Linux Archive

Seven Linux Distros Fight Over One Old ThinkPad

  Submitted by anonymous Linux 54 Comments
"Like most companies, my employer has a stash of old, 'obsolete' PCs and laptops that won't run the latest versions of Windows worth a darn. Naturally, this represents a great source of systems for testing the latest Linux distributions. I thought it would be interesting to find out which modern Linux distro made the best OS for a supposedly 'obsolete' old laptop. With this in mind, I requisitioned an oldie but goodie: an IBM ThinkPad 2662-35U, with a Pentium III 600MHz processor, 192MB of SDRAM, and a 20GB hard drive."
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Manage Linux Hardware with udev

  Submitted by Sphinx Linux 4 Comments
ENP has an article on Linux's udev. "udev handles the task of detecting hardware and creating nodes for it in /dev, and also managing device permissions. It works in concert with the Linux Hardware Abstraction Layer and the hotplug subsystem. In effect, all devices, even internal drives and expansion cards, are treated as removable hotplug devices."
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Duval: Ulteo Can Be Installed and Is an Ordinary OS

Linux 5 Comments
Gael Duval has emailed us to let us know of an error in our previous coverage of his new project, Ulteo. "There is small confusion in the Linux Format article which leads to confusion. In fact, what is shown in the LXF article is the 'Ulteo Connected Desktop', which is actually to way to use Ulteo within a web-browser, with all basic applications, for free. Anyway, this feature is just a part of the Ulteo concept, and of course the full Ulteo OS can be installed on a PC." Stay tuned for a short interview with Duval which will give some answers concerning Ulteo.
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A Guide to Installing, Using FreeDOS 1.0 in GNU/Linux

Linux 25 Comments
"FreeDOS is a project which aims to recreate the magic of DOS and bring a truly free GPLed DOS encompassing all the characteristics of MS-DOS with lots of improvements thrown in. A couple of weeks back, FreeDOS developers released ver 1.0 of their OS. I downloaded the full CD ISO of FreeDOS from their website which was around 153 MB in size. Since I have been using Linux as my operating system, I decided to install and use FreeDOS inside Linux by means of an emulator. In the past, I have used Qemu to run Damn Small Linux on my Ubuntu machine. And I was pleased with its performance. So I decided to use Qemu to run FreeDOS as well."
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First Look at Ulteo

  Submitted by Excel Hearts Choi Linux 23 Comments
Apparantly, Gael Duval has leaked the first bits of information concerning his Ulteo project to the LXF magazine. "You can't fail to notice that in the screenshot he sent us, Ulteo is running inside a web browser. What's more, the screenshot also shows Duval creating a presentation on the 'Ulteo Connected Desktop'. Ulteo is going to be hosted on Duval's own servers, enabling users to connect to their own desktop from anywhere in the world. The system administration and upgrades will be handled at the server end, as too will application installation. Anyone with a browser will be able to use Ulteo - indeed, Ulteo is going to need a broadband connection to work - as the client will only require Java."
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Is the Future of Desktop Linux ‘Going Thin’?

  Submitted by T. Hofman Linux 16 Comments
According to a Gartner report in June this year, the overall thin-client computing market will continue to grow at a steady pace during the next several years. The analyst noted that this growth will be fueled by falling thin-client terminal prices. While the thin-client approach makes Linux PCs easier to manage, there are still kinks to iron out with desktop Linux operating system, according to Gartner.
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Looking at 2.6.19, Refining the Development Process

  Submitted by misha Linux 6 Comments
Andrew Morton posted his patch queue with numerous comments about merge plans into the mainline kernel. Among his comments he noted that he would not yet be merging the Reiser4fs, "reiser4. I was planning on merging this, but the batch_write/writev problemight wreck things, and I don't think the patches arising from my recent partial review have come through yet. So it's looking more like 2.6.20."
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Luis Villa: Communities Should Help Small Linux OEMs

Linux 53 Comments
GNOME's Luis Villa has wrote an interesting entry in his blog, explaining why it is in Linux's best interest that distribution communities seek out small Linux OEM companies and help them in providing the best Linux experience possible. "Obviously it is in RH, Canonical, and Novell's interests to actively pursue Big Enterprise Fish like HP and Dell. But I'm really surprised that the communities around these distros haven't sought out the smaller, and potentially growing, companies that are offering computers with Linux pre-installed. It seems like this is a win-win for everyone."
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Desktop Linux Distributions – From A to Z

Linux 14 Comments
"There are hundreds of Linux distributions. This handy reference guide includes the ones we think are especially interesting for desktop Linux users - from Arch Linux to Zenwalk - and we plan to update the list on an ongoing basis. Whether you're looking for an easy Windows-to-Linux migration distro, one for home use or serious enterprise workstation use, a free one, a commercial one, a tiny one to fit alongside Windows 98 on an old underpowered laptop, or one aimed at educational institutions, we think you'll find something suitable."
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Taking the Linux Plunge

Linux 9 Comments
"While other articles seem to discuss the impact of this drastic change for some older Windows users, here we are going to discuss how those newbies looking to Linux can tell you if are truly ready for Linux, and which Linux distro would be the logical and best choice for their own needs and/or tastes. More here.
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Why Desktop Linux Will Not Take off, and Why You Don’t Want It to

Linux 165 Comments
You must remember the period where various electronic devices, from phones to radios, were available in transparent cases. You may have found them utterly cool. Yet the simple fact that you can't find these things on the shelves anymore (except for do-it-yourself PC cases) means the crowd doesn't find them nearly that cool. While you may not see the link yet, this is exactly why the Linux desktop will never be popular.
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GNU/Linux on Laptops

  Submitted by michuk Linux 23 Comments
"Although most modern laptops nowadays tend to scare people off with an ugly 'Designed for Windows XP' mark, it does not mean that alternative operating systems, like GNU/Linux cannot be installed and function equally well. In this article I would like to describe a few common issues with Linux on laptops and maybe bust a few myths about using GNU/Linux on mobile computers."
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