There are other linuxes besides Ubuntu also!

One of the pleasures of Linux is that you can try out different distributions to see which one works best for you. You likeUbuntu, but you want to fine tune the desktop engine? OK, tryKubuntu with its KDE desktop then. Some worthwhile distributions, however, don't get as much attention as they deserve. So, here's my list of five great distributions that you might want to try.

Before launching into my list, let me preface it by saying that this is a list of what I consider relatively easy to use desktop distributions. So, while Debianis a great distribution, I haven't included it because to get the most out of it you should be an experienced Linux user. I also haven't included special purpose distributions like my favorite system repair Linux, SystemRescueCD. It's a great system repair operating system. Even if you don't care for Linux and your job is bringing misbehaving PCs back into line you really should get a copy. It, however, isn't a good, general purpose desktop.

So, without further adieu, here's my list of the five best desktop Linuxes you may not have tried.

First, on my list is an old favorite of mine: SimplyMEPIS. What I like about this distribution is that, more so than any other Linux I know, it just works. It really does. I install it on any machine, it runs and life is good. I especially like that its creator, Warren Woodford, includes several small, but extremely useful utilities to make using the desktop easier.

So why haven't you heard of it? Well, MEPIS is in many ways a labor of love. Woodford isn't just the creator; he's also, by his own choice, the only major developer. That means that when sometimes life pulls him away from the distribution and that happened recently. Now, however, Woodford is back to working on his Debian-based distribution so a new version of MEPIS should soon be arriving. Trust me; it will be worth your time.

Another distribution which fell on hard times, but is back and looking really good is gOS (Good OS). The first version got a lot of attention as being the "Google operating system," because instead of emphasizing desktop applications it focused on bringing users Google's applications. It's not that, but after a 2.0 version, which wasn't that well polished, the latest version gOS 3.0, though, looks really sweet.

It's meant really for OEMs to install on netbooks, but you can download and use it on your own PC. It includes an installer for a small horde of Google Gadgets, as well as links to Google Mail, Calendar, Reader, etc. etc. You get the idea. You'll never want to run this distribution without an Internet connection, but with one, I'm finding it to be a lot of fun and darn useful.

Now, one of the constant pains of desktop Linux is that so many media codexes aren't available in open-source versions. Mint, which is a child of Ubuntu, acknowledges this and then includes the proprietary programs needed to play Microsoft media formats and the like.

The result is, in my experience, a very pleasing desktop experience. While it can't run everything -- Apple's FairPlay DRM (digital rights management) encrypted tunes from the iTunes Store is beyond its powers - it does pretty darn well with everything else. If, on the other hand, you want to try life without any proprietary software, the distribution for you is gNewSense.

Another Linux that's worth a look is PCLinuxOS, which is based on Mandriva Linux. This is a solid desktop distribution that uses a KDE interface to good effect. If I could use one word to describe PCLinuxOS it would be 'sturdy.' Like MEPIS, it works well and with a large variety of hardware components.

I'm not the only one who thinks well of PCLinuxOS. While it doesn't get much press attention, it's long been one of the most popular distributions, according to DistroWatch's listing. Go ahead and give it a run and you'll see why PCLinuxOS has quietly gained many fans.

Of course you can also use straight Mandriva Linux, and perhaps you should. At one time, Mandriva was a well-regarded and well-known Linux distribution but over the years it's dropped out of sight. It's time to check into it again.

The newest Mandriva, Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring, comes in several versions. Besides a choice between the KDE 3.5.9 and GNOME 2.12.9, it also comes in a version without any proprietary software and another, the Powerpack edition that includes many useful proprietary programs. All versions also include a handy Windows migration tool that can bring over not just documents but Windows fonts. It can also read and write to Windows' native NTFS hard drives. Mandriva does a pretty darn good job at bringing over Windows files and the like and for that reason alone I think you should give it a try.

So, did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know. In the meantime, give these a try, your usage may vary, but I'm sure you'll find at least one of the less common distributions to be worth your time.

Web-based Applications, that are awesome

Today, we are listing 17 online free web based applications that are very helpful for you to process your daily work. Whether you are designer, developer, office worker, manager, supervisor, student, home user, etc. But we make sure to add something interesting for everyone. Most of them are not very well-known, but they are really amazing in respect to their features. Just take a look at them and share your thought here.

TweetLater

With TweetLater you can schedule future tweets for all your twitter accounts. Keep your Twitter stream ticking over with new tweets even when you’re not in front of your computer. Or, use it as your personal reminder system.

Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic is the free and easy way to create a video recording of your screen (aka screencast) and upload it for free hosting all from your browser with no install!

Site-Perf

With Site-Perf.com, you get an accurate, realistic, and helpful estimation of your site’s loading speed. The script fully emulates natural browser behaviour downloading your page with all the images, CSS, JS and other files – just like a regular user.

TextReminders

TextReminders.net is a free service that allows you to send out free text messages (sms) to others. Use the form below to send out an immediate text message to a friend. It won’t cost you anything to send the text message, however standard text messaging rates my apply to the receiver.

Letterfu

Letterfu is a  website that provides you foldable letter templates. You can take their print out. You will need to choose the template you like, print it, write message on it and finally just fold it according to the instructions on the website before sending to anyone. That means you will no need for the envelope anymore.

Yammer

Yammer is a tool for making companies and organizations more productive through the exchange of short frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you working on?” As employees answer that question, a feed is created in one central location enabling co-workers to discuss ideas, post news, ask questions, and share links and other information.

DrawAnywhere

 

DrawAnywhere is an online diagramming website, where you can draw, modify and share flowcharts and other diagrams, with the look & feel of a desktop application. It runs on any browser with Flash 9 installed. There is no need to download software. It is an always-on-access-anywhere solution. It meets all your diagramming needs purchasing expensive software.

tinymail.me

Tinymail is an anti spam blocker and protection tool which secures and blocks out your email address from bots and stops junk mail from cluttering your Outlook Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo client.

Quarkbase 

Quarkbase is a free tool to find complete information about a website. It is a mashup of over 30 data sources and many algorithms gathering information from Internet on various topics like social popularity, traffic, associated people, etc.

Broong

Broong is an online social note service that lets people search, create and share multimedia content via a quick note from anywhere with everyone. People use Broong to search, create and share their thoughts, videos and pictures across multiple platforms over desktop and mobile devices.

formatpixel

Create your own online magazines, fanzines, brochures, catalogues, portfolios and more. Using the formatpixel online editor you too can design page based projects, layout text, upload your own images, add interactivity and customise their appearance.

pleasenotify.me 

 

pleasenotify.me is a simple, free service to let you send tasks to people, and be notified when they’re done. You can use the form to email someone a task. If they don’t mark it complete by the time you specify, both of you will be notified. You’ll both be reminded daily until it’s finally completed. It’s the simplest project management imaginable.

AbouThiSite

This website can help you to find out who is the owner of any website, where are the server located and other websites name hosted on the same server etc

kissa.be

This is really helpful and interesting multipurpose web application that integrates 3 useful features in one website. These are URL shortener, email ‘mailto’ link protector and a tool that helps you overcome max. character limitation.

SantexQ

 

SantexQ, or “the Q” as you like to call it, is a web-based tool created to assist businesses in the detail-driven world of time and task management. Designed to enhance team efficiency, the Q keeps the critical information close by: the progress reports, deadlines and time budgets for all of your projects…all available at a glance.

Anyvite

Anyvite is a site designed to give you the necessary tools to quickly and effectively coordinate plans with your friends, without any unnecessary or confusing features to slow you down.

Zapproved

Zapproved is a lightweight Web tool that makes group decision-making faster, easier and more accountable. It is a unique solution that introduces peer-to-peer and organizational techniques to improve the process of building consensus.

You Tube videos will be Undownloadable(legally)

YouTube, in its quest to make nice with copyright holders, has partnered with Nexicon, a Malibu-based digital rights management provider.

Under their arrangement, Nexicon will monitor YouTube for copyrighted material. When Nexicon identifies videos that violate a copyright, it will give the copyright owner the option to have the videos removed from the site or to leave them up and monetize them.

It's been more than a year since Google rolled out Video ID, anidentification and content management system. And in that time, the company says content providers -- including Viacom -- are increasingly choosing to leave copyrighted videos up.

That's bound to make users happy. The more videos, the better.

Know what else would make users happy? If videos on YouTube could be downloaded. It's not impossible -- anyone could probably figure out how to do it. But given the fact that YouTube technically could track videos offline (for advertising purposes) with available software, and given the fact that users want the option to download videos, why isn't it officially possible? Lots of content providers are playing with the idea -- NBC, for example, is experimenting with free downloads with commercials with an initiative called NBC Direct.

But it will never happen on YouTube, says Forrester analyst James McQuivey.

"I don't think YouTube has any incentive to create that experience," says McQuivey.

For one thing, he says, it would kill off traffic to the site if anyone could download a video to their hard drive and forward it to friends in an e-mail. And another potential problem: The videos are too short, and the advertising is too insignificant to justify the cost of that sort of system.

"[NBC] is experimenting with 30-minute or one-hour shows. In that environment, advertisers are willing to pay a premium to get in front of those viewers. But nobody's paying a premium to advertise on YouTube. The currency YouTube has right now is traffic."

Another reason why it won't happen, says McQuivey, is that it's not compatible with Google's vision of the future, in which high-speed wireless access is available everywhere and it won't matter whether anything is stored on a hard drive or online.

"Every other software solution Google has tries to push you to the web rather than your hard drive. Google's vision is that in the future everyone will have wireless high-speed access on any mobile or fixed device, so going offline to watch videos is unnecessary since you're never offline."

McQuivey is equally skeptical that YouTube could ever roll out a pay-per-view plan.

"ITunes is having a hard enough time selling TV shows for $3, can you imagine trying to sell a 3-minute clip of a skateboarding accident? What are you going to do, sell it for five cents? I just don't see that being feasible."

Of course, Google has done it before -- the billions of dollars it earns from advertising are generated pennies at a time in page views.