linux

How to back up your Linux computer

Linux gives you plenty of control over your computer, but with great power comes great responsibility. That means backing up your files regularly (among other things), and while cloud storage is attractive, for many of us, it's not enough. Here's how to back up your data (note: I am using Ubuntu, so the details may differ somewhat if you use a different distribution):

From the search bar, just type "backup" to bring up preinstalled options. I'll be using Simple Backup Suite. From the first tab (General), tell Linux how often you want to … Read more

Raspberry Pi $25 computer now in early production

In May, we told you about a tiny $25 dollar computer on a USB stick that could plug in to just about any TV. The developers' idea is to have an affordable tool that can get kids anywhere, perhaps even in developing countries, interested in computer programming.

When we first saw the prototype a few months ago, full-scale production seemed pretty far off, but now comes word that 50 alpha models have been produced and Raspberry Pi Foundation director Eben Upton expects the final product to ship by the end of the year to be used by educators worldwide.… Read more

Monitor your Windows, Linux computer from a smartphone

Maybe you just need to see how a download is progressing, or maybe you need to kill a process that's eating your network alive. If you're on-site, it's easy, but if you're working remotely, you need a solution. PC Monitor lets you check in with and exert control over your Windows or Linux machine from almost any smartphone. Here's how to get started with it:

Download and install PC Monitor on your computer and on your smartphone. Run PC Monitor on your computer. (You will need to set up an account the first … Read more

Coders choosing Mac OS over Linux environment

Apple's Mac operating system has surpassed Linux in popularity as a development environment in North America, according to an Evans Data survey.

Windows remains at the top of the development environment heap, used by 80 percent of the survey's more than 400 professional software developer respondents in June; Mac OS was used by 7.9 percent of those surveyed, displacing Linux, used by 5.6 percent.

A few other tidbits from the survey:

Developers believe that mobile and cloud development will increase the most in importance over the next three years 44 percent of respondents are actively engaged … Read more

Gartner: Windows 7 on 42 percent of PCs by year's end

Two years after its official debut, Windows 7 will finally become the leading operating system around the world by the end of 2011, says a report out today from Gartner.

Before the year is over, the current flavor of Windows is expected to show up on 42 percent of all PCs globally. Further, Gartner's latest research shows that 94 percent of all new computers shipped this year will come with Windows 7, leading to almost 635 million new Windows 7 PCs in 2011 alone.

Recent stats from Net Applications found that Windows XP was finally losing some of its … Read more

Name your own price for five PC games (Win, Mac, Linux)

Now this I like.

The Humble Indie Bundle #3 is a collection of five PC games, all of them compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Their combined value: about $55.

Your price: whatever you want to pay. Think the bundle's worth a buck? Pay a buck. Think it's worth $15? Pay $15. Feeling generous? Pony up $5,000 and earn the pole position on the Top Contributors list.

What's great about the Humble Indie Bundle is that you get to decide how to divvy up your contribution among four potential recipients: the game developers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, … Read more

Six cool things to do with your USB flash drive

What do you use your USB flash drive for? Perhaps you store work documents, photos, music, or movies on them. If you think they're cool because you can store and transport files with them, wait till you see what else you can do with them.

Here are six cool things you can do with your USB flash drive, in our series roundup of "What to do with your USB flash drive." Each item is linked with step-by-step instructions.

Run Linux

Have you ever wanted to try Linux but were too afraid? Linux Live media allows you to … Read more

Microsoft, Suse renew $100 million Linux deal

Microsoft has again extended its server system interoperability pact with Suse, almost five years after the original deal was struck between the software maker and Novell, the company behind Suse at the time.

The new extension, announced yesterday, will run until January 1, 2016. It again sees Microsoft commit to shelling out $100 million for Suse Linux Enterprise certificates, much as the last extension did in August 2008. The certificates will be used to buy support for Microsoft's enterprise customers who are running Suse Linux. It is not clear how much of the $100 million payment agreed upon in … Read more

What to do with your USB flash drive: Run Linux

What do you use your USB flash drive for? Have you considered running Linux from it? A Linux Live USB flash drive is a great way to try out Linux without making any changes to your computer. It's also handy to have around in case Windows won't boot--allowing access to your hard disks--or if you just want to run a system memory test.

In part one of our "What To Do With Your USB Flash Drive" series, we're going to show you how to run Linux right from your USB flash drive.

Install Ubuntu onto … Read more

Tired of paying for Windows? Try Linux instead

Surprising revelation: for the last month or so, I've been using a Linux-powered laptop as my primary work machine.

Linux, of course, is the free, open-source alternative to Windows and Mac operating systems. I've fiddled with it from time to time, but never considered it a viable replacement for either one.

Mind you, I can't abandon Windows altogether. Not only do I write about it for a living, I also rely heavily on certain features and programs not currently available in Linux.

But this much I've learned: If you want to breathe new life into … Read more