If you look at all sorts of tops and ratings, you can see that the share of Linux users is steadily growing. This is due, of course, with the interest of people to this topic. Many fascinates Open Source, others find Linux distributions are more stable and convenient, relative to other operating systems, and someone also pursues experimental goals at all. In general, as they say, taste and color ... and nevertheless, sometimes, because of the diversity of all these systems based on GNU / Linux, it becomes very difficult to choose. And that is why I am pleased to submit you a list of 10 stable Linux distributions for home use. This article will help you decide which Linux to choose for home. They, in my opinion, it is impossible to be better fit for home PC. While we did not start, I recommend familiar with.

10 Stable Linux Distributions for Homeware

Linux for home use - Debian

First, it is worth mentioning that this is just a selection, but not the distribution of places (from the best to the worse or vice versa), in other words, all distributions presented in this top are suitable for home use to approximately equally. The elderly of Debian, who remained a reference to many linuxoids for years.

The distribution is famous for the fact that only proven, stable versions are used in it. software. Such an approach avoids any unpleasant incidents, and that is why Debian is so appreciated.

Almost all popular DEs can be used as a graphic environment. In the community repositories, a variety of variations are available, including XFCE, GNOME, KDE, MATE, and even Cinnamon. By the way, you can choose the shell when installing. The benefit of the developers took care of it.

For those who have never enjoyed Linux, - Linux Mint

Ubuntu.

As you could understand, GNOME is used as the main desktop shell. However, the version with Unity did not go to the fly. Under the influence of the community, which promises to become an excellent option for those users who are not ready to abandon this beautiful graphic shell.

Elementary OS.

"Fast and open replacing Windows and MacOS "- this is how the developers are positioned this operating system. At the base, of course, the Ubuntu distribution. But this does not prevent Elementary to be one of the most unusual, and at the same time convenient Linux distributions. The authors of the project are developing and maintained their own graphical environment - Pantheon. It is notable for its appearance (similar to Mac), as well as the speed of work.

Recently, this distribution has acquired its own fan army. People not only mainly support developers (which motivates them to make their product better), but also actively communicate with them, directing efforts to the right direction. By the way, Elementary has its own applications developed, again, inside the project. And it is really interesting.

To download the distribution unit for free, you need to choose the "other amount" in the column "Pay, how much you want:", and enter there 0.

Deepin.

Most recently came out a new version This system is. There I briefly described all the main features and capabilities of this distribution and its updated version. It is worth noting, by the way, the Deepin has a set of own software as well. In other systems, this is not available, so if you want to try it all in the case, you definitely need to install this distribution.

OpenSUSE.

Of all the previously listed Linux distributions for home use, this, perhaps stand out by the fact that it is not a form of the same Debian, or Ubuntu. It uses a completely different package manager, and it is for this reason that work in the system is somewhat different from the usual type of interaction in Debian-based (and Ubuntu-based) distributions. One of the biggest advantages of this system is the Yast Management Center. With it, you are entirely and fully and fully manage each OpenSUSE aspect (including system update, application installation and setting).

Distribution is available in two main editions: Tumbleweed. and Leap. The first is a ring release, the essence of this is the updates that the version of the TubmleWeed receives in a timely manner as you exit. LEAP is a stable version, the software in which is updated much less frequently. Thanks to which the distribution is really getting stability in the work, and excludes the emergence of some errors that could be relevant on a rolling distribution.

About graphic shells, it is worth saying that currently OpenSUSE is available with KDE and GNOME. And it is for this reason that the Distribution developers use and support them. In general, OpenSUSE is an excellent Linux distribution for home use. Many stop on it, believing that no longer distributive has such stability and dopiness.

Manjaro.

Taking truth, this distribution is one of my most beloved. Why is that? As they say, the entire fault of subjectivism. For me personally, Manjaro is identified simultaneously with stability, and with beauty, and finally, with the use of. Arched variations are really easy to operate, configure and updating. Using one single resource (I'm talking about AUR) you can install almost any software without spending time to add repository or download installation File Manually through the browser.

Antergos.

Another arched Linux distribution for home use, which makes his way into the tops of all sorts of ratings. It should be regarded as a twin brother Manjaro, which, with all its similarity, is more like her parents (on Arch Linux). Yes, indeed, Antergos looks more like Arch, and even uses his repositories, while Manjaro loads upgrades from their own.

Like Arch with Manjaro, this distribution can connect to AUR and use this repository to install packages. All the Trinity is very similar to use, however, there are differences that are most often in the modified design (in Arch it is completely default). The rest of the distribution is very stable and perfectly suitable for use at home.

Linux for home use - Fedora

And this distribution is famous for the fact that all the innovations of the world GNU / Linux appear on it for the first time. It is a kind of test landfill for Red Hat. Before you add something to your commercial Linux Rhel distribution, the company introduces it in Fedora. Many now can exclaim - "And if it is just a test version for a commercial distribution, doesn't it mean that there is no stability here, and that Fedora will be just awful as a Linux distribution for home use?" And I will answer such people: no, does not mean. This distribution though gets all the updates first, but it still remains very and very suitable for use at home. What is there to say, Linus Torvalds himself (the creator of the Linux kernel) used (or uses so far) Fedora as the main operating system.

Of course, it is worth understanding that like all other Linux distributions, this not devoid of flaws. You should not wait for something from it from a number of outgoing, however, I repeat for the Fedora home will be an excellent choice.

Distribution comes in three main edits: Work station, Server and Atomic. Also on the official resource options with the most different graphic shells are available. It is KDE, and LXDE, and XFCE, and even Cinnamon. For the home, in general, the workstation or workstation option will suit. Therefore, I recommend paying attention to it.

Linux for home - Ubuntu Mate

I highlighted this edition into a separate item not because I have nothing to add here. Ubuntu Mate is really something awesome, it can be regarded as a separate Linux distribution with its team of developers (however, it concerns some other distributions from the Ubuntu family). From a number of the rest, the version with Mate is highlighted by a special approach. Own style design, color scheme, and most importantly, the stability of work. Many celebrate exactly the last item when they say why they chose Ubuntu Mate.

Distribution is quite universal. Although the Mate graphic shell is based, the developers have added enough functional to customize this shell into something similar to other graphics environments. So, in Ubuntu 17.10 the ability to configure the system under Unity has been added. It was done to help some fans survive the transfer of the main edition of GNOME. There are also other options for design, and you can familiarize yourself with them by installing the distribution hDD or virtual machine.

It is worth noting the speed of Mate, from which users are simply delighted. The system is fast and undemanding, which makes it possible to install it even on weak PCs and laptops.

Linux for home use - conclusions

So, I introduced you my subjective top of 10 Linux distributions for home Computer. In my opinion, it is these versions that cannot be used to use the house. Of course, you can disagree with this, there are always controversial moments. And yet, if you did not find here what I was looking for, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with other tops of Linux distributions. Maybe there you will find something that is suitable for you. And now this is all.

Top 10 Linux distributions for home use

4.1 (82.86%) 7 votes

Linux is a free and secure operating system available for use on a home computer and to work in the office. Features of this operating system:

• free license
• free office programs, Internet browsers, multimedia players and graphics editors, video, audio,
• safety,
• low probability of hacking
• speed
• larger system control by user
• flexibility and great setting options for advanced users,
• lack of extra notifications or imposed and hidden actions,
• no viruses for this OS (practically no, or I do not know about it),
• the lack of hidden tracking components, as in Windows 10 (and this affects the security of the user and its business).

In this regard, the question arises: why are employees of various firms, big and small, still use Windows? It must be recognized that the use of Windows is not always the result of a comparative analysis and a solution based on the criteria assessment of various OS. People are simply imposed on this system, and they do not know or have tried on another computer software.

Of course, in larger companies, such as the state. Institutions, universities, IT companies, know the benefits of UNIX, LINUX, use protected systems, servers with terminals and other programmer development. However, for the audience of ordinary office workers, Windows is the only non-alternative system that is inseparable from the desktop, a laptop.

Why Windows users are more than Linux users, UNIX

• simple and convenient interface,
• familiar system
• popular OS for which thousands of programs are written,
• accounting and banking programs are written for Windows and have no analogues for other OS,
• for this OS, thousands of games have been developed, which means that it is more often installed on a home computer,
• this OS earlier than others began to ensure the interests of simple users: entertainment and convenient window interface, instead of command line,
• often employees of IT departments may not be familiar with other OS, We use Windows without an alternative.

However, the situation may change if you start learning and use Linux for office tasks and for software development.

Why Linux can replace Windows and give more opportunities

In addition to the free license and respect among programmers, Linux is already becoming more convenient for daily use of the house and at work. Currently, a comfortable work at a computer running Linux is absolutely not inferior to Windows. Windows, files and folders, a set of office programs, a convenient installation of new programs - all this is implemented in Linux. This is a friendly system available to all users.

Although there are fewer programs for Linux, however, it has a necessary set for office work:

• LibreOffice - a set of office programs for creating text documents, spreadsheets, presentations,
• Gimp is pretty powerful program drawing,
• Application Center - Download and establish new programs from trusted sources in several clicks,
• Web browsers Mozilla Firefox., Google Chrome., Opera - Choose any convenient browser or find even more in Linux,
• Internet utilities: Skype, Qutim (ICQ, and other messaging services), Mozilla Thunderbird to work with mail, torrent managers,
• Media Players: Audiacious, VLC, video player, smplayer - programs for watching video and listening to music,
• Video edits Lightworks Beta, Kdenlive, OpenShot, and Audacity audio devices, Jokosher, Wavosaur - for those who like to create.

Also for Linux there is a utility to run Windows applications, which is called Wine (possibly from Windows Execute words). With this program, some games and applications can be run on OS Linux, both on Windows.

For developers there are device virtualization utilities: Genymotion, VirtualBox, as well as productive compilers and design and development environments.

Media tools in Linux have less development than in Windows, MacOS, even less - games. However, for video processing, music recordings and video free programs For Linux.

What Linux distributions are

Linux is a family of operating systems that are similar to each other, but differ in features, interface. Why? - Because Linux offers an open source code, that is, it can be copied, make your changes, refinement and release under a new name, offering those possibilities that like a certain audience.

Ubuntu is the most popular variety of Linux. It has the most convenient interface and performs the necessary actions to set up network, time, desktop, graphics shell.
Kubuntu - As can be seen from the name, it is Ubuntu, but with the letter to - it means there is a graphic shell KDE (about graphic shells below).
Lubuntu - Ubuntu with a graphic shell LXDE.
Linux Mint is a pretty comfortable and beautiful system.
Debian - more optimized to create servers and programmer work.
Linux Mandriva, OpenSuse, Redhat, Fedora - also Linux families.
Gentoo is a very complex system that is not suitable for domestic use.

Thus, you can choose several systems at once and install them all to your computer. Linux systems can work perfectly with other OS, that is, you can install Ubuntu next to Windows, and then add another and another system if necessary. When the computer is loaded, you will invite you to select the system for download.

How to install Linux

Linux can be installed without the help of a programmer, but perhaps for the first time without tips it will be more difficult and incorrect installation Can delete used OS. However, it is possible to make installation within two hours.

1. Download the image of the OS (file with extension.iso - disk image) - for example, Ubuntu http://ubuntu.ru/ Click Download. Select Ubuntu Desktop 64-bit or Ubuntu Desktop 32-bit - try one, then the second (if it does not work)
2. Create a boot flush using the UnetBootin program https://unetbootin.github.io/
3. Load your computer from this boot flash (to download not from the disk, but from the flash, you usually need to press F2 immediately after turning on or ESC to configure the BIOS).
4. You can try to run without installation, but you can install
5. If you enjoy this OS, ask in search engines about installing programs and configuration - a lot of answers

What to do immediately after installing the OS

As probably used to Windows users, after installing the OS, you need to install programs. For Linux, this is not necessarily, because in composition, for example, Ubuntu, already exist:

LibreOffice, which has Writer, Calc, Impress is Word, Excel, PowerPoint analogs.
Mozilla Firefox is a pretty cute browser.
And there is no need to install the antivirus, because the system is protected.

There is also no need to buy a license.

Installing Linux programs

To install additional programs in Linux you need to use the terminal or center of applications (on your choice). The application center is usually available on Ubuntu sidebar or can be found in the main menu.

In the center of the applications it is easy to find programs. But if you want to use the Internet search, then you can find many recommendations for installing and configuring programs on various sites, such as Ubuntu.ru.

Remember: Linux programs can work on any Linux family. Therefore, it is not necessary to search, for example: "Installing Skype Ubuntu" - Although this is the most popular request with OS, or "Installing Skype Debian" - all these requests are identical " installation Skype Linux. "The same for Chrome, ICQ and all other programs

Desktop and Graphic Interface Linux

For any OS family Linux, including for Ubuntu, you can change appearance - Graphic environment. This is also called the desktop, but includes not only the background picture, but also the style of the menu, label styles, folder design, windows.
For Ubuntu, the default desktop Unity is installed.
For greater similarity with Windows 7, you can install the LXDE or GNOME desktop. There are also others to choose from: XCFE, KDE, CINAMON ...
All this helps better customize the computer as you like it, and it also demonstrates the flexibility and versatility of Linux OS.

Accounting programs for Linux

What applies to accounting and office programs, where to download such necessary components, this issue will be further covered on Tluto.Ru.
Thank you.

• Transfer

We present to your attention the translation of the article Jack Wallen with Linux.com, which is devoted to the most promising Linux distributions in 2018. Approximately twelve months ago we shared with you a similar overview. What has changed over the year?

Jack says that in 2017 in the world of Linux, trends could be observed concerning the increase in the number of distributions. This year, it expects an increase in the stability of the ecosystem and the growth of Linux's prevalence both in the field of server computing and desktop PCs.

What to choose who this year is going to go to the opening platform, or who wants to change what uses something new? If you go to the DistroWatch and take a look at the distribution rating, the main thing you can see there is an unimaginable space of opportunities. The wealth of choice is good, but it means that choose exactly what you need is not easy.

So, what Distributions of Linux cost to pay attention to this year? Jack has considerations about this, he wants to tell about them in this material. Like last year, systems separated into several categories will be considered here. Namely, it will be about distributions for administrators, about lightweight and desktop systems, about Linux for professionals and for IoT, as well as on server platforms.

Best Distribution for System Administrators: Debian

Debian infrequently meet in lists best Distributions. Why? If we consider that Debian is the basis for Ubuntu (on which, in turn, the mass of other distributions is based), it becomes clear that Debian, in fact, should be at the high positions of the sets of ratings. And what attitude does this distribution have to system administrators? I suppose it is so for two important reasons:

• Easy use.
• Emergency stability.

Since DPKG and APT package managers are used in Debian, a surroundings are formed in the system, in which it is very easy to operate. In addition, Debian is one of the most stable platforms based on Linux. As a result - in front of us by a distribution, perfectly suitable for a variety of media and use options. For example, here - Servers and desktop computers, Here is testing and software development. Although Debian does not include the amount of applications that can be found in the Distribution for administrators noted in a similar last year's review, Parrot Linux, in Debian it is very easy to add everything you need. Good and the fact that everyone can install Debian using the graphic environment suitable for it (CINNAMON, GNOME, KDE, LXDE, MATE, or XFCE). As a result, choosing Debian, anyone can be sure that the interface will correspond to its needs.

Debian 9.3 with GNOME Desktop

Now Debian is in second place in the DistroWatch rating. Upload distributions, install it, configure according to your needs and enjoy stable and comfortable work. It may look like this system, in comparison with others, not so fashionable, but Debian is just that distribution that turns the dreams of system administrators into reality.

Best Light Distribution: Lubuntu

Lightweight distributions serve as a very specific goal - to give the second life outdated, usually - not the most powerful computers. But this does not mean that these distributions should be considered only in the calculation of the old iron. If your main goal is the speed, distribution from the category of lightweight will be very by the way on modern computer.

At the top of the list of lightweight distributions of 2018 is Lubuntu. Although there is a lot of options, only a few of them at least approach the simplicity of mastering characteristic of this distribution. And although the requirements of Lubuntu are not so modest to the system, as, let's say, Puppy Linux, before us - a member of the Ubuntu family, and the convenience of working with it compensates for some "voraciousness". However, you should not fear that the Lubuntu distribution will be too slow on the most modern computer. Nevertheless, Lubuntu system requirements are quite adequate. Namely, we are talking about pentium processor 4, Pentium M or AMD K8, O 512 MB of memory to work with local applications, or about 1 GB - for normal work on the Internet (YouTube, Google+, Google Drive, Facebook).

Lubuntu uses the LXDE desktop, this suggests that the newcomers in the field of Linux with problems will not encounter. Annexes included in the distribution (such as Abiword, Gnumeric, Firefox) are characterized by a high speed, convenience and simplicity.

Lubuntu and desktop LXDE

Best Desktop Distribution: Elementary OS

For the second year in a row, Elementary OS heads my list of the best desktop distributions. For many, the leader of desktop systems - Linux Mint (and this is understandable). However, in my opinion, it is difficult to exceed the ease of use and stability of Elementary OS.

This is confirmed by one story that happened to me. I was sure that the release of Ubuntu 17.10 will make me return to the distributions from Canonical. Very soon after going to the new Ubuntu with GNOME, I found that I lack the convenience and reliability of Elementary OS. As a result, after two weeks spent with Ubuntu, I returned to Elementary OS.

PANTEON desktop in Elementary OS - a real work of art

Anyone who tries to Elementary OS immediately feels at home. Panteon's desktop is an example of an excellent combination of attention to trifles, orientation for users' needs and convenience. At the same time, with each update, it only becomes better.
Although Elementary OS occupies the 6th position in the DistroWatch rating, I believe that this distribution is the end of this year will get at least to the third line.

Elementary developers know very well about what users want. They listens to those who work on their OS and develop the system in the appropriate direction. However, Elementary OS is already in excellent condition. As a result, the feeling arises that the developers remain only to contribute minor improvements. Anyone who needs a desktop distribution, offering a perfectly worked interface, will be very difficult to find something that can exceed Elementary OS. If you are looking for a system that is characterized by a wonderful level of reliability and ease of use, then Elementary OS is created specifically for you.

Best distribution for those who know what: Linux From Scratch

Very and very long, the Gentoo distribution was located on the top position of the list of distributions for those who are perfect in Linux and do not mind to demonstrate their knowledge and skills around. However, I think that Gentoo has come time to give the first place to the present leader in the Distribution Categories for Professionals: Linux from Scratch. You may seem that it is not very honest, since LFS, in fact, not quite distributive, and a project that helps users create their own distributions. However, if you are seriously configured to, not believing with difficulties, show everyone how much you know Linux, what could be better than self-creating distribution? Thanks to the LFS project, you can create your system literally from scratch, collect absolutely all from source code. So, if you really need it, download the LFS guide and proceed to work on your own distribution.

Best distribution for the Internet of Things: Ubuntu Core

For the second year in a row, the victory in this category goes Ubuntu Core, I do not see other options here. Ubuntu Core is a minimalist, Ubuntu transaction version, created specifically for use with embedded systems and in IoT projects. The reason that Ubuntu Core is so good for IoT is that the system has paid special attention to SNAP packets - universal packages that can be installed without interfering in basic system. These packages contain everything they need for work (including dependencies), as a result, working with them, you can not worry about the fact that their installation will break something in OS or in any other installed software. In addition, these packages are very easy to update and perform in an isolated environment, which makes them an excellent solution for IoT.

Another feature of the Ubuntu Core, which is related to security is a login mechanism. Ubuntu Core works with Ubuntu One SSH-keys, and everything is organized so that the only way to log in is to use account Ubuntu One and SSH keys. It helps to ensure a high level of security when working with IoT devices.

Ubuntu Core screen indicating that remote access Included for Ubuntu ONE user

Best Server Distribution: Ubuntu Server

In this area, everything looks somewhat confusing. The main thing in server distributions is support. If you need commercial support, then at first glance, it is best to choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Red Hat, during the years of existence, proved that Rhel is not only one of the strongest corporate server platforms, but also the most profitable opensor business in the world (with more than 2 billion annual income).

However, Rhel is not the only server distribution. In fact, Red Hat is not even an absolute leader in the field of corporate server systems. If you look at the statistics on clouds only in Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, here Ubuntu is far ahead of Rhel. According to Cloud Market, EC2 data indicate that Rhel has less than 100 thousand deployments, while Ubuntu has more than 200 thousand. This is a very serious result.

As a result, it turns out that Ubuntu is an undisputed leader in cloud servers. And if you add here the ease of working with Ubuntu and with containers, it will become quite obvious that the distribution Ubuntu Server Wrong confident victory in the server systems category. And if you need commercial support, Canonical can offer the Ubuntu Advantage program.

The only feature of Ubuntu Server, which may not like someone, is that by default, this system uses only a text interface. If you need, you can install a graphic shell here, but it is quite simple to work with the Ubuntu Server command line (perhaps this is one of those skills that you have to have every Linux administrator).

Ubuntu Server input screen containing information about available updates

The choice is yours

As already mentioned, a list of promising distributions is based on very subjective criteria, presented here. However, if you are interested in a certain area of \u200b\u200bactivity, and you are looking for your first OS in this area - test the system that was discussed. Each of them is designed for specific tasks, and each decides these tasks much better than many others. Although you can question what we said here, you most likely you will not argue with the fact that everyone can find in the world of Linux exactly what he needs.

Dear readers! According to the current tradition, we ask you to tell you about what and for what you use, and what Linux distributions you could recommend others.

Tags: Add Tags

I will tell about my adventure with the choice of axis for home use.

It was the case in the fall last year. There was still factory WINXP on the home machine (respectively, supplied by the firm in the kit, and therefore licensed). It was already a little-quite a few three years old, and I'm tired of order, when at some point it became often to fall, to fly out in BSOD, and, moreover, the place on the hard disk ended. I decided - the most important existence on the temporary medium, the disc format in zero (all the more so that there was a suspicion of the "starring" of individual sectors) and put something moreon.

Remembering the complexity of the hacking Win7 (memories remaining since the times when the keys to get to it were more complicated, and I had a handle with me), I decided to suddenly take and put Linux. Moreover, at work for almost half a year, it worked on a centos (centralized large office, which is not allowed to put something other than the only approved OS) and with such things as Bash teams, file Systems Family EXT, OpenOffice package, and so on, managed to meet. Well, I think, everything is no longer hacking, "Crack Serial Keygen", running for activators - put and drove.

The choice of the distribution was a separate question. Of course, the Ubuntu's most logical to put everything in a different way, but it turned out to be a disk with Mandriva, and deciding that if I don't like it, I'll change it immediately on another penguin, I drove to put a "dragon with the stars."

Extreme on time, the supervisory reader will say in this place. Just in the days when the Mandriva developer team broke up. Well, this also has its own logic - Mandriv died, and therefore reached the vertices of his perfection. (However, nothing prevented me later to move on the same promised Mageia, for example.)

Set. Fell up with settings. Filled saved from formatted hard drive. Understood with a local conductor (Dauphin). Put everything you need ... lytered everything I needed to put on Linux it is impossible at all. BAT - you need to change the encoding in all iDV-how-there-tags MP3 files (well, as usual, several music gigs). I will put EasyTag. This does not work, this one somehow behaves strangely, and this hook. Oh, I found it - I did it - let it stand, then still tensioned music, again the problem will arise. And so every time - the benefit, to put an additional module on the penguin - the case of five minutes. Therefore, the feeling of comfort, as on Windows, when everything you need is already under hand, it is riveted activated and works - this feeling on penguins arises somehow too slow and blurred (if it occurs at all).

Separate mention deserves a choice on Linux better option Each possible program. Even these EasyTag, "after all was somewhat. And all sorts of players, archivers, widgets - all the more. In my performance it looked something like this: I sat down a couple of days on one player (say, Amarok), I realized that the buttons were uncomfortable. Moved on Other - he again does not read the encoding (again, what, should it change it? Someone again, Unicode did not please?). Found the third - he somehow incorrectly looking for whether the lyrics, whether the text of the album is on the Internet, as a result What hangs (of course, I, a simple jouris, laziness to rumble into the settings of an unfamiliar player and turn off the extra income to hell - no, really lazy, given the opportunity to just move to another player and the chances that the creators of this other player were more adequate people) . Returned again to the first, I found some more holes in it. And so in a circle, until the friction force stops a simple user in an option with the least inconvenience (and not with the greatest number Fich is so, a note programmer).

Yes, on Linux you can do everything. You can make a clock with fish instead of cuckoo, if you find and set up (or write it yourself) Suitable fish. But while the fish does not stop at completely unknown reasons to wash in a cow every day exactly at 13:50, they will have to sweat with configurations. Even what is needed (turns out) to check the "Enable Latin Group" checkbox so that the Ctrl + I and Ctrl + Z keys work in the same way (a flip of five minutes, if you google correctly), even this is capable of at least bringing bewilderment (if not angry ). No, I, of course, I understand why this option is, but I still do not understand why it is disabled by default. And many similar little things you need to make hands (but you can drive perfectly on the curvature of your own hands, for maximum use of use).

But I didn't get it all. Not even adventures in the settings local network (which I never configured). Not even the thoughtfulness of OpenOffice and not the fact that to add pages to it to the document you need to perform two actions, and not one (create a footer and insert the field-variable with the number). Honestly, I finally got a sudden message from Mandriva, in which she asked to buy it (go to the cool Pro version, with tech support, blackjack and cow). It seems to be a harmless message (not a banner chasing the user on the page), but still very much from him was rejuvenated by the spirit of the antiquity - crackers, kheremen and other things. And so I wanted to return to the usual environment ...

So wanted that I already suddenly found out that I was as a student, it turns out, the license is relying free (!) Not only on Windows 7, but also on Visual Studio. And a lot of all sorts of small -yematic devices (among them the environment for developing XNA games, a lot of useful things for the same studio, but there was not a single office in the list). After all, my university is included in microsoft program To ensure the poor hungry children of Africa students of the whole world by their products. I pulled the licensed axis (a couple of months before the end of study - again the time guessed, I hope the license is not too limited in time; however, now I am much less frightened by the process of hacking seventh forces), I stood it a piece of Winchester in NTFS and I am glad. Sometimes I also go to the mandriva to remember the past.

In general, it is easier to hack several critical things that every time to reinvent the fish, that is, a bike. Moral: Laziness - Progress Engine.

Tags: operating systems, holivar

Windows XP is very good operating system. It is stable, supports almost all the currently existing devices, a lot of programs are written for it, and anyone who has ever seen a computer, which certainly saw Windows XP. She has disadvantages. The first and main of them are: a Windows XP disk is not a ready-made "starting package" for a computer.

By installing the operating system on new computer You will only get a shell for installation required programs. You will not be able to watch movies due to lack of codecs, you will not be able to communicate in ICQ, since the client is not included in the Windows delivery, you will not be able to view Excel documents or PowerPoint presentations, because Microsoft has released backmarks for these formats, but XP does not apply them. After installing the OS, the process of setting up and preparing a computer to full work only begins. Another minus system from Microsoft is the presence of a large number of viruses under it and vulnerabilities directly in the system - very many inexperienced users suffer from them. It is enough to remember the large-scale epidemics of Lovsan and Sasser, and it becomes clear that with security in Windows XP is not all right.

Recently Microsoft has released its new operating system called Windows Vista.. She was waiting for her, she was hoping, but she did not cause the storms of delight. At the moment, we cannot call Vista with a full-fledged replacement for old good WinXP: Many have too many problems caused an attempt to go with XP on Vista. First of all, the irrevocability of the drivers of many devices for Vista is to blame. This is added to the inoperability of many programs and highly high system requirements.

Is there an alternative to Microsoft operating systems for a home user? Immediately I note that if you play all the freshly haired games or you can not imagine your life without professional products like AutoCAD or Photoshop, then nothing except Windows is suitable for you. But if you need the computer to show movies, allow you to "walk" on the global network, work with email, communicate in ICQ, view and create documents, and at the same time spend the minimum effort to search and configure software, then one of the Linux distributions oriented on homemade use It may well come up.

"Difficulty" Linux for development has long been in the past: command line Added many different graphic shells, drivers most devices are installed automatically, the Russian language is widely supported. Linux's strong parties have always been high security and a large number of The software that comes directly along with the system. In this review, we will find out if it is possible to have only one DVD disk with the Linux distribution to turn a lifeless set of iron and silicon into a multifunctional home computer.

The heroine of our today's article wears a beautiful, but very unusual Russian ear name Mandriva. This one of the most popular distributions currently, its distinguishing features are URPMI package manager, which allows you to conveniently install, delete and update programs and the Mandriva Control Center system settings utility.

Installation

We will try to install Mandriva Linux on the computer next configuration:

ELITEGROUP 945G-M3 motherboard
. Intel Celeron 2.53 GHZ processor
. 512 Megabyte RAM DDR2 Patriot PC-4200
. HDD Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB SATA
. CD-RW / DVD-ROM drive TEAC DW-552GA.

The Mandriva bootloader offers the user a few options for further work: loading from a hard disk, "rescue" loading directly from a DVD, a test of RAM and installing a new OS.

Directly the installation process begins with the selection of the language and keyboard layout. Especially note the fact that Mandriva allows you to switch the layout with a plurality method, and not three, as in Windows. What is called: a trifle, but nice, after all, personally, I like to change the language of the button with the right key Control, and in Windows it is impossible without installing additional programs.

Further, the disk markup is entering, which automatically stated the disk on the 3 partition: boot, swap and working. If the user does not suit the work of the automation, then the markup provides a large set of features for manual marking. After all sections are formatted, starts directly installing Linux on hard disk.

After installation, the system offers to enter the ROOT user password and select the authentication method. I especially note the fact that the login is supported in the Windows domain.

In the System System "after installation displays information about the configuration of the computer and installed services. Right from this window, you can configure video mode and network. After that, the primary setting can be considered completed. From the beginning and until the end, the installation took about 30 minutes.

After rebooting, the orange desktop KDE 3.5 appears before you. Access to programs and settings is similar to Windows and is carried out from the menu called button in the lower left corner of the screen. So, what brought us to the Linux hard drive?

Programs in the kit

Office and documents

The standard delivery includes almost everything you need. First of all, this is the Open Office version 2.0.3 package, which includes programs for working with text, spreadsheets and presentations. Open Office has built-in tools for importing and exporting Microsoft Office files and can almost completely replace such proposals as Microsoft Word., Excel, PowerPoint. In addition to OpenOffice, there is a simpler text editor KWRITE, PDF files, calculator and various organizers. The whole rich set of software products makes it possible to conclude that the computer with a freshly installed Mandriva is fully prepared for the performance of a variety of office tasks.

Music and video

Everything is not so rosy here. Yes, there is universal player KMPlayer and AMAROK audio player, but for some reason they refused to play files over the network. If you copy the file to local computer, no problems arise. DivX, Xvid, QuickTime, WMV video is played without installing any additional codecs, no problems arise with various audio formats, such as MP3, OGG Vorbis or Flac. In addition, the default DVD player is installed by default and RealPlayer. It should be recognized that Mandriva is almost completely ready to take on the role of a home media center and will not leave the user to miss the inscription "It's impossible to find a decoder."

Graphics and photos

And here Linux will not hit the dirt face. Adobe Photoshop under Linux still, of course, did not port, but many are ready to pay for him? To view images or photos, there are 3 different viewers: KView, Kuickshow and GwenView and a program to work with a digital camera Digikam. To their advantages include simplicity in mastering, and the main disadvantage is still small functionality. There are means for changing the size of the image only in Digikam, but it does not know how to change the size of the image group immediately. In short, all this is much more convenient than the standard viewer of the pictures in Windows XP, but does not reach ACDSEE. No problems with the connection of the digital camera OLYMPUS MJU 410 did not occur: the system saw the camera as a removable drive and allowed to calmly copy photos to the computer. I saw the camera and Digikam. Mustek Bearpaw 2400Cu scanner managed to configure. For this, it was not necessary to download anything from the Internet, and only the disk from the scanner scanner from the driver for Windows was needed.

The role of the raster editor is GIMP, which is not compared with Adobe Photoshop, but free and is quite sufficient for a person who is not a professional designer.

the Internet

In this part, the freshly installed system is a complete gentlemanic set. Browsers - Mozilla Firefox, Konqueror or Opera, Mail - Kmail or Mozilla Thunderbird, ICQ or other messaging system - The developers carefully put in the GAIM and KOPETE kit. Voice communication via the network is not forgotten - there is a client for Skype and the KPhone SIP application.

Games

Generally with games in Linux is bad. In the sense that modern three-dimensional games are still written under Windows and under Linux are not adapted by all of them. The creators of KDE decided to somehow fix such a sad position and put in a set of a variety of small toys that are able to brighten up a long winter evening, and "kill" a couple of "extra" watches in the office. Includes a dozen solitaires, sapper, tetris, Sokoban, Reversi and other games.

This is not all. Want to write a CD or DVD? Please, at your service K3B. The utility allows you to do everything you need: Create compilations and record them on discs, open the images of the ISO, BIN / CUE discs, clean the rewritable discs, change the recording speed, supports UDF and so on.

Want to take a screen shot? No, you do not need to press PrintScreen, and then insert an image from the buffer into any graphics editor: The creators of the KSNAPSHOT utility are taken care of you - a convenient tool for "photographing" of the entire screen or separate window.

System Setup

As early as early, one of the main features of Mandriva is the management center, where the links to all the elements of the system setup are collected in one place, which allows the user who is just acquainted with new system, do not climb the menu labyrinths, and have access to all settings in one place.

Installing and deleting packages is simple and understandable. When running the program management console, automatically search for affordable packages is made and their list is displayed. If when installing packages, there is a need to put additional packagewhich is necessary for the functioning of the desired one, then the program will make it automatically, but not forgetting to ask you permission.

The KDE graphic shell has its own control center, in which everything is configured, which is associated with this shell. In some functions, these two control centers intersect, but it does not make them use less convenient.

Using the KDE control center, each can configure the system so that it looks perfect for him. At the same time, you should not forget that Mandriva comes with multiple graphic shells - KDE is not the only one, it is only used by default. But the detailed consideration of all the possibilities of the system is already beyond the scope of this review article.

conclusions

Over the past years, the Linux community managed to move away from the concept of "Systems for Fanatics". Today's Mandriva Linux is a full-fledged starter pack that has a friendly graphical user user interface. convenient setup and multiple built-in useful software. Installing it is not harder than installing Windows.And the system itself is often often not only inferior to Windows XP, but in many respects surpasses it. One disc with the Mandriva distribution disk is quite enough to turn the computer into a universal tool that can solve many different tasks without downloading additional software.

Advantages:

A large number of applied software included;
. Convenient system settings utilities;
. Beautiful and user-friendly user interface KDE;
. Free.

Disadvantages:

Some programs in the kit are not translated into Russian in general or translated partially;
. Unreleased interaction with Windows computers through the local network.