the same information and can perform the same functions; you just don’t know the exact location of where the program originated from. Linux is making constant changes and improvements so that users of this operating system will be able to access cloud computing features.

• Ubuntu: This is a desktop platform that provides free software to anyone who wishes to use it. Unlike other platforms, however, Ubuntu software doesn’t have “commercial” and “community” software (commercial software usually has more features that community.) The software you download from Ubuntu on your computer at home has the same features as that on your work computer.

• BleachBit: This software helps you free up disk space by doing more than simply deleting files. It actually “cleans” your computer, getting rid of applications and other programs that you may not even known were there and certainly don’t need.
• NolaPro: A bookkeeping and accounting software program that makes keeping up with accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and other accounting functions easier.

Other types of Linux software include gaming software, software that is designed for use in the educational field, software that can help perform complicated mathematical functions, and many other types. You should have no problem finding some Linux software that you can use, either for business or pleasure.

These are just a few examples of Linux software. The website thelinuxgurus.org can give you more examples and descriptions. It can also offer you information on the newest software that is available as well as future projections for Linux software and the operating system.

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To understand what the Linux Operating System is, you have to understand what an operating system is. Basically, an operating system is what makes your computer run, and different brands and types of computers have different operating systems.

Linux is simply another type of operating system, but what makes it so unique is that Linux was developed for use on personal computers. There may have been other operating systems that could work on personal computers, but usually they were lacking in key components, such as memory and the ability to share files and other things.

All operating systems will accept software; however, certain operating systems only accept certain kinds. Linux supports many different types of software, as well as some that was created exclusively for use in Linux systems. You can find more information on Linux software on thelinuxgurus.org.

Another good thing about Linux is that the source code (the thing the computer has to “read” to operate) is widely available. This means that anyone who wishes can contribute to the Linux operating system. This, in turn, means that upgrades and improvements are constantly being made.

As mentioned earlier, certain operating systems support specific software. This can make some of them a hassle to use, because you don’t have access to a lot of different features. It is true that Linux has exclusive software for its operating system, but the software gives you lots of feature options so you don’t feel “closed in”. Go to thelinuxgurus.org to learn more about the features on Linux software.

If you are using a Linux operating system you have the opportunity to create directories that can be used to store and organize files, data and pictures. Here’s a look at how you can create those directories on Linux.

Step One: Know Your Directory

You will need to know what current directory you are operating in to create a new one. This will help you reduce your chance of receiving an error while trying to create a new directory.

Step Two: Create the Directory

In the command prompt you will want to type “mkdir (name)”. Replace the (name) with the name of the directory you wish to create. Just remember that you are going to create the directory in the partition that you are in.

Step Three: Create Subdirectories

To further organize your directories you can create subdirectories. This can be done by typing the command “-p” and the name of the directory that you wish to create. For example you would type “mkdir –p (name)”. Just replace the (name) with the subdirectory you wish to create.

With a little bit of practice and research you can create tons of directories that will allow you to organize your data, files and pictures so you can find them faster. As you practice you can learn how to create multiple directories in one command line and how to separate files for ease of use all on the Linux system. Computer using with Linux just got easier.

To clear up any confusion here’s a guide to the basic questions that are asked by first time Linux users about the defragging process.

Where Do You Defrag on Linux?

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New Linux users will notice that there is no defragment command on Linux. This can be confusing if you are used to defragging the computer. The reason for this is because Linux is set up so well that you do not need to defrag your computer. Where Macs and Windows will slow down at the slightest defragment, Linux will slow down only when it’s 40-50% fragmented so users rarely have to defrag.

What Do I Do to Defrag?

If you really wish to defrag your computer that is using a Linux operating system you will need to download various tools and software that will perform this function. Experts recommend downloading EX2 File System for Windows as this is the easiest and best defragment program. This tool requires that you know how to dual-boot and run it on a Windows operating system but it can be done.

New Linux users will notice that it is a whole new computer world with this new operating system. This guide should help you with the basic questions about defragmentation.

If you have accidentally deleted a file off the Linux operating system here are the steps you need to take see you can restore the missing file.

Step One: Find the Partition

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You must find the partition section where the file was located. This can be done by performing the PWD command and searching for the missing file.

Step Two: Use Unmount

The command unmount can be used to make sure the file will not be overwritten or accidently deleted. Simply type “unmount” and the file and this will protect the file you wish to restore.

Step Three: Use Debugfs

The debugfs will make sure no errors occur on your Linux operating system. Occasionally when restoring a file a can cause the operating system to interpret it as an error and shut it down. Performing a debugfs command will prevent this from happening while you restore your deleted file.

Step Four: Use Isdel

While the debugfs command is running you will want to use the isdel command. This command forces Linux to create a list of all recently deleted files. The time it takes Linux to create a list of deleted files will vary depending upon how many files you have recently deleted.

Step Five: Recover

Once you have found the files you can undelete them by typing in the command dump (filename). This will restore your files.

Computers continue to have advancements to improve running time, convenience and overall speed. A computer is known to have eight elements that are important to the hardware technology advancements of the device. These are:

• Power supply
• Cooling fans
• Hard drive
• Various devices including DVD and CD-Rom drives and external hard drive
• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)

The power supply is how the computer gets the power to work and the cooling fan, which could include one or more. It helps keep everything inside the computer cool from heating up while working.

The hard drive stores everything needed for the computer. This has the operating system as well as all software and even games. The motherboard is the connection of the elements needed for the computer’s function. The CPU is known as the computer’s brain making it the main controlling factor of the computer hardware. Then RAM is memory storage that comes in a variety of sizes and speeds. It can be added to increase RAM on a computer. It needs to be compatible with the motherboard though to work properly.

Sure, all of these elements are typical hardware elements found in a computer. Nevertheless, as people make more and more demands on their computers then they want them to work faster, add memory and increase storage. These demands mean technology advancements are vital. Those working within computer and hardware manufacturing are competing with each other. They want to have the best product so their hardware will be purchased over others.

Multitasking for computers is similar to a person that takes on many different projects at once.  Linux multitasks by working on multiple processes or tasks. This operating system can work on one project and do well and can give the same dedication to each task if working on 10 or more. Linux may not even realize it is running different tasks because it works as if it is dedicated to one task.

How much can Linux  really do while multitasking? Well, this really depends on a few useful elements such as:

• Computer memory
• Central processing unit speed
• Program size

Computer users want to do multitasking with Linux and any software operating systems. Busy, Busy, Busy!! They have many things they want to get done and the more multitasking a computer can do the better because the more they can get done as well. If a computer system can’t handle multitasking then it won’t be popular with users no matter what else it has going for it that users love. Therefore, all the major operating systems including Linux use multitasking.

Multitasking with Linux makes it an efficient system that has become successful over the years. It has also lead to its long life of increased use. An added element of Linux multitasking is each project is an independent element. If one of the elements working during multitasking crashes for some reason the other elements being worked on at the same time will still be working fine. It also rarely causes the system to automatically reboot.

There are many millions of small businesses as well as mid-size businesses that have around two personal computers. Nevertheless, over 50 percent of these businesses have no server or central computer for their services. That’s why Windows has created an advancement to give these businesses server opportunities. They introduce the Windows Small Business Server 2011 as a way to eliminate this vacancy.

Some things to consider about this opportunity are:

*High costs

*Reliability

*Complexity

*Manageability

*Security

There are three options to choose from with this technology. These are the standard, essential and premium add-on options.  Use the standard option for a small business that wants to work with a server at the work location. It is a complete solution that works with communication as well as collaborative technology. It handles up to 75 while the next step handles up to 25. That is the Essentials option, which is user friendly and is designed for the smallest business. It is priced the lower budget as well and will work to collaborate the entire office with online service. It can be upgraded. The premium add-on is considered to be powerful when it comes to management as well as analysis. It is also versatile working with all Microsoft servers.

Having a server will help with office management and organization as well as expanding business opportunities. Advancements continue to be made and small businesses are really starting to benefit because of these options.

Linux is an operating system that was developed through industrial strength concepts that optimize use. When using Linux it takes less space to use than say the popular Windows system. That means there is more space available for storing and using other elements.

There are a variety of ways to learn Linux to help improve programming. There are courses as well as books that give complete details about Linux working processes as well as techniques. Even websites provide information and resources for Linux education.

Those interested will find many different computer languages exist and Linux can accept a variety. This makes Linux versatile and very user friendly. Computer language is important because it gets a program to work efficiently allowing the computer to understand commands. Some of the computer languages that work with Linux are:

*Fortran

*C/C++

*Python

*Perl

Linux is often easy to assess as well which can help improve programming. It is available through a General Public License. The user just needs to know what type of Linux system will be best for their needs. Even if the public doesn’t recognize Linux as an operating program they benefit from its platform. It has been used in watches, cell phones, TiVo, Sony PlayStation and many other elements that have been improved programming with Linux.

Improving programming with Linux can occur for many things from gamming and desktop publishing to internet visits and e-mail checking. It really provides a freedom for individuals to program freely.

The Linux technology foundation is the kernel. This is the software’s core taking care of requests made toward the computer. Linux software varies because of how the unique kernel is handled. Examples of Linux technology benefits because of variety including:

*Using the Linux technology kernel for graphics

*Allowing shared access to the kernel

*Faster processing

Some computer users working with graphics use more graphics than others. Therefore, not every version is set up for major graphics. It is primarily a server operator for professionals. Anyone that is a beginner with Linux technology allows an option to using specific programs. It even helps make switching from one system to another easy. Check the Linux program to make sure it will do the job that you need it to do. Linux technology does not relate to Windows in the point-click system format. Instead, users control the computer through certain applications to make the computer do what you want.

It is considered being difficult to work with Linux technology unless being educated in all the techniques. Nevertheless, when Linux technology is understood and conquered then the benefit is a more flexible system. Linux technology allows it to be a powerful system that has specific conditions. When it comes to Linux the quality technology also helps it to continue to work properly. IT professionals often choose Linux over other such systems.

Furthermore, Linux technology and overall support is available. Some groups offer free support and others charge to assist with this. Finding good support is vital to benefiting from Linux. Research helps when searching for quality support.

There are many branches when it comes to the technology field making it sure to be a long list of items being considered and finalized for 2011. Here are just a few on the medical technology advance branch:

1. Technology advances for diabetics could change the way they check their blood sugar levels. This is a special lens, similar to a contact lens that is put in the eye to tests glucose levels found in tears.
2. An ultrasound working with Smartphone technology is designed to help doctors while on location. They will be able to get an image inside the body using a hand-held device.
3. Devices are in creation to help individuals that have paralysis or an epilepsy condition. A technologically advanced chip is being used to stimulate neurons in the brain and help the body to move properly.
4. Medical robots have been around for decades that assist with surgical procedures. These are advancing in how well they work from repairing obstructed kidneys to electrophysiology.
5. Even the instruments traditionally used by a doctor are showing signs of technological advancement. There are devices that monitor a person’s vital signs at home and devices to detect health issues, such as related to heart rates. This could someday include effective home check-ups for patients unable to leave the home.

All of these considerations are making technology advancements that could help save lives and add quality life in the future.

Many may not have heard much about Linux and they may not understand the benefits over using Windows or other popular and similar operating systems. For starters, Linux is unique since it is an open source operating system. Elements of this type of operating system include:

*It has a public license allowing users access to software for free, in most cases. There is a source code that even allows the user to make changes.

*This provides more secure software since there is a team with various backgrounds that worked on it.

*It is compatible when it comes to other such platforms.

*This has no vendor lock-in., which means the software owner can move content to storage.

*Chances are Linux is safe from being shut down because it is owned, developed and supported by a group of companies.

Linux seems to have many benefits. Users can feel good about using Linux because of how it handles system crashes. This program handles unknown elements or software and is designed not to have a full system crash. That is a wonderful benefit especially if someone has a major term paper due or career making project presentation to make in just a few hours. Linux even doesn’t have as much trouble with Spyware or Adware as well as other such computer terrorisers. Using Linux also gives users more security because it is not an application, but the system is built into the program making it stronger.

First, a Windows application is known as software programs. They work on any computer that uses the Microsoft Windows operating system. Second, it is good to understand a little more about a software application. This is also known as a program. It performs a particular function  by collaboratively working together in a logical set.

Third, when using a Microsoft Windows application it is typically contained in a “window” shape, but this is not always the case. When talking about a “window” this refers to the software working in screen sets that each handle a program or application. The “window “could provide control options for the “window”, but it does not have to do so. Another element that might be controlled is the program area size or shape.

Examples are:

*Mozilla Firefox

This is a free web browser with an open source. It is considered one of the top used web browsers worldwide.

*Microsoft Internet Explorer

This is a graphic web browser series that also goes by the name Windows Internet Explorer. It is frequently updated to help develop the best information and performance possible.

*Notepad

This application is a simple editing program for text that includes the capabilities of changing text font and size. It is used to not only edit, by just view text as well.

*Microsoft Excel

This program is used as a spreadsheet application. It includes tables, graphic tools and calculation features.

*Debugging

When a program gets a glitch using a debugging process is a way of fixing the program or cleaning away the “bug”. There are a variety of debugging applications, but it is important to use one that works with Windows when running Windows.

Some software advancements include modelling and automated build tools. The modelling tools continue to improve and be upgraded. Furthermore, they are considered to have a lot of room for evolving and improvement. Then an automated build tool has been around for many decades, but has evolved to be graphic focused and is more user friendly than in the past.

Then there are the initials — IDE or Integrated Development Environments and XML, which is data in easy to read form. Having IDE is a way to mix programming tools in an application. XML is used in most software today to help produce more power. Software advancements also include a faster processor allowing only seconds to work on some elements such as saving projects and doing debugging.

Software advancements continue to improve and are faster while becoming cheaper as well. It is really getting widespread use with so many options available. Finding the top five software advancements can really be considered a matter of opinion especially when it comes to putting them in order. Nevertheless, examples of five poplar software advancements in no particular order include:

• Managed Code

This allows a written code to work even if it is not perfect.

• Internet

This has lead to a variety of advancements in different elements. All of software has been affected by the internet in some way from making things easier to creating a global marketplace.

• Code outlining

This uses XML to keep the codes organized and saves time.

• Code Sharing and Google

If there is problem working out a code then do a search and find code sharing for help.

• Microsoft Windows

This has developed a great platform to display information worldwide.

People are always looking for the next best thing in gadgets. They want to find something new and interesting. Sometimes even bizarre gadgets are popular at times. Cell phones are an example of interesting new gadgets because they continue to be upgraded. They constantly have elements added to keep them interested. All the interesting upgrades are done to compete with other companies that have introduced cell phones.  The other reason is these upgrades and interesting elements are in demand by customers.

Some interesting new gadgets that are becoming sought include:

• Solar gadgets that are powered using social energy. These gadgets work well in bright light as well as sunlight.
• Mini gadgets, which are small devices that are easy to carry, include web cameras and rechargeable USB cable.
• Anti lock alarm gadgets that protect a person’s belongs.

Every day and every year there are new interesting gadgets being introduced. Some are found quickly in everyday life while others take some time to get into mainstream use. There are many interesting gadgets that have found popularity. Some include: TV watches, waterproof binoculars, talking dictionaries, 3D games and massage pads.

Often new gadgets are expensive at first. Then in time prices are reduced allowing people better access to items. Some new gadgets don’t last and others become widely used. There are many factors that determine if a new gadget will evolve into an old gadget. Reasons gadgets work is through popularity, cost of production and usefulness are all elements considered when continuing with a gadget.

What will be developed next in interesting gadgets? What is in production now? Many eagerly wait to find that out. It seems to be more and more exciting every moment to find interesting new gadgets.

Computer programming is complicated. It involves a lot of elements and is also known as computer coding. Computer programming creates a program for a computer that demonstrates a particular need. There is a set process to computer programming that includes:

1. Designing
2. Writing
3. Testing
4. Debugging or troubleshooting
5. Source code

A programming language develops a source code. When writing a source code for the computer there needs to be an array of expert knowledge to be successful. This includes knowing about formal logic, application domain and specialized algorithms. This is knowledge that is not common for everyone, yet there are individuals that are not computer specialists and mathematicians that have an interest in computer programming.

Getting help with computer programming is possible. Anyone interested in computer programming perhaps as a career or even as a hobby have a variety of options. They of course can take college courses. It could be as a major and going into computer programming for a career. Nevertheless, if someone is really interested in computer programming they can look into continued education classes at a college.

Other options are calling help lines that deal with computer issues and specialize in computer programming. It is important to have at least some computer programming knowledge in this situation. Many computer forums are also available and they are often free. They help the person by answering questions and giving them assistance. Often these services are free or carry a minimal fee. Computer programming books are available as well. Someone with a desire to do computer programming might enjoy teaching themselves through book instruction. They can learn while having fun and challenging themselves.

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Linux is a computer software operating system. It helps a computer apply functions through applications and operations.

Typical operating systems run using an application, such as a computer processor. These systems perform a certain task and this effort is sent to the system’s application through the system. The same is true for Linux.

It was started in 1991 and in 2008 it represented an ecosystem of $25 billion. Linux continues to be enhanced within the computer industry. It can be found working and powering various elements including:

• Mobile phones
• Consumer devices
• Supercomputers
• New York Stock Exchange
• PDAs
• Web services, such as Linked In and YouTube

Linux does differ compared to other operating systems, such as OS X and Windows, though.

It was created to be an open operating system that is not handled by just one group. It is an effort that has continued support and development as a group effort. Several companies share the expense of what it costs to keep Linux up-to-date. This collaborative effort allows for efficient results because it is a group effort. There are around 100 companies that work with Linux, with that number continuing to grow. This effort has helped Linux to be a popular system found in use throughout the world.

Even though Linux is a very popular operating system it continues toward more elements of involvement. Linux can be found in BIOS laptop systems, for example as well as in computer notebooks. It is known to speed up computer start up time. Linux provides Internet connection tools for computers including e-mail and a web browser. Using Linux means computer users are working on the Internet and they didn’t have to start it up on their own – it just starts up when the computer does.

Linux is known to be evolving just as all computers and other technologies evolve. Changes are being made all the time and improvements are being introduced.

Just keep the following points in mind when you are contemplating a switch from a Windows operating system

• There is no need to skip Windows completely. You can keep it as your primary operating system in your computer and use an alternative operating system or Linux distribution through the live CD process.
• You can operate multiple operating systems of the Linux based distributions from the same computer. Just remove one live CD and place another live CD and you will have a brand new operating system in your computer.
• The operating system that you choose can be modified to include your favorite software applications. If you often make use of Window’s only software applications, going in for Wine which will help you run such programs on your Linux distribution will be a smart move. You can incorporate this software program as a part of your live CD.
• Setting up dual booting option to ensure you can switch from your favorite Linux distribution to your favorite Windows operating system is not a difficult process.
• The switch from one operating system to another need not be done in a hurry. Since Linux is open source and numerous good distributions are available for free, you can take your own time to make the switch.

Since you cannot use your Windows operating system on a CD, it is advisable to keep it installed on a secondary drive which does not consume a lot of space. You can remove unnecessary programs and retain only those software applications that cannot be run on Linux.

We simply download the necessary software application after buying it and install it without any difficulty. The makers of different Linux distributions are well aware of the negative publicity surrounding this important feature. There are many experts who swear by the variety and choice that Linux offers. According to them, this is the only way the computer programming world can avoid the stagnation.

If each and every computer were to use Windows operating system and if a single company were to decide its features, a large number of persons would invariably end up being dissatisfied. The only way to overcome this problem is to make use of different distributions designed for specific tasks. There are some software applications which can be used for all distributions without any difficulty.

Free and open source programs can be combined with the operating system and offered as a single package known as live CD. Other programs need to be purchased from the developer and need to be downloaded before use. The absence of a single point where users of Linux could identify all programs suitable for their distribution was sorely felt. This is a reason why the makers of distribution are coming up with alternatives and are taking steps to tackle this issue. What is beginning as a single point of reference for different users may soon become an emporium where individuals can not just find the right software application for their distribution but also identify other options which can be downloaded and used using emulators and simulators.

The fact that there are numerous versions and variations of Linux, called distributions, is often cited as a disadvantage. There is no doubt that an average individual who knows virtually next to nothing about a computer programming will find it very confusing to assess different distributions. For such a person, a single product that is compatible with bulk of the hardware and software applications in the market is good enough.

Well, Linux distributions can be marketed and pitched to even such average users who are not interested in technicalities. However, the one size fits all approach means that developers and other persons with computer and programming knowledge often end up being unsatisfied.

All it takes is a quick search on the internet to understand that Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions around. It is a perfect replacement for an average user of a Windows operating system computer. For those who want specific modifications, there are numerous variations of Ubuntu combined with other distributions like Red Hat and Fedora.

The overall result may often seem chaotic and unwieldy. There are many distributions that deserve a lot more attention but do not enjoy the same simply because there is no advertisement around. On the other hand, many other distributions get publicity even if they are not very useful to the masses. Well, the process of balancing different requirements will take time. In case of Windows, the system stagnates and creates more complications for users in the long run.

Well, you have the option of using the live CD to install the Linux distro into your computer. However, this is not compulsory. If you wish, you can use the operating system on the CD itself. You can leave the hard disk completely empty but still use the flash drive or CD to open files and even connect to the internet. This should be no different than living out of a suitcase when you are in the hotel. However, when all your stuff is packed in wooden cartons, do you think you can try and live out of the same?

You will have to open everything and arrange everything before you can even think of leading a normal life. That is exactly how the Windows operating system works. The installation disk will only help you install a system on the computer. It will not help you run the operating system out of the CD itself.

This may not seem like a big deal but you never know when you may require urgent access to the computer only to find that your system has crashed. The biggest complication with reinstalling the operating system is that all the programs that you have installed in your system will also get removed.

You will have to not just install the operating system again but will have to focus on each and every software application that you use. When you make use of a live CD, you can either use the software application that is installed in the hard disk or you can make use of those programs that you have already installed in your live CD.

Before you conclude that learning a computer programming language is not possible for you, why don’t you consider the alternative? Learning a language that will help you communicate with the computer better is no different than learning a language that will help you communicate with a foreigner better. For sufficient consideration and incentives, you will certainly be prepared to learn a new language.

If you are a part of a marketing team, chances are high that you have been encouraged to explore other languages. This will help improve your job credentials and will make you a bigger asset for your company. Well, knowing how to program for computers will help you use your Linux distribution better.

Whether you actually choose to clatter on the keyboard is a different issue. There is no harm in learning the language. Once you treat computer programming language as just any other language, you will realize that the difficulties you face in the task were no different than the difficulties you face when learning any other language.

Just as you do not expect to learn and master a foreign language in a single day, you should not expect to become a master at programming in a single day. You will need practice, experience, theoretical study and practical application before you can call yourself an expert.

Considering the advantages involved, there is no harm in investing time and effort in such a process. You may not learn programming to become a master programmer earn your daily bread out of it. However, it certainly will help you come up with new programs as and when you desire.

For starters, the absence of voice recognition programs compatible with Linux is a very big problem. Those who use Microsoft office and its inbuilt voice recognition technology were disappointed when the latest version of MS office did not include this feature.

However, Microsoft is in the process of reverting back to this feature in its office suite. Further, the company has offered in built voice recognition technology with its latest operating system itself. On the other hand, neither an in built program or a third party software application offers voice recognition technology for Linux.

At a time when people are dictating thousands of words to the computer in a single day, Linux is still stuck with programs that only facilitate scientific commands and other short words. Needless to say, this is one area where Linux is dragging its feet as compared to Windows.

Many critics point out that this is one reason why Linux can never be a reliable solution. Microsoft windows chose to invest it is time and effort in voice recognition and has made giant strides in this field today. On the other hand, Linux is dragging its feet simply because the makers of distributions feel that there is not enough demand.

Well, it is just a question of time before demand and supply balance each other and people come up with an advanced option for voice recognition for Linux. However, had this same problem arisen in case of Windows, one can be rest assured that no amount of public demand would have made a difference until the developers and Microsoft felt that voice recognition technology was worth investing.

Well, there are many advantages of having a Live CD in your hand. Once you insert the Live CD, whether installed on a CD, DVD or flash drive, it will automatically take over and supersede any other operating system installed into your computer. You just have to instruct the computer to boot using the Live CD and you will enjoy access to a completely new operating system.

If your system has crashed and if you are not in a position to connect to the internet, using the Live CD can help you override all problems and connect to the internet without any difficulty. On the other hand, once you get stranded without any access to the web, you may have no option but to remove your hard disk and attach it to some other computer only to hope that it functions properly.

The good news is that making a Live CD is not a difficult task. You need not even allocate a flash drive for this task permanently. You can write it on a CD so that you can create the Live CD on the flash drive without any difficulty whenever you want. Rather than ignoring this aspect and getting stuck in a difficult position, it makes sense to rely on this option and have a backup in your hand so that you are prepared for any contingency.

Running DOS based solutions in the latest Window operating system platforms is possible only if you make use of simulators. Well, the biggest disadvantage with setting up a Windows 95 operating system within a Windows XP system is that you will have to utilize each and every feature of the older system without any exceptions.

You may simply want the minimum configuration necessary to operate your DOS based program. However, since you would be using the entire platform, you would obviously face numerous problems in using the computer at high speed. Linux is particularly useful in this regard because it helps you opt for virtualization in a customized environment.

You can setup one distribution over the other in such a manner that the original distribution remains the full fledged one and the virtual distribution simply happens to be a bare bones platform suited for specific activities. This will help you prevent a situation where the older and less frequently used system consumes maximum power and leaves very little power for the newer and superior platform.

It is still possible to end up in a situation where this problem occurs. However, the Linux operating system, with its free editing option, helps you make the necessary changes. You simply have to take an existing distribution, make the necessary changes to simplify its resource consumption procedure and proceed to use it in your simulation software.

The fact that this option is available means that any individual with sufficient knowledge of programming languages can make the necessary changes. Unfortunately, this option is not available with other solutions.

However, most individuals underestimate the capacity of the network to solve their problems. Remember, no two enterprises are the same and what has worked for one entity need not work for another. In such scenario, flexibility and compatibility become very important.

This is where open software and solutions like Linux can make a huge difference. Linux is a platform and can host numerous open and closed source software applications. The fact that Linux is an open source operating system offers unimaginable flexibility. The initial task of fighting the enterprise relationship management plan on an open source network with varying standards may seem very difficult.

However, you are not going to focus on a universally acceptable model, right? You will simply focus on using Linux in such a manner that your enterprise and all its future needs are taken care of. What if you make a wrong assessment and end up having to make numerous changes to your setup?

Well, Linux is free and can be modified by any individual with knowledge of programming languages and skills. On the other hand, opting for a closed operating system for such an important aspect of your company’s functioning may pose numerous risks.

This is just one aspect where Linux and its open source characteristic are beneficial. There are numerous other benefits that the company will enjoy. As the company expands and as wholesale changes have to be made, Linux alone has the flexibility to expand or contract its dimensions and offer perfect solutions to the end user.

Would it not be wonderful if you could carry your most favorite tools and computer resources in your pocket? That is exactly what the Live CD feature is all about.

If you prepare a Live CD of your favorite Linux distro along with your favorite software applications, you just have to pop the distro into your computer and you can work on the device as if it is your own computer.

All the files in the hard disk will remain the same. However, the operating system that is used to access these files will change. You can search for and download different software applications that can be installed on your Linux operating system distribution and can store it in your Live CD.

It is not just a question of convenience alone. In some cases, relying on the software application installed in the public computer may create a security risk. When you make use of the operating system you carry around in your pocket, you can be rest assured that it is free of viruses and will not spread your private data on the internet.

The advantages do not end here. You can also have different Live CDs prepared for different tasks. If you want to assess the configuration of the computer and if you want to improve its performance, you can use a Live CD that contains all necessary tools required for assessing and streamlining the performance of the computer. Once the Live CD is removed, your system will be as good as new.

Well, the idea of a single geek clattering over the keyboard on his or her Linux operating system computer may seem very cool and romantic. However, when a multimillion dollar organization decides to switch to Linux servers for all its internal computing requirements, it will certainly not be interested in employing a loner for this task.

The employee appointed to setup and run the server architecture will obviously be required to meet minimum standards. For very long time, experts in Linux found it very difficult to convince employers that they were indeed worth the money that they were asking. In the same way, employers often ended up with those Linux experts who bragged a lot but performed very little.

In 2000, Linux Professional Institute announced the Linux administrator certification program. Any person who completes this program will automatically be certified by the institute that he or she is worthy of operating as a Linux administrator. The program consists of 7 tests across 3 certification levels and was an object of wide criticism by geeks for being a regressive option.

However, a certain level of compliance with social norms is not a bad thing. The biggest advantage of the certification is that the employers are finding it easier to identify talent and employees are finding it easier to prove that they are indeed capable of taking on challenging tasks.

Clearing the certification is not a must but is certainly going to help you improve your chances when it comes to convincing employers that you are good at what you do. In a recessionary economy, the certification can make all the difference between a lay off and an interesting and well paying job.

Linux is used by hundreds of individuals, businesses, academic institutions and governments to run thousands of platforms large and small, and under the auspices of many different entities and brand names. So you can be excused if you’ve never even heard of Linux.

Here are eight essential details about Linux:

1. It first became known to the world on Aug. 25, 1991, when a computer science student named Linus Torvaids emailed an announcement to fellow programmers that he was developing a new and free operating system.

2. The original operating system created by Torvaids upon which all of Linux is based is called the kernel.

3. Linus Torvaids still works on the development of the kernel.

4. The Linux system is different from other operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X, in that it is open and available to developers, academic centers, government entities and other businesses. Because it is an open platform, Linux has much lower licensing and support costs than other operating systems, as well as more flexibility, reliability and security.

5. The Linux system is modular, enabling developers to use only the parts they need for a particular application or device they are creating. This makes the system “scalable,” enabling it to grow as large, or be reduced as small, as needed for a desired use.

6. Well-known companies such as Google, Twitter, Linked In, YouTube, IBM, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi and Intel rely on Linux.

7. Linux powers a wide array of platforms, from the New York Stock Exchange to small consumer electronic devices to vast super computers.

8. The Linux Foundation (linuxfoundation.org) was established in 2007. Its mission is to provide stewardship and guidance for Linux to ensure its success and growth as it competes with closed operating systems. 

When you are buying a computer know the features that you are paying for. Some computers are more capable than others. The ability for computers to talk to other devices and computers is crucial. If you have a lot of devices like most people today you want the features that allow you to connect to those devices. If you need to show video feed from your computer to a T.V. or a projector you will need a better video card with the correct connections.

When you buy your computer remember to get your warranty. The more you use these devices and connect them to your computer the more your computer connections will wear out. If you have a part break on your computer that you use the most then your computer becomes useless to you. Parts do wear out on computers and it’s nice to have a warranty to cover the cost of the repairs.

When you’re on the sale floor of an electronics store tell the sales associate what you are planning to use your computer for. Tell the sales associate if you are planning to move to different areas of your work. If you’re blogging on the internet and just writing at the moment you may want to video blog later on. Ask your sales associate if these upgrades are available later on your computer.

The IPhone is one of the most widely used smart for today. This phone can be cracked and there are tutorials on how to do it on the net. Cracked is different than hacked, because it’s the person who owns the phone doing it to them self. It just takes one more step to hack into somebody’s phone and that is motive. Right now it’s not going to be a big issue, because what are they going to take from you, people’s phone numbers or your list of music? While our phones continue to do more work for us the more complicated phone coding will become. The more code that there is on a phone the easier it will be to download and hide a virus.

Hopefully they have started to think about virus protection for phones, because the way things are going that’s what we will need. Our phones do have something that most computers do not (but will soon) that is Bluetooth capabilities. The ability to link one device to another in a matter of seconds, with no wires and little effort will become a security problem. This technology is advancing as well, but they keep the best feature on it and that is being able to turn it off.

The top universities still focus on the prestigious trades: lawyer, doctor, etc. Programming is not going to be prestigious any time soon. Don’t go this route if you want respect. Not only will there be no respect there may not even be a job in the future. Countries like India and Bangladesh even Romania are being outsourced to. Sure they may not do it as well as Americans at the moment, but it won’t take them long to figure out how.

Programming manuals are being translated into other languages more than ever. The person that was outsourced to write the manual probably just handed it to his brother so he could find a better job programming. This work is going out of the country and will not come back, because we can’t work for less. The cost of living in America is rising too high for us to compete with developing nation prices.

The best way for you to make money on programming is to be very good at it. You can’t be the best, because that guy probably wouldn’t waste his time reading this, instead he would be writing code that would make him millions. Be great at this trade, because the Indians are good. When they are great at it also, then you should start worrying. Right now just stay on top of what is coming out and keep writing.

When you purchase a computer you’ve already made the tough decision to go with a PC or a MAC, but your decision-making process has not stopped there. You will be faced with the decision about what type of operating system you want to use and download for your computer.

There are a dozen different types of operating systems are available for your computer. The operating system that you choose will depend upon what you are using your computer for. If you are an individual user you will most likely go with one type of operating system while a huge business such as one that handles rental offices for Los Angeles apartments might go with another type.

Here is a look at some of the different types of computer operating systems that are available for computer users to choose from.

A Graphic User Interface. A graphic user interface, or a GUI system, allows computer users to interact with the system generally through icons and the use of a mouse. Windows is a great example of a GUI operating system.

Multiprocessor. Some computer operating systems are unable to handle more than one computer on their system. These require the use of a multiprocessor system such as Windows 2000 or the Linux system.

Multitasking. A computer will sometimes need to multitask just like a human. It will need to run multiple software programs at one time and some operating systems work better than others when it comes to this type of operating system. Windows 2000 and Linux work better for computers that need to run more than one software at a time.

The choice of which computer operating system you choose to use on your computer is up to you. It is a good idea to figure out what your computer needs are and which operating system will work best for those needs before downloading an operating system.

In order to be successful staying at home for your job you have to be able to self motivate. This means actually waking up in the morning, just like you would at a job outside of the house. You also have to be able to research all kinds of unrelated and obscure topics quickly and efficiently  if it takes you too long to conduct as simple Google search then you’re going to costing yourself money.

A very important aspect of working at home on your computer is knowing how to meet deadlines  whether they are your own that you have imposed or clients waiting for work from you. It’s critical that you can deliver your work when you say you will, every single time. If you have never been good at following directions and turning work in then you probably shouldn’t quit your job to work at home from the computer.

You will also need to ensure you have the right technology and software.  Make sure  your computer can handle the work that needs to be done.  And get your hands on productivity like openoffice which you can download for free at openoffice.org.

The final tool in your skill box needs to be perseverance. Sometimes it can take a long time before you start to see rewards from your efforts, and for many people this is a very frustrating aspect of working at home. If you want to be successful working at home on your computer you need to be able to choose a plan and stick with it.

Photoshop is a very beneficial tool to those who work at home from their computer in many ways. Not only does it give you so many different options to customize your online presence, but it also gives you an avenue to take if you want to build a rewarding business. Here are a few reasons why you should definitely learn how to use Photoshop.

One of the best traits that a successful blog or website has is a unique presence. Because Photoshop gives you the ability to customize your photos in almost any way you can imagine, you can rest assured knowing that the pictures that you place on your website will be unique to you. That gives you a huge advantage over a lot of other websites because your visitors will immediately notice the personal touch that you have added.

Aside from editing your own photographs you can also create unique works of art completely from scratch using the program. This gives you a way to create backgrounds for your site, banners, ads, fliers and almost anything else you can think of. Many people even create small businesses just creating art for other people there are all kinds of marketplaces available where you can sell your creations and advertise your services.

Another really cool thing about Photoshop is that it gives you a way to create your own logos for free. You can start making logos personalized to each of your websites if you just have a small amount of artistic talent, some creativity and of course some basic computer skills. They may not be as good as a logo created from a professional company, but nothing is better than free when you are first starting out working from home online. A logo is a great way to give your customers a way to associate your service with your website.

One of the first jobs that many people hear about doing online is writing all that online content has to come from somewhere right? Well, it turns out that becoming a writer online is a very possible reality for those who can spell correctly and put together meaningful sentences. It takes a lot more effort to maintain the jobs that it does to find them, so just make sure you are prepared for the workload before you start.

Another incredibly popular job that many computer savvy people do over the internet deals with design work  more specifically, designing websites. Because so many businesses are going online now there is an even greater demand for competent designers. Designers also get a pretty steady work flow from people who are just setting up hobby blogs as well. As long as you take the time to figure out where you should market your services, creating a work and home business designing other people’s websites can prove to be a very lucrative endeavor.

Another avenue that you might want to consider when you’re looking at working from home on the computer is internet marketing. Just be aware that it takes a lot more work than most websites give it credit for, so definitely be prepared to lose some sleep at night while you’re still getting started. However, once you have successfully created a good revenue stream this can become one of the most flexible lifestyles to lead.

When it comes time to decide on the layout of the website keep your visitors in mind. Try to choose one that is easy to navigate and does not have a lot of extra items and widgets that aren’t needed if you are adding these in yourself make sure you don’t go overboard! Try to keep in mind that simple is almost always better when it comes to creating a web site. Your visitors are more likely to notice the little personal touches and become more annoyed at the extravagant ones.

Make sure that you are picking a color scheme that is easy on the eyes. You won’t be able to keep visitors on your pages if they get a head ache every time they try to read the text that you have put up. For example, bright yellow text on a black background generally is not the best idea. It makes the articles and other words appear pretty fuzzy to your online readers.

The final really important step to designing an awesome website is to always include a way for your visitors to contact you. Without that you won’t be able to receive any kind of feedback from your readers. Feedback is one of the most important aspects of learning how to create your online presence  it lets you know what people are looking for when they come to your page.

The first thing that you should do is make yourself a schedule. Make sure that you are drawing up a plan that you can actually stick to a schedule does no good if you aren’t going to pay attention to it. Outline what you need to accomplish each day and how many days out of the week you will need to work to do it.

Another really helpful thing that you can do for yourself when you work off of the computer is to lay out all of your money goals. You’ll want to plan for the week, the month and the year. Make sure you allow yourself a little bit of leeway with this because unexpected things will always come up. Try to plan to make more than the amount than you actually need to survive so that you can afford to take an occasional sick day if you need to.

The final most important thing you can do to help keep your sanity while you are working from home on the computer is to always take time for breaks. You can plan out small, frequent ones throughout the day. Or, you can just take one longer one in the middle of your work day. It depends on how you work and what you want to get done during those breaks. The important thing is that you are taking them so that you don’t let your brain get too stressed.

There are many websites that offer a chance to complete online surveys. While a select few have figured out how to use this to generate a substantial amount of money, you should treat this more as a fun past time. However, every little bit can help when you are first starting out struggling to live on your last pay check.

A really good way to make money is to start an online business. There are many different avenues out there that you can take, especially if you have any artistic or writing skills up your sleeve. The best way to find these jobs is to search for forums that are dedicated to these kinds of freelancers and then learn from their example. You’d be surprised at what you can learn from just reading through forum postings.

Another very popular option for people is affiliate marketing. This involves starting a website and then having it approved by the company that you wish to promote. Once you are approved you can place links to their products on your website and then earn a small percentage of the sale every time you generate a lead. This has the potential to be a very lucrative computer business which is why so many people decide to try it. However, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to see it actually pay off.

Most free websites make it really easy to build an attractive looking web page. They don’t really require any technical knowledge of coding, and most of the templates are as easy as clicking and dragging. The nice part about that is you can create a website in about an hour or so and then be done with it if you want to. Or, you can keep tweaking it and updating the content as you see fit. It’s all up to you!

Another great feature that free websites offer is the ability to change your design whenever you feel like it. Most make it really easy, and there isn’t any down time to your site during the transition. This can be wonderful for people who have never built a website before because they can change around the color scheme as many times as they like without dealing with the frustration of learning CSS and HTML.

One of the best reasons to use a free website is that is does not cost any money to test out a business idea. You can use the free site to see how well your key words will do and if you actually generate any visitors that are interested in buying your products. If it looks like your computer business has the potential to be successful you can then move it over to your own domain name and hosting. Who can argue with a free way to test out multiple business ventures?

Because online casino games have refused you. You can’t access their programs; you can’t download their application. Every file shatters into a useless denial. Your platform cannot read the language, and you cannot play poker.

The blame, however, does not rest with Linux. It must instead be offered to the casinos themselves.

Most online sites do not yet recognize the value of your system. It confuses them, leaves them wondering how best to reply. And too often is it simply ignored, believed to be too much of a difficulty. The virtual rooms of casinos therefore are unable to be accessed. Their tables are closed to the ones who lack the understood platforms — such as Microsoft and Macintosh (though even this can prove to be a challenge for some, with many Macs unable to do more than stream basic software).

It becomes imperative therefore that all Linux users understand the demands of their servers and seek sites that embrace them. They do exist, despite their rarity. The proper research is simply needed to find them. Be certain that each casino lists its requirements. Know which applications must be downloaded and which can instead be hosted. And take note of open source possibilities, which could enable you to eventually create your own thrills.

Your system has not failed you, despite what it may seem. It simply needs your patience before it can offer you a game.

Each engine provides a way for you to narrow your searches. There is a page describing how to use the search engine better if you just ask the search engine. You can do that by searching on the search engine what you are trying to do. The more you ask the more you will know.

Keep in mind that the engines are made to be user friendly. You could be over thinking your search and you should try to dumb it down a bit. If one way of searching is just not working for you then try another and keep trying until you find what you are working for.

Search engines are better than what they appear to be. They use powerful algorithms to seek out and provide the best answers for your search. Use these algorithms to your advantage and play with it constantly. The more that you play with them the more you will understand how it works. Just do random searches and look through the information given back to you for patterns. As kids we play to learn new things about our bodies and minds. We play math and word games to enhance our understanding of these skills. It would make sense that we play with the tools given to us on the net to enhance our understanding of them.

Have you heard, cloud computing is one of the fastest growing segments of computers and computing? It’s true. Many businesses, both small and large, are taking their data offsite and moving into the virtual realm. When did this all start happening and what is the history behind this whole movement? First of all, if you feel like you just started hearing about this whole concept of the Cloud, cloud computing and cloud storage in the past few years, you are right. But the whole idea behind these services is not.
First of all, people have been combining multiple computers and resources together to create a more powerful, single source for many years. Basically, as long as there have been scalability issues, there have been computer techs combining computers and multiplying their power to account for those issues. Also, the idea of charging people for a service and for use of their more powerful applications and hardware is also not new. So if these are not new then why are we just hearing of cloud computing on a regular basis?
The new and exciting concept behind the Cloud and working in this environment is so simple that it is a wonder it did take so long to be brought to the forefront. What is different now is that someone finally saw the benefit of taking all of the resources and services and then utilizing one user interface to access them. It is almost like bringing together a team of business professionals into one group and then hiring them out as a group instead of individually. Why it took so long to figure out is the big mystery. Now the developers, engineers, IT professionals and others are able to work on creating instead of constantly dealing with security and operational issues. Thus the Cloud was born and has grown up rather quickly.

When you buy something off the website that offered the product it gets a small portion of the sales. The majority goes to the supplier of the product. Keep that in mind, because if you like what a website is saying and trying to offer keep going to that website to support it. When you are out of that product again or about to be out, go back and order from the same website.

Websites use analytics to check how their website is growing. Graphs and numbers of visitors are displayed so the person how made the website knows where to focus their energy. The person who made the website might have more than one. To keep their focus on what you need keep going to the site that you need. Also it’s a good idea to spread what you have found by word of mouth.

Websites are made to serve a purpose and hopefully gain some profit out of it. There are websites that just try to sell you products out there with little information on how to use it. Don’t fall for the smaller prices of these zombie sites. Look for a site that provides in-depth information on what you are buying, that way they can keep on providing the information to you.

Many people that are addicted to drugs and alcohol lose out on their relationships. While, at first, these people may try to hide their drug or alcohol abuse, friends and family will eventually find out. When they find out, you will want to hide the fact that you are an addict, which usually causes you push them away.

If you’ve recently stayed at a rehab facility such as TheCyn.com, then you are well on your way to healing. You received the right treatment as well as gone through withdrawal so that the harmful drugs and alcohol toxins can leave your body.

If you want to get your friendships back with people, you need to work on yourself first. You need to make sure you are strong and follow the right steps toward healing yourself.

There’s nothing worse than confronting someone to tell them you are sorry, only to have them still not want to talk to you. You need to realize that you hurt these people and that they need time to heal themselves, too. If they aren’t ready to forgive you, then back away. They will come to you when they are ready, knowing that you have become sober and are trying to live a healthy life.

The worst thing you can do is pursue a relationship with someone that doesn’t want to have anything to do with you anymore. Sometimes you have to realize that what you did while you were on drugs or alcohol was harmful to others. If they don’t want to forgive you then that’s the consequences of your actions.

By learning to apologize for your actions while under the influence, you are working on the first step toward gaining your friendships back with people.

Though Mac computers run on Unix, which is a Linux based operating system, there are still advantages to Linux over Mac.

The biggest factor for most people is the price. Since Linux is free, open source software, it does not cost anything. With a Mac, though, you will pay at least an extra $500, if not more. Though Macs use a Unix base for their operating system, they still charge a significant amount of money for the use of the software.

In a lot of cases, using a Linux operating system and using a mac are very similar. In other ways, they are very different. For example, updating software on a Mac can be frustrating and time consuming. You have to use the AppFresh installer every time you want to update a program. With Ubuntu, for example, everything stays up to date automatically. This is a huge factor for many people, who may not have the time to check frequently to see if there are updates to be made or not.

With Linux, all of the software that you will use is also going to be free. Since it is an open source software, you will be able to find many programs and pieces of software for free, that will serve the purposes you need. With a Mac, however, you may need to pay extra for these programs, as Macs are extremely proprietary.

Between a Mac and a Linux computer, the biggest difference is going to be the price. Macs are extremely proprietary, and can get very expensive. Using Linux software is free, and has about the same learning curve as a Mac does. They have about the same amount of computer security as well. If you are more worried about brand, you may want to stick with a Mac, but if you are looking for great functionality with a lower price tag, consider Linux.

There are many forms of Linux distribution. In fact, there are over 600 of these distributions currently. So, what exactly is a Linux distribution? Basically, they are a collection of software applications that run on top of the Linux kernel. the software included could be word processors, database applications, spreadsheets, and more. Since Linux is a free, open source software, there are many versions of Linux distribution that are developed and programmed by the users themselves. There are also some that are backed commercially by larger companies.

Some of the distributions that are commercially backed are Fedora, Ubuntu, and Mandriva Linux. Gentoo and Debian are two of the more community driven distributions for the operating system.

Ubuntu is the most widely used distribution of Linux, and is said to have as much as 50 percent of the Linux usage that is using Ubuntu. Ubuntu is used not only as an operating system for individual users, but also for servers. Ubuntu focuses their system on stability, security, and usability. It comes with a large variety of software, that can help in your daily using of your computer.

Gentoo is designed the be very easy to maintain, flexible, and optimizable to your computer. Gentoo is described as having near unlimited adaptability.

Fedora is the second most used version of Linux. One of their main goals is to be on the leading edge of free and open source software technologies.

No matter what distribution of Linux you are interested in, you will find that they are all great to work with in different ways. Some require a little more of a learning curve than others, but one of the great things about the Linux distributions is that you are able to customize them how you want. You can also count on them being extremely safe operating systems for your computer.

Initially, the project was not called Linux. Though Torvalds did consider the name, he felt that it was a little egotistical. He called the system Freax at first, but one of his coworkers did not think the name worked well. Because of this, the coworker changed the name of the project on their server. Eventually, Torvalds did agree that Linux was a good working name for the project.

In 1992, it was suggested that Linux be released under the GNU General Public License. After this, it was able to be worked on to make a free, fully functioning operating system that many people could use.

The mascot of Linux did not appear until 1996. At that time, Torvalds made an announcement that a penguin would be the official mascot of the operating system. The cute penguin’s name is Tux, and was formed from using the words Torvald’s UniX.

Today, there are thousands of programmers, all around the world that work on the Linux operating system. Many of them send improvement ideas and suggestions to the people who maintain the kernel on a regular basis. There are some companies today that profit on Linux based operating systems, even though it is open source, though in general, they have made significant contributions to the system.

A large majority of people use the most well known operating system; Widows. For a lot of people, this is because this is what came with their computer, or they purchase it because it is something that they know the name of, and are familiar with. This does not necessarily make it the best. If you are in the market for something new, or are just plain tired of Windows, you may want to consider Linux. You may be wondering why Linux could be a good idea for you.

If you are looking for a new operating system, but are a little low on funds, you may be shocked by the price of a Windows operating system. They can get extremely expensive, especially for those on a budget. Linux, on the other hand, is actually free to get. If you have multiple computers that you are looking for an operating system for, you may actually be required to buy multiple licenses with Windows. In fact, you generally have to buy one license per computer. The price of this can stack up quickly. No matter how many computers you are looking to set up, Linux is always free.

It has been said that Linux is a much safer operating system than Windows, as well. In part, this is because it is used much less, but another reason is said to be because it is an open source software. In other words, if there was a virus that got out, there would be a fix for it very quickly. With Windows, you have to wait for one company to come up with the patches and fixes, while with an open source software, you will quickly find that there are programs and fixes programed not only by the company, but by other users, as well.

There are many great advantages to using Linux on your home computer. Even if you do not feel that you are very tech savvy, you may find that Linux is a great way to go for you. It may take a little bit of research, and it does have a learning curve, but once you understand what is going on, Linux is great for many reasons.

First, and in most people’s mind, foremost, is the fact the Linux is free to use. You do not need to go purchase the operating system. It is open source, which means that you can find what you want without the pricey tags that a lot of operating systems today have. Most of the applications that you will want to use with Linux are also open source, and free as well.

If you multi task, Linux is probably going to work very well for you. It is completely designed to be able to do quite a few things all at once. Having something going in the background will most likely not slow down what you are doing in the foreground.

If you are the type that likes to have things your way, Linux can help! There is a huge amount of flexibility when using Linux. With everything from which of the distributions you want to use, what programs you install, and even how you use it, is all up to you, the user.

Linux has also been said to be one of the best operating systems for stability and security. It does not need you to reboot your computer all the time to make updates. It also does not slow down or even freeze up because of memory leaks. Linux has been shown to be one of the safest operating systems to use. If a bug or virus was found, there are many programmers all over the world that would be working on the fix immediately.

Software developers are a premium, and finding someone who is knowledgeable, qualified, and able to do the job that you need is going to take some researching and asking questions. It may be necessary to turn to your social media network circles and inquire of people’s opinions on finding qualified professionals. If you’re tracking social media connections on a frequent basis, then you may notice that it’s not that difficult to find or locate leads for finding a software developer.

Social media and social networks are great resources to use in finding related things to software development, software production, computer and hardware purchases, and any other technically related information that’s important to your interests or business.

Most times, professionals like software developers will frequent online forums or social networking sites just so they can be found. Or, they may rely on referrals to share their opinions of their work on social sites or forums where customers may need their services.

The best way and likely the most productive way for software developers to get new business is to start and write their own blog about their professional services. This gives them a chance to share their knowledge in their own space, and the opportunity to network on social sites and connect with other users. If they use additional resources in tracking social media connections, they also gain another opportunity to find those that may need their services.

So, if you’re looking for a developer, hit the boards and social network sites.

Though there are video games that are open source, and even made specifically to run on Linux, many people find that gaming outside these parameters can be a little difficult. Depending on the type of gaming that you are interested, you may or may not be able to run the game when you are solely running Linux.

Because of this, occasionally people who consider themselves gamers may have both Linux as well as Windows on their computer. Being able to get around the problem can be frustrating for some people. In fact, it has been said that game developers need to start looking at making things more available to those that use Linux based operating systems. Though they are a smaller part of the market share, there is still a significant amount of people that prefer Linux, and realistically, a lot of them enjoy playing some of the hit video games on their computers.

Another option that some people have chosen, if they want to play a game that does not have Linux support is to look into translators. These programs will help allow the game to work on the Linux operating system. Unfortunately, not all games work with a translator, and even some of the ones that do, do not work at full capacity. It may end up being a bit of trial and error to find out if your game will work with a translator or not.

Whether you are looking for an RPG, an MMO, an RTS, or anything in between to fill up your free time with gaming, you may want to look into what is available for Linux, before dual booting with Windows or trying a translator. You may be able to find a game that fits your wants and needs much easier than you would imagine.

You have a few different options that you will want to consider, first. If you are using a computer that you already have, rather than purchasing a new computer with Linux already installed, you will need to decide whether you are going to only run Linux, or if you would prefer to have your computer dual boot, which means that you will have both Windows and Linux on your computer. You will be able to then choose which system you actually start up in when you start your computer.

Before you install, you will need to get ready. Start by backing up all the information that is currently on your computer that you want to save. You may even want to write down your network information, such as your IP address, router information, DNS, etc. After you have this information all together, you will start the installation. Turn off your computer.

When you turn it back on, you will insert the first installation CD into your CD drive. This will show a boot menu, and you will want to choose to install Linux. You will have options as to what software you want to install with the operating system. Once all of your options are chosen, the installation will continue with what you have decided you want. You will need to choose a password, and configure your network. Have fun with your new system!

If you’re looking for more software options for Linux, there are ways you can download some without needing to purchase expensive software packages. A lot of people don’t think of that because they don’t use Linux – or don’t use it often – so the idea that there are plenty of programs to use with Linux isn’t something that people take advantage of as much as they should. They use Windows, which is a much more common operating system. While the majority of people think that it’s more user-friendly than Linux, there are good reasons to use other options, too.

Linux can do things that Windows can’t, and that means it’s often used to create other kinds of programs or perform tasks that are necessary and that can’t be done with other operating systems. People who are more ‘techy’ use it to handle things they want to do – and things that they want to have more control over. Downloading software for Linux doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you know what you’re looking for. If you’re new to Linux, it’s worth spending some time figuring it out and learning about it. If you do that, you’ll be much more likely to use Linux properly and get the most benefit from it.

Don’t assume you can or can’t do a specific thing with Linux, or with software that you get for it. Make sure you research your options, so you know what you’re getting – and that should be true whether you pay for the software or get it for free. Talking to others who use Linux is also a good idea. That way you’ll have a better understanding of all you can do with the operating system and the software that you download and use with it.

Though Linux itself is a free open source software, there are distros of Linux that are not monetarily free. Most of the time the reason for the cost of these distributions of Linus are for support and because of updates to the system.

For example, Elive is a distribution that, at one point, the developers would ask for a small payment of at least $15 to be able to download the live CD for the program. They also had the option that you could apply for an invitation code, that was a free, one time use code. The only way to get this code was if you wrote an essay that was specifically promoting Elive. You would then have to post about your essay, and Elive on commercial websites. Today, you can freely download Elive, but unfortunately, you still have to pay a donation or go through the application if you want to actually install the distribution onto your computer.

Another of the distros that has a fee attached to it in Linspire. Up until 2006, Linspire had two options; a basic service, which came with a price tag of $20 a year, as well as a gold service, which was priced at $50 a year. In 2006, though, the company made the announcement that their basic service was no longer going to cost anything.

Even though some of the distributions of Lixus may cost, they still cost significantly less than the more widely used Windows operating system. Whether you are looking for a free or paid service for your operating system, you will get a much better deal with Linux than with Windows. With both free and paid distributions, you have many options to make the operating system what you want it to be; the great thing about open source software is that you can play around with it to make it how you need it.

Depending on your expertise level with Linux, or even computers in general, as well as what you are looking for in your operating system, different distributions, or distros, of Linux may work best for you. Let’s take a look at some of the best distros for the different categories you may fit into.

If you are looking for something that is simple to use, but overall great for your desktop computer, Linux Mint 9 might be a good option. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, it also has a great software manager. There is a desktop panel for settings, that has a control center that you can customize. Overall, this is a great operating system for a desktop computer.

Puppy Linux 5.0 has been shown to be one of the best for older computers. It does not take a lot to run; in fact, it runs right off of your ram. It boots from a CD, so it can be a great package for an older machine.

Many people are just starting to feel out Linux, and don’t know where to start. If you are new to the operating system, you may want to try Ubuntu. It has a very easy install process. Ubuntu has also been said to have a great look for the background. If you are coming from a Mac operating system, you will feel very comfortable with the control buttons for the windows, which are located at the top left.

If you consider yourself an expert with Linux, Fedora 13 has been said to be one of the best. Many proprietary softwares are not compatible, such as Adobe Flash. Even some video drivers may not work, like the Nvidia drivers. Luckily, for most things, there is an open source software to take its place. This can be difficult to work with if you are new to the system.

If you have Linux downloaded and installed to your computer, you may have noticed that it very rarely needs to reboot. Unfortunately, when you do need to reboot your computer, it can take a while. In fact, it may take quite a bit longer than you want it to, to reboot. There are some things that you can do, to speed the process up, though.

There may be services that are running that you do not need. Disabling these can help increase the speed that your computer will reboot, when it is necessary. To do this, you can simply go to the Admin menu. In there will be Services. All you have to do is make sure that the services you don’t want or need are not selected.

Using a window manager that is more light weight will also help your load times when restarting your computer. For example, GNOME can take up to 60 seconds or longer to load, while Enlightenment can take as little as two to ten seconds. On a similar note to this, you may want to use a light weight distribution. Some of the more popular and larger distributions take a while to load. Fedora is a great distro, but is going to take longer to boot than Gentoo, as an example.

There are quite a few things that you can do to help decrease the boot time of your computer when using a Linux operating system. Some can be a little more tricky than others, but those mentioned above can be extremely easy, and are things that any Linux user can do to help their reboot times. If you are not worried about the boot time, these may be things to consider, anyway, to keep the computer running more smoothly in general. Keeping the system light weight is why many people move to Linux in the first place.

Once you have made the decision to apply for pay day loans, you still have some tough choices to make. The first hard choice is—how will you spend the pay day loans? Automatically, you can think of all the bills, needs, and people who you owe money to, but how can you make your pay day loans go farther? Perhaps, you have had a family member recently admitted to the hospital. After that family member recovered, you are left with huge bills for the doctors, medicines, etc. Or perhaps, you had a car accident in which your vehicle was badly damaged by another driver. You need a new vehicle, but the insurance money will not cover all of the expenses of the new car purchase. While you think about all of the needs that you pay day loans could help with, your pay day loans should be spent with great care. You need to have a plan for spending your pay day loans. Here are a few tips and tricks for planning your pay day loans.
1. Pay day loans should be reserved for the unexpected expenses not everyday needs. When you applied for the pay day loans, you probably had an unexpected bill come that needed to be paid. Your pay day loans should be used for these types of expenses.
2. Pay day loans should be used to cover the gaps in your monthly budget. When you plan your monthly budget, you should factor in the unexpected, but most of us do not. Your pay day loans can fill in these gaps in your budget planning.
3. Pay day loans are not gifts but loans. You will be required to pay these pay day loans back to the lender. So, you will need to make provisions in your next month’s budget to pay back these pay day loans.
If you follow these easy tips, your pay day loans will help you get back on your budget with out breaking your budget.

Sometimes, Linux gets a bad rap. People hear things about Linux that keep them away. Unfortunately, many of these things that keep new users from Linux are generally not true.

For example, many people hear the name Linux and think that they have to be coders or programmers to even consider using Linux as their operating system. Luckily, this is far from the truth. There may be a bit of a learning curve to using Linux, but you by no means need to know programming or coding languages to use the operating system.

Another common thought is that there are absolutely no games that you can play on a Linux operating system. This is completely untrue. There are, in fact, quite a few open source games that have been made specifically for the Linux operating system. Beyond that, there are more famous and popular games that can be played on the system with no interference at all. Also, there are translators that can help you play games that may not generally be usable on Linux.

Some people are concerned that because Linux and all of its distributions are open source software, it is unsafe, and not secure. Luckily for many out there, this is simply not true. In fact, many pieces of software that are open source are considered better than their counterparts. The reason for this is that if everyone can see the code, then it better stand up. If the code is bad, people will know almost immediately.

There is also the concern that Linux won’t open Windows based applications. With the advent of OpenOffice, this is not as much of a concern, because you can now open Windows applications, including docx documents.

Though there are many misconceptions about the Linux operating system, there are steps being made to correct them. Linux is much more compatible with most things than people like to give it credit for.

If you take a look at the bottom right hand corner of your screen, you will see the programs currently running. This does not necessarily show all the programs running, but it does show a lot of them. Some are active and others sit there ready to go. How many do you have sitting there? Ten? Fourteen? Look at them carefully and ask yourself: Do I need that running right now?

Some programs are memory hogs even just sitting there inactive while some aren’t. Sometimes you need to look at what programs you are running to see if they are the most efficient. How are your driver updates? Is the Anti-virus program known to be a memory hog? How many antivirus and anti-cookie programs are you running all at once? That is a problem. You only need one. If you find that the system occasionally jumps into virtual memory, using your hard drive to run, you have a problem.

Defrag, turn off unnecessary programs, and replace the hogs. You will find a new computer at your fingertips.

There are many great enhancements that you can add to your desktop with Linux. Some are just considered eye candy, while others will significantly help you get your work done more efficiently. In fact, there are almost unlimited additions that you can make to your desktop, that can do almost anything you want.

If you are looking for something that adds some functionality to your computer, you should check out Compiz. It is a window manager that can help you organize and make your desktop experience much easier to use, and more efficient.

Screenlets also help with the functionality and efficiency of your computer. Basically, these very small applications allow you to add widgets to your desktop. With everything from calendars, clocks, and weather updates, to CPU usage, social media gadgets, and more, almost everyone will find great uses for Screenlets.

If you don’t like the default look of your desktop, Emerald may be able to help. Emerald was originally written to work with Compiz. It works as a window decorator, and can help you change up the theme of your desktop.

If you like to be able to find all of your open programs through a dock like with OS X, you may want to consider Cairo. There are many different dock applications available, but Cairo is considered much more stable and easy to use than some of the others out there.

Those who take a lot of notes may want to look into Tomboy Notes. This applet will allow you to take notes, and is very simple to use. You can easily find all of the notes that you have made though a simple to read table of contents.

No matter what you do with your computer, there are applications and other way to make your desktop shine the way you want it to when using Linux. Since the software is much more versatile than other operating systems out there, you don’t need to feel boxed in.

With MythTV, you can not only watch movies that you already have on your computer, but you are able to also watch live television. It is the free, open source alternative to programs such at TiVo or Windows Media Center. There is so much that you can do with MythTV. Not only can you watch television and DVDs, but you can also store your pictures, and watch a slide show of them. Music is compatible to store on MythTV as well.

Originally, MythTV was created in 2002 as a better way to be able to view cable television. It was created at first, to only be compatible with the Linux operating system. At this point, it is also usable on BSD and Mac OS X. Very recently, it has also been found that it may be possible to soon make a version of the software for Microsoft Windows.

The front end, or the interface that you use, allows you to decide what you will do with the program. It even gives you television listing guides. If you want to see what shows you have recording, you can easily do that from the front end, as well.

If you are looking for a system for your computer that allows you to watch your videos and television, even in high definition, check out MythTV. You are even able to split what the program is doing for different locations, so that it works best for each task.

When you are running Linux on your computer, you are considered the system administrator, or sysadmin. What this means is that you are the one in charge of making sure that the systems on the computer stay up and running. If there are tasks that you must do on the system, you will need to log in as root. The superuser, or admin on the system is also called the root user. They are the only people on the account that has full access to everything on the system.

One thing that you will want to keep in mind as the system administrator is that most of the time, you will not want to log into your computer as root. If you do one thing wrong, you could delete a lot of important files. You will probably also need to understand some basic commands. Generally, unless you are making changes or updates to the system itself, you will want to log in as a regular user, instead of the root.

If you need to make some changes and you have forgotten the root password, all is not lost! You can change it fairly easily. First, you will need to reboot the computer. From the reboot, you will be able to reset the password. Depending on the distribution of Linux that you are using, there may be different commands that you would need to use to reset this password. Make sure that you know the correct commands. Also, you may want to write down the new password once you have it changed, so that you don’t have to change it again later!

In general, if you are using Linux for your home computer, you may not need to log into the root very often. If you are a system administrator for a company or connection of computers, you may need to log into root every once in a while to make changes and tweaks.

If you have used Microsoft Windows for most of the time that you have used computers, you may not be very used to using commands on your computer. With Linux, commands help the system run a little more smoothly and easily. There are tons of commands out there, but there are some basic ones that you may want to master.

If you use the command cat [filename], this is telling your computer that you want to see the contents of the file. It will display these contents.

Changing who in the system owns a file is as easy as using chown[options]filename.

Typing in the command clear will clean out the command line or the window that you are in so that you can start over.

If you want to see the time and date of the system, or even if you want to change it, date[options] will help you with this function.

Df[options] allows the computer to show you how much of your disk space is available, and how much has been used.

If you want to stop a stubborn process, using kill[options]pid will allow you to do this.

Many times, you may find that you are looking for a particular file on your computer, but are having trouble finding the file, you may want to try using locate filename.

Changing a password can be as easy as using the command passwd[name[password]].

Almost anything that you are looking to do can have a command that will make it a little smoother and easier to do. Though you generally do not need to use the command codes on your computer, knowing them and understanding them can be a valuable thing for anyone using a Linux system. If you are in the root, you will want to be extremely careful about what commands you use, and even being logged in as a regular use, you may want to be sure you know the command is what you want to do, before you use it.

Anyone who has ever visited an art museum or looked through books featuring artwork has seen reproductions of famous Italian art. The “Mona Lisa” by Da Vinci and “The Creation of Adam” are two of the most famous examples of this.

What you may not realize, however, is that Italian art has always exerted an influence over the everyday lives of Italians. They are constantly looking for ways to import Italian art, both ancient and modern into every aspect of their lives. In fact, it may be possible that Roberto Coin found much of his inspiration in Italian art when he was designing his jewelry.

We may also not realize that there are other areas of Italy besides Rome, and the other major cities where so much Italian art is on display also have many artistic communities. These little-known areas are the subject of websites that are designed specifically for providing information on, not only Italian art, but Italian culture and Italian life.

The smaller arts communities may still adhere to some cultural practices that are no longer seen or recognized in other Italian cities. However, some of the contributors to websites that specifically focus on Italian Art, especially in the smaller areas, may still know about them. They share their findings on these websites, making it possible for others to learn of them.

If you are interested in learning more about Italian art and how it plays a part in Italian life, you may want to visit some of these websites. You may see things you never even knew existed—or you may wind up viewing well-known works of Italian Art in a whole new light.  And, isn’t that what art is all about? Expanding your mind and forming your own opinions?

If you are new to using the Linux operating system, you may feel a little overwhelmed. In fact, it may seem down right daunting at times. You may feel like you have jumped into something and have no where to turn, and no idea what to do next. If you are feeling this way, you shouldn’t. There is tons of help out there for new Linux users, as well as support and help for those that have been using Linux for a while. Sometimes we all get stuck, but don’t let it get you down!

First, you may want to consider some tutorials. There are tons of tutorials online about how to do different things in Linux. Whether you prefer to read it, or find a video, you will find the help you are looking for. Another idea is to get a book from the library, or purchase one from a local bookstore, that will be able to teach you a little more about Linux as well.

You can generally get personalized help as well. Since Linux and its distributions are all open source, there are a lot of people that use it out there to help you. In fact, a lot of times, these people play with the code itself, and may have run into the same problem you are. There is everything from message boards to chat rooms where you can find help. You may even want to consult people you know in your life. You may be surprised to find out that a friend or family member has been using Linux for years.

No matter what kind of problem you come across, you can almost always find a fix. Don’t hesitate to talk to those that may understand it a bit better. In the future, you may find yourself helping someone who is new to the system with the same problem!

Chrome, which originally launched for Windows only, is now compatible to Mac and Linux operating systems. By far it’s foremost feature is its speed. From page loads to downloads, Chrome can run circles around Firefox and anyone else for that matter. Another great feature is in its protection against the entire browser crashing from a single corrupt tab. Since it’s relatively new, it lacks a lot of options expected from Firefox users such as RSS feeds and extensions. But, those will surely develop in due time. It has also been known to crash from time to time. Lastly, there is always the stigma of it being from Google with concerns of privacy and collected personal information.

Open source software and Linux fans have been loyal to Firefox for quite some time, and it’s not hard to see why. For one, it supports a boundless collection of extensions–much more than Chrome. Users are also smitten with its branching tab capability, RSS feed emphasis and plethora of plug-ins. Firefox is the most customizable web browser on the block, a major reason for the dedicated use from Linux advocates. However, it is slower than Chrome, especially when downloading. After comparing, it’s hard to declare a winner. Maybe the true winner here is open source software, and it’s proprietary software that’s hitting the mat.

The fact is that the ballot box has become electronic and doesn’t appear to be going back to paper and pencil any time soon. While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with placing a vote digitally, the majority of electronic voting machines rely of proprietary software. This software is closed to the public and remains a mystery to many except the corporations that own the source code and its technology. Voters have no idea what happens once they place their vote on the touch screen. The pilot program gives hope of changes to come.

By replacing the current software in electronic voting machines with open source it makes them wholly transparent, which every productive democracy should be. In doing so, every American would be able to see the source code, study it and learn how it exactly works. Although most don’t have the technical know-how to do this, they would nonetheless be allowed access to do it and not be restricted by a company trying to protect its product. Additionally, opening the code for all to see will only strengthen its security. Like other open source software projects, people would be able to test it, search for bugs or weaknesses and construct solutions to make it better. If democracy is supposed to be open to all, why not the process that forms its foundation: voting?

Open source software’s detractors like to believe that its model is detrimental to the marketplace. They are the ones likely to subscribe to the previously mentioned 90% savings estimate. But if that were accurate, open source would have killed the market long ago since no competitor could survive such a difference. Opponents will still point to its inherent inability to generate large cash sums from software licensing, a speculative limit to its financial outlook and potential. But what they don’t seem to realize is that this is a mistake, since they are concentrating on only one business aspect of commercial open source software.

People labeling open source software as a limited money-maker are looking at the business side of it with a closed mind. True, it is not a cash cow when it comes to software licensing. But there is money, lots of money, to be made in other areas such as training, technical support, services, customization and additional or updated features. And this is where commerical vendors really generate their revenues. As more and more organizations adopt open source software, demands for these entities will grow dramatically. So just because a company is running their software off of Linux doesn’t mean they’re small potatoes. And it definitely doesn’t mean their market potential is any lower than anyone else.

The ramifications go far and wide, touching not only software but hardware as well. Users are already migrating to mobile devices, laptops and tablets and moving away from the traditional computer. Chrome OS has the power to shove them along as they start demanding more flexibility from their operating systems to match their set of devices. Soon you can kiss wires, monitors and clunky computers good bye. Google’s Chrome OS will also help what open source software has already started, the infusion of competition into the software marketplace, pushing closed proprietary software to the brink of extinction. True, while Google itself is a large organization in the mold of Microsoft and Mac, it will most likely usher in a lot advanced open source applications that will ride their coat tails.

What this means for the individual user is surely obvious to those that currently run Linux, but for those that haven’t it will be a revelation. Google can reach the masses in a way other open source software projects are unable to do. It’s almost like watching a younger sibling finally reach the driving age. You know what the feeling is like and you can’t help but relive it vicariously through them. They will feel the experience of running a system that’s as good or superior to proprietary for absolutely free. Oh, and the constant updates and features. Awesome.

Primarily, users are concerned over the ownership on their personal information-the pictures they upload, the messages they post, their location, etc. By using Facebook software to share that information with your friends it becomes owned by Facebook, not you. That information is available for anyone to see, not by your choice. In addition, this information is passed along to advertisers and other marketing firms to specifically target you with products based on that information. Plus, the privacy controls for the networking site are vague and limited. This has caused a major backlash from users across the Internet. Even Facebook’s very own users have created online groups protesting its practices, somewhat ironically, on Facebook.

But like other major issues across the Internet, open source software is there to pick up the slack from proprietary. One social media software project that will be hitting the market soon is Diaspora. It’s goal is to cover two of Facebook’s weaknesses by giving much more control to the user. This includes control over their personal information. Instead of using a third party to connect and share with friends the software will put them in touch directly keeping that information in the hands of the user, giving only the user the power to allow access to that information. The second area for improvement is an open source fan’s favorite, customization, as the source code will be the one thing available for anyone to see.

Another unique feature about Linux is that the way it operates has given rise to a specific phrase: “Linux economy.” Simply put, this means that any costs that are generated from research and development are shared by companies who participate in “Linux economy.” It does not matter if the companies are partners or competitors with one another; they still share the costs.

Another thing that is different about Linux is the fact that the Linux operating system’s core is referred to as a “kernel,” and it works differently from those found in other operating systems. For one thing, the kernel is divided into several levels; the interface, kernel code, and board support package are the three major ones.

Using Linux is a little bit different than using other operating systems. For this reason, there are websites that are dedicated to helping computer users navigate through Linux so that they can take full advantage of it.

These websites offer advice and instruction on how to use Linux so that access to such things as affiliate review sites is possible. Many first-time Linux users are extremely grateful for these sites, as they can go directly to one of them for help. Still others are designed strictly to provide updates and report on news topics that deal with the Linux system.

Although the VA’s VistA software is proficient for its duty, it still experiences a lot off difficulties. Due to its size and the growing demand on it, its maintenance has proved to be very problematic. This makes it a burdensome task to implement constant updates, incorporate new technologies or add brand new features. Since these software needs will continue well on into the future with many more soldiers joining the veteran ranks, the system needs the ability to evolve over time easily and quickly.

To put it simply, it sounds like the ideal test case for open source software. Open source’s strongest point is its ability to be modified and updated without the need of major overhauls. Plus, it’s compatible with many platforms. The plethora of individuals and divisions involved -VA staff, medical professionals and software developers-will be able to readily contribute in making the system even more efficient. With source code available for everyone, the system’s viability will be secured as it can be picked up by future developers and adapted. Because of the technical advantages of open source software, veterans will be able to seek and retrieve assistance all the more easier. A better service they deserve for theirs.

Looking at Ubuntu it can be hard for the Linux enthusiast to understand how people could be discouraged from adopting it. For one, the software is very similar to Windows. In addition, the installation process is a cinch and the support is very helpful. While that seems like it should satisfy the general user, there is the evident issue of its operations still being too technical. Many people simply don’t have the experience using commands and such. But it’s not just the look and performance that is an issue. Many Linux distributions like Ubuntu are updated at too fast of a clip. While this is great for users already in the loop, it can be a turn off for users that aren’t even used to their first version.

This can leave many Linux developers peddling projects only to Linux users, which isn’t a large part of the market. Still, there is hope for Linux domination yet. As generations grow up around computers, the technical know-how will catch up to open source’s operational capabilities. Plus, open source software like Linux is so adaptable it will continue to evolve to weed out any kinks users find unfavorable. And if that doesn’t happen, there is always room for another project to come along that will really craft its software to the needs of average users and potentially take the desktop market.

There are two courses that open source software can take in the tablet game. One is the successful operating system model run by the Android smartphone. It already is constructed like the format expected from tablets. Plus, many of the same software apps available on the Android will be run on these tablets so there should already be a strong customer base to give Apple a run for its money.

The second path we are sure to see open source software tablets take will surely run a kind of Linux operating system. The customization capabilities will be tremendous, and just might be the kind of edge competitors will need to beat the market. In relation to an Android-like tablet, running a Linux OS will be better suited for touch screen capability.

It’s probably a safe bet that a Linux tablet won’t signal the demise of the iPad. However, the presence of open source software in the tablet market will certainly shove the doors wide open for competition. Tablets are expensive devices, so it has to be considered that cost is one area open source can quickly hurt the iPad running on a cheaper device and with more free apps and updates. As the Linux and open source software tablets enter the ring, more advantages are sure to follow.

Not as well publicized as the Android, but powering the granddaddy of all e-readers, the Kindle, is you guessed it, Linux. Programmed with software running the Linux kernel, the Kindle uses one of the best advancements brought to the world from e-readers: e-ink. If you look past its campy sounding name, you’ll find its advantage for reading for long periods on screen as it eliminates back lighting which can eventually strain the eyes. Another brand name e-reader incorporating this technology and running Linux is the Sony Reader, which also has touchscreen capability.

Although e-readers’ primary use is for, well, reading, they incorporate a variety of applications that are beneficial to working with all kinds of documents. This is where Linux software on the devices can shine. Users are able to better organize and manage information in an extremely portable fashion. With many e-readers, content can be highlighted, or even written on, and easily stored.

These capabilities have seen e-readers make a presence in offices and hospitals, and definitely on school campuses; it might not be too long before backpacks and briefcases meet their demise along with paper. And the use of Linux is opening them up in a whole slew of ways. Yes, the open source code is hackable. With e-readers, Linux is again establishing itself as a game changer and viable system in the computing world for years to come, no matter what device.

What people seem to forget is that there is really a tangible reward to all contributors of open source software: the end product. Or better yet, the evolving end product. Consider the subject of research and development. As a technology catches on, it leads to more investment in research and development until that technology is replaced by something better and that investment tappers off. This outline is the common “bell curve” and it certainly applies to open source software and its immense rewards.

Whether as an individual or organization, the investment compared to the return is quite great. For example, someone that does a little testing or solves a single bug in a system gets a powerful Web browser like Firefox from their troubles. Corporations and other organizations can substantially better their offerings to their customers by their involvement and investment of resources. Due to open source’s collaborative environment, the hands working on a project can be many creating a steadfast evolution of a technology. But of course, new technology will come about and contributors will move on to that next project for greater rewards.
Seeing the continued use of Linux in new devices shows that this model works.

Like an up and coming rapper spittin’ rhymes on a street corner, there are many young developers spittin’ programming code on the Internet–all for the right reasons.

The cost-cutting advantages with open source software are numerous. For one, many basic distributions and applications can be downloaded for absolutely nothing. However, for larger projects like servers a subscription is generally required, but they are still much cheaper than those offered from proprietary software vendors. Additionally, open source software can be run on less expensive hardware and it is adaptable to many platforms, thus saving companies money on any major modifications or upgrades.

With this new found interest, commercial open source software vendors are cashing in. Vendors make their profits by selling services like technical support, updates and additional product features, instead of the actual software. But with the increase of new users they are seeing record revenues.

Furthermore, it isn’t only new users that are pushing the demand for open source software. Before things went sour, there was already a substantial amount of businesses running Linux server software. In the aftermath, these same companies are now looking to employ the services of open source software in brand new areas from database mainframes to supply chain administration to customer service interactions. And for those that had been previous users of open source software the recession has been a time of confirmation that they had made the right, cost-effective investment, which certainly portends that those companies will be continuing customers.

The greatest attribute of smartphones like the iPhone is their ability to keep users connected over many different mediums. The open Internet Relay Chat Colloquy, which is popular on Mac computers, is also mobile. It keeps tracks of all conversations and alerts you when certain words are mentioned all while you’re on the go. While it isn’t free, it’s worth it to stay in the thick of things. Bloggers don’t have to be near a computer to keep the world informed of their latest exploits when they have the WordPress app. Users can publish posts and manage their pages from wherever the mood strikes them. And to keep all your connections together, there is Funambol that will sync your contacts with email clients and other systems.

There are also open software apps that let you have a lot of fun with your iPhone. Both useful and in some ways borderline comedic is the wikiHow app. Yes, finding out how to wrap a wound during an accident all with a touch of the screen is extremely helpful, but if you’re looking up how to survive a nuclear blast on your iPhone it just may be too late. The iPhone is also great for gaming with it’s touch sensitive screen, so have fun with legendary first-person shooters Doom and Wolfenstein.

And for the intrepid Linux lover, you can always just hack it on there.

The keenest similarity between the two is the emphasis each places on the user. The general purpose of products from both is to quench the needs of individual users and in doing so advance the capabilities of programming and computing. This is evident in the behaviors of their target audiences. Both Linux users and Apple consumers are immensely loyal, and you could say proud. Face it, you don’t see many cars sporting Microsoft bumper stickers. Fan appreciation is very much alike as users for each system pay close attention to technical details and features and how they will evolve in new versions.

How Apple and open source software projects manage and develop their products are in sync as well. They are always customizable to meet the specific needs of users. In addition, features are continuously updated when advanced, keeping with the drive for product evolution. Along with updates new editions are released at a steady clip; we are all familiar with Steve Jobs special announcements every year. The environments are also similar in their relative openness to input. Developers are making a lot of noise creating all kinds of apps for the iPhone. However, in one way open source software is taking a page out of Apple’s playbook, it’s getting much bigger.

Generating a lot of concerns regarding Linux is the giant software companies that become involved and have used the Linux code. In turn, these companies have built software and products powered by Linux and have gone on to make large sums of money. To some Linux users, this is consider a malicious act as if they are ripping off the entire Linux project. In fact, these users have more disdain for companies like this than those that create closed proprietary systems. But plenty of smaller companies engage in this as well, along with plenty of individuals. That is what open source is for. You can’t simply disbar someone or an organization upon perceptions. No one is trying to seize control of the Linux community–although some might secretly want to–and many companies put a lot of investment in its development.

Additionally, people have come to blame Linux for others misconceptions in how communities should work. Contributors and users have come under the impression that all open source software should follow the path of Linux. But that isn’t the software’s fault, it’s just plain ignorance. Open source software communities can dictate how each project is run and can choose to ignore anyone that believes otherwise. The world of open source software is much bigger than one system and it reflects that.

It goes without saying that the world of computing is an ever evolving one. What is important today will undoubtedly be unnecessary tomorrow. In regards to the Internet, the underlying evolution has been towards bringing users to their sought-after information in an easier and faster fashion. Now the Internet is at one of those seminal crossroads, and the victims in this case may be the web browsers that many users rely on today. Neither Linux or open source software browsers like Firefox or proprietary ones like Safari and Explorer are safe, as their necessity is shrinking and shrinking. These once dependable software middle men are now being cast away from the Internet’s natural progression.

So what’s causing web browsers to fade away? In general, the advancement of computing devices and software. But to be specific, the number one killer of web browsers is the growing use of mobile devices and tablets, along with their expansive array of software apps. These apps allow the user to directly connect to sites like Facebook or YouTube all without ever opening a web browser.

While the ramifications aren’t completely clear, the path seems to be leading to a more proprietary software in Internet connectivity. The majority of software apps on mobile devices and tablets are under the complete control of the developer; although, apps are being built to allow user customization and formatting for changing devices. Either way, web browsers are seeing themselves being muscled out of the fray as data can be accessed faster without unnecessary steps. In fact, recent statistics show a drop from 50% to 23% of traffic on the web going to web browsers over the past 10 years.

This transformation is bound to blur a lot of lines on the Internet. Social media apps, for instance, may eventually have the power to do away with not only web browsers but also the need for search engines. Through an app for Facebook, for example, a user can access information from other users, or records of previous interactions, all without the use of those out-dated web browsers or search engines.

Image by GlacierGuyMT via Flickr

The open source software model started by Linux has made its way beyond computers and technical devices and into general areas like business and security. It’s now making its presences felt in the field of education. What has been the dream of many education advocates–free learning for all–is inching closer to that reality with open source software. Education organizations and some places for higher learning are adopting the open source software model to better serve students and spread word of new research and discoveries. The consequences of these implementations are immense and very hopeful. The best, most advanced information out there may no longer be available to top private schools, but to everybody.

One educational area that will be greatly affected by the open source software model is textbooks. Developed with open source software new textbooks, aptly named open source textbooks, are being incorporated by major universities that are meant to be available to any school and student, with the ability to be changed. Researchers can add or modify content, and they can be customized for students. The common advantage of open source software is present here: cost. Although not free, yet, open source textbooks, even printed editions, are considerably cheaper than their mainstream counterparts. The need to consistently purchase new, revised editions is now very limited.  And these online books and other educational files can easily be shared with open source software like Ares Galaxy and larger files transferred with FTP software like File Zilla.

While the cost of educational tools drop with open source software, their reach vastly expands. In the example of open source textbooks, they can be used by any school and manipulated to fit their specific needs. Another alternative is by following the path of wiki communities. Compiled onto a single open source site, anyone with a drive to learn can access educational-related material from math to biology to chemistry without leaving the house. Here too, information can be easily updated by the community and sorted into subjects relevant to the user. With its wide access, open source software has the potential to equalize the disparity seen in many education levels. This is something that can then launch the model to even more unexpected areas.

To combat this problem the source code escrow was created. It allowed the licensee to place the code with a third party, and in the case the licensor were to go bankrupt or break the software agreement, the code would then legally become there property. Unfortunately, not everything was resolved. There still is the possibility the code owner neglected to maintain it or properly document its development, along with possible usage restrictions imposed by the licensor.

However, open source software licensing has taken a step further, protecting the licensee company’s ability to continue developing its software applications based of another company’s source code. In this model, the software license is placed in an open source escrow agreement where if the licensor company enters bankruptcy, the license becomes open source making the source code not only available to the licensee but to others as well.

This software licensing agreement is better adapted for the fast changing landscape of technology. Software companies continuously come and go, sadly taking their codes with them. Or in some cases, the code is transferred to another company and never seen again. But under the open source model, source codes can live long past their creators and developers. In doing so it encourages innovation and investment as the risk involved in lowered considerably. This will keep other software companies employing that code up and running without fear, and open the door to others to fulfill their project’s goals.

A recent study by the consulting agency Accenture has come up with some pretty impressive statistics regarding open source software. Most notably, 88% percent of organizations that were currently running open source software would expand their investment in it in the next year. Over two-thirds of all organizations were also going to raise investments in open source, with more than a third transferring their mission-critical software over to open source.

Most outside observers would chalk up the burgeoning investments in open source software to its most obvious asset: low cost. This idea is repeated continuously due to a false notion of inferiority in open source software. As good as it is, they think, it just cannot outperform proprietary. The previous mentioned study seems to say otherwise. More than 70% of organizations involved in the study stated that the two major reasons for their growing interest in open source software is quality and reliability.

With the continued evolution of open source, it can be ascertained that this interest is only going to intensify as the software becomes more and more efficient. In addition, more open source software is being developed to specifically meet the needs of business operations. For these reasons it would be foolish to think the growing demand for open source software is but only a fad. Instead, it is one more sign that proprietary software may be finally losing its foothold in those mainstream markets.

The democratic characteristics of open source projects are many. For one, there are many people invested in the software’s development, with many projects instituting voting systems for changes in the code. While this may hinder efficiency, it provides the benefit of placing many eyes on the project to find and resolve problems with the code.

Those that take the initiative in solving those issues, or adding useful changes are sure to garner a higher stature in the project. This increases the weight of their opinions. Ideally, the one putting in the most work will have the most say. This points out the meritorious aspects of open source software. Contributors that consistently provide solutions are rewarded with greater influence as well as greater access to the project.

Proprietary software on the other hand tends to follow a more hierarchical political approach, or something along the lines of a dictatorship. The only opinion that matters is from the one at the top. This does nothing to support the dedication of developers or users. At the very least, open source software politics encourage involvement. While anyone can input their opinion, it’s best to back it up with a contribution or two to move the project along. All in all, one might be best to take a political correct standpoint and say that open source software is both a democracy and meritocracy.

There are myriad reasons for the military’s growing adoption of open source software. For one, cost. The U.S. government is looking to scale back budgets across the board, including at the Pentagon. The cost savings with open source has been well documented. Additionally, the military needs flexibility in its software operations. In the unpredictable landscape of military operations it can be debilitating to wait for adjustments in proprietary software when changes come up.

Currently, the military is teaming up with the Georgia Institute of Technology to gear Department of Defense developers towards more open source software. One goal is to formulate a process for streamlining and sharing their open source software applications and tools, along with the source codes, to effectively outfit all areas of the military. Another development is the creation of safe forges in which only authorized developers can access the open source software, as well as the source codes. In addition, the military is working on establishing a dedicated network, or community, of developers, both civilian and from the Department of Defense. Consider it a group of patriotic nerds building high-tech solutions to defend the country.

Needless to say, a business or individual can trust the same tools used by the military, so it’s time to lay to rest fears about open source software’s security. It isn’t unnecessary exposure to have a source code open, rather it’s innovative.

You’ve no doubt heard about Linux, the operating system that Prometheus stole from the gods themselves. Well, that isn’t really true (it is just a myth, after all), but that is one way of interpreting how well Linux works. As a format for creating programs, you have a whole lot of flexibility with a PC running Linux that you won’t get from any kind of smart phone. With Linux, you can actually alter the entire operating system, just because a particular program might need you to do so.

You can’t get that kind of flexibility on a phone, with the technology that is currently available. The operating systems of smart phones are rigid because they have to be – and changing the code of the operating system could render the phone inoperable, or even potentially dangerous to your online presence. Consider what could happen if you’d accessed your bank records through your phone, and it accidentally sends a signal calling for a funds transfer or the change of your account’s password. It probably wouldn’t happen like that, but it isn’t worth taking the chance. Computers are still the best for programming.

Between 1999 and 2001 millions upon millions of songs were shared across the first peer-to-peer network of its kind. Napster, a free service which enabled users to share their music across the Internet, quickly became the most used online service from the moment it was launched.

Not only did Napster revolutionize the way people interact with one another over the Internet – it changed the music industry. Users ability to open their libraries for anyone else on the service and the ability to download directly from other’s libraries on the network caught fire. This open exchange of music lead to immense copyright infringement cases and the service was eventually shut down.

The spread of Napster was so quick and overwhelming that it was quickly noticed by the general public. Several major musicians such as Metallica and Dr. Dre filed lawsuits with Napster. Ultimately the Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit in behalf of various record labels and Napster closed its doors in 2001. At its peak, Napster had over 26 million users.

Napster’s open community pioneered peer-to-peer file sharing programs. Many file sharing services followed. Limewire, Bittorrent and Pirate Bay all have similar services. These services ushered in the era of complete file sharing where users could choose to share any file from their computers not just music. Now users could share pictures, documents and movies with each other. These services have also faced many lawsuits. Pirate Bay met the similar fate as Napster.

Individuals wanting to exchange files across the Internet was done only person to person previous to Napster’s open community nature. It’s hard to imagine the Internet now without the ability to connect with strangers.

Perhaps the true utility from the Internet is the ability to share ideas with everyone in the world. The closed world has grown increasingly open due to computers and the Internet. The free flow of information has created amazing innovations and at the same time challenges. Balancing the open nature of the Internet with security will always be a hot topic for debate.

Teachers are finding that putting kids on computers is not only the best way to handle their ability to process information but it also stands as one of the cheaper ways to educate. Through an online portal, in a cloud computing format, kids are allowed to access text books, read chapters, take online tours through some of the better parts of the subject, answer quizzes, and participate in class discussions. These are all things that teachers would not have been able to do years ago. It makes education a lot easier.

It’s a practice long adopted by universities to cut out on classroom space, as well as give commuters a break, by making classes available online.  Students each have their own schedule for the school year and can manage everything online. Grade schools see the cost effective nature of this type of learning and have done their best to institute this type of learning for the betterment of both the students and the bottom line of the school districts. It’s amazing what the world of computer programming can do for students and educators alike.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to stay on top of all the developments in the technology industry. Technology experts have to monitor developments on a daily basis to keep their edge. Moore’s law describes this, rapid growth, nature of technology. Moore’s law states that the number of transistors that can reside on a circuit doubles almost every two years. This trend has held true historically and many do not seeing it stopping in the near future.

The capabilities of electronic devices have increased at such an exponential rate that, what was once the “top of the line” or “cutting edge” is old news after only a year. The history of the Palm Pilot, which was one of the first handheld electronic devices, provides an excellent illustration of Moore’s law.

In 1996, Palm Computing released the Pilot. It had 128KB to 512KB of memory, a 160 x 160 pixel screen and could only display shades of gray. Just a year later Palm released the 2nd generation Pilot that had 1MB of memory. In 1998 the Palm 3 was released the supported memory cards and flash ROM which held 2MBs of memory. In 2000, Palm released a handheld with a color screen. By the early 2000s Palm had integrated Palm PDAs into phones. With this new phone integration the Palm Treo took off in popularity. The Treo had various iterations until 2009 when Palm released the Pre. The Pre was their answer to the Apple iPhone (a subject for another article). The Pre had a touch screen, ran on the fast 3G network, and had 8GBs of internal memory.

In just over 10 years Palm’s products exponentially increased in capabilities while decreasing its form factor. Memory went from 128KB to 8GB (1GB is equal to 1048576KBs), screens went from gray to full color and PDA functionality was integrated with phone and Internet. The devices of 1996 looked like technology from the stone ages just a few years later.

With Moore’s Law still going strong innovators need to work hard to keep up.

Technology has defined different eras in history. The printing press helped define the Renaissance. This ushered in the Age of Enlightenment. The printing press helped enable the proliferation of knowledge to the masses, which was previously reserved only for the monarchy. Communities were better able to organize, politicians were able to spread their messages more broadly and the best selling book of all time began to enter the houses of the world: The Bible.

The steam engine ushered in the Industrial Revolution. This discovery revolutionized the worldwide economy. The Agrarian based societies made way for manufacturing and mining. Transportation helped broaden and improve trade. The locomotive connected the two coasts of the United States.

The discovery of electricity was monumental for modern technology. The light bulb, electric motor, telephone, television, computers and numberless other advancements came about because of the discovery of electricity.

The development of the Internet brought about the Information Age. Just about any piece of information is truly just a few clicks away. Each and everyday database upon database is made available to anyone with a computer and Internet access. The democratization of knowledge has flooded the earth.

What began as a communication tool has turned into a necessary business tool for today’s economy. Almost every business has a web presence and almost web business sells products on line. One could purchase or rent anything from groceries to movies on the World Wide Web. Internet commerce constitutes a large percentage of Internet traffic.

With technology playing such an integral part of our lives one can be certain that innovation will only lead to greater things. Technology will continue to develop and further change the way we live and with the rate things are getting developed – our lives will change fast.

Which computer operating system will forever be a heated debate in the technology world. The debates can only grow stronger as these operating systems are further developed and the new ones are created.

Windows verses Apple is perhaps the most recognized battle of operating systems. The development of these systems are of technology folklore. Books have been written about them and a feature length movie was also created chronicling the details of the early years of these two storied companies. Although Apple has experienced an increase in market share since the early 2000s – there is no escaping the fact of Windows dominance.

As of 2010, Windows is the most used operating system in the world. It is the standard by which all other software programmers base their programs on. Windows first released Windows in 1985. It was originally developed as an added feature to the existing MS-DOS systems of the day. Windows revolutionized the way users interacted with their computers. The Mouse was first introduced and the world of command based use made way for graphical user interfaces.

Since its original release Windows has undergone several iterations of their famous operating system: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP and Windows Vista are just a few of the more famous releases. All of them had their pros and cons. Overall the pros for Windows include: huge library of applications that have been developed for the platform (as it is the most used in the world); most hardware is manufactured to be compatible with Windows; extremely large user base.

As the benefits of using Windows stem mostly from the fact that they hold such a large market share – it is ironic that it is also their curse. Being the most widely used operating system paints a large target on them for malicious attacks. Windows does have the largest number of viruses and spyware in existence.

The debate for operating supremacy will never end and only time will tell if any other company or programmer will be able to overtake Windows dominance.

If Windows has an upper hand on Apple, it is the large market share is has that has held steady for years. Historically Microsoft Windows has held over 90 percent market share over its competitors. Apple, although the second most popular operating system (as of 2010), has hovered in the single digit percentage for market share.

This market dominance is often held as the reason why Windows is the superior choice. Despite the many benefits of Apple’s OS, its user base pales in comparision to Windows. This trend continued through the early years of Apple, as it found it a challenge to even capture 5 percent of the market. As of July 2010 Apple’s operating system has reached close to 10 percent market share in the United States.

Apple’s operating system was initially released to the public in 1984 with its Macintosh computers under the name of System Software. This OS popularized the modern day graphical user interface. Apple released many iterations of its operating system and eventually released its Mac OSX operating system in 2002.

Mac OSX was different from Apple’s previous classic operating systems in that it was based off of the Unix platform. Much of the programming behind of OSX was developed at NeXT – a company that Steve Jobs had started after leaving Apple. OSX contained a few new features that the previous operating systems had, while performing in a more stable environment.

Benefits often cited for using Mac OSX include: Stability and reliability, ease of use and fairly low rate of virus’ and spyware. The drawbacks that are often referred to are: Not nearly as much software is developed for Apples, incompatibility (cannot use Mac software on non-Apple computers) and price of hardware.

Despite the drawbacks the popularity of Apple has increased since the early 2000s. The gains in popularity of Apple’s operating system could be attributed to the popularity of the iPod. Prices for Apple products were adjusted to be more consumer friendly. Their development of other revolutionary products such as the iPhone and iPad has also helped accelerate its sales.

Students would have a hard time writing their term papers without it. Businesses would struggle without it. Families would have a more difficult time staying in touch with each other without it. We are talking about the Internet.

The Internet has grown from simple research programs in the 1980s to an integral part of daily life. The Internet’s utility continues to grow as more and more of the world’s population gains access to it and begins to contribute to the immense library of knowledge. This exponential growth, although great in concept, could end tragically if infrastructure does not continue to develop systems to support it.

The Internet began as interest in networking multiple computers together between each other gained popularity. Research conducted at MIT and UCLA led to packet switching technology and new protocols for communications between physically separated computers.

The global introduction of the Internet began in 1982 and quickly spread. Internet service providers quickly commercialized access to the Internet and catalyzed its growth.

Uses for the Internet have morphed from a communication tool to a business and social tool. With this, increased usage data rates communicated across the internet has grown exponentially. Increased email volume along with photos, music and video is flooding the Internet. Websites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Flickr receive millions upon millions of rich media each and every day.

This incredible communication of data has come to be referred to as an “exaflood” of information. As of 2010, it is estimated that over 21 exabytes of information is transferred over the Internet. One exabyte is equal to one quintillion bytes! This startling statistic is cause for concern for some industry analysts as the rate of growth is quicker than the rate of growth for storage availability. In other words – the Internet will run out of space.

As technology advances, so will the amount of information transferred of the Internet increase. Innovation will have to keep pace with this exaflood of information. Companies would do well should they find the solution to ongoing issue.

Appeal for Linux is its open source nature. Open source software allows users to view and change the source code. Software for computer programs is usually closed only to copyright holders, limiting access to the source code by a select number of individuals. Open source allows programs to be added upon and improved by the community of users. Linux is also free open source software, allowing free distribution of licenses.

The idea for open source software is that software will naturally be improved upon when the community of users has access to the source code. Users naturally will find the weaknesses and strengths of the software and can immediately make the changes themselves. The efficiency and functionality of the software improves as its community of users grows.

Linux’s long history has created a large user base. Its community has made many improvements and modifications. Network administrators have found Linux especially useful in data/server environments where security is a high priority. Many large corporations and governments use Linux in their systems.

Desktop use of Linux continues to increase in popularity as it is becoming more widely accepted. Programmers have started to program for the Linux platform as Linux’s use increased. Programs usually only seen for Windows and Mac are starting to now release Linux compatible versions. Dell computers started to offer Linux installations in their computers in 2009 marking a huge step on Linux’s popularity.

Whether you are a network administrator, IT advisor or consumer of electronics – Linux should play a factor during the decision making process when considering a new or improved system or device.

In October of 2001, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, introduced the world to the iPod. Little did we know that that small electronic device would soon dominate the portable electronics market and forever change the music industry. The impact that the iPod had on the technology industry has been profound. It’s difficult to go through a day without seeing an iPod.

The history of the iPod truly began in the 1950s when the first portable audio player was developed. Philips introduced the first battery operated cassette tape recorder in the 1960s. These early devices were hardly “portable” as they were often large and bulky.

Most recognize the introduction of the Sony Walkman as the “first” portable audio player. Released in 1979, the Sony Walkman was small enough to carry in a pocket and had the capability to plug in headphones. The Walkman had such a large impact that most other portable audio players were referred to as “Walkman.”

The digitization of audio ushered in the next generation of portable music players. Cassette tapes made way for compact discs (CDs) and manufacturers quickly produced portable CD players, which could play audio CDs. Development of CD players that could play mp3 files allowed individuals to listen to a much larger amount of music from their CDs as opposed to audio CDs. These mp3 capable CD players were a precursor for digital audio players.

Before the iPod there were many digital audio players on the market. All contained flash memory or hard disks that could store hundreds of songs. The features found on these early mp3 players did not differ much from what the iPod offered. So what made the iPod so popular?

The iPod has turned into more than just a portable music player, it became a cultural phenomena. Everyone “had” to have an iPod. The iPod has grown into much more than just a music player. Features, such as video playback and web browser have turned it into more of a personal entertainment device. It will be interesting to see how Apple builds off of the iPod’s success.

Linux, as an open source platform, offers a large number of advantages for its users. This is especially true for its web hosting and other network servers, due to the ease of updating and its astounding stability. However, Linux users feel that their numbers are being undercounted, and that their population is much larger than the numbers show.

Their outcry was in response to a phone survey report done by the company Gartner. Gartner surveyed technicians about which systems they purchased, and what systems they installed on them in aftermath. According to their results, Linux accounts for only 8.6% of the server market. This stands in harsh contradiction to several other reports, including one from AINNetResearch which put the number all the way up at 39%.

So, why would the numbers be so massively different? There are many reasons that users bring up, but the most simple has to do with the ways that reporting companies get information. Since one of the biggest sources is the companies that ship out servers, much of the data isn’t on what is actually used on the server, but what is “shipped.” Most servers are certainly shipped with the Windows operating system, but many claim that users are often loading the open source Linux software onto their servers after they have arrived.

Server users of Linux acknowledge that they’re probably not in the majority, calling Linux an “underground movement.” Still, when it comes to servers, Linux users would like to have their numbers seen correctly. The problem is even greater with Linux home computer systems. While there are many Linux users, these individuals almost always downloaded and installed the system after the computer was purchased. Very few companies, globally, ship laptops or desktops equipped with Linux.

With numbers from less than ten percent to almost half the server using population, it’s difficult to get solid numbers. It’s also difficult to know when such numbers may be achieved, since the open source software has created an accidental barrier to reporting by making free internet download their primary method of distribution.

There is some information about Linux that is common knowledge, other information that should be common knowledge that isn’t, and other information about Linux that seems lost to all but the most tech savvy users. In this entry, we will briefly define Linux for individuals who aren’t already users of the system, and give a basic summary of how it is different from other alternatives.

It begins with a man named Linus Torvalds. He began work on the first rendition of the Linux operating system while studying at the University of Helsinki. Some of his preliminary work took place in 1991, but the project was expansive. Before the conclusion of his education, he had the first Linux “kernel.” The Linux kernel serves as the gravitational center around which the rest of the Linux galaxy orbits.

The project was not sold for profit, however, nor was it kept as a secret weapon for an exclusive group. Rather, it was left as an “open source” option for computer users, and was distributed without a fee. Many people have worked to fine tune Linux without charging programming fees, and some have even gone so far as creating their own interface. This project is, in fact, so communal that Wikipedia lists its creators as “Linus Torvalds and thousands of collaborators.”

The alternative interfaces designed and released for the Linux system are known as distributions, and there are dozens of them. Several of them are in common use, and they each focus a different set of parameters and benefits. Because of the large amount of work that has been put into the project by these distribution designers and the open source community, Linux can now do almost anything that a Windows or Macintosh computer can.

Linux has been hailed for its security, stability, and how many advanced features can be hard coded into the interface by its more advanced users. These customization and reliability highlights also make it a prime candidate for web hosting and other servers. According to one study, just less than half of all servers currently run off of a Linux operating system.

Linux isn’t the sort of immature and insecure OS that needs a totally monogamous relationship in order to feel good about itself. In fact, it’s okay with sharing you – or at least, some distributions of it are. This is great news for people who are afraid of the massive change that Linux may bring to their computer, but are nonetheless curious about this cult classic operating system. Here are the basics of hunting down a fling with the Linux OS.

The first option is the “LiveCD” option. There are several distros of Linux that are available as .ISO files. This is one of the most convenient ways that you can get the download, and it’s the only real way to back it up onto a CD or DVD effectively. With the “LiveCD” option, you can run your operating system directly off of your CD/DVD drive, without having to reformat your hard drive or otherwise goof around with your standard computer protocols. Just look for distro ISOs that offer this alternative, and then boot your system off of the disc.

If you’re interested in a variety of Linux that doesn’t have the LiveCD option, or if you don’t have the materials to burn this CD, then you can also save a partition for your Windows or Macintosh operating system when loading LinuxMint, Ubuntu, or other major distributions onto your computer. Simply enable the “dual-boot” feature and save a partition of your hard drive for your old, “standard” operating system.

In order to avoid the loss of hard drive space with partitioning, you can also install Linux operating systems onto external drives for your computer. This can be a large external hard drive, but it can also mean a flash drive with as little as a couple gigabytes. This will give you some interesting mobility options as well, since it means you can carry your operating system, customized features, and important files, in your pocket.

There’s nothing wrong with testing the waters with Linux, especially since it can check for compatibility issues, or you having no taste. Plus, we promise, we’ll keep this fling our little secret.

The first, and most obvious, is if you’re building a computer that doesn’t come with licensing. While most pre-packaged computers come with an operating system (usually Windows), a custom built computer may not. Instead of investing in a pricey Windows or Mac OS, you can grab Linux. Voila. Hundreds of dollars saved.

The second is when your current operating system just won’t do. This can be because it’s faulty (*cough* Vista *cough*), because it’s due for an upgrade, because it comes with lots of bloated software and takes up too many resources (*cough* Vista *cough*), or it isn’t the edition that you would have gone for. Even with a student, business, or government discount, you can spend a whole wad of cash on an Apple or Microsoft system.

Then we have some more hidden ways that Linux spares the figures in your bank statement. One is through the free software available for Linux. The open source community Thrives on Linux, and there are many programs that would cost a pretty penny in Windows or Mac, but which are totally free of charge in Linux. Beyond that, there is some software that you don’t have to invest in when you buy Linux. Specifically here, we’re talking about anti-virus, spyware, and malware protection software that is crucial with any Microsoft driven computer. Since Linux has such a hearty immune system, you can save a bundle by dodging these software subscription fees. Plus, then you don’t have to withstand those irritating “your subscription need to be renewed” messages from Norton.

Obviously, there are many ways that Linux saves you money, and as we mentioned, the OS is free right out of the gate.

As you breach into the brave new world of Linux (congratulations on that, by the way), you’re likely to run into a fair amount of terminology that you haven’t encountered before. Here is a brief rundown of the important terms.

Linus Torvalds: The Finnish software engineering genius who created the first kernel of Linux, on the UNIX platform.

Kernel: The kernel is the mandatory programming core of the operating system that allows the computer’s software systems to interact with hardware systems. All distros function centered around the Linux kernel.

Distributions (distros): A distro, or distribution, of Linux is a different operating system version based around the original kernel. There are a wide variety of distributions, some of which are more commonly used than others. Each distribution also typically has its own benefits and level of complexity; while some distros can be used by any user, others are better suited to advanced computer technicians. Some of these distributions are commercial releases, charging a fee. The majority, however, are free of charge.

Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE, Debain, Mandriva: The most commonly used Linux distributions.

GNU: GNU was a project established by Richard Stallman in 1984 in an attempt to create and promote a free-of-charge operating system. Many of the original work done with the Linux kernel was done cooperatively with GNU. It is for this reason that GNU/Linux are often paired when described, and sometimes when labeled.

ISO: An ISO is a disc image that contains a packaged program and components. Most of the distros of Linux are available on ISO, allowing the operating system to be burnt onto a CD, easily copied, and readily installed.

GUI: A graphic user interface. It involves a user interacting with a graphic on their computer screen, using an interface device like a mouse or a keyboard, in order to interact with software.

CLI: A command line interface. A way in which the user interacts with software on their computer by entering a command line through text.

Command shell: a programming shell which allows for a variety of command line interfaces that allow user interaction with the operating system.

#1: It’s as Free as Something that Doesn’t Cost Any Money

That’s right. Linux is completely free of charge. Unlike our “friends” at Apple and Microsoft who insist on charging large globs of money and your first born child for their operating system, you can get the Linux OS and most of the major distributions for no money. Oh, and you get to keep your first child (for better or worse).

#2: Software’s free too.

Oh, what’s that? You like software? So does everyone over here in the open source community. They provide software for you that’s checked and validated by your preferred Linux distro, and comes at the price of three dollars less than three dollars.

#3: Upgrades? Free.

Yes, we know that Windows 95 leads to 98 leads to 2000/ME (which they try to ignore) leads to XP leads to Vista (again with trying to ignore) leads to 7. And Mac does something similar, but they have cats, so that’s a little better, we suppose. The thing about Linux upgrades? They’re just as awesome (although perhaps not named after cats), and they cost as much as gasoline for an electric car.

#4: Security!

Unlike Windows, which hackers and people who like to kick your computer around like to mess with, Linux has secure software. All of the software provided is checked by the distribution you rely on, so you can evade all kinds of delays and chest pains. This also means no virus protection subscription fees.

#5: It Does EVERYTHING

Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. According to the Linux site, 95 percent of all the tasks that you take on in your normal Windows operated day are doable on a Linux system. If you’re doing “business stuff,” and not goofing around with media and games, you can round that up to 100 percent.

We begin with security. Unlike Windows and Macintosh, which have an essentially unlimited number of application, a large portion of which carry viruses, Linux has a large number of applications which are all stable, functional, and virus free. While you may not be able to download the wallpaper diagram developer or the cat poster creator, you also won’t be able to download the video codec that is actually a world eating virus in disguise.

Then we have diversity. Don’t assume for one second that the fact that these executables are tried and true means that there aren’t a lot of them. Linux has many great applications, including major applications like Firefox and Thunderbird, programs that take on the functionality of Outlook, programs that allow you to IM your friends from all your different platforms, sound editing software, and more.

Let’s also note findability. While you can surf the net for hours, sometimes days, trying to hunt down an application file that works for you, is up to date, and isn’t trying to eat your computer, Linux software can all be found through an installation browser. You can browse through all the approved apps through the Synaptics program itself.

Cost should also be pointed at here. Just like a celebrity getting dinner in a small town diner, you aren’t going to pay a thing for what you receive. All of these applications are open source, frequently updated, and as gentle as is physically possible on your bank statement without actually writing you a check.

According to the official Linux website, you can accomplish “ninety-five percent” of the tasks you can accomplish on Windows when you’re using a Linux based system. They even say that this number is higher when you’re doing professional tasks. It does beg the question of what that five percent comes down to, however. Here is a brief summary of things that Linux can’t do as of August 6th, 2010. (And yes, keep in mind that they are constantly expanding their abilities in that beautiful open source, kerneled off community).

1. Media.

For those of you who love watching media in thousands of different formats, you may not be happy with Linux (immediately). While it supports the majority of media codecs, there are some file types that the media browsers available simply can’t handle. While the open source community is actively working on extensions and alternatives to help you out here, there are some obscure video types that may not work well.

2. Hardware.

There are many hardware types that aren’t fully supported on a Linux system. While all of the mandatory core parts of your computer will be supported without issue, fancy extras may not be. Unfortunately, we have to draw a line on “fancy extras” starting around the point of wireless cards. Many of these branded parts come with proprietary software that must be installed on the system. The developers weren’t kind enough to make versions for Linux, and the open source community can’t handle the sheer diversity of what comes in.

3. Gaming.

Many video games are unable to function within a Linux framework. Some still do work just fine, and there are more platforms and emulators that are allowing games to work appropriately on the Linux system. However, in addition to software concerns, the hardware issues mentioned above create some bugs with graphics acceleration.

While there are some other issues that come up infrequently, these are the primary concerns as of the time of this writing. There were previously other concerns as well, such as with networking the Linux computer to other computers, but these and other major former issues are now solved.

In a previous and very short entry, we discussed the limitations that the Linux operating system has, at least as of right now. To summarize, there are some issues with media codecs, some problems with hardware acceleration, and a few bugs with gaming. However, what we didn’t mention was the long list of things that Linux can do that Windows systems simply can’t. Here are a few cool things that Linux has accomplish that should make Bill Gates as embarrassed as a first grader who wet their pants in front of their crush.

Update the way that deities update.

With Linux, you don’t have to go through and update each and every one of you drivers, bits of software, and so forth. Rather, you can issue a universal command that updates all of your major software components. This includes the operating system, software that has been approved by your Linux distribution, device drivers, and far more. In addition, most of the updates don’t require you reset your computer. In Linux, there is no annoying popup that says “hey, I’m going to reset in ten minutes; is that okay?” Again, because they don’t have to reset.

Mobility is redefined.

While you may be able to install Windows on a laptop computer, Linux goes further than that. By storing all of your system settings in one simple folder that can be copied to a different computer, Linux allows you to transfer all the nit-picky details of your work station to another terminal with ease. Beyond that, you can install Linux on a flash drive, and have it run effectively.

Customization Evolves

Like Charmeleon evolves into Charizard (yes, that’s right folks, a pokemon reference), customization kicks it up a notch on Linux. We would say that “unlike Charizard, Linux can’t breathe fire,” but we’re not rightly sure. After all, it’s so customizable that it might just have some fire breathing capabilities, should the right programmer get into it.

There are many unique abilities that Linux has beyond these, but as far as talking points go, this is a good place to start. Check it out yourself for more details!

There are many advantages to the multiple desktop environments found within Linux. Beyond the fact that it allows people to choose the right fit for them, the competitive nature of the different OS variations have allowed the creative force of the community to thrive. However, one sickening, tragic, may-kill-you disadvantage remains; you have to choose which one to use. With more than a dozen commonly used alternatives, picking the appropriate distro can be something of a challenge. Here are some of the more popular options and their benefits.

Ubuntu. Ubuntu is the single most popular version of Linux. Users of Windows and Macintosh will feel right at home. It’s an advanced, point and click GUI (graphic user interface) that doesn’t require any expert knowledge of your computer, command lines, or anything similar. Nonetheless, for more advanced users, it provides some solid options.

Fedora. Red Hat is a version of Linux for paid users only, designed primarily for computer servers and other advanced office systems. They decided to contribute to the open source community, however, when they introduced Fedora. While it may not have some of the professional features of Red Hat, Fedora is an excellent home computing GUI.

openSUSE. This distro was backed by the company Novell in order to get Linux out to a wider audience. It’s designed for beginners who don’t have previous Linux experience, has massive community development, and is very secure. It’s perfect for someone who wants to test their footing before jumping into the world of Linux.

Mandriva. Formerly known as Mandrake (and sometimes still referred to as such), Mandriva was one of the first distributions of Linux aimed at creating a more user friendly environment that would be welcoming for beginners. It’s perfect for professional use from beginner Linux users.

Linux Mint. What started out as an attempt to get some valuable media codecs integrated into Ubuntu turned into a savvy and wonderfully constructed distribution of Linux. It is highly customizable, including on your desktop and all your standard menus, and provides some unique utilities that will allow for advanced installation and improved media options.