Ubuntu 8.10 Review

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(More customer reviews)There's nothing on this DVD you can't download for free, but you might still wish to buy it for the convenience of having a disk and to send a little cash to Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a Linux operating system. Ubuntu Linux is not a version of Windows even though it runs on the same kind of computer. If your computer was a radio, then Windows would be AM and Linux would be FM. You can use either one, but only one can be the native operating system at a time. You can listen to news on AM radio and you can listen to news on FM radio but you can't listen to AM stations on FM. Generally, if your program runs only on Windows, it won't run on Linux. (If you look too closely at this analogy, it will fall to pieces from all the exceptions.) But that doesn't mean you can't get work done.
I like Ubuntu because I use it to to edit and layout a monthly newsletter with OpenOffice.org, an 'office' suite. I use Thunderbird to handle email, including an address book, custom filters & folders, and multiple accounts. I use Picasa to organize my photo collection. I use GIMP to create graphics to use on web pages and other places and to edit/touch-up photos. I play card games and an online tank fighting game. I listen to mp3s. I can read/write DVDs and CDs. I can rip DVDs to .avi files that will play on my pda. I use Slimserver to stream music to my home audio system, with custom playlists. I can watch TV shows on the website Hulu.com.
I have entered data for a vast family tree using GRAMPS. GRAMPS can import and export GEDCOMs and can create a multitude of customized reports about your family tree.
I use Pidgin to keep in touch with friends on AIM, and Firefox lets me use MySpace and Facebook, etc. I also upload and watch videos on YouTube, read RSS feeds, and create photo books on Shutterfly using the Firefox browser.
I can open, read, and write .doc, .xls, and .ppt files from MS-Office using OpenOffice and share them with colleagues. I can read and create pdf files, too.
All of the software I've mentioned above either comes free on the Ubuntu disk or you can download and add it for free using Synaptic, the software installer.
Probably the best thing about using Linux is the complete absence of nag-ware. Your computer programs won't constantly nag you to "set this application as the default for X type of file" or to upgrade to the version that actually works. Linux, and the applications on it, were created by people who use the programs. They don't like intrusive ads, pop-ups, and nag-ware anymore than you do. You can't buy software like this.
The system for adding and removing software, called Synaptic, is elegant and easy to use.
Ubuntu is not without flaws. If you know what hardware you want to use, Google around and find out if it will work with Ubuntu-- sometimes there aren't drivers for certain kinds of hardware. What that means is that your wifi card or your printer may not play nicely with Ubuntu. Check first!
I have yet to find a Linux video editor for use by non-experts. The video editing software I have found generally demands a higher level of familiarity with the technical specifications of digital video than I have come close to achieving. I have to use a different operating system to make video DVDs of home movies & slides. That's not to say it's impossible with Linux; it's just impossible for me with Linux.
There is a large and active Ubuntu web forum where I have been happy to find answers to my questions and very little of the geek arrogance that used to be so prevalent on the USENET linux newsgroups.
Ubuntu Linux is a great product, with free upgrades and updates, and an enthusiastic user community that will help you make the most of it. It is as easy to learn as any new operating system-- if you made the jump from Windows 95 to Windows XP, or you taught yourself how to use XP, then you can use Ubuntu. But remember, Ubuntu is not, and is not trying to be, a Windows operating system. If you can live with that, and you're willing to learn how it works, you should be very happy.


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Ubuntu is an operating system consisting of free and open source software. With Ubuntu you can surf the web, read email, create documents, spreadsheets and more! Ubuntu gives you the power and flexibility for business, education and home use.Ubuntu is easy to install, free of viruses and perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. The DVD will install in a number of widely-spoken languages, with support for many more available to download. Ubuntu is community developed, commercially supported and offers free maintenance updates after release. This version will receive updates for the next 18 months. When the next version is released, you can upgrade to it for free. This is a double sided DVD. One side is for x86 (or 32-bit) based systems including Intel Pentium, Intel Core and AMD Athlon. Choose this if you are unsure. The other side is a 64-bit version of Ubuntu which will run on AMD64 or Intel64 based computers (including AMD Athlon64 and Intel Core 2).Comprehensive DVD with desktop and server installation, alternate installation modes (e.g. OEM install), plus supported add-on software and translations for over 100 spoken languages.Office productivity suite, web browser and email for your everyday needs. Instant messaging, image editing and various tools for accessing and managing your multimedia files. A selection of server applications, including email and database servers and cluster management tools

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Mac OS X Version 10.5.6 Leopard Review

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(More customer reviews)The OS comes in a very small package with a little manual. Install took 45 minutes to confirm that the CD was in good condition, 45 more to install. This review is not going to be full of technical jargon... instead a brief first impression from a long time Mac user (circa 1984 Mac 512Ke vintage). For the technicals, go to Apple, read geeky blogs. For the rest of us, I'll try to keep it more straight-forward. They claim 300 changes... here are what I think are some of the more interesting ones... apologies for the length of the review, relative to the number of changes claimed, a moderate length to this review. Updated December 09, 2007 to reflect new experiences.
Pro:
-Time machine! OK, back up programs are available, but how many of them are sold versus the number of macs out there? This program is native, created by Apple for Apple. All I did was plug in a hard drive and Leopard asked if I wanted to make this my back-up drive for Leopard. I clicked yes, and that was it, all set up. It begins back up once the computer is left on and idle. The first takes a very long time, hours, subsequent back ups are hourly, however only files that have changed are saved, preserving storage space and computing power. Time machine looks like any open folder window when it gets down to it... like you went back in time and browsed around (hence the name). Similar to "snapshot" for those Windows XP users out there.
-Install was very easy. Boot machine, insert CD, restart with CD. The computer verified that the CD is in good condition (a lengthy process of about 45 minutes that you can skip but which is recommended). The rest of the install takes about 45 more minutes, but it is basically all automated. It's a Mac, it's so clever that it's easy. Apple does what computers promised to do... automate smartly.
-Price is very reasonable relative to other operating systems (e.g. Vista)
-This OS includes the release version of Boot Camp. I've not used it yet as I have Parallels, but I like how Apple has included this feature... sometimes it's just best to get along as even programs offered on both platforms are just different enough to be annoying. So if you are using PowerPoint at work on a PC, you can use it at home on your Mac acting like a PC... thank you Apple.
-The new "you can see the content of folders in the dock bar" feature is handy, especially if you have many projects going and you dump a lot of picture files into them. They call this new feature "stacks" and it works really well.
-I find that movies too now give you a preview icon which is great.
-New OS did not trash my preferences, such as my Son's photo on the desktop... very plug and play
-Safari web browser is appears somewhat faster, perhaps 1x faster to load a page but I didn't really notice that much difference as I was using another browser up to this point
-The widget-maker is really interesting... I made my first widget of a stock I follow, in about 30 seconds. This was really great. I expect future versions of the feature to add more punch (e.g. the ability to add a title bar to your new widget, improved ability to make very small widgets, ability to use arrow keys to get the widget just right, ability to resize the widget once made instead of deleting and starting all over, etc.), but is still great as is.
-When I have multiple windows open I notice a slight shadow to help me identify which one is active, or on top. Apple continues to impress with their ability to tune into subtle usability features that are so obvious that they have been overlooked. Wonderful (although I would love a darker shadow, and perhaps a bold frame around the window too).
-The Apple web site offers a very nice 9-10 minute introduction. Check it out, it's worth it (trust me).
-Cover Flow is AWESOME! If you are familiar with flipping through album art on the new iPhone or iPods, you'll recognize the power of this feature right away. For those who've been on the sidelines, let me catch you up. There's icon view. There's list view. There's also a column view that's less popular. And there's now cover flow. Much like iTunes, you can flip through files like albums in a juke box, or turning pages in a picture book. The Mac lets you see the first page, so you don't get just a dumb icon, or even a tiny picture, you get a nice big image. It's nothing short of amazing. Cover flow does more (like you can play a video in cover flow without exiting the program or launching a player, fast and convenient), but again, this is a simpler version for the rest of us.
-A further extension of file management is Quick Look. You can sort of open files without launching a program. It's designed to be a time-saver for the person with a lot of files.
-Spaces. OK, this might be a little hard to describe. Essentially, are you someone who like to have 10 programs running at one time? If so, Spaces is ideal for you. You can open say a few photos in one space, a publishing program and Photoshop in another. You can toggle back and forth between the spaces and the effect is a less cluttered environment. It's neat.
-Mail. THere's many new things here, most small. However, for those setting up a mail account for the first time, say on Yahoo or "another popular website", you enter your email address, password, and click OK. Leopard finds it and sets it up. This blows me away. Forever are gone are the days of entering POP and SMTP data, which I guess wasn't terribly bad, but again, this is 2007. Computers are supposed to be more intuitve, not less right? Mac delivers yet again.
-I didn't mention the Notes and To Do features in Mail, which are excellent adds. Example of what these are: I often send myself an email so that I have a note: Well, instead of sending a mail to myself, which can, if hung up take a minute or an hour to return to me, I can write myself a note which sits in my inbox. I can add attachments like an email. I can also turn a note into a "To do", assigning a due date and getting a check box to check when it has been completed. Anywhere I can access my email, I can also get my notes. Weird and wonderful! To do events sync to iCal (which also syncs to my iPhone)... excellent.
-Email contacts, addresses, phone numbers can be added to existing contacts, or a new contact with a couple clicks. This is very handy for the busy professional.
-The teleconferencing features of iChat makes presentations really personal and also allows you to share desktops. I won't use this at home, and I can only dream of this at work when working remotely with our team/my boss in the UK. Words don't do this feature justice.
-My existing programs seem to work ok. I did get a minor error with Parallels (see Cons section for more), but all other programs tried functioned fine.
Con:
-Boot Camp requires reboot to run Windows
-Changed the icons some, which is not a big deal, but which was unnecessary
-With all this advanced file-sharing capability in iChat, I am concerned that a guest could inadvertently open sensitive files or emails. I get confidential materials sometimes, and I have little means of limiting access. It's too open and I'd love some locking features, both in iChat and in case I walk away from my Mac and someone decides to have some fun.
- Parallels has become unstable and won't launch. A free patch fomr the Parallels website (build "5582") fixed the crash on launch issue, however an IP conflict gotten originally still persists. This IP error does not seem to cause any issues as far as I can tell, it is just a nuisance.

Bottom line: Highly recommended. Sleek, smart, and straight-forward. The review title says it all, however there are obviously many reasons to buy, including staying current with the OS so that you have access to future releases and features.

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Mac OS X v.10.5 Leopard is the newest release of Apple's innovative, stable and compatible operating system for Macintosh computers. This new release includes an elegant new interface and over 300 new innovations designed to help customers accomplish any task. Improvements have been included for all your favorite Mac programs like iChat and Mail, as well as all-new features such as Quick Look, which lets you peruse the contents of a multiple-page document or video without opening the whole file, and Time Machine, which can recover files in seconds. OS X 10.5 has all this, as well as the exceptional search technology, stunning graphics, rapid connectivity and solid stability you've come to expect from the OSX family of operating systems. iChat now lets you present movies, presentations and virtually any document during your chtas with iChat Theater. You can even save your audio and video chats for sharing or synching with an iPod to play on the go. Communicate with 30 professionally designed stationary template, keep important notes and track to-do items in Mail You can now group applications into Spaces and move between each Space with keyboard shortcuts to organize your windows and reduce clutter

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Slackware 13 Linux, 4-disks DVD Installation and Reference Set, Ed.2011 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been doing computer programming from six years. Got this package about 4 months ago, and have never regretted it! Well layed out, informative, and genuinely useful. UNIX is one of the best OS's in the world, it's so stable. Slackware is better than other Linux distros I tried. In overall comparison, Slackware satisfied my needs better than all other distros. With ultimate security and awesome interface, who can't ignore it?

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Do you know Linux? Are you new to it? Have you always wanted to try but were afraid, wondering if it was too geeky? Are you using it now but looking for a better installation? Are you looking for Linux books and clear instructions? Or maybe your Windows-based computer has caught another virus and you've had enough of that?Relax! DVDxDVD has some simple, complete and inexpensive solutions for you. Our Linux sets offer you the very best in effortless installation, so you'll be up and running in no time! If this is your first time with Linux, you will appreciate the beautiful, clear graphics that make custom installation so easy. Installations for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems are included. All our sets contain only the newest, most complete DVD releases. You'll find office applications, web browsers, email programs, instant messengers, graphics packages, audio and communication tools, you name it! No hassles, no license fees, no prohibitively expensive software! All our packages come with the video-DVD "Brief Introduction to Linux." So if you are new to Linux's command-line workflow and are in the mood for learning basic concepts and commands, you've got it! You will be amazed at how much you will learn from this brief presentation. All our sets include the "UNIX Academy Selected Training Library" in PDF format. These are the only books on Linux you will ever need! Whether you are a beginner or advanced user, you will find exactly what you need in these clear, easy-to-read guides. Study the material as you wish: Print just a few pages at a time, follow along on your computer screen as you type commands and learn, or open and read a guide on your PDA or iPhone when you are in the mood for learning!The set also includes a Quick Reference Card of Linux commands, so you'll always have what you need at your fingertips, when you need it! All DVDxDVD products are U.S. made and 100% covered by warranty.

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