Latest in Linux

Edit your partitions from outside your operating system. The GParted Live CD is a simple Linux distro you can use to change the size of your partitions – or wipe a drive entirely. Built around GParted, the ultimate partitioning software, the GParted Live CD is probably the simplest way to use GParted on any computer – regardless of what operating system it runs.
Keep Reading »

It's an understatement to say that Linux users have plenty of choice when it comes to which distribution they'd like to use. There are multiple approaches to accomplishing the same tasks, from what kind of packages (such as .deb or .rpm) are used to what packages are included by default on installation media to the purpose of a distribution -- whether it's stable or cutting edge and if its pure or accepting of proprietary software.
Keep Reading »

The sheer number of different ways in which Linux can be run is astounding, as there are plenty of choices to go around. While there are plenty of distributions which rely on either the .deb or .rpm package formats, there's also a handful which use their own formats, if any at all. One of those distributions is very unique compared to most others as the distribution's developers don't compile software into binary packages for easy installation.
Keep Reading »

There are plenty of Linux users out there who are using distributions such as Ubuntu or one of the many distributions which are based from Ubuntu, including Linux Mint. However, no matter what you're using, as long as it uses .deb packages, there's one main distribution where it all comes from - Debian. There are a good number of reasons why Debian is such a popular choice for people who have high expectations.
Keep Reading »

A few weeks ago I went through the process of setting up a home server using an old computer, a copy of Ubuntu and Amahi, a free home server that comes with its own repository of extras. Loosely referred to as an "app store" by some, once you’ve set up Amahi, it’s easy to add additional services to your server in just a couple of clicks. If you’ve just installed your home server or are looking for Ubuntu-specific additions then this article is for you.
Keep Reading »

When you look around today, you'll notice that virtually everyone now uses some digital device, whether it be an iPod or other generic MP3-capable device, to listen to their music. This is very different from a decade or two ago, where most people would carry around portable CD players to listen to their music on the go. As the technology for MP3-playback and storage became dirt cheap, more and more people started adopting the new devices.
Keep Reading »

There are thousands of Linux distributions out in the wild which address certain needs a user may have, while others want to improve on other distributions. Whatever the case may be for a distribution's existence, no one can deny that there are plenty of choices for everyone. For those who are familiar with Macs or would like to use a system which works like one, they may be interested in a distribution called Pear Linux.
Keep Reading »

We’ve lavished attention on VirtualBox here at MakeUseOf, and for good reason. However, VirtualBox isn’t your only option for creating and using free virtual machines. VMware Player, VMware’s free product, is every bit as good as VirtualBox for many users. You may even prefer it to VirtualBox. VMware Player runs on Windows and Linux.
Keep Reading »

We constantly hear about new security threats and companies that have been breached. As such, it's understandable for some of us to be paranoid about security in order to prevent any possible attacks. If you're not at least a little bit paranoid, you might want to read up on which site was the last one to have passwords stolen from. Even if you have good security measures in place for your computer, you'll also have to place equally heavy emphasis on your home network.
Keep Reading »

A lot of people have been arguing lately that CDs, DVDs, and other physical media are slowly becoming an outdated means of transporting data, as the push to ultrabooks has threatened the use of physical disc drives. Instead, content providers are pushing downloads via the Internet as the new method for transporting data. No matter [...]
Keep Reading »

Mageia is an RPM-based Linux distribution which forked off Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) in September 2010 when Mandriva was experiencing severe financial difficulties. It’s first release was in July 2011, and after just about a year and a half later it’s been creating quite the buzz. In fact, there are three main aspects of Mageia which are grabbing people’s attention.
Keep Reading »

Use Chrome to completely control XBMC. Whether you want to browse and play your media or send a video you're watching on your laptop to your media center, a variety of extensions and tricks lets you control everything about your media center from Chrome. Are you hosting a YouTube party? You can use your laptop to send videos to your TV, meaning there's no crowding around a tiny screen or dealing with on-screen keyboards and mediocre search results.
Keep Reading »

In June I switched over from a combination of Windows and Linux to pretty much using OS X solely, and being largely familiar with Windows software (and painfully aware of the lack of many Linux alternatives) I had to replace a few oft-used programs with Mac-friendly alternatives. At some point I realised I was bereft of a file recovery tool and it was at that point I discovered PhotoRec.
Keep Reading »

You’d have thought the world was coming to an end when James discovered that Windows Home Server – Microsoft’s $50 set-and-forget network storage solution – was being axed in favour of a far more expensive successor. Thankfully he soon discovered that all hope was not lost thanks to Amahi, a free Linux-based home server. If you’ve been thinking about doing a spot of home improvement recently then why not start with your very own home server?
Keep Reading »

Turn an aging computer into a kid-friendly machine that's both educational and entertaining. Thanks to open source software there are a variety of complete operating systems designed to let you hand down computers to kids without worry. Kids love to explore, and computers are a great opportunity for that. Programmers from around the world dedicated to education have built a number of freely available operating systems you can use to set up a computer for your kids, free of charge.
Keep Reading »