There are lots of alternatives out there and many of them are free of charge so there’s no excuse for not trying something different than Windows. Linux-based operating systems often have a lighter footprint and can therefore breathe a new lease of life onto older machines that would struggle to run the latest Windows versions. Security is a consideration too as the majority of malware is still targeted at almost all Windows systems. You might also want to put a PC to more specialized uses – as a file server on your home network for example or as a media center or firewall. Linux is still the most popular alternative to Windows and it comes in lots of different flavors. While traditionally it’s used desktops like KDE or Gnome that provide a Windows-like experience for the user, that’s beginning to change. The latest Ubuntu Linux has a look that owes more to tablet systems and indeed is similar to preview versions of Windows 8. You can even get a version of the Android OS for mobile and tablet systems to run on your PC.
Linux Live USB
Most Linux distros give you the option of creating a live CD so that you can boot from the disc and not affect the contents of your hard drive. On modern systems that can boot from USB you can install the OS on a USB drive, allowing you to just plug it in and restart the PC. There are programs to help you do this, like Lil USB Creator (www.linuxliveusb.com) for example.
WUBI
There are also options to allow you to run another system within Windows. We’ll look at using virtual machines later, but if you’re running Ubuntu you can take advantage of WUBI. This is included in Ubuntu and can also be downloaded separately from http://wubi-installer.org. This WUBI allow you to install Ubuntu inside Windows, setting aside a portion of the disk space as a virtual drive with the option to add a boot loader allowing you to choose which OS to start when you switch on the computer.
UNBUTO
Separate editions are available for use on netbooks and for running servers. You can install Ubuntu alongside Windows using the WUBI option. You can find much more information about the different versions at www.ubuntu.com. The website also gives you access to help and support as well as free documentation. If you need to tap into the expertise of other users you can access the Ubuntu forums at http://ubuntuforums.org/ where you’ll find a wide range of discussions on the operating system and related topics.
Puppy Linux Free
If you want a lightweight alternative that can be run from CD, installed on the system or even run from a flash drive, then it’s worth taking a look at Puppy Linux (www.puppylinux.org). It’s ideal for older machines that may not be powerful enough to run the latest Windows or even larger Linux distros like Ubuntu.
Live Android
Live Android You may already be familiar with the Android operating system from mobile phones and tablet devices. The version on this issue’s coverdisc allows you to create a live CD which you can use to try out the system on your PC. Android is designed for touch screen operation, so navigating the interface on a PC takes a bit of getting used to. You can click icons with the mouse to load applications – you only need to single click – and you can move up and down menus using the arrow keys. To page back through screens use the Esc key. Because it’s designed for mobile systems Android is very light in its use of system resources so it will run well on older PCs, netbooks or in virtual machine configurations.
The Live version includes a small number of apps that allow you to access the Web for example, it should be able to use your machine’s network connection, though you’ll find you get the mobile version of popular websites. Its practical purposes are quite limited but Android is interesting to play around with and a useful tool for would be app developers. It’s also fast which makes it good for surfing the Web on lower powered systems. See the website at http://code.google.com/p/live-android/ for more information on using the OS and configuring it to work with networks as well as loading it to run from a USB drive.
PROGRAMS
- System Price Website Damn Small Linux Free http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
- Live Android Free http://code.google.com/p/live-android/
- Puppy Linux Free http://puppylinux.org/
- Slax Free www.slax.org
- VirtualBox Free www.virtualbox.org
- Puppy Linux (www.puppylinux.org)
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