I wanted to write some odds and ends about things I normally do not wrie about. First up is a new laptop. I have wanted a laptop for a long time and never wanted to put the money down for one. Mostly because money for me does not grow on trees, and laptops by their very nature are not cheap.

This summer I became the owner of my own laptop! I do not think I have mentioned that I prefer Linux over Windows. I really prefer Linux over Windows Vista, but that is another conversation completely. In the world of Linux there are literally hundreds of flavors of Linux. For the computer literate, especially those in Windows with a commercial CD burning program and an Internet connection there are scores of Linux CD distributions that are called ‘live Cd’s’.

What a live Cd is, is a software teams vision of Linux that runs on your computer via a CD ROM (usually) and changes nothing on your computer. You can load it, try it, and throw it away, and your computer is the same as if it were never turned on. Because Linux distributions are individual, it is not hard to find a distribution where the creator thinks like you do. It is amazing to me that everyone using the same basic Linux programs create such a wide array of flavors of Linux that all act so differently.

What I enjoy about live Linux Cd’s is I can try many flavors of Linux before I install the one I want. Think of the freedom this brings. On my laptop for instance, the wireless card is very new, and in Linux land new hardware is not always good. It takes time for those creative savvy people to come up with Linux versions of working drivers for new bits and pieces of new hardware. Hence the joy of live Cd’s, if one does not work, another will.

I went to a web site called Distrowatch, and starting with the most popular Linux flavor, I eventually downloaded and created about twenty live Cd’s before finding a flavor of Linux that both worked correctly on my laptop, and worked the way I wanted it to. Can you imagine how nice it would be if Windows came in hundreds of variations, and it was possible to find one variation that fits your needs without all the extra stuff you do not want or care for?

There is a second plus to Linux. Because it is not Windows, it is made differently than Windows (Vista is getting closer though), Linux is pretty much left alone in the virus and malware department. Think of what that means, surfing the web, and not having to worry about your computer getting infected! Not having to update your virus protection software every year.

One of the most positive points of Linux is if you think your computer is getting too old, putting and running the right distribution of Linux on it will make it faster than many off the shelf commuters’ sitting on store shelves right now. Linux is very flexible in its hardware requirements, and old hardware is not an issue in Linux land.

If you have never seen Linux in action, chances are someone you know uses Linux. It has developed into a system that for most people can compete on an even playing field with Windows. If you want to enjoy your computer more and spend less on it, you may want to check out Linux, there are some very good distributions out there. If you find a Linux distribution you want, it is always a good thing to send some money to the developers. They put a lot of love, sweat, and tears into what they do, and for most, there is little compensation for their work.

If this post has you interested in Linux, and you think you may want to give Linux a try, get a live Cd. Here are a few suggestions for distributions I prefer. One is named PCLinuxos, and the second is Ubuntu. They can both be downloaded and burned to a live CD if you know how to burn an .iso copy. If not you can order a CD for a few dollars. Although Ubuntu goes one step further, if you ask them they will mail you an Ubuntu CD free of charge! How about that for the customer comes first! If you have an older computer, Linux Mint which is a modified version of Ubuntu with a different desktop may be for you. Linux Mint  is also available as a live Cd.

These are solid distributions, and are very new user friendly. PCLinuxos is the most like Windows, and Ubuntu uses what some consider a cleaner desktop. Linux Mint is fast on old computers and screams on newer computers. They are all Linux through and through.

They come complete in the form of a live CD, with a Linux operating system that is installable from the CD. They both have Linux equivalents of almost all major Windows software program you may use, and many you do not. PCLinuxos is a smaller operation, and Ubuntu aims to be everywhere, but they are both great for a Linux beginner, and not so beginner.