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Different operating systems use different programs to perform different functions. For example, Windows uses Internet Explorer, Netscape / Mozilla, and other programs to provide users with e-mail service.

If for some reason you or your company switches from Windows operating system to the Linux operating system, your first response may be to run through around screaming, “Where will I find my e-mail?” “Where will my file-sharing programs be?” “How will I find anything?”

Just calm down and take a deep breath, because this article is going to give you the Linux program names for Windows programs on some of the most widely-used ones. This way, when you first tentatively approach your computer after Linux has been implemented, you won’t feel like you’re navigating uncharted waters.

Both Windows and Linux software programs can have different names. Not all the names will be listed here, just some of the more common ones. Remember, too, that your company may have several Linux programs to choose from, and not all of them will appear in this article.

• E-mail: If you currently use Outlook Express in Windows, your e-mail program may now be Kmail, Gnus, or Althea.
• Address book: Windows uses the address book feature included in Outlook; in Linux, your address book may be in Rubrica, Flashget, Go!zilla, or another program.
• Web browser: Internet Explorer, Netscape / Mozilla and others are used on Windows; coincidentally, Netscape / Mozilla is one of the Linux programs that can be used. Perhaps your company will choose to remain with a familiar one. If not, look for Galeon or Konqueror.

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You’re probably already aware that the Linux operating system (OS) is quite different from others, especially the Windows operating system. This doesn’t mean, however, that it’s harder to use. It just takes a little getting used to, and once you do, you’ll most likely be impressed at how the Linux OS works.

Take surfing the ‘Net, for example. If you currently use the Windows Operating System, you probably use Internet Explorer to get to whatever home page (Yahoo, MSN, etc.) you use. With Linux, you may use Netscape / Mozilla. Basically, this program works the same as Internet Explorer. Once you get to your homepage in Netscape / Mozilla, you simply type in your keyword or key phrase and get your Internet links.

Which program do you currently use for documents? If you have Windows, you may use Microsoft Office. In Linux, you can use Open Office, Star Office, or Office. These are very easy to use, just like Microsoft Office programs are, it’s really just a matter of learning where your icons, shortcuts, and other function keys are on the Linux program toolbars. Once you do, though, you’ll be cranking your work out just as fast (if not a little faster) than you were before.

The important thing to remember about Linux is that most of the software is compatible with the Windows OS. If you do happen to run across some software that only works on the Linux OS, don’t let that “scare” you. Again, Linux is fairly simple to navigate through and learn. And, if you do need help, there are websites such as thecliq.org, which deals primarily with Linux-related information that you can go to for information.

1. GNOME Color Chooser - Desktop Customizing Software

A software program that lets you decide how you want your desktop to look if you’re using a particular type of desktop program/the GNOME (/GTK+) desktop program.

2. Roes - A new real estate management program

If you’re in the real estate business, you might want to check this new Linux software out. Remember, the Linux operating system is extremely flexible, and most software programs are free, so it’s not a big hassle to implement new software programs.

3. Meeting Room Booking System - A new software program that makes booking meeting rooms easier

Nothing is more frustrating than planning on using a meeting room, then discovering it’s already been booked. This Linux software program lets you see at a glance which meetings are booked when and by whom.

4. Macs - New editing program

Perform editing functions in real time with this latest Linux program. Changes can be made faster, saving you time, which will enable you to meet deadlines easier.

Now you know what SEO is what are the best ways to increase traffic?

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• Use the right keywords in your website.  Don’t overuse, for example if you are a plumber only type plumbing services a couple of times on the page.  You need to balance the right number of keywords with good content.  If your website is just a bunch of disjointed keywords repeated then customers are unlikely to call you.
• Build links with partner sites or blogs on other sites.  The “spiders” pick up these links and if other companies link back to your site it will increase your ranking.
• Register your site with the major search engines.  The major players such as Google and Yahoo have their own system for registering your website so that their “spiders” and “crawlers” can find you. Its also the best way to get exposure for your site and give your customers an opportunity to find you!

Keep your website fresh and update content every month to keep your customers coming back!

Getting to know a few popular commands will really help you to navigate the operating system with ease and will also grow your confidence and encourage you to develop further.

We have listed below a few Linux commands that you may not have come across before.   The script for these commands can be found on any number of Linux chat forums.

1. There is a command for breaking up huge chunks of data into more manageable chunks which become much easier to manipulate
2. ISOF is a great command which helps you open files and also find out which ports may be open.
3. filename.bak is a great command if your working on something precious and need to do a quick back up
4. YOu can also capture a video on a linx desktop using a simple command
5. For something amusing there is the fortune commad which will display a quote or something amusing and insipirational
6. THere are many funny Linux shell commands to be found on the internet for when you need some down time!

The key to learning is to have fun and really be engaged in a product.  The more you try these commands, learn the lingo and explore the parameters of of Linux the more

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Linux is growing in popularity over recent years.  The Linux operating system was originally free and enhanced by programmers all over the world.  Thats why Linux is held close to many a programmers heart.  The programming community feels that they contributed to this operating platform and so will always hold a place in their hearts.

But what is so good about Linux?  Well its not your standard consumer product.  It’s difficult to get used to and not user friendly. But there are a wealth of tools available to someone who knows their way around a pc.  If you are a programmer looking for a new project or challenge then this would be the operating system for you.  Many old school programmers who have used UNIX also us Linux as their preferred system.

There is a huge online community of Linux users around the world so you can ask any Linux question you like or share tips and tricks in user forms.  Give Linux a try, it could be the perfect partnership!

Using Adobe Reader with Windows or any other operating system means access to a variety of files in PDF form. These could be menus or articles. There are constantly updated versions of Adobe Reader available for download. It is a good idea to make sure to install the latest version to get all the new features.

*Start using Adobe Reader by installing it. This can be found on the Adobe Reader website.

*Just click the download link to get started.

*Be sure you trust the site before doing a download. Malicious software could be attached to it that could cause viruses on you computer. One reputable example is if you download it from Adobe Reader you should not have to work.

Click to download once the location to keep the file has been selected. Remember to read and sign the user license agreement as well and accept it. Upgrading takes less time. It often happens automatically with a pop-up reminder. The computer user sees the information that the latest version is available and they decide to download it now or not. The pop up will return on the screen as a reminder in a day or two if it has not downloaded.

Computer owners might decide to purchase Adobe Acrobat. This is Adobe Reader, but it is a full version. It offers more features such as PDF editing and even hypertext linking function.

There are many elements to a computer’s external hardware. These are the items that get touched are needed to operate the software. A computer’s external hardware often includes:

*keyboard

*monitor

*screen

*system unit

*speakers

*mouse

*microphone

These are the most common components of a computer’s external hardware for a desktop computer. A laptop or notebook computer has most of these items as well, but they are incorporated into the computer.

When it comes to the system unit it is the main part of the computer even though it would be worthless without a monitor. The other external hardware is peripheral devices while the system unit is the computer. These have a disk drive, DVD/CD drive and internal hard drive. The programs on the computer are stored on the hard drive disk. This includes the location of the random access memory (RAM), which is the computer’s memory.

Now the mouse has a primary button on the left and the secondary button on the right. The left button is what is used most often is pushed down to make a selection. A wheel is commonly found on the middle of a mouse and a major function allows the user to scroll up and down the page without moving their hand. They just use the wheel.

Some computers come with WMP already installed or perhaps it was installed and quit working for some reason. It might just need an upgrade. Well, getting WMP installed on a computer is just a click away. There is a download available for all sorts of systems that can work with WMP. If it is being downloaded for the first time find the latest version. It is free so getting the latest will help out in the long run. Keep in mind some older computers could have a rough time with newer programs. Try the new program first and if it doesn’t work go down the list until it does install properly.

If working with Windows 7 or Vista be prepared for problems because the WMP plug-in is missing. There are other Windows programs that have this trouble too.

*Try installing a new WMP with Firefox for the new plug-in or restore the plug-in.

*Don’t reinstall the WMP program through the original download because it still won’t work. It will take forever to try and the message will again be an error.

*Use the Media Player Connectivity add on to get the WMP to work if there is still a problem.

Furthermore, keep in mind that WMP does not work unless the computer is connected to the internet and has a live internet connection. If it is and still doesn’t work then check that the Internet connection system on the computer is set to active or online mode.

When connecting to the Internet a computer is at risk of catching a virus, worm or other harmful software. A computer that does not connect to the internet is safe from these elements. When such software as Malware, attaches to a computer it can slow the computer and make it work less effectively. It can even shut down the computer completely. What are some ways to prevent an attack on the computer:

*install antivirus and antispyware software

*don’t open email from strangers

*keep software current

Using antivirus or even anti-spyware software means a continual check for viruses or harmful software. When these are found they get rid of it before a problem arises. The process is done through security scans.

New computers often have a trial program, but it does expire and the owner needs to install more permanent antivirus software. This will prevent any virus from sneaking in and taking over the computer. Anyone can install antivirus software, but first they need to find it. This important software can be found in stores and as an online download. Just be sure the online option is trustworthy or a virus might be attached. That defeats the purpose of installation.

Once the antivirus software is purchased it needs to be installed on the computer to be effective. If it is a download it often starts up following download. A message will indicate what steps need to be taken. If working with a CD just insert it into the drive and watch for instructions to explain when efforts need to be taken to complete installation.

It’s been said that the Internet connects over 700 million people globally, and Bill Gates’ dream of a computer in every home is becoming a reality. As a result, The Internet gives rise to more opportunities for online education on nearly any topic or interest. The biggest advantage of an online degree, however, is that you can take your classes in the convenience of your home. Study for your algebra exam in your pajamas, or attend an online lecture in your living room area. The choice is yours. Technological advances include virtual classrooms, chat rooms, email, voice over Internet Protocol, and everything you need to stay connected. In addition, you’ll save money on gas, parking fees, and auto maintenance.

The World Wide Web offers a wide variety of communication methods, including virtual classrooms and meetings, chat rooms, voIP, email, and more.

The year 1962 is considered the beginning of the internet. The point was for computers to share research information and help in scientific research. It was first introduced by J.C.R. Licklider from MIT.

This may surprise some since it was decades later that people started to hear about the internet, using the internet, understanding the internet and growing to depend on the internet. Well, even when the internet was created it was not called the internet. It was ARPANet.

It started in a time when there were not many computers. Computers that were in use were big enough to fill a room and were not in homes. Computers were expensive and were only found being used at some big companies. The official first “internet” use was Oct. 29, 1969 by Charley Kline at UCLA.

The internet concept was moved from group to group to help it become developed for use. Many were involved in creating the internet and many of these individuals have not been recognized for their efforts. The United Stated Department of Defense had the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) start up efforts that were the beginning of today’s internet concept. It was not until 1992 when the internet was starting to get used more widely. This time included:

• Computers working faster and finding their place in homes
• Internet use grows
• Bandwidth increases

It is possible because government officials are discussing it. This is the Protecting Cyberspace National Asset legislation. It is being called the “kill switch”. Why is this even being considered? Reasons to use the “kill switch” includes protection from cyber terrorists that could harm with economical and infrastructure threats.

The idea of this is controversial. People indicate it is a free speech issue and takes away a person’s privacy to have the internet. Issues with the internet have happened in the past. Some examples are:

*Hackers have snuck into the NASDAQ stock exchange systems. Even though the trading system was safe it shows it is a risk.

* A hacker took control of eBay, Amazon.com and other such systems during an attack.

*Cyber attacks have led to sensitive material being stolen from a variety of companies and even banks.

Flipping a “kill switch” affects more than not being to check e-mail. It can affect the economic, communications and many forms of security as well as much more. Many people have indicated a “kill switch” would help prevent possible cyber attacks while others don’t like the idea of their freedoms being taken away. If the kill switch does become a reality the law is calling for the President to notify the Congress when the actual action is being considered. That would make it a group effort to decide if it is the right time to take action and protect the people against a serious cyber attack.

The “kill switch” is still being considered. That means all the options; pros and cons are still being discussed. It is thought that there should be specific emergency system checks in place before it is put into effect. This is to help make this a positive action instead of a negative one.

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Technology is a major part of the world today. It is thought that if some forms of technology were lost it would cause havoc. This has been shown when electricity goes out. Technology in education is important because it is what students are use to having in many forms of technology around daily.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has developed standards for technology in education. The guidelines are developed to help teachers educate students efficiently and allow students to stay up to date with the highly used digital world. Students need involvement with technology today because it is everywhere and a majority of jobs use some sort of technology. Students with technology literacy have a better chance of obtaining good jobs and advancing in their chosen field.

Now that there is a global economy, in part due to the internet, education has to work with it and evolve. There are many things changing today and education needs to be part of this change. Starting change at the foundation of a person’s education is a way to be prepared for technology in everyday life.

What has technology in education done for educator requirements? They need to incorporate various items including:

*Education that involves the world outside the classroom

*Working with a student’s life today as well as what will be in their future

*Continue to refresh and evolve curriculum to move with the world’s technology changes.

The ISTE continues to assist educators with their ever changing curriculum due to constant technology changes. Guidelines and standards continue to evolve along with technology. ISTE strives to keep students and educators well educated with the effectiveness of technology in education by searching for the latest innovations.

Working together gives students advantages they may never have had before. This means they not only benefit from technology in education, but have a team working to keep them as leading in the digital age regarding their education as possible.

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Communication and feedback are part of the core for extreme programming. This is a software development discipline and is developed by a team working to improve a situation or create a new one.

Everyone on the team is important for extreme programming success. The teams could be groups or even just two members. Team members usually include programmers, testers, analysts, coach and manager. The tester and analysts work with customers making sure the testing or trial process happens properly. The coach keeps the extreme programming team focused and the manager handles all the resources, organization and communications.

The extreme programming team doesn’t just start planning without a plan or concept because these elements are important to keep them on task. Those involved work as a team with a particular plan that includes:

*practices

*feedback

*fine tuning

During this process the team works with customers that will use the software. Having customer feedback helps the team know what needs to be developed, changed or improved. This usually happens a few times a month. It allows them to plan according to the reports they are given including what the customer expects in features. This is when the programmer estimates costs and created a task idea.

They work together with the customer throughout the planning process. This team helps determine every step of the project until it is finished. It is usually a business value concept that is considered. Team members have made a list of what customers want and they design the program around these ideas.

The practices include small releases and customer tests. This is how team members get some feedback to help guide them to a successful completion. Programmers work to write the code as a team so everything can input and create great programming. The team works continually toward a specified goal as they share their thoughts and ideas with one another through completion.

When looking for computer gadgets they need to be useful. There have been gadgets that are fun, but not useful. Therefore when the novelty wore off the gadget fell to the way side. The cost is another important factor. If it is in really high demand it could see high purchase rates even if it is expensive while others will wait until it is more affordable, which could happen in months or years. The wait could be worth it to many.

Here are some fun computer gadgets to consider:

• USB Air Purifier
• 3-D Webcam
• Digital Camera Swim Mask
• USB Storage Carousel

The USB air purifier is designed to take allergens, odors and pollutants out of the air. It plugs into the computer’s USB port and starts working. If interested in the 3-D webcam it works in 3-D over the internet for videos and pictures. It just connects to the computer’s USB port and items are in 3-D if the person looking at them wears the 3-D glasses included. It works with popular programs such as Microsoft Messenger and Skype.

Next is the digital camera swim mask which helps swimmers take photos and video through the mask instead of carrying a waterproof camera. How about getting organized with a USB storage carousel? This stores around 150 disks, such as for CDs and DVDs. It is inserted into the USB port and downloads the item software then scans the cover. Just search the library and find the stored item.

Searching for new gadgets could result in many interested and different results.

Programming languages are used by a variety of machines and not just computers. Programming languages are designed for primarily computers thought to go through computations allowing them to work a program. The programming language is artificial. It is a form of communication used by machines. Programming languages are known to be in the thousands and more are being developed yearly.

A programming language often uses algorithms in a particular order to express a function. Each language has the form or syntax and the meaning or semantics that is specific to them or an element of reference. These important languages are placed in categories such as object-oriented, functional, transformation and text.

Some programming languages are:

*Perl

*Python

*Blue

*Dylan

*Cecil

*Scalla

*Haskell

There are some programming languages that are widely known as may have even been heard of by the everyday computer user. Nevertheless, object-oriented languages such as Cecil are often not well known. This example supports a variety of expressive as well as new elements. Functional programming languages include those that are high level with various implementations and development assisting interpreter. Transformation programming languages work as transforming models while text programming languages are often text formatting based.

It comes down to it that the everyday computer user doesn’t need to know about programming languages. Yet, many may be interested in learning more about how you can work a computer.

Individuals that would be interested in this training typically would individuals interested in becoming Linux system administers and developers. This is because these positions are being sought after for employment. Linux servers are growing in popularity. There are many classes and in-depth courses available for Linux training. They can be taken on site, such as on a college campus or online.

Since there is an interest in Linux and Linux training the Linux Foundation has introduced training. The Linux Foundation continues to update the classes so students will get the highest knowledge possible. Just some of the possible focuses on classes include:

• Developing Link Applications
• Debugging
• Developers skills
• Program basics

Going through training is ideal for those that want to work with Linux as a career, but others may just want enough knowledge to perhaps use it in their device. Developers interested in Linux could learn how the system works and it will help them decide if it works for their needs. Then they will learn how to work with it. This knowledge will lead them to their goal and they would consider it an investment.

Many of the Linux training courses only last a few days, often five days or less, with some designed for a day of instruction. It could be that the every day computer user is dealing with Linux and they want to take a class to earn how to enhance the programs performance as well. Another element that training involves is learning how to use all the tools provided by Linux.

Since the introduction of Linux it has evolved to be experienced with such big companies as IBM. It is an open source development that is increasing use working as a server operating system. Open source indicates that anyone has the source code available to them.

The system was developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. He was a University of Helsinki student in Finland. It was an individual effort and he put it on the internet for free use. This was the first step that led Linux to become widely popular. This has increased due to the utilities that are available free from the internet. What are some sources that Linux used to reach such wide spread use.  These include the two following:

*Free Software Foundation

*GNU Project

Torvalds was like many in the 1990s that were eager to learn all they could about computer science. His desire to learn more lead him to read books about it for example. It ultimately helped him to developing Linux and releasing it for others to use. He continued his work and continued to evolve the Linux operating system. It has become one of the most popular and used computer operating systems.

Linux is considered a stronger operating system than even some of the most popular systems. This is because it protects each task separately, as one example.

As of December 2010, DistroWatch lists Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora, as the three most popular Linux-based operating systems.

Ubuntu

Based on the Debian Linux distribution, Ubuntu is free and open source software. Named for the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu, it means “humanity towards others”.

Developers designed Ubuntu for desktop use primarily, although there are server editions and netbook versions in existence. StatOwl says that Ubuntu’s share of usage for desktops is at 50%, and a trend is developing for its usage as a web server.                  

Fedora

Created in 2003, Fedora is an RPM* based, general-purpose software package. Developed after the discontinuation of Red Hat Linux, the Fedora Project mission was to lead the way in the advancement of free software.

The name of Fedora came from Fedora Linux, for the Red Hat Linux distribution, and the characteristic fedora used in Red Hat’s Shadowman logo. Carrying its collaborative approach with it, developers absorbed Fedora Linux into the Fedora Project.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint, available in numerous editions with a variety of codebases, focuses on usability and ease of installation.

In 2009, Linux Mint released a Debian Edition, not tied to Ubuntu packages. Linux Mint is easy for those not familiar with Linux operating systems, to use.

The next two most popular Linux based operating systems are openSUSE and Debian.

 OpenSUSE and Debian

Built on top of the Linux kernel, openSUSE is a general-purpose operating system. Ian Murdock founded Debian in 1993 after discovering the frequency of bugs, and of poor maintenance in the previous version, the first GNU/Linux distribution, the Softlanding Linux System.

DistroWatch, the website that provides popularity rankings for various Linux distributions lists the following Hits per day:

Ubuntu  2185

Fedora  1517 

Linux Mint  1487

OpenSUSE  1231 

Debian  1067

* RPM originally stood for Red Hat Package Manager Now stands for “RPM Package Manager”, known as a recursive acronym, or an acronym that refers to itself in the expression for which it stands.

In 2009, according to Cisco Systems, Inc., email users in the United States received 6.6 trillion spam messages. Eighty-one percent of email spam has to do with pharmaceutical items. The Message Anti-Abuse Working Group states that 88-92% of email messages sent in the first 6 months of 2010, were spam emails.

Coined originally for email, spam now attacks blogs, instant messaging, Internet forums and social networking sites.

If you are using the Linux operating system, there are several anti-spam software programs at your disposal. Here are a few that are free to download and share:

1.       Active Spam Killer

Using this application, each time you receive an email, the program sends a message back to the sender that will ask for confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation, it will remain queued for delivery. When a sender confirms the message, the program will deliver all emails from that sender immediately. You are able to identify emails as “to be ignored” or to “blacklist”.

2.       blq

This anti-spam application queries Realtime Blackhole Lists, which identify possible sources of email abuse and spam.

3.       BlackMail

Used with Sendmail, QMail, and SMail, Blackmail is a fast and powerful Anti-Spam mailer proxy that runs on a large assortment of platforms.

4.       rblfilter

You configure the rblfilter with a list of hosts where you receive email. It is a useful, simple tool to use when you have no control over who receives your email, such as at those at your Internet Service Provider.

5.       assp

This anti-spam filter kills most email spam before it reaches the server. It also creates an automatic whitelist, so recipients of emails you send are never blocked. It works with most standard STMP servers, including qmail, Imail, and Sendmail.

Whether you are a math aficionado or someone who forgot everything you learned after the multiplication tables, these financial computer downloads are easy to use, and free.

1.       Market Analysis System

This application provides users with tools to help make wiser buying and selling decisions by analyzing financial markets. It also saves you time by doing tasks quicker than if you were to do them by hand.

2.       Quasar Accounting

This account package includes a check writer, and an all-purpose ledger for inventory control, point-of-sale, purchases and sales. This version is free for single user use. You can also purchase a point-of-sale product that supports hardware such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, and scales.

3.       Quotes

This script fetches company stock quotes and prints them. It is also a foreign currency conversion, and works behind a firewall. A bonus feature fetches Linux headlines from Slashdot.

4.       StockTicker

The StockTicker is an applet that retrieves stock quotes and graphs of performance for your specific needs.

5.       txCheckbook

This program does not contain pie chart capabilities, and it does not include a gross earnings estimator, but it does help you balance your checkbook. It is a handy program for those of us who have many things going on in our lives. This will help you do the important things more quickly, like managing money and balancing checkbooks.

6.       Xinvest

This personal financing tracking tool stores all your transaction in files that are account specific. You can track investments, compare prices, all in one central database. You can also receive price quotes and updates from the Internet by installing the stock quote feature, Xquote.

People have been curious about the sun, the moon, and the solar system, for centuries. When they invented the telescope in the sixteenth century, the world was on its way to discovering the mysteries of the universe.

Amateur astronomers and those who wish to explore the unknown from the comfort of their computer can use the following Linux programs. These can bring out the space explorer in anyone right into his or her home.

1.       KStars

KStars is a desktop planetarium that gives a graphically accurate simulation of the night sky. From any date and time, and from any location on Earth, KStars displays the Sun and the Moon, and all eight planets. The planetarium also includes thousands of asteroids and comets, 40,000 stars, and 13,000 deep space objects.

2.       ORSA

The Orbit Reconstruction, Simulation, and Analysis program is an interactive tool, supported by the NASA Dawn Mission. It gives users the ability to accurately analyze, reproduce, and simulate everything from asteroids to comets, and from solar and extra-solar planetary systems.

The NASA Dawn Mission will investigate two of the largest proto-planets in the main asteroid belt, Vesta and Ceres.

3.       SETIState

This terminal-based application is used to tracking the progress of Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence programs. The SETI programs allow people to search for, and analyze and search for radio signals, and signals of extra terrestrial intelligence. The Space Sciences Laboratory, at the University of California, in Berkeley, hosts the SETI programs.

4.       Planet Finder

If something simpler is what you prefer, Planet Finder is an applet that indicates the positions of the planets, the Moon and the Sun, displaying a map of the entire sky.

With these computer programs, you can go where no one has gone before.

Linux users have a variety of educational applications to choose from where children learn how to use a computer while learning the basics that will give them a head start in school.

1.       Gcompri

This application, geared toward children 3-10 years old, features several boards. Children learn how to use a keyboard and mouse with this application. Another board teaches kids how to tell time with analog clocks. There are also boards for the basics including numbers, letters, and words. There is even a basic algebra training board.

2.       KHangMan

This popular Hangman game for children six and older is a great way to combine fun with learning. Children can improve their spelling skills with a guessing game holding their attention. This application features four levels that contain 44 words each.

3.       GPeriodic

With the older child in mind, GPeriodic is a periodic table reference. The application allows students to browse the table of elements.

4.       Kalcul

For children ages eight to fifteen, this application helps improve math skills. With four skill levels, children can learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

5.       uspell

This spelling tester features words spoken aloud from the computer’s sound hardware. The user then spells the word by using the keyboard.

6.       SVT

This is a Spanish Vocabulary Tutor application. It helps children learn Spanish vocabulary by using a question and answer test.

7.       Nightfall

This interactive application simulates eclipsing binary stars. It also produces animated views and synthetic light curves, taking into account non-spherical shape of close binary stars. This application includes online help, documentation, and data for observing real binary stars.

As parents know, when children play they are also learning. They retain information at an incredible pace and using these Linux computer programs will help your child gain knowledge while having fun.

For medical students or for anyone interested in how everything works to sustain life, these Linux applications contain everything you ever wanted to know about living things.

1.       LEKSBOT

A dictionary of biological and botanic terms, with more than 1500 terms, it covers sciences related to biology and entomology, and more.

2.       Protein Explorer

Students and researchers can use this application to visualize nucleic acids, small molecules, and proteins. Designed to generate publication quality images, including atom labels, and bio-molecular ribbons.

3.       Ppovit

Similar to the Protein Explorer, this application allows users to control the coloring, visibility, and size of the model view, in 3-D.

4.       gLife

This application exemplifies concepts found in artificial life. It also illustrates subsets of artificial intelligence, and provides rules with the goal of creating an artificial society.

5.       NICOLE (Nearly Intelligent Computer Operated Language Examiner)

This program follows a theory that given enough words or phrases, you can hold a conversation with a computer. You type words, sentences, or phrases and NICOLE responds back with its automatically generated based on what is stored in its database. Every time a sentence is typed, it gets stored into NICOLE’s database, extending the program’s knowledge.

6.       CTSim

Combining analytic, image processing, and visualization tools, CTSim imitates the collection of computed tomography and reconstruction images. Archaeologists, astrophysicists, biologists, and other scientists all use tomography.

7.       Sortdemo

Sortdemo generates sequences of image files, enabling users to visualize the steps of sorting algorithms. Users are able to convert the image files to animated images. It is useful as a teaching tool, and for composing educational documents.

The same goes for the creator of the development of the Linux kernel, Linus Torvalds, and the founder of the Debian computer operating system, Ian Murdock.

Linus Benedict Torvalds

Linus Benedict Torvalds, now the chief architect of the Linus Kernel, was born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland. He attended the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1996 receiving his master’s degree in computer science from the NODES research group. It was in 1990, that he discovered UNIX for the first time.

Torvalds says his parents named him after Linus Pauling, an American Nobel Prize-winning chemist. Linus Torvalds also said in the book Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution that he also believed his parents named him after Linus in the Peanuts cartoon. He believes he is “half Nobel-prize-winning chemist and half blanket-carrying cartoon character”.

At the beginning of his work on Linux, Torvalds stored all his files under the name Freax, ‘free’ and ‘x’, alluding to UNIX. He at first considered Linux but dismissed the name as “too egotistical”.

Ian Murdock

Ian Murdock, the founder of Debian, was born on April 28, 1973, in Konstanz, Germany. While earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Purdue University, Murdock wrote the Debian Manifesto in 1993.

Murdock named Debian after his then-girlfriend Debra Lynn, and after himself, Deb and Ian. The Debian Project Leader from August of 1993 until March of 1996, Ian Murdock joined Sun, and led Project Indiana, or OpenSolaris.

From March of 2007 to February of 2010, Murdock served as the Vice President of Emerging Platforms at Sun. When Sun merged with Oracle, Ian Murdock resigned his position with the company.

More and more students are using the Internet to attend classes and receive an education then ever before. By enrolling in a school that offers online classes, students can participate in the class, finish assignments and do research, all while sitting in the comfort of their own home.

Finding the type of online schooling that you need requires research. There may be several hundred schools that give you the option of attending online, but they may not fit into your budget. Finding a school you can afford may take time and patience. Another drawback of using an online school is the time zone differences. There can be a three hour difference just in the United States alone, meaning that someone on the West Coast would have to be up extremely early to participate in classes that begin at 8 am on the East Coast.

Another issue is whether or not you will need to receive a diploma when you finish the online schooling. An accredited online school is usually run by a large, well known college that is licensed to give diplomas after the student successfully finishes the required courses. A school that is not accredited can teach you everything you need to know to earn a diploma, but they are not set up or legally able to give the student the diploma. One for instance, is a nursing program. The student can attend online classes and learn all the skills needed from a non-accredited school, but would then have to go to the State Nursing Board to take the test to see if their newly learned skills are up to par to receive a license. For most students, it is better to attend an accredited online school. By making a list of schools that you believe may be able to meet your needs, then researching each one, you should be able to eventually find the perfect match.

Deciding on which type to use is purely a personal decision that can be made after you have researched both types. Many customers enjoy the free sites, even if they don’t offer quite as many options as a paid site. For those who are more serious about their web page, paying a small monthly or yearly fee may be best.

Imagine a flying, multicolored window with a pixilated tail. It’s more than likely that you’re imagining the logo for the Windows operating system upgrade Windows 95. This upgrade, launched in 1995 (as the name suggests), changed the market for operating systems substantially. It was the first interface that was completely marketed for home users, and its success is unmatched in the history of software updates. There were many reasons Windows 95 became so popular; mostly it was what it had to offer the average user. A number of the specifications included in Windows 95 are explained below.

Windows 95 introduced what was known as the task bar at the bottom of the screen. Also included were the revolutionary Start menu and file manager.
It lengthened file name possibilities, which was important for its 32-bit construction.
Integrated MS-DOS into the operating system so that it worked in the background.
It introduced and popularized the feature of plug and play for PCs.
Windows 95 continued to include a 16-bit kernel so that it would still work with older programs.
Eventually included with the operating system was Internet Explorer, the go-to web browser for PC users.
The operating system allowed for an unheard of level of multitasking.

Windows 95 certainly wasn’t Microsoft’s first operating system; it also wasn’t the first to see success. Before it were systems such as Windows NT, various MS-DOS incarnations and other Windows products, but Windows 95 was the first real packaging of software for everyday computer users. It was easy to use, it was intuitive to use and it marked the moment where operating systems became interesting and useful for those not in the field of computer technology.

Following Windows 95 were many iterations with a similar interface. Each subsequent upgrade has built on the same ideas originated in Windows 95.

Plug and play is actually a generic term for the operation of plugging devices into a computer that recognizes the action. Plug and Play, also known as PnP, is the specific Microsoft feature for its Windows operating systems. Although the two plug and plays are similar, PnP describes Microsoft’s standards for the activity of plugging and playing. In other words, a computer may be plug and play compatible, but it might not be PnP compatible, which is a Windows term.

In order for a computer to be PnP compatible, the operating system must also be compatible. In addition, the basic input/output system must support PnP and the device being plugged in must be PnP compatible. Despite being seemingly Microsoft-specific, other computer companies have installed similar plug and play operations into their systems.

Most recently, the computer industry has created a standard for all computers called the Universal Plug and Play, or UPnP. Although Microsoft initiated it, the feature is available for all computers and devices. Standardization was the goal for Microsoft, as is understandable. While Microsoft used to lead the pack resoundingly, there are many other companies vying for market share, so it’s important for devices to be recognized regardless of the manufacturer. Perhaps the next time you plug your camera into your laptop to upload pictures, you’ll remember the rich history of that action.

The BIOS comes built into the computer and usually is placed within a ROM chip on the motherboard. Its main responsibility is to start the operating system when the computer is turned on. Because operating systems are located on the hard disk, the BIOS has to tell the microprocessor how to access it in order for the operating system to load.

Once the computer is turned on, the BIOS begins to identify and initialize different components. These components include the keyboard, mouse, video card, CD drive and whatever hardware is plugged into the computer. The BIOS runs startup tests for each component to make sure they are working, and it does so every time the computer is turned on. The process is called booting up and is vital in determining the performance of the PC. The sequence is the same every time the user turns on the computer, which ensures everything is running smoothly.

As the BIOS boots up the computer, it also displays information about the system. As they are checked and initiated by the BIOS, the functionality of the processor, memory, disk drives and the display are all spelled out for the user to read. Users can also make changes to the system through the BIOS. These changes could include the sequence of booting, the time and date and password protection, among others. Although it doesn’t require it often, the BIOS does need to be updated if upgrades become available.

If you open your computer, finding the motherboard is the easiest task; it’s the board with everything connected to it. But what exactly is affixed to the motherboard? While it has places for attachments of all kinds, the motherboard contains at least five vital parts:

1. A clock that controls the time in the computer.
2. A BIOS chip that controls how the computer is set up.
3. A socket for the microprocessor, which is the computer’s brain.
4. A chip set that connects the CPU to other elements.
5. A number of slots for different amount of memory to be installed.

In addition to these main components, there are also expansion slots and various power connections that keep the elements working. It’s important to realize that motherboards are not unchangeable. In fact, the motherboard is the most unique part of a computer; it’s what determines whether the computer is high tech or basic; whether it’s used for heavy gaming or basic computing. The type of motherboard that comes with the computer will vary, but users who wish for more speed or power in their PC will often build their own motherboards.

Ultimately, the motherboard is important only because it houses the truly important components that run the computer. But without a place to stay, those components would have no way to operate.

The Linux operating system has become a popular choice of many individuals and companies. While other operating systems might be unstable and offer security risks, Linux offers companies and individuals the chance to run their computers on a system that is stable and safe.

With all the buzz going on about Linux what and the wave of companies choosing to go with this operating system, here is a look at some of the popular companies that have made the switch to Linux operating systems.

Rental Offices. Personal businesses and retail companies all across the company are switching to the Linux operating system. Many Los Angeles apartments have rental offices that are hooked up through Linux so that they can fill out rental information as well as resident information.

Google. Google is pretty much the king of the Internet and Internet searches. All of its main branch computer systems are hooked up through the Linux system. Even Google servers for the search engines run on Linux.

Government agencies. Many government agencies across the globe are switching to Linux as a way to have a safer, more secure operating system than the ones used previously.

Amazon. Amazon made the switch to the Linux operating system within the past few years. There are thousands of computers within the Amazon offices that take orders, allow shipments to be shipped out and help in customer service areas. All of these computers run on Linux.

Hollywood film companies. Many Hollywood film companies that use 3-D technology rely upon the Linux operating system as a way to run their computers. There are less crashes and technical repairs that need to be done. It also allows these companies to work smoothly and not have as many technical issues.

These are just a quick look at some of the popular companies that are making the switch to the Linux operating system.

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor is the full name, and it also hints at how CMOS chips work. First, however, what exactly does the CMOS chip do? The CMOS chip in your computer controls a number of settings, including the following:

1. controls the date and time
2. saves hard drive details
3. retains language settings
4. remembers system passwords

Its main tasks seem basic, but that is why the CMOS chip is so important. The CMOS chip is unaffected by the loss of power incurred when you turn off your computer. It has its own small battery that powers it, which allows it the ability to consistently save the pivotal information needed to run the computer when it is on. The complementary metal oxide semiconductor core is the most effective and efficient design of circuitry for chips, which is why CMOS is able to perform its duties so well.

The CMOS chip works closely with the BIOS, which is the set of instructions needed to boot up the computer every time. The CMOS chips hand off its stored information to the BIOS when the user turns on the computer. BIOS then takes over and loads the operating system. CMOS chips can be edited from their default status. Without the proper CMOS settings, your computer would not run, so making sure the chips are is significant. For the most part, though, the CMOS works without you even needing to worry about the status of your novel.

Even people who aren’t technology buffs can recognize the acronyms RAM and ROM as computer terms. Some people may even be able to identify them as types of computer memory. But the knowledge usually ends there. And why shouldn’t it? These devices are deep inside your computer’s motherboard  far removed from the user. Understanding what RAM and ROM are, however, may help you increase the speed of your computer. And who doesn’t want that?

RAM

RAM, which stands for random-access memory, stores computer data. The memory is random-access because regardless of its location, the memory can be reached at any time. There are two types of RAM, which are dynamic access and static access. The difference between the two lies in their speed and technology. What is important about RAM is that by adding additional megabytes, the performance of the computer will strengthen as more information can be accessed with greater speed. Luckily, RAM is very easy to install and can be quite affordable. RAM is sold in a variety of sizes, from 256MB all the way up to as much as 4GB or more.

ROM

ROM, much like RAM, stores computer data. It stands for read-only memory, which means it cannot easily be changed. The differences between RAM and ROM are manifold, but both can be found in most personal computers. ROM, unlike RAM, stores its information even when the computer has been powered off. The ROM memory, in coordination with the CMOS chip and the BIOS setup, helps the computer boot up. Increasing the ROM in your computer is usually unnecessary, as most computers come with the amount needed to perform the duties.

You might not always remember what RAM and ROM stand for; you might not understand how many megabytes or kilobytes you need for optimum performance; but at least you know these devices exist!

A local area network, or LAN, might be what you’re connected to if you’re using your computer inside your home or another building. LANs connect computers within a relatively small area using Ethernet cables. You might recognize Ethernet cables, as it is most likely the manner in which you’re able to use the Internet right now. But what is the history of this networking standard? While it may seem like a new technology, the story of Ethernet begins back in 1973 in Palo Alto, California.

History

A researcher at the Xerox Corporation named Bob Metcalfe was the first to construct a working Ethernet network. Metcalfe was tasked with designing a system of networks for the Palo Alto Research Center that was able to connect the center’s computers to a new laser printer Xerox had just created. The challenge lied in constructing a fast network with the ability to connect to a large number of computers, something unheard of before the Ethernet.

In 1979, Metcalfe left the company to advance LAN technology, persuading companies such as Xerox, Intel and Digital Equipment to encourage the standardization of Ethernet.

Operation

Much like the Internet and all means of telecommunications, the Ethernet uses a protocol. The Ethernet’s protocol is called CSMA/CD, which includes three distinct components of the Ethernet’s operation. The first, carrier sense, ensures that computers connected to the network have carriers to send data through. The second, multiple access, means the connected computers can use the network as they please. The last, collision detection, confirms that simultaneous data sending does not interfere with each other and dispenses with corrupted data.

More than 70 percent of the world is connected through the Ethernet and local area networks, so the likelihood is high that you are as well. The Ethernet is fast and reliable thanks to the research of Metcalfe, and the technology is constantly improving.

The Linux Foundation recently launched a new storefront for customers to buy t-shirts, mugs, hats, and stickers in order to support the Linux cause. The company also launched a Linux T-Shirt Design Contest that drew over 100 entries. Six finalists were chosen from the 100 entries. After over 8,000 votes, the foundation announced the winner of the contest. The design won by 57 percent (or 4,501 of the votes cast). The other 43 percent belonged to the remaining five finalists. The winning design was displayed on T-shirts in Linux.com store.

The Linux Foundation announced that Mr. Said Hassan, a marketing consultant SADAF Information Technology in Gaza, Palestine as the winner. Hassan said it “represents the collective work of the people.” As the winner, Mr. Hassan will receive travel expenses and a free pass to LinuxCon in Boston where “The People’s Product” design will be displayed at the store.

Amanda McPherson at the Linux. Foundation said, the People’s Product design is an important addition to the Linux.com Store to help generate revenue for activities that advance the Linux operating system,” said Amanda McPherson at The Linux Foundation.

The Linux.com Store is an online marketplace where you can purchase items from a line of original T-shirts, hats, mugs, and other items. Six finalists were chosen from more than 100 design entries. Designers competed for the grand prize and encouraged their personal networks to vote.

Said’s design reads “We Made IT.” The T-Shirt design demonstrates the contributions of a worldwide community working to produce an innovative operating system. As the winner, Said gets a free pass to LinuxCon in Boston (along with travel expenses). T-shirts with the winning design will also be available to purchase at the conference.

One of the biggest advantages to using forums to promote your computer based business is the potential amount of new visitors you can bring to your website. As long as you do your research well you should be able to find a few highly trafficked forum groups to join.

Replying to other peoples posts and starting debates has the potential to increase interest in your business. As long as you are posting something intelligent and well thought out you will spark interest in your ideas and people will become curious as to what you have to offer them. The key to doing this right is to follow the rules of the forum. Don’t spam them and don’t needlessly harass other board members. If you do you’ll just get banned and that definitely isn’t going to help promote your brand.

Another great reason to join a couple of forums is the back links that you can create. Almost all forums have a place to fill out a personal profile page  just place your web page in the slot that asks for your home page. If there is not a profile to fill out you can sometimes place your website in your forum signature  this is the preferred way of doing it provided that the forum rules allow it. This makes it so that every time you post all of the other members and guests will see your link.

The biggest advantage to getting your own domain and hosting is that you are in absolute control over your content. You decide what goes on your website, even if it isn’t socially acceptable material. If you are relying on a free service you are at the mercy of what they deem acceptable  if you violate their terms and conditions they have the right to revoke your website privileges at any time. This means you will lose all of the hard work you’ve done creating a strong readership.

Another good reason to get your own domain and hosting account is because a lot of the free services shut down relatively frequently. It’s really frustrating when you lose all of your work just because the service you were using decided to go out of business. The other risk you leave yourself open to when you decide to use free hosting and names is the fact that the service provider can decide to charge you at any time  a lot of programs start out free but then move to paid platforms later.

Another convincing reason that paying for your own domain is a good idea is because when you own it you can then turn around and sell your website if you find out that it really doesn’t have the business potential that you thought it would initially. Just because the domain name is not useful to you anymore doesn’t mean that someone else can’t use it for their own purposes.

One of the biggest reasons why you might want to consider steering clear of the free website pull is because of the ads that will get placed on your pages. Unfortunately, many of the ads will not be geared toward your target audience which makes you lose a lot of readers  very few people want to sift through the unrelated ads to get to your content. However, not all free websites place ads on your pages because they make money in other ways.

Another downside to having a free website is the fact that almost all of them will say free at the bottom. Most of the time the text is small and isn’t very obtrusive looking; however, it definitely isn’t what you want your readers to see when you are trying to look professional. If you are paying for your own hosting and domain you never have to deal with looking unprofessional because of the banners and advertisements that are placed on your page.

Unfortunately, most free websites aren’t very customizable. This is perfectly fine when you are first starting out since you probably won’t know very much HTML and coding at that time. However, once you gain a little bit more experience it’s always nice to know that you have full control over how your web page looks to the online community. You also don’t have very much control over what kind of content you can place on your page  adult related stuff is normally out.

One of the first things you should do when you start a computer business online is to sign up for some of the social media networking sites. Your readership isn’t going to be large at first, but eventually these social media sites will be one of the best ways to notify your readers of a change within your business. The key here is to create a link to your pages in your profile section and to update often. Consider it a way to keep them up to date with new articles and products.

Joining forums that are related to your business can also help you grow your readership and find potential customers. Just make sure that you read through the rules of the board carefully before you start placing links to your site in your signature or posts  a lot of forums don’t allow that anymore. You should always try to bring something of value to your readers, whether you’re writing an article for your site or replying to a post on the forum.

Another great way to promote your computer based business is to write a few articles every couple of weeks for free publishing platforms. This helps get your name out there and generate a few back links. Many of them even offer a shared revenue program that gives you the potential to make some pocket change from the articles that you are submitting. Again, you’ll still want to provide value to your readers with these articles so don’t get over-promotional with these.

To start with, Google does not like duplicate content. If it finds several duplicate pieces of work it will either index just one of them and then let the rest slip into oblivion, or simply choose to not index any of the articles. Once your page is de-indexed you don’t stand a good chance at getting it back into the ranking game  this really sucks when you’ve poured a lot of money and research into your business idea.

Writing unique content gives you an edge on your competition. Your readers are following you because they are interested in what you have to say  not the person that is competing with you. If you start duplicating content you will begin to lose trust and interest from your followers which will in turn hurt your money making opportunities. Consumers don’t want to visit ten websites that all say the same thing  give them a reason to buy from you, and you alone.

The most important reason that places unique content far above duplication is the fact that copying the work that someone else has done is just wrong. They took the time to research and write it, you shouldn’t steal that from them. If you want to use someone’s idea consider quoting them and then linking back to their website on yours, or just using it for inspiration.

Some people think of online gambling as a scam run by casinos and other betting outlets in order to take their money. While not all online casinos, betting outlets and websites are scams, some of them are — so it’s important to know how to spot a scam and how to find the best sports betting sites out there.

By finding the best websites to place bets on you will ensure that you are giving your money to a trusted site that does not run scams on their customers. Some legitimate sites do not do anything illegal but they have rules and regulations that make a big impact on whether or not you will win on bets and how you will get paid out.

Firstly, the legitimate companies will have all their terms and conditions laid out on their website. This is important, as you will know what you are getting yourself into. Take the time to make sure that they do not have any odd rules regarding payouts. Some of these rules are that they will not pay to certain countries or you cannot get your winnings until you have spent a certain amount of money.

The best way to determine whether or not a site is legitimate is to take a close look at the website. It should have a twenty four hour customer service line that you can call if you encounter any problems. The site should also have legitimate advertising. This means that if the site is full of pay per click ads it is likely that they rely on the revenue from them for their income. Legitimate sites often sell advertising space instead.

Once you have found a site to be legitimate check to see if other customers are happy with their service. If they are it is sure to be a good sports betting website.

There are several companies who will do the research for you and provide you with results from social media monitoring. As you are aware, the most effective canvas for advertising is social media so knowing where your audience is will make a world of difference. Most of these companies will charge you a fair fee and you will have the information you need to develop your ad campaign. In addition to saving costs, producing quality, and effective advertisement, you will save time too. With less frustration and more time to concentrate on positioning and distribution, you will be well ahead of your competitors.

It doesn’t take much time as social media monitoring companies have the most up to date data and they will share it with you. Whether it is a blog or a forum site, you will know who your potential customer is and what they are interested in. For advertising and savings on ad costs, it does not get much easier than this. You will see the benefits of your decision and research in no time, your company will see the additional business flowing in.

But that convenience disappears as you search for virtual tables and competitors disguised as avatars.

Online poker seems to elude you. The sites are dominated by the common platforms (Macintosh and the dreaded Windows). Your presence only baffles browsers, forces demands for new software and new attempts. Linux, it appears, is not favored among the hosts and their games. It’s instead been forgotten.

This, you believe, is entirely unfair.

It’s also avoidable.

Despite the complications you may initially encounter, there are online casino games that will welcome the Linux kernel. These sites are compatible with all forms of systems and offer fast downloads and streaming. Players can indulge in all the wanted adventures (such as poker, roulette, blackjack and more) without being burdened by platform failures. The universal Java is made available, or open codes can instead be utilized. The purpose is simplicity and it succeeds.

All users should note, however, that these sites must first be searched for. They’re not as quickly found as their Microsoft adoring counterparts. They will not be as frequent.

That doesn’t mean that the gambling experience will be impaired, though. The same games will be offered, as well as the same advantages of playing online (comfort, speed and a lack of pressure from high-stakes tables). You will simply be forced to seek out the proper sites and avoid the ones typically suggested.

Linux is an ease you would never refuse, and gaming can now be a thrill you won’t have to deny.

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After not having my own personal access to the Internet in months I have severely been missing out on some of the great stuff that the Internet has to offer. One of the major things that I missed out on was the joy that shopping online gives me.

Without a computer or Internet access I had to resort to standing in long lines and physically shopping at the store. While I realize that I eventually have to step into the world of the living and shop for items in physical stores, it isn’t my favorite pastime.

Shopping online gave me the opportunity to comparison shop, browse hundreds of items and even see hundreds of different sales without having to run around like crazy. For some reason, I found shopping online to be a lot more efficient. I know that not everyone’s experience shopping online has been like this but that was how I felt.

I was able to shop for various items and save more than if I had brought it in the store. Of course with most online shopping I would have to pay for shipping but there are many coupon codes which allow me to save either on shipping or off of my purchase. In the vast majority of the cases I ended up saving more money in the long run by shopping online than if I had gone to a store.

Another really fun thing about coupon codes and shopping online is that some of the codes allow me to get free items with my purchase. These are usually items that I would normally never buy myself, so the oppertunity to try it out for free is a bit of treat for myself.

With all the joys that shopping online brings, it’s amazing that I was able to last several months without access to my hundreds of online stores!

If you don’t have an external hard drive or network attached drive available to you, more recently, your choices for backing up data files include either a CD or DVD burner (assuming you don’t have an external hard drive or network). Since a CD holds 400 or 500 times much more information than a floppy disk, it’s a much better option for storing files.

Many years ago when computers were first invented, the only way to back up files was to use a floppy disk. It was an ineffective way to back up files, since the disk held on 1.44 megabytes of data (which isn’t very much information).

When backing up data files, keep in mind that you don’t have to back up every single file on your hard drive, especially if you’re a Linux user. In that case, you’ll only need to back up a few files that exist outside of your Home directory. If, you were to lose all the data on your computer (heaven forbid) or your hard drive, you’re options are to reinstall the Linux operating system. In addition, you’d need to restore the backed-up contents of your Home directory. Typically, your Home directory contains your personal mail file, as well as setting and preference for the applications installed on your computer.

Sending out thank you cards for a special occasion such as a wedding can be quite a long task, especially if you had a large wedding with a lot of friends and relatives. There’s nothing worse than coming home from your honeymoon to a pile of thank you cards that you still need to write. But if you space everything out it, doesn’t have to be so daunting.

You should send a thank you card to everyone, even if your aunt embarrassed you by drinking so much she should have checked herself into TheCyn.com. Hopefully many people will still have had a great time, even if they also drank a lot of alcohol at your wedding.

If you have a lot of thank you cards to write, try dividing them into groups. Write ten of them at one time, and then go off and do something else. That way it won’t seem like you have so many when there are just ten to do in one sitting. After a sufficient amount of time, come back to it and do ten more. Before you know it you will be almost done.

Next, think about what you want to write. If there is something special about that person that you remember from your wedding day, include it in the thank you card. Everyone loves personalized cards, so try not to write the same greeting on each card. You never know who will look at who’s card. If they see you wrote the same thing on each others card, it won’t be as special.

Try to send out your thank you cards as soon as possible. People like being thanked for their gifts, and just because you went on your honeymoon and have many other things to do, that is no excuse.

Wine, like many other open source programs, is free. It allows programs that are written and used by Microsoft to be able to run on other operating systems. Some people are concerned that Wine is an emulator, but it is not. It acts as a compatibility layer.

The Wine project was started in 1993. It has since its inceptions, been somewhat of a difficult process for its developers. Not only are some of the documentations of Windows incorrect, but many things have had to be reverse engineered, which requires a lot more time and effort.

Some people are concerned that wine hurts other applications that are made to be used with Linux, or that it is completely pointless. While people who use Wine to gain access to Windows based programs may not use the similar open source program, that does not mean that there are not many more people that are using those programs. Many people feel the need, or legitimately have the need to use certain Microsoft programs, and if a program like Wine was not available, they would not be using Linux at all.

Wine is a program that is constantly being changed, added to, and updated. currently, not every Microsoft program is working, and the program will continually be expanded. If using Windows programs is a concern that you have about moving to Linux, don’t let it be a concern any longer.

One of the most well known programs that is usable with Linux is GIMP. This is a free, open source photo editing program that you can use. It is great for both the experienced photo editors, as well as novices. Even if you are not currently using Linux, GIMP is usable for other operating systems as well. It is seen as one of the best, if not the best, free open source program that you can get for editing your pictures. It has been compared to Adobe Photoshop, and has a lot of the same functionality.

ImageMagick is another open source program that you can use to edit your pictures. It supports a wide variety of picture formats. There are quite a few different special effects that you can add to your pictures, as well as changing colors, scaling, flipping, and more. Though it has been said that this program is not as powerful as GIMP, it is still very functional for most people.

If you are wanting to create images, mvComicsMaker may be an option for you. With this program you can make vector images, and create bitmap files. You can even make animated images with this program! If you are wanting to get a little more in depth with your animations and do some 3D, Blender is a program that offers you a professional grade application.

Depending on what you want to do with your photos or images, there are different programs that you can find in the open source market that will surely fit your wants and needs!

Image via Wikipedia

One thing that many people are concerned with when they move from Microsoft Window to a Linux based operating system is that they will not have the office software that they are used to working with. While the software that is available for a Linux based operating system may be a little different than what you are used to with Windows, there are still options and programs that can help anyone.

Open Office is currently the most widespread and well known of the programs that are considered office software. It has been made to be compatible with many, if not all, major office programs out there. In fact, many people who do not use Linux also use openoffice, because of the complete compatibility that it has. It is a completely free program, and has multiple applications that can be used.

If you are looking for something that focuses just on spreadsheets, Gnumeric could be a great option. The entire goal of the program has been to make the absolute best spreadsheet possible. They have also made it an effort to not copy other, existing applications exactly. Gnumeric is able to open files that have been saved on other spreadsheets.

If you are looking for a processor that will help you structure your documents how you want them to be, and give a great looking product right away, you may want to look at LyX. This program focuses on the structure of the document more than the appearance, and you don’t have to worry nearly as much about formatting or playing around to make it look good.

No matter what you are looking for in your office software, you can find great options that are free and open source. If you still prefer Microsoft Office, a program such as Wine may be able to help you get what you want for your Linux based operating system.

If you have ever shopped at Burlington Coat Factory, you know that the store is a large factory outlet for mens clothing, women’s clothing, children’s clothing, and more. They actually have nearly 300 stores, which are located in 42 states throughout the United States. Burlington uses a Linux based operating system in their warehouses, back offices, and even their gift registry.

There are multiple large oil companies that use Linux in their daily operations. Amerada Hess Corporation, as well as Conoco.

You may be interested to find out that Cisco, which is a company that makes routers throughout the world, has their printing services running off of Linux. At one point, they signed a large agreement with Microsoft, and as part of that agreement, Cisco stated that they were an “all Microsoft” company. Cisco’s IT staff was unable to work correctly in Microsoft though, and is now working in a Linux based operating system.

There are even entire cities that use Linux based operating systems for their business offices. The City of Largo, Florida uses a Linux operating system, as well as the government of Mexico City. They could not justify the cost of Windows any longer, when they could get Linux for much, much cheaper. Even the United States Army, Federal courts, and Postal services use Linux bases for many of their operations.

Google, which is the most widely used search engine in the world would not work correctly if they did not use the extreme customizability of a Linux operating system.

There are many companies, both large and small, that use Linux based operating systems for their back end, daily use, warehousing, and more. Linux is a great system not only for companies, but also for individual users.

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There are many things to take into consideration when you compare open source software and closed source software. Closed source software is also known as proprietary software, and open source is known simply as open source.

Closed source software, or proprietary software is licensed by the owner of the software. The owner of the software has the exclusive legal rights. These rights are given to the purchaser of the software. Usually this is given in the form of a license that the states that the purchaser is allowed to use the program or software, under specific rules and regulations. The user is not allowed to modify, reverse engineer, or give the product out to others under the legal restrictions of the license. Many products that you may use on a daily basis may be closed source software. Adobe Flash Player and Photoshop, Skype, and iTunes are examples of proprietary software. Microsoft Windows is another commonly used example of a closed source software that is well known.

Open source software like File Zilla and the xvid codec on the other hand gives us the availability to not only share technology and information freely, but also to adapt it and make it usable how we want it. Many times, open source software is free to use, as well as give to others. There are many types of open source software, including Linux, WordPress, and even Mozilla Firefox. A very large number of types of software are now available through open source, and more are becoming available every day.

Many people prefer open source software like file sharing Ares Galaxy from the Ares website whenever available. They like the fact that it is open to be changed, updated, and adapted. The price difference that you will generally see between open source software and closed source software is generally significant, as well, and at times, this plays a large part in the decision of many as to what software to go with.

One of the great things about the Internet is that you can find almost anything on it. There are websites to listen to music of any kind, or even live radio broadcasts. You can watch streaming videos in High Definition and not miss a beat thanks to faster and faster Internet speeds. Even if your Internet isn’t the top speed, you still have millions of options to choose from, download and enjoy in your offline time. If your computer doesn’t do everything that you want it to already, you can do a search for the desired results and then downloading software to remedy this in minutes.

Technology is a great thing, and the Internet adds the temptation of instant gratification. With everything at your fingertips, it’s easy to just click the “download” button or link on everything that your hard drive has space to hold, but slow down for a moment. Not all files are safe or friendly on the internet. Most people who use the Internet have already heard about viruses and perhaps believe that spam email is the worst culprit. Watch out–downloaded software is a prime hiding place for not only those pesky viruses, but also something called malicious software.

Malicious software is a class of programs made to damage your computer and how it functions; there are sadly many malicious programs floating around on the Internet and a favorite way of getting them onto your computer is to hide them by “piggybacking” them onto a legitimate piece of software and then offering that software up for download.

To keep your computer safe, hold back your itchy mouse-clicking finger from that “download” link unless you’re sure the web site is one that you know to be trustworthy. Large well-reviewed web sites are generally safe. File sharing programs are a big no-no. When in doubt, don’t click “download”.

If you are looking for some games to play on your Linux based operating system, you may feel like you have come across some snags. Quite a few of today’s most popular computer games are not compatible on a Linux based system. There is hope, though. There are many games that are able to be played on Linux, without worrying about using Wine or dual booting your system.

If you are interested in shooter games, America’s Army may be a good option for you. This game was actually originally made and distributed by the United States Government. Originally, it was used as a tool for new army recruits to train by. This has become a very popular game for Linux users that want to get out and shoot some bad guys.

Another first person shooter that is enjoyed by many people is Cube 2. It is known by gamers to be a game that is both quick, as well as easy, to get into. Cube is also a game engine, and so if you are also a game developer, you can actually create your own game with the engine.

If you prefer puzzle games, Pingus is a great game. You must tell the penguins in your control exactly what they should be doing. The end goal of the game is to get all of your penguins to the exit.

Frozen Bubble is another puzzle game that is extremely popular. You must get groups of at least 3 of the same color bubble together, for them to go away.

No matter what type of game you are looking for, most likely you will find one that will work for you on your Linux computer. There are so many types of games that have been developed for Linux, that it is difficult for people to say today that there are not good games for the system.

For older children, Anagramarama is a great option. Not only is it free, it will get your kids thinking and reading. You will get a word or series of letters, and the goal of the game is to make as many real words as you can before you run out of time. A similar game is Kanagram, which actually starts with the letters of a particular word all mixed up. The goal of this game is to actually figure out what the word is supposed to be. Kanagram comes an editor for the vocabulary, so you can make the game fit you, or your children’s skill set best.

If you are looking for a program that will fit children of varying ages, GCompris could be exactly what you are looking for. There are well over 100 activities on this program. They are all educational based, and best for children between the ages of two and ten. There are different categories that have different activities based on them. Some of these categories include geography, ready, and algebra, along with many others.

For many children, learning to type is not necessarily a fun task. With Tux Typing, you can change that. There are many types of games for this program, and the difficulty level varies as well. Learning to type correctly can be fun with these games.

There are quite a few different options to keep your children thinking while they are on the computer. Adding in an element of fun is the best way to get kids engaged and involved, and many of these programs do this extremely well.

When you ask a variety of people who often use the Internet what web hosting vendor they use, you’re bound to get a mixed bag of answers. Some may deem customer support services or the social media software provided as important items. Others may say that processing speed or site features is important. Still, there is a relatively small segment of the online population that will say the cost is important to them, and that’s how they chose their web hosting provider. While cost is an important factor, it should not be the only component used when choosing what hosting provider to use.

Cost vs. Quality

When you look at the cost of the web hosting fees versus the quality of the feature, you should consider that you’re bound to get what you pay for. If you experience more down time than normal, or there are too many technical glitches in the system too often, you may need to consider whether it is worth the low cost for the service. With so many competitive vendors online, it would be best to compare features and costs and read other reviews on the services before deciding on going with one in particular. You may find other information that is important to you and get first-hand input from users on what they think of the services.

Long-term Relationships

It’s ideal to find a web hosting service and stick with it for as long as you can. Why? Because it reduces the amount of times you have to transfer files, set up your accounts, and deal with a new set of service providers. This is why it’s important to choose carefully which host to use and make sure that it can provide your business with the service it needs. In the long run, it’s worth all the effort.

If you are looking to play some music, KPlayer is one of the multimedia players you may be interested in. You can play both audio and video files, as well as stream information from this platform. MPlayer and RealPlayer for Linux are also both great options. Many people will feel most comfortable with RealPlayer for Linux, simply because it is a program that they may recognize from when the used Windows.

Video players are also important to many. The vlc media player is a great program that works on many platforms. It handles discs, streaming, and other files. RealPlayer for Linux and other of the music players will also allow you to play video on them, as well.

There are many options if you want to talk to coworkers or friends. If you are playing a game, or just want to talk to someone vocally through your computer, TeamSpeak is a great application that allows people to speak to each other over the internet. Pidgin is a messaging service that works on many platforms. It actually supports many of the common messaging services, such as Yahoo, Google Talk, AIM, and more. Xchat is a chat client based on IRC. It is usable both in Windows and Linux, and allows file transfers, connection to multiple channels, and even private messaging.

No matter what type of program you are looking for when it comes to multimedia, you can find it all for your Linux computer. Multimedia is a large part of many people’s lives, and most feel that their computers would not be complete without the opportunity to talk to others, watch a video, or listen to some music.

The aegis Virus Scanner is frequently used because it is basic, and not clunky. It runs in the background, and simply keeps an eye out for modified or new files. It will allow you to delete or quarantine a file if it finds one that is infected, by popping up a dialogue box. Vexira Antivirus for Linux also helps find infections, but looks at the data storage on your system. You can do scans when you want, or have scheduled scans.

There are a few virus scanners that focus on making sure that your email is safe. OpenProtect is one of these that focuses on emails. It can filter the content of your email to keep away viruses, spam, and more. The downside to this program is that there is a fee associated with it. Protector is also an email virus protector. It will check your emails, and let you know with a warning message that a particular email may contain content that is not safe.

No matter which side of the fence you are on, no one wants to get a virus on their computer. Keeping an eye out, and having a little extra protection can help keep all your information safe and in tact.

Many companies today are using a Linux distribution for their operating system. When this is the case, depending on the type of company, you may have to look into new software for your daily operations. There are many types of project management software for Linux operating systems.

For billing and invoicing, as well as time tracking, there are a few applications you may be interested in. The Gnome Time Tracker can help you with your billing system, as well as time tracking. Unfortunately, this is a system based for single users. This can be great if you have a personal business that would need these services. Time Sheets for Networks, as well as journyx Time are both web based task tracking and time tracking systems that you can use.

If you are looking for a great bug reporting system, there are many different options. Some are email or Internet based. Bugzilla, which is put out by Mozilla, is an internet based program, and is a major system. Bugin is a great system for tracking bug tickets and helpdesk information. If you are looking for a system that allows graphs and reports, you may want to consider WebCall. Frontdesk is another system for email sorting as well as ticketing. This is a widely used system.

Many companies are looking for a great option for a CRM, to keep their users or customers straight, as well as other items. Open Source CRM is a great option for many people. Another open source option is Anteil.

If you are looking for a scheduling software, MrProject is a great option. It is currently still in early stages, but is still very popular. OpenSched is another scheduler that works for many people. You put your information in, and it will give you task reports.

No matter what type of project management software you are looking for, you can find great options that will work with your Linux computer

Whether you work from home or are just trying to keep yourself a little more productive, there are many tools that can help you with this.

If you are looking for an all around management tool, Chandler is an option. This is best for small groups or personal use. You can share information over the internet. It has data organizational tools, as well as a calendar. Whether you are trying to keep yourself on track or are part of a small group, this could be just the answer for you.

If you take a lot of notes for yourself, or for the great projects that you are working on, Tomboy will help you keep those notes cohesive. Not only can you take notes with this application, but you can also spell check your notes, highlight them, and even style the fonts how you would like.

Another option for note taking would be BasKet Noe Pads. With this application, you can take notes, but you can also track your data in multiple different ways. Sharing notes is also very easy with this application.

Many people like making lists, but sometimes those lists get mixed up and lost. Keep your lists straight and on your computer on Task Coach. You can get alerts on your tasks, make multiple lists, and keep everything together in one great little application.

If you are looking for a great calendar option, Sunbird can help. It’s especially great for those with very little disc or memory on their computers, as it does not take up much space. This great calendar can help you keep your schedule straight.

Keeping your life on track is easy when you have the right tools to help. No matter what you are trying to keep track of, there are so many options from simple calendars to full project management software.

Of course, with that being said, it isn’t as if they are just doing it to save money. There are other advantages to using this system that make it more attractive to business owners and managers. The first thing, of course, is the cost. While it would be easy to dismiss it, there are inherent advantages to using the Linux system when it comes to price. Companies would have to install a lot of software that would be very costly if they wanted to go with the more popular operating system. Using Linux means usually using an open source software that is usually free or very cheap. The only installation requirement is that there might be a driver update, but beyond that, it’s rather easy to install and operate.

The other advantage to the Linux system is that it is very much an open source system, so the IT department should be able to have good control over the system and make adjustments or troubleshoot with ease.

The decision to abandon the standard is not always an easy one for the bigger businesses, but there has to be an effort to reduce costs. Having expensive software for all your company computers is in direct opposition with the need to keep costs low. As long as Linux provides a cheaper solution, companies will continue to use it.

Many people like to stay up to date with friends and family. Maybe your business also expects or requires you to keep up with different social networking sites. No matter what the reason is, there are applications that are great for helping you keep in touch with your social network sites. Many of these applications work great with a Linux based operating system.

Many people have multiple social networking sites that they need to keep up with. If this is the case in your situation, you may want to consider the application Gwibber. This handy little tool can help you keep your different social networking accounts in one great spot. Gwibber is made to work with Digg, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and even more. Have everything all at your fingertips with this amazing little app.

If you are trying to keep your business or organization all together, Elgg can help you keep it all in one spot. With this application, you are able to develop and create your very own social environment. Even if you don’t have a business, this can be great for friends, families, and more.

Another option for building your own community is Dolphin. This community making application can also be used to get data from other social networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, and more. This app has been designed so that you can make your very own network in just the matter of a few minutes.

Keeping in touch has become much easier throughout the last few years than it ever was before. You can be in touch with people across the world with just a few clicks of a button. Keeping all of your social sites together in one spot is the next great step for many people and companies. This can be easily done with these social networking applications for Linux.

If you already use services such as MySpace chat, AIM, Yahoo, or Google Talk, you may want to consider Pidgin. This great application will allow you to keep in contact with all of your contact with these and many other messaging services. It’s an easy integration process, so you can’t go wrong with an option like Pidgin.

Gajim is another option for talking with friends, family, or coworkers. While Gajim is similar to Pidgin, it has a few different options. You can configure this application to be perfect for your personal wants and needs.

If you would like to focus on Yahoo messaging, Gyach is the best option. It is based off of the Yahoo messaging platform, and you are able to integrate your Yahoo contacts for ease of use.

On the other hand, if you are used to MSN messenger, also known as Windows Live Messenger, you will want to consider KMess. Unfortunately, there are no plugins for this instant messenger, but it is a great option if you do use Windows Live Messenger.

You can find great options, no matter what messenger service you are used to using. If you are trying to integrate many different messaging systems, there are also options for this. Keep your coworkers, family, and friends just a click away with these easy to use applications.

No matter what you are looking for, you can find an app that works great on a Linux based operating system. With everything from games to finance, there are options for almost everything out there.

Keeping track of your finances can be a frustrating situation for many people. With KMyMoney, you can easily keep track of all of your personal fiances. GnuCash is great for personal as well as business use. With GnuCash, you can get graphs, reports, and more to keep a discerning eye on your finances.

Looking for a brain teaser? Gbrainy can help people of any age keep their minds sharp with tons of puzzles, games, and more.

If you need to have a digital meeting or want to put out a webinar, you may want to consider Dimdim. This program is web based, and is a great option for many companies.

Are you interested in blogging? WordPress is one of the most popular blogging tools out there. It is an open source piece of software, and has both online, hosted options, as well as the option for you to host your blog on your very own hosting service.

Zipping or unzipping files is easy on 7-Zip. Keep your computer less full with zipping your files!

If you are worried about security, Prey can help you geolocate your laptop if it were to be stolen. You can even trigger alarms and talk with the person that has your computer.

Keep track of anything and everything all in one place through MediaWiki. This is a great option for companies or organizations, because you can have multiple people add important information, and be able to keep it all straight.

These are just a few of the many great options for everyone that you can find for a Linux computer. Almost anything you could want to do on your computer is easy with a Linux operating system.

Many smart phones today use an operating system called Android. One thing that many people do not realize is that this operating system is based on the Linux kernel. Since the Linux kernel is an open source software, the developers of Android were able to take it and adapt it to work on cell phones. In many cases, these powerful phones can do almost anything that a desktop computer or laptop can do. In fact, a lot of people feel that the only real difference is the size of the screen.

In the Android market, there are many options for other open source software, and many of the applications that you can get for your phone are free. Others have a small price attached to them. And, many of these applications are exactly the same, or based on, other apps that were originally made for desktop or laptop computers that had a Linux based operating system.

Android is not the only Linux based operating system for smart phones. Recently introduced, the Bada operating system from Samsung also has a Linux kernel base.

Many people who have never really been interested in Linux before are starting to take a look. With smart phones becoming more and more popular, the interest level in Linux is going up for many people as well. This is a great step for the operating system, as it is gaining more momentum.

If you have both kids and a computer, you may be wondering what you can find for them to do on it. We all know that there is crazy stuff on the internet, but there are a huge amount of educational programs and games that are geared toward children. If you want to help your child grow and learn, having some of these programs may be a great idea.

Qimo is a Linux based operating system that is geared toward children. In fact, it was specifically designed for children ages three and up. This great operating system comes with games and educational programs for kids preinstalled! The interface of Qimo has been designed specifically to be easy to use. With large icons, it is easy for your child to find the program or game that they want to play.

So, what exactly comes with Qimo? First, there is GCompris. This is arguably one of the best apps out there for kids. It is a package of games and activities that is designed to help teach younger children how to use the keyboard and mouse effectively.

Child’s Play is another collection of activities and games that comes with this operating system. This is similar to GCompris, but has many different types of games, as well.

Math and art skills are a part of the operating system as well. With TuxPaint, your little artist will be able to spend time making you some great pictures! TuxMath is a game for children old enough to understand basic math concepts. With this game you solve math equations to save igloos from asteroids.

With so many educational programs for your child, Qimo is a great option. If you are looking for a perfect learning environment, while letting them have a little fun, your kids and you will both love Qimo.

Younger people have become so accustomed to technology in their lives that they usually don’t give it a second thought. When you consider that there is an entire generation of children living right now who have never known a world without computers and other technology, it can give you pause. This can be especially true for those who are old enough to remember when computers were only used in certain places and it sometimes took entire rooms to hold the operating system.

These people may find themselves feeling particularly nostalgic when they watch an older movie or television show in which the people are still using typewriters and other office machines, or they actually experience a form of “culture shock” when they see old-time scenes depicting the use of what was then considered the latest in technology. That’s when the advances in technology can really become apparent.

Technology and technological advances affect every portion of our lives, even consumer buying, as websites can now use affiliate programs to reach more people. Affiliate programs allow merchant websites to receive more traffic by entering into an agreement with an affiliate website. (This is a very brief explanation, there is quite a bit more involved, so do not consider this explanation to be all-inclusive.) Affiliate review sites help them make the best decisions in choosing which sites to enter into agreements with.

When you consider the fact that it seems as though childrennowadaysare born knowing how to operate a computer, and their parents are mostly likely more tech-savvy than the child’s grandparents, anyone who is in the business of selling anything will want to take advantage of as many of the technological advances that exist today as they can. By doing so, they can achieve better success in their business, no matter what it may be.

The music is delightful, although some may find it distracting enough to leave the sound turned off. The collages of paper and cardboard used as the background and walls, ceilings, etc, are bright and colorful with different themes on different levels.

The game has several different modes and environments that will unlock as you conquer different levels within the game. There are animals featured in the game who are also reacting to the changing forces of gravity as the world spins, making things a bit harder for the character. Players can choose to try to beat the clock on each level or they can play a marathon game where they finish an entire environment.

The tilting itself is reminiscent of the game labyrinth from childhood. It came with little silver balls that one would navigate through the maze by tilting the table. The vertical version, however, the ball isn’t just lost through the hole in the maze, the main character falls apart in a comical explosion.

The game has been rated E for Everyone with a notation about some mild violence. However, the complete lack of reality relating to the character exploding or falling apart when he hits a wall the wrong way or is crushed by a rock, keeps the violence at a negligible level.

Not only is this a Linux game, but it is also available for PC and MAC as well. The newest version that is coming out soon is for the Wii.

Although the best advice that a new Linux user can follow is to stop thinking in terms of Windows, many have spent so many years having Microsoft products melded into their every-day lives that it is like teaching an American Spanish and then telling him to stop thinking in English.

The fact is, anything you were able to do in Windows, you are able to do using Linux. Linux comes with Open Office software pre-installed. This software is an infinitely more adaptable, and thus better, version of Microsoft Office. With the ability to read almost any file extension, there is virtually no chance that the new user will be unable to open a file due to the fact that the OS is different between the two computers. In addition, because Microsoft Word will only read files that end in .doc, Open Office has the capability of saving a file as a .doc for future use or to send to a Microsoft Office user.

There are many choices of web browsers for the Linux Operating Software, as well as other programs. In fact, there are some cross-platform programs that are compatible with both Windows machines and Linux machines.

The music editing program called Audacity is available for Linux. In fact, any software that was created for Windows by the Google company, has an equivalent by the same name for Linux. Gimp, Audacity, and GnuCash are just a few.

Now, if you are ready to be blown away by speed and agility packed into your little old computer, get started with Linux. You’ll be happy you did.

One of the first things that Windows users realize when they attempt to use a Linux computer is how fast the machine runs. It is hard to believe that a free product could be so much faster than the high dollar Microsoft products. If Microsoft has so many designers and programmers trying to make their systems better and better, than why is it such a disappointment when matched up to its free brother?

Some say that this is because Linux is constantly being improved, checked over, and polished up by thousands of contributors. The Linux contributors are not paid, but they do their very best to make sure that all people have access to the software.

Windows, on the other hand, is out to make money. There is nothing wrong with that per say, but when that need for money puts customer happiness below making a paycheck, Microsoft just doesn’t have it down.

Many companies have their whole set-up based on Windows products. They are unable to program in a way that is compatible with Linux without spending millions of dollars to make the changes. In addition to that, these companies do not want to take the risk that there will not be enough interest once the Linux versions are made. If that happens they could have lost all the money that was put into development.

Linux has quickly become standard for servers and business systems. It has been steadily overshadowing Unix, Solaris, and HPUnix office servers. Even businesses know what many Americans do not; your computer system will be cleaner, reliable, and faster if you run Linux. With a smaller footprint and easier programming, you can’t go wrong.

Continue to recommend Linux to friends. Continue to use it yourself. When the software companies see that Linux is growing in demand, they are more likely to re-release some of their most popular programs on Linux.

Because of the nature of Linux, many people don’t consider the possibility of find a job based on their Linux knowledge. Five years ago it probably wouldn’t have been possible at all. However, people just don’t realize how widespread the use of Linux run machines are.

In fact, the Linux Foundation has set up a job board online to help connect those who need a Linux IT person with those who have the knowledge. These can be found at jobs.linux.com. While the page is not overflowing with entries for available positions, it does give some insight into the range of available jobs that include working with Linux.

While the exact increase in numbers isn’t actually known, there is an obvious trend on an increase in the number of available Linux related jobs. As of 2010 there are many more Linux-run computer systems than most people realize. The New York Stock Exchange is powered by Linux. Many of the deployed Navy ships use Linux based computers. Even airplane entertainment systems use Linux.

In fact, Linux’s Red Hat offers professional certification for those who want the credentials to find one of these available jobs. RHCE stands for Red Hat Certification Engineer. The certificates have been available for about ten years now, but are really only recently useful when looking for employment.

There are some people who have used Linux for as long as it has been around. They fall back on their experience instead of special certification. However, some places are requiring certification as well. The Linux Professional Institute offers certification as well as other programs.

In a statement to the press, the executive director of the Linux Foundation, Jim Zemlin said that despite unemployment statistics, there is still high demand for employees to fill Linux jobs across the country and across many different industries.

*Linux doesn’t crash. Really. It has been proven to be, over the years, the most stable computer operating system. Some companies have run Linux on their computers for months or even years at a time without ever having the need to reboot the system. The New York Stock Exchange is run on Linux. That would not be the case if it was as unstable as Windows.

*Viruses Schmiruses. Because of the way Linux is designed, Viruses are almost impossible to spread. While a user may wreck their own computer by installing a virus, it would be impossible to spread from person to person or computer to computer. Besides that, anti-virus software is available for free from most Linux providers. Linux believes that susceptibility to viruses should be nipped right away, before awareness of a problem grows and fall into the wrong hands.

*Standards. Because Linux and other compatible software use open standards, upgrading one doesn’t mean that you will be making the other useless. As often happens with Windows programs, once you upgrade your version of one program, you have to upgrade other programs that use it.

*Freedom of Choice. Linux users can use any brand of hardware they prefer. Linux runs on an Acer just as well as it runs on an HP computer. The same is true for software. Take word processing for example. You can choose any program you want, based on your specific needs, all three that are free and available have interoperability with Microsoft Word.

*Stellarium – This program is a planetarium on your computer. It uses 3D to show the night sky. You can choose to view the stars as they are usually seen with the naked eye, or with binoculars or a telescope. Once you enter your coordinates, the computer does the rest. Many planetarium projectors across the country use this free, open source software.

*Marble – Like Google Earth, Marble is World atlas and virtual globe that you can use to learn about the earth. Clicking on places within the maps will pull up any applicable Wikipedia articles. One can also measure distances, look at the current could conditions, and enjoy all the different types of maps. Parts of the program can be manipulated to give the program a more education standing as a classroom tool. Changing the date and time on the map will show you the stars and where the twilight zone is.

*Geody – Geody is much like Marble, with some major differences. Not only does it have the capability of showing the Earth, but it also lets the user choose from browsing the areas of the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and space. It includes photos with fully capable zoom features, as well as charts that show longitude and latitude.

*Maxima – Maxima is a system that allows users to manipulate symbolic and numerical expressions. Differentiation, integration, systems of linear equations, polynomials, Taylor series, Laplace transforms, ordinary differential equations, and sets, lists, vectors, matrices, and tensors are all included capabilities in the software. The precision of this software is one of its beauties. It has the ability to plot two and three dimensional data and functions

* Interoperability of Networking – Linux is built in such a way that it is very strong when it comes to needing the ability to interoperate with computers that run different operating systems. As more business, schools, and offices connect with each other through networks, more of them need the ability to become compatible with computers it encounters on the network. Linux’s software, Samba, allows Linux to become a client on a Window’s based network. Linux servers can even be used to run computers that are based on Microsoft Windows. Besides that, Linux also includes software to network with Novell’s Netware and Apple computers.

*You Are Not a Customer – Windows is only put out by Microsoft. Apple creates their own computers and software. Linux, on the other hand, is created by many different people who all work together, share information, and develop openly. So, when you begin using Linux, you become part of a community as opposed to becoming a customer of a company.

*Size Doesn’t Matter – Linux is the most frugal of all operating systems when it comes to allocating resources. While it is widely known that Linux makes your computer run faster than Windows, there are other positives. One example would be if a single Linux System acted as a terminal server and used outdated hardware as thin clients. While that might be a lot of technical jargon to some, what it really means is that Linux can be used to combine many computer parts that others would consider “trash” and turn them into a powerful system.

*Linux Is Configurable – Linux is truly a multi-user OS. Each user can have configure his or her own individual preferences on the same computer. The way the desktop looks, what icons display in which area, and start-up programs are all changeable based on user preference.

Indie game creators often shy away from putting out versions of their games that support Linux platforms. Indie game creators make it easy for the Linux system users to obtain driver downloads. They do this because they do not realize how big the Linux market is. In fact, the Linux market is growing daily.

Windows has long been the top dog when it comes to operating systems and having game designers support their platform. Slowly but surely, more have begun supporting Apple as well. Linux, however, has been left behind until very recently. More game developers need to support Linux Operating Software.

First of all, while the Indie developers create the games for their enjoyment, many of them create them to make money. Because Linux is open source software, they assume that Linux users won’t pay for a game. Actually, Linux users are more likely to pay for games that they enjoy than young Windows users who are likely to attempt to obtain pirated software.

Also, for an Indie developer to make money, he has to make a name for himself. People have to know who he is to get a gaming review site to even glance at his games. Because so few developers give Linux games a second look, there are reviewers who focus on Linux alone. A game that gains only moderate popularity in Windows can become huge on Linux, thus exposing itself to people who use both platforms and actually promoting the games in Windows further. To put it in the words of the game developers from Wolfire, “A lot of people heard about and supported Lugaru simply because we had a Linux build”

Lastly, if you develop correctly, there is no extra cost or time involved in making your games Linux compatible. There are many frameworks that support Windows, Mac, and Linux at the same time. So choosing one that only supports one type of operating software doesn’t make sense. Pygame, Ogre3D, and Bullet are all examples of cross-platform frameworks.

While all Linux programming experts will agree that a virus is relatively simple to create, running it and destroying a large number of computers would be very difficult. There are several reasons why.

First, because Linux is a full multi-user system, it is almost impossible to infect the entire computer with a virus, worm, or trojan. The infected program would have to be run under the root user. Most Linux users are aware of where their software and programs are originating. If the software’s source is not 100% trustworthy, it simply needs to be run on a non-root user.

Also, Linux systems support a huge variety of different types of computers, software, and configurations. So, a virus created to infect one computer would be completely harmless on another as the programming would likely become confused by the different set-up of the computer.

Is there a possibility of the user running dangerous software as the root and crashing their Linux run computer? Absolutely. However, administrative users with access to the root user, have been bombarded with the message that the root user account is dangerous and any changes on it could affect the entire computer. Thus, they either work regularly from a non-root account, or they crash their system again and again making mistakes until they learn the importance of the root account.

One example would be the new user who types in some variation of the command to remove all files from the computer while logged in as the root user. If the main user of the computer doesn’t understand the different accounts, he or she will most likely cause a problem with some other issue long before they load a virus onto their computer.

Educating new users and learning from experience are much more effective in the Linux world than superfluous and costly programs.

*GIMP – Created by Google, GIMP (Google Image Manipulation Program) is an awesome image editing program. Akin to Adobe Photoshop, GIMP is great for retouching photos, creating artwork, adding effects, and much more. With a few simple steps users can even create multi-layered animated GIF images. While the cost of Photoshop and similar programs turns many people away, GIMP offers many of the same abilities in an open source format.

*Audacity – This open source software is one of the best sound editors on the internet. Its capabilities are limited only by the equipment the user has. For example, Audacity will record live music well on any computer. However, it will record better if a microphone is used. By loading a simple Codec after installation, Audacity will save projects as MP3s. This is especially great for those users who want to use the program simply to create custom ringtones for their cell phones.

*Open Office – A replacement for Microsoft Office, Open Office not only carries its own formats for saving work, but also gives the user the option to use other formats so that the work will be compatible with those who use other programs. For example, as long as a writer chooses “Save As” and “.doc” any work created and emailed to someone else will be able to be opened in Microsoft Word on another computer. Open Office, available at openoffice.org, also reads almost any format.

Using popular open source software like these with your Linux operating system is a great way to make sure that you are using safe, reliable programs to get what you want from your computer.

Avidemux is available on the internet for free. It can be used for cutting, encoding, and filtering video. If you look for and find the corresponding codecs, the Avidemux program will support AVI, MPEG, MP4, and even ASF project files. Avidemux also has great capabilities for scripting.

A second video editing program available on Linux is called Cinelerra. It is one of the most complex Linux programs available for video. It supports high-fidelity video and audio both. Due to the fact that it is dependant on frame rate and resolution, Cinelerra can support any size or speed of video. It is certainly not a program for a beginner. Cinelerra is one of the most sophisticated software editors across any platform.

Another professional-quality video editing program that is compatible with Linux is called LiVES. This is not only a video editing program, but also a comes with professional grade VJ tool capabilities. Because it does all of the work for you while you edit, there is no worrying about framerates or formats. This program allows the user to mix clips right at the keyboard. It allows trimming and editing of clips and includes many realtime effects. The user can even record a performance in real time and come back and play it later or mix it further.

With all of the choices available, the best way to know that the program you have downloaded will work for you is to play around with it a little bit. Find a friend who has them already or download a free trial where available.

Since web-based email utilities such as Gmail or Hotmail are not appropriate for a business user who wishes to have a professional appearance online, many prefer to use a different type of email client instead.

One such email client is called Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird is not only an email client, but it includes a software package that gives the user access to newsgroup and RSS feeds. The software has several features, themes, and extensions to allow the user to tailor the programs to his or her own specific needs. Features include message grouping, labels, advanced filtering, security enhancements.

Spicebird, created by Synovel, is a free open source software. While it was originally a cross-platform program, it is no longer compatible with Mac OS X. This client provides integrated access to not only email and contacts, but also a shareable calendar and instant messaging.

Zimbra is another open source email client that works across many platforms. In fact, Zimbra seems to be compatible with just about everything, which makes it a great solution for synchronizing information from several different people to the ZCS server. Besides Linux software, Zimbra is compatible with Windows Microsoft Outlook, the open source Novell Evolution, and Apple Mail for Mac. It has features that include email, contact storage, VoIP, calendar sharing, and online document sharing and authoring. Zimbra is also amazing in that it will sync with many mobile devices. The Blackberry, the iPhone 2.0, and Windows Mobile, as well as a few others are compatible with Zimbra’s two-way syncing.

These email clients can make your email more than just an internet mailbox.

The VLC Media Player is a simple, yet very useful media player program that supports nearly all audio, video, streaming, DVD, and VCD formats. In fact, the web site for this program lists 29 compatible audio formats and 26 video formats. It even has additional programming available to watch region locked DVDs.

Miro is another program that many have never heard of, but will love the second they give it a try. Miro is a video player as well as a podcast client. It comes with an already compiled library of podcasts and internet streams. At this time, there are more than 6000 channels. Miro describes themselves as a place that makes torrents easy, RSS beautiful, and offers gorgeous HD video.

For anyone who has a large collection of ebooks or enjoys reading ebooks checked out from their local libraries, Calibre is a management application that comes with many features. It will sort the user’s ebook collection by title, author, date, reader rating and more. It also allows tagging books to create the user’s own sorting methods. The software includes a place for writing notes while the user is reading. This is a great feature for students or someone who writes book reviews. It syncs with ebook readers including the Amzon Kindle and the Sony Reader. This software even downloads news from the web and converts it to ebook format.

If you don’t have this software for your Linux computers yet, go find it and download it now!

Beginning Linux Programming by Neil Matthew and Richard Stones is a simple, yet well structured book on Linux programming. It takes the beginning programmer from the basic steps through creating his own custom applications using real life, hands on situations.

The popular “For Dummies” series has a book out that will help those who want to learn about programming computers with Linux installed. Linux Programming for Dummies, by Jim Keogh claims that anyone can be running sophisticated applications with just a few skills that are basic and easy to learn. Some readers warn that this book is too basic and should be used in conjunction with other Linux programming guides to be the most useful.

The Linux Quick Fix Notebook, by Peter Harrison, is a must have for anyone who has reached a basic level of knowledge within Linux programming. Harrison avoids dealing with problems that come up with specific versions of Linux and focuses on command line interface. He expects readers to have a basic knowledge of the systems and spend a large amount of his time on the more productive “how to” and trouble shooting instructions than he does explaining why one would do something a certain way.

Computers do what the users tell them to do. They don’t have another option. The problem comes when people try to input the information in a way the computers do not understand. These books will give you the skills you need to make sure that you know what to tell Linux computers to do and how to do it.

One of the things so many people love about Linux is the fact that it can be downloaded for free. There are pricier versions that come boxed with instruction manuals. However, most of the information within the manuals can be found on the internet. Even those who want to learn more about programming Linux can find a huge amount of information online. This makes the operating system ideal for children who do not need all of the expensive features that come with Windows that tend to slow down the computer.

Children often end up using handed down, out of date computers that their parents or older siblings no longer use. The problem with this is that newer versions of Windows and other Microsoft programs can cause the computer to run more and more slowly. The old processors just can’t handle the memory and speed needed for newer software.

Because of this, Linux is ideal for children as it does not take near the amount of resources that Windows programs take. This gives the children the ability to work faster and access the programs they need to access.

Trying to find out if a child will take to Linux or not does not need to to be worrisome for a parent. There are many places online where one can try Linux without installing it on the computer. Once the child gets a feel for the operating system, the decision about permanent replacement can be made.

Any computer user that had a Windows based computer would groan at the thought of trying to do any of those things on computers that are five years old. They would laugh if it was suggested that they use a computer that was ten or twelve years old.

That is one of the amazing things about Linux. The programming has such a small footprint on the hard drive and takes very little RAM to run properly. Many people claim that running Linux on old computers actually creates a better running and faster machine than running the newer versions of Windows on machines that are a couple of years old.

One example comes from a popular Youtube video of someone who loaded Linux onto their old computer. The computer was a Pentium 3 800. It had only 128 MB RAM. The video shows the user watching a basketball game online, opening and closing windows with ease, and even changing workstations in a way that one would expect to see in a Windows commercial.

Because Linux comes with Open Office and a web browser, users have the ability to do anything they need right away, with out waiting to upload more programs. While storing videos and digital photos may not work well on an older computer, anyone can hook up an inexpensive external hard drive to store those types of things.

With all of these features, it is clear that Linux isn’t just for computer nerds to have a strong understanding of computer programming. Linux is for everyone. If you need to find a way to do it, Linux can help.

Even Microsoft found this out when they came out with Windows Vista. People rushed out to buy it because it was the latest and greatest operating software. Unfortunately, it required them to learn to do things a new way. So many people gave up quickly and put XP back on their computers.

Often the people who download Linux are doing it for the wrong reasons. They heard it was cheap. They heard it from a friend that it was good. They think it would be neat to try. While all of these things are true, unless you know what you’re doing and where to get the support you need, these are not good reasons to try Linux.

Downloading Linux is for those not only want to try something completely new and different, but also are willing to learn and practice. There are several web sites on the Internet that will teach you to use Linux. You can even test it out without ever downloading it onto your computer.

If you have questions about Linux and its programs there are many Linux message boards online. There you will find users who have experience and can answer your questions well. The last thing you want is to ask a question and get advice from someone who has no idea what they are really doing.

It is hard to get yourself out of the Windows mindset and into a Linux mindset. Many people try to configure their desktops in Linux to look like the Windows desktop. If you are already planning on doing that, then you should know Linux is probably not right for you.

Many users were angry and an attempt at a class action suit was filed in California in April. The claim made called the changes were “unfair and deceptive” as well as a “breach of good faith”. People bought the machines because of the fact that Linux could be used on them. People in several other states have also filed lawsuits based on the same issues.

Due to laws in other countries, some overseas buyers have already received refunds without filing any type of suit as Sony was required to pay based on lessoning the capabilities of the Playstation 3.

Recently, a new device that connects to the Plastation 3 like a thumb drive is reportedly becoming available. The technical term for the device is a “dongle”. Named the PS Jailbreak, it will turn the PS3 into a machine that is compatible with Linux again.

The dongle allows regular online play and is also fully updatable. All regions are supported. The dongle also keeps the user from having to buy an expensive blue ray player or disks as the games can be backed up to an external hard drive through a USB device, and the games can be directly booted from the GUI.

What the outcome will be is yet to be decided. Sony had announced at one time that they would create a fix to restore the OtherOS option. However, the first one that they supposedly released turned out to be a hoax. Most users have given up waiting on the fix.

In all actuality, the graphics are slightly better than the old NES games, with more realistic colors and enough shading to give things a 3D look, but the concept is still the same. Make it around the track without a spectacular crash in a time that is faster than you have ever made it before.

Mad Skills Motocross is a dirt track motor biking competition with 52 increasingly difficult tracks. You work to keep your balance on the bike as you fly through mud holes and over hills, doing stunts that would likely have disastrous results in real life.

Mad Skills Motocross does have a free trial download available. Once you are hooked on the game though, you will have no problem laying out the $19.95 for the full version.

This version of the game is definitely child and family friendly. There is no violence or inappropriate humor. Everyone will also love the fact that once you have successfully completed a certain number of tracks, you can begin creating and racing on tracks that you design and build yourself.

Mad Skills Motocross creators are working on upgrades at the moment as well. They hope to be launching a multi-player version in the near future. This will allow head to head competition between players. It is unknown if players of the new version will be able to share the tracks that they have created themselves with friends.

The adorable little robot that is the main character, makes his way through the game’s world, which looks a bit like the world that the hit movie Wall-E lived in. He and the other characters speak in terms of thought bubbles with pictures in them above their heads.

The game also includes hints for those who becomes stuck, as well as a book that can be opened (by completing a puzzle-type game) on each level for a walk through of what needs to be done to get to the next level. It is fun to just click around the page and see which things move and what things are part of the story that you had not considered before.

The creators do not have a down-loadable demo for this game. Rather, they have a full version available online using Flash. The download-able edition is available for only $5. Creators said that the game had been pirated so many times and to such a huge extent, that they wanted to offer it at this “amnesty” price so that those who already had the game could legalize it at nominal cost.

While the game is not easy, partly due to the fact that the user will spend much of the time just trying to figure out what exactly needs to be done, it is interesting. The game makes the players think, and is especially appealing to those who enjoy puzzle games.

Increase Search Engine Results Page (SERP)

A search engine result page is how many positions your business website takes on the page when someone searches for a keyword that is relevant to your business. The more times you show on the results page, the better your chances are of having the person click on one of your links. By combining SEO with PPC, you may increase the number of spots you occupy on the page.

Allow for Personalized Messaging

Your customers are not all the same. Therefore, some customers respond to some of your marketing messages better than others. When you combine your PPC and SEO efforts together, you offer two different messages on the same search engine results page to speak to these two groups at once.

Track Conversions

Your PPC advertising allows you to track conversion rates. Knowing how your PPC efforts convert potential customers to paying clients can help you implement words and phrases for your SEO purposes. You can share this information with the SEO company to implement the new keywords for you, or the SEO company can run a keyword report to determine the words you should be using to accomplish your SEO efforts.

Brand Your Business

Having your listing show on search engine rankings both on the PPC side of the page and in the organic listing from your SEO work helps to brand your business. Branding can help to convert more visitors and browsers into paying customers. When they see an ad for your business on both sides of the page, it can intrigue them to click your link.

Online sports betting works the same way that a casino’s sportsbook works. You can choose from a variety of ongoing sporting events. If baseball is your thing then step up to the plate and place a bet on your home team. Maybe you know all the ins and outs of the NFL and manage to pick winners every week. But you don’t have to stop at the major games for your online sports betting fun. You can place wagers on golf, tennis, NASCAR, soccer and even cricket, if you know what cricket is!

Setting up an account at an online sports betting site is simple. You transfer funds into your account and that’s what you’ll be betting with. As you score wins, your account grows and you’ll be able to withdraw your earnings. Online sports betting can also provide you with all the latest odds. Experienced bookmakers work with all the stats to let you know who the favorite is and who the long shot is. Of course, just because you know the odds doesn’t mean you have to bet that way. Try out online sports betting and get in on all the fun without ever leaving your home.

What is PHP?

If you’ve surfed the Internet recently, you may have already seen PHP during your travels. Although you’ve probably seen it on the Internet, you may not know much about it. PHP, an acronym for PHP Hypertext Preprocessor, is scripting language used for developing web pages. PHP is a powerful open-source scripting language that is both easy to learn and free!

Simply put, PHP is a scripting language that programmers use to design web pages. It works well in Open Source software environments (especially with Linux). Programmers like to use it mainly because it’s fairly easy to use. It has a syntax that is very similar to the popular “C” programming language. PHP currently, PHP has two major versions: PHP 4 and PHP 5. In addition, PHP is currently being developed.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before you begin programming with PHP, you’ll need to set up a development environment on your computer. In the following steps, you’ll use PHP with an Apache Web server running on Linux. However, you can also use PHP with Apache on any operating system.

Learning Syntax

PHP code sits inside a page with the HTML, and consists of plain-text. For example, an HTML page that shows “Hi, my name is Jerry” would be inside an HTML page named filename.php and looks like this:

Bright Hub Article

That is some simple PHP code below:
echo ‘Hi, my name is Jerry;
?>

The code between the is executed as PHP.

You’ll notice some places where the “php” after the question mark is missing. This practice is known as PHP short tags. As a programmer, you should always use full tags (?php) In addition, all PHP statements should end in a semi-colon. However, a semi-colon isn’t required to terminate the last line of a PHP block. The PHP closing tag ?> contains a semi-colon.

The above steps show some basic PHP code. You don’t need to be an experienced programmer to learn PHP. The only prerequisite is a basic understanding of HTML and a willingness to learn.

Getting and giving out information online has become a way of life for people everywhere, but we’ve all heard warnings about privacy risks. Every post you make, photo you share, email you send—even every Google search you make—can expose you to spammers and other prying eyes. Guarding your privacy when you’re active online is an ongoing challenge, but there are steps you can take to help keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.  Use the most recent Web browsers. The newest versions of all major Web browsers contain the most recent technology for protecting your data and privacy. For instance, new versions offer “private browsing” modes that leave no tracks showing which websites you’ve visited. Old browser technology, from a privacy standpoint, just can’t offer the up-to-date safeguards that savvy users demand.  Be cautious about social networking. It may be unrealistic to stay away from social networking altogether, but consider being selective about the sites you join. Sign up at just a few sites that interest you instead of indiscriminately joining everywhere. Make sure you fully understand the privacy implications of each site you join.  Be choosy about who you “friend.” You might be vigilant about protecting your privacy, but if you associate with others who are careless, those people can share information about you. Tell your online friends about your privacy concerns, and find out whether they maintain the same safety standards you do.  Resist the urge to reply to spam email. You might want to respond to that obnoxious email spam message with a few choice words, but don’t do it. By sending a reply, you’re telling the spammer that your email address is active and they’re reaching a target. The result? Even more spam.  Submit “disposable” email addresses. To help safeguard your main email address, consider using an anonymous and temporary “disposable” email address when you need to give an email address to an unknown party. These disposable email address services require no registration or sign-up and all incoming email is kept for only a few hours and then permanently deleted.

C is a programming language has become very popular among computer programmers and developers. You use C to create a list of instructions for your computer. Because it’s efficient and provides maximum control, C is fast becoming the programming language of choice for many developers.
With C, you can read/write code from a variety of computer platforms, anything from microcontrollers to all types of operating systems. You’ll be amazed at how much you can create by learning C. Once you learn C, it’s much easier for you to learn C++. In fact it’s very difficult to program in C++ before learning C. However, you’ll be amazed how much you can create by learning C. Since C is a programming language, you can use it to lists of instructions for a computer to follow.
The following are some of the features and functions of C:
1. C is a compiled language, meaning that you need to run it through a compiler before your computer can execute it.
2. With C, the actual code is human-readable. In other words, you can actually read and understand the code you write as a programmer, but the code that comes out of the compiler can be read by the computer only.
3. Although C is one of many different of programming languages, it’s been around for decades and has wide acceptance among programmers and developers.
4. Despite the fact that C has a cryptic style, it’s still fairly easy language to learn. It is a bit more cryptic in its style than some other languages, but you get beyond that fairly quickly.
5.If you are writing programs in C on a UNIX machine, the C compiler is available for free. As an example, you can write Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts in C on a UNIX computer, and then compile them for free.

Choosing the right solution to host your web applications can be a difficult task, especially when you are new to the web hosting industry (as many people are). When it comes to web hosting, there are many different aspects to become familiar with. For example, both Linux and Windows web hosting have a variety of platforms from which you can choose.

Although both Linux and Windows operating systems have similar functions to get your website up and running, they still have some major differences. Before deciding which system works best for you, it’s always a good idea to understand the differences between the two. Choosing the right operating system may depend on whether you’re designing a large, enterprise website or a just a small blog.

The following are some advantages and disadvantages of Linux and Windows web hosting.

Linux Hosting vs. Windows Hosting

As far as price is concerned, Linux is an open source application, meaning that it’s free. However, since Windows is owned and developed by Microsoft, you’ll have to pay for it (assuming that you don’t already have it installed).

Windows Hosting vs. Linux Hosting

If you wish to create your own website in Windows, and plan to use Microsoft proprietary applications (for example, ASP, FrontPage, Access, or MSSQL), then a Windows web hosting plan should be your choice. The reason for choosing Windows is that there is very limited support for these applications in a Linux environment.

Conclusion

Once you have a clear idea of the advantages and disadvantages of each operating system, you’ll be able to choose the one that works best for your environment. Many new webmasters say that Linux servers be simple, reliable, and affordable.

As you shop around, keep in mind that the differences between the operating systems are relatively minor. However, the main difference between both systems is price: Linux is free, while Windows costs money. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult an expert from a web hosting company. Many are available on the Internet.

Born in Helsinki, Finland, Linus Torvalds’ family was among the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, approximately 6 percent of the population.
His parents named him for Linus Pauling, the Portland, Oregon-born Nobel Prize-winning chemist, but Torvalds has been quoted as saying he was also named for Linus, the blanket-toting cartoon character from the Peanuts comic strip.
In Swedish, his first name is pronounced "LEE-nus." Contrary to popular belief that his middle name is "God," it’s actually "Benedict."
A 2004 television show in Finland asked viewers to vote for the 100 greatest Finns of all time, and Torvalds placed 16th.
In 2010, a Britannica Guide called The 100 Most Influential Inventors of All Time (Rosen Publishing) listed Torvalds among its leading pioneers in computing. As of 2006, about two percent of the Linux kernel was written by Torvalds, which is actually a considerable amount of the code that has been worked on by countless contributors.
The famous Linux mascot is a penguin that was first called "Tux" by a colleague who said that the name Tux stood for "(T)orvald’s (U)ni(X)."
In an email message to the Linux kernel mailing list, he acknowledged that while people thought was a "nice guy," he said he was actually "a scheming, conniving bastard who doesn’t care for any hurt feelings" as long as the result is "a better system."
He is married to the former Tove Monni, who was student in an introductory computer science class he was teaching at the University of Helsinki in 1993. She asked him for their first date via email. Tove Monni was the Finnish national karate champion six times.
In 2004, he and his family moved from Silicon Valley, California, to Beaverton, Oregon, because they wanted to live somewhere "calmer and saner."
In his spare time, he plays with his three daughters, drinks beer and shoots guns, but not simultaneously.

In simple terms, there are two separate and distinct worlds in software: the closed source the open source. Examples of open source software are Linux, JBoss, and MySQL JBoss, MySQL and others. Microsoft Windows and its applications are examples of closed source software. Both closed source and open source products have been around for a long time, possibly since the beginning of computers. Although both software sources have been in competition, neither one has managed to take over the other completely.
Many customers are dismayed with closed source software because they don’t want to rely on virtual or online help in order to manage their IT projects. More often than not, people are looking for real software vendors and solid support agreements when it comes to choosing the right source. The Internet offers a plethora of information about the advantages and disadvantages of open source software. Some computer experts say that it will overthrow commercial software, but that has yet to happen.
What are Some Business Concerns With Open Source Software?
Despite the fact that it’s free, open source software still has its limitations. For example, open source developers often have a lack of motivation and incentive to develop products. The problem that arises with open source is that programmers aren’t willing to contribute their hard work without compensation. Some claim that developers will continue to write code because “programming is fun,” but in reality, people want to get paid for their work. As a whole, the number of open source programmers is relatively small. On the other hand, there are still a lot of programmers who will work for free. As they continue to earn more money in their “real” jobs, these people become more willing and able to contribute their efforts at no charge.
Open source software offers many advantages, but in a capitalistic society where people need to make money, the sustainability of open source software becomes more challenging.

Be sure to find out how many different addresses you can have when you look for an Internet hosting company, so employees can have their own company mail. Also, check into the cost and the amount of storage and bandwidth available when getting your Website. If your business routinely gets thousands of messages through contact forms, for example, you need a hosting plan that can handle that, instead of one that’s going to run out of storage. Having an Internet business can be lucrative, but only if it runs efficiently.

Consider the hosting plan for your entire website when you think about your business. If you see that you’re nearing capacity on your website bandwidth on a regular basis, you can always upgrade at that time, so you’re prepared as your business grows. If the host you’re talking with can’t provide clear, straightforward answers to all of your questions, it might be time to start talking with other providers until you find the one that you’re comfortable working with. Reliability and trust are big factors when it comes to your Internet business, so you want to take the time to get the right provider for your needs.

In addition to the fact that Linux is an open source system, its functionality, Linux has become a major alternative to Unix and Microsoft operating systems, has made it the main alternative for proprietary Unix and Microsoft operating systems. Major software companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard have also contributed to its development on an ongoing basis. Throughout the 1990’s however, many experienced programmers and technical experts dismissed Linux as a viable alternative to other operating systems. It wasn’t until nearly a decade later that Linux has been adopted as a server platform. With further development, the Linux operating system can now incorporated into microchips. The process is called embedding, and it has become very popular in appliances and other devices.

Developers working on desktop management systems and office suites have made a lot of progress over the years to create well-known systems like GNOME and OpenOffice. The Mozilla web browser has only become a popular choice among computer users. If you’re interested in taking a look at Linux, you can download a CD version called Knoopix. It comes with everything you need to execute daily tasks on your computer, and there is no installation involved.

Without argument, computers have the capability to make our lives easier and more manageable. With instant accessibility and software, we have the opportunity to make our daily routines flow smoother and easier to navigate.

Most computers come equipped with standard software to handle general things like email sending and receiving and to gain access to the Internet, but there may be some cases you need more software to accomplish greater tasks. There are free software download websites available for individuals who want to find more software to customize to their needs.

The Help of the Internet and Computer Technology

The Internet is a great place for finding information in vast areas. There are many sites that will help individuals find what they need in reference and research, as well as for other uses.

Education

Students use the Internet in their studies and to find resources that will help them further develop their academics. They can also use it to communicate with their professors and other students. This is especially helpful if the student is pursuing an online education and most of his work and communications originate through the Internet.

Business

Businesses and business people frequently use the Internet to help them successfully do their jobs and produce the materials relevant to their areas of expertise. They can download and share documents and files over the Internet, making it easy for businesses to work online. Business individuals find that the Internet does wonders in making their jobs easier to perform and easier to manage daily tasks like communications and social networking.

Personal

People also use the Internet personal reasons, including entertainment, social networking, browsing, surfing, and online shopping.

With all the ways for people to use the Internet and software, it makes sense to get free software from companies that offer useful applications and programs.

Do you have an older Windows PC or know someone who plans to get rid of his or hers? If this is the case, you may consider installing Linux on the old machine. You really have nothing to lose; and chances are, you’re already thinking about replacing it with a new one. After all, what have you got to lose if you have already replaced it, or are thinking about replacing it?

If you’ve already replaced your computer, then you’ll have a machine you can use to send/receive email, browse the Internet, and become familiar with Linux. Just keep in mind that just like anything else, it takes time to learn a new operating system. Older versions of Linux are also available online for cheaper prices. They’re referred to as archived additions of Linux.

Getting Started

Most computer users have experience with Windows 95, XP, ME, 2000, or Vista. The Linux operating system is quite different and offers a whole new operating system to those looking for something different. With Linux’s Graphical User Interface (or GUI), you can point and click on the screen to perform many functions. You can use the GUI to perform most functions and navigate your way around the system.

As it turns out, Linux is a powerful operating system, and the Linux commands make it one of the most versatile and operating systems on the market today. If you choose to learn Linux, it will behoove you to learn some of the commands as well. Over a period of time, you’ll discover that the commands enhance your experience of Linux.

From your experience, you’ll find that using the command line is an easier and faster way to navigate through the system. Linux is one of the fastest growing operating systems in the history of computers, and with that being said, it’s definitely worth taking the time to explore and learn.

The applications for mobile telecommunications were originally designed with business people in mind and the applications were to help bring some general applications such as communications of the desktop to the mobile device. Currently, these applications are extremely popular allowing business people and their management team to stay in contact worldwide. There are such applications as Windows Mobile, contact management applications, and similar programs.

However, the mobile applications are not all work and no play. Many applications are designed with entertainment in mind. These applications include games, video, and music. These types of entertainment-focused applications are easily downloaded either directly to the device or downloaded to a computer and transferred. Some applications can even be transferred between phones having the same connection service (Bluetooth is one example). Applications in this category include games such as Master of Alchemy and Predators. Other applications are music apps such as Rhapsody and YouTube.

A relatively new category of these cell phone applications is mobile learning. Studying for exams such as the ACT or SAT is now viable using a cell phone. The interface is similar to a learning environment found on desktop or laptop computers. This means the learning or study process can take place anywhere — not just at home or the office. You can also find applications to track your diet or exercise routine. There are also apps to help manage the family budget and health care.

There are many sites and companies out there offering mobile device apps. Some companies will offer these applications for free so they can keep in touch with you with company information and offers.

The development model for Linux is well designed and supervised by experts. Thousands of developers have also ported special applications to Linux. Overall, the Linux operating system is becoming widely accepted by individuals and businesses across the globe. Linux-based computers have also survived bad viruses in 1999 and 2000.

Even throughout the dot-com bust, Linux start-up companies like Red Hat have received a positive response from the public. Despite the competition, these companies still seem to grow at a rapid rate. As an added bonus, many large and small businesses have adopted Linux as key part of their office environment.

Rising Popularity of Linux

In the past, the text-based interface seemed to scare off several users, but currently, many large and small businesses have adopted Linux as a key part of their office environment. The advents of desktop environments like KDE and GNOME have helped change the public’s opinion of the Linux. A few recent releases of these desktop versions make it much more user friendly. If you’re considering Linux for your office or personal use, it’s definitely worth checking out. The system has come a long way from its beginnings as a text-based system. Many versions of Linux now include user-friendly GUIs, and Installation is also easier. You no longer have to be a computer hardware expert to install Linux; developers have made the process much easier over time.

In the past, developing countries fell behind in the field of technology and computing. In third world countries, the cost of software was a huge burden to many computer users. As a result, people often resorted to piracy of all kinds of software products. The rising piracy problem amounted to billions of dollars in losses for computer companies.

The high price of the commercial software products added to the piracy problem in developing countries. Not too long ago, a typical operating system cost $100 or more. It may not seem like a lot of money, but in countries where the average per capita income is between $200 and $300, that’s a lot of money. Since Linux is an open source product, it’s affordable and can run on almost any computer. As a result, Linux has become a viable option for computer users on a small budget.

Using Open Source Software Programs

The use of open source software has also helped cut software costs considerably. In order to meet users’ needs, Linux software has been customized in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Linux now appeals to computer users across the globe. Today, Linux documentation has been written in almost all the major languages (including Vietnamese).

From Desktops to Super Computers

The Linux operating system has come a long way from the time when Linus Torvalds first started developing it. In 2001, the U.S. government planned to build a super computer that performed over 13 trillion calculations per second. The project involved creating a network consisting of four supercomputing centers across the country. By 2005, four out the five fastest computers used Linux as an operating system. In the last few years, Linux has brought together huge companies like IBM along with millions of other people to collaborate in an open source software movement.

As technology advances, so does the amount of scams and dishonest people who show up on the Internet. All parents hope they raised their kids right, and that their children will have enough common sense to be on the computer for good reasons. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.  It’s up to the parents to monitor their children’s internet usage.  Here are four simple ways to make sure your kids are doing what’s right online:

Use the Parental Controls

Some parents shy away from this because they want to trust their kids, but curiosity is a dangerous thing.  Don’t let your child become their own worst enemy. With parental controls, a parent can closely monitor what their kids are doing by blocking websites that don’t meet the standards the parents have set out.  You know your kid wont probably won’t be compelled to look up auto insurance quotes.

Password Protect

There are kids who get home from school well before you do. Don’t let them run wild on the Internet before you even walk in the door. Put a password on the computer so you have to unlock it for them. This way you will know exactly when your kids are getting online, and you will know when they have been online too much.

Keep the Computer in an Open Space

Don’t let a kid have the computer in their room. Put it in the dining room or the living room. A kid is far less likely to get into trouble if he feels like he is being watched or that you could come by at any moment.

Ban Social Media Sites

Make a rule that you have to have the password info for social sites, or ban them altogether. Once a kid is eighteen, you have to let the reigns off a bit.  Until them, it is your job to protect them.

Many years ago, Linus Torvalds laid the groundwork for the kernel. At the time, he made the source code available to and then made the source code open to all. Torvalds is still working on the kernel; however, many others who are constantly working on improving the system have joined him. Apparently their efforts are paying off, because within the past few years, Linux has matured to a point where almost anyone can use it. In other words, you don’t need to be a computer wizard to operate Linux.

What Does Open Source Mean?

Open source means that the code is available on the Internet, and more importantly, it’s free under the General Public License (GPL) license. Since the code is “open source,” you can view, edit, or even create your own product with it. You are only required to release your product under the very same GPL license.

The GPL is the most commonly used free software license, and was written by Richard Stallman. It is often referred to a copyleft license, meaning that any works derived from the open source code must be distributed under the same license terms. By making Linux available to the public for free, the proprietary source approach to software becomes obsolete. The open source idea is an unfamiliar concept to many people. It’s an unfamiliar concept to those who develop software products. Although there are some exceptions, the Linux community isn’t looking to gain a profit from its efforts.

Many people have reviewed the Linux operating system in case studies and have found it to be a viable option to other systems. At first, it was text-based system, and somewhat difficult to use. However, it has evolved over time with a lot more user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs), making it much easier to mange. In this article, we’ll draw a comparison of Linux and Windows. That way, you can decide whether or the Linux system makes sense for you.

The best part about Linux is that it’s free (including all the applications) through the open source licensing system. It doesn’t cost you a dime, and many versions of Linux are available on the Internet. Since Linux is “open source,” you can view the code, edit it, and even create your own software product, if desired.

On the other hand, many of Microsoft’s operating systems cost literally hundreds of dollars. Upgrades to Windows XP and Windows 2000 and higher can cost even more. Linux offers several distributions for all types of users, making it a good option for the masses. In the last few years, the Windows operating system documented over 48,000 viruses, while Linux showed only to 40.
As far as installation is concerned, it takes most people about one half hour to install the Linux system, along with its utilities and applications. In addition, you don’t have to be a computer expert to install it. Windows requires registration, activation, and paperwork, while Linux doesn’t require any of those things. You simply download the latest version onto your computer, and you’re in business. An added bonus is that there is no need to reinstall your data files.

With Linux, you can download the latest version from the Internet any time you want. However with Windows, it’s much more difficult. You can’t download an updated version. Instead, you have to use the CD that came with your computer. You’re also required to download all the recent patches issued by Microsoft.

Remember that classic sci-fi thriller “Outbreak?” In that movie, an airborne virus spread through a town and threatened the entire country. There was a great scene where a bunch of folks were watching a movie and one person in the crowd coughed sending a spray of viral agents to everyone in the vicinity. They were now infected and in turn infected everyone they came contact with. On some level that same type of attack happens every time you go surfing on the Internet. No you can’t get physically sick but your computer sure can be damaged. That’s why you need to stay protected with antivirus software.

Every computer, including yours, has a special ID number. This is called an IP address. Every website you visit recognizes that IP address. That’s how some websites instantly remember your password or know what you’ve shopped for during previous visits. Most often those sites are secure with that information. But what about all those other sites who aren’t so friendly and secure? You don’t know what you’re stepping into when you cruise the net but one thing is for sure, everyone will have your computer ID. What can they do with that? Come right back at you with spam, malware or even vicious worms that can literally take over your computer. A strong antivirus software program can inoculate your computer against those types of attacks and keep your system running clean.

Consider all the junk mail you get everyday from people who you never gave your address to. That’s happening on the web. There have been some serious computer hacking attacks where valuable identity records, passwords and banking information has been stolen. This occurs when you have no protection. Would you give out your phone number to strangers? Of course not. Then why would you give them your computer address? Use antivirus software and search the net with security.

If you own a business, then you need to use SEO techniques that will attract more potential customers to your website. Most people using the Internet only look at the first few results when they use search engines to locate pages that apply to their needs. If your website doesn’t get top Google rankings, then you’re missing out on a lot of business.

Few business owners have the time to research and implement comprehensive search engine optimization programs for their websites. It, therefore, makes sense to hire an SEO company that has a proven track record of success.

When talking to SEO companies, you should consider what types of strategies they use to improve traffic. The most basic SEO techniques use keyword optimization to attract search engines. The company should also know how to use keywords in your websites’ URLs.

A comprehensive SEO program needs to go much further than just implementing specific keywords. For instance, video search engine optimization has become a useful tool. Only a few SEO companies, however, have learned how to optimize their clients’ pages to attract search engines looking for relevant video content.

Comprehensive SEO strategies should also include pay-per-click advertising. Search engines like Google and Yahoo! use PPC advertising to generate income. They, therefore, give PPC clients special places at the top of search results. This will help your website attract more traffic. Since you have control over the PPC keywords that you use in each ad, a professional SEO company can create ads that will turn into real sales.

Over time, the SEO company should be able to hone your strategies to make sure that your site attracts customers who are serious about buying your products and services. This follow up research is an important step towards maximizing your online business profit potential.