If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Linux in the past week of using it is how versatile it is. I’ve concentrated on using Ubuntu 9.10 and found it to excel, in many ways, further than Windows and Mac OS X.
Of course Ubuntu is just one of the many distributions available out there, and Linux comes in many forms, including ones you may not expect; even Google’s Android OS runs off a modified version of the Linux kernel.
So with so many distributions to choose from, which should you go for? There are too many choices to cover, but there are definitely some main contenders. If you want an experience close to what you’re used to with Windows, you may want to consider openSUSE – an easy to use distribution with great hardware support and a Windows-esque start menu to match.
Another favourite of mine is Fedora Linux, used by none other than Linus Torvalds himself… It’s second only to Ubuntu, which hopefully you’ll be more familiar with after our week of features on it!
If you’re a netbook owner, you may be interested in the best netbook specific distributions – the flexibility of Linux certainly shines through with the wide variety of options available to you. A great example of this is Jolicloud, an OS designed specifically for people using netbooks, which is compatible with a host of devices listed on their website.
If Jolicloud doesn’t float your boat, you can opt for a specialised version of, you guessed it, Ubuntu! The Ubuntu Netbook Remix is optimised for netbooks and does a great job of making the most out of a small screen and limited hardware.
I certainly hope that the past week has given some of you an insight in to what a great operating system Linux can be, and how you can make it your own. What’s your favourite distribution? Have I missed your preferred distribution from my list? Let us know in the comments!
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Hoping to study Computer Science at University in the near future, you’ll seldom see John without a computer in touching distance! His interests include building computers, reading all sorts of literature and of course writing for Zath to keep you updated on all the latest in the world of tech!