Making music in Linux

Linux can provide us, the users, with many great alternative programs to fill our everyday needs. Digg brought my attention to a post in hehe2.net about free and professional music production software for Linux.

The fact that the programs in question are made for the Linux platform might have been a deterant for some people about ten years ago. As Linux becomes more mainstream, whether Ubuntu, Mandriva, Redhat or any other distrobution, many people can see its advantages and use it for their own befenit.

What I find unique about the post at hehe2.net is that it is not often that you get a real chance to see how a transition to Linux can benefit you in more than just switching an OS.

What's more, now that the post has been featured on Digg (and by now probabaly in other social news networks), there are many comments left by visiters, some with more valuable links, tips or advice.

Two New Compiz Fusion Plugins: Screensaver and Aquarium

Amazing video of the plugins (Screensaver and Aquarium) found here:

Roadmap into Linux

IBM published a roadmap for developers making the transition to Linux. This overview of the process will help people (developers, students) make the transition a lot smoother, from a Windows OS to the Linux OS.

Over the past several years I've come across several surprises from the people at IBM. I wonder if they are still worthy of the notorious nickname they've had for years, "Big Blue".

By adopting Drupal, supporting Open Source contributing to many open initiatives, I think that my personal view of IBM is changing.

At the bottom of the page you'll find lots of helpful links they've collected.

Free Linux eBooks

This is a cool list of free Linux ebooks. From Firewall to scripting, from server hacks to shell scripts, it's quite a big list.

Linux in cartoons

This is a great lineup of Linux appearances in cartoons.It's always fun to see more and more Linux/Unix getting into the mainstream.

One man's story of switching to Linux

This link is to a story written by a Windows user, much like most of us, who describes what he went through when he switched over to Linux.

Switching to Linux

I've run across this well written article called "Five things to know when you switch to Linux" describing the five things any Windows user might need to know when switching over to Linux. The article, written by Olivier Cleynen, exemplifies some of the basic questions a window's user might have when considering the platform change, but hasn't really thought of yet.

I appreciate the time Olivier took to give the readers a sample of both the KDE and the GNOME way of GUI, as this is the first such comparison I've seen.

If you're considering crossing the threshold into the Linux universe, this is one guide you'd take along for the ride.

Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial

Well, I think the title says it all.

Click here to enter :-).

Linux Disto' Timeline

What a great way to get to know the Linux way of thought - check out this amazing timeline of all the Distros Linux has. This time table enables you to see which predates which, and which are the new fads in the biz.

Linux XGL/Compiz Graphics

Wow. This is a really cool demonstration on the things you can get out of Linux. This site has really done well for showing a comparison with both the Apple OS and the up-coming Vista.

If you've ever wanted an example of things to come, from all three different OS approach to the GUI, you have to check out this link.

The Linux Command-Line list&tips

A nice link I found on Digg relating to the ever elusive command-line parameters and their usage. This could be very handy when migrating to Linux.

To some extent, I miss DOS. The GUI of windows is nice, and practical, but sometimes you just need that command line feature back. I know some people are content with the built-in command line that lurks behind the XP GUI, but it's far too much hidden in the background for my taste.

ubuntu - a Linux base operating system

One of the things I've begun looking into is Linux. As a non-Linux native, I've always wondered about it. Many times I'd hear people whispering of its superior power over the Windows platform,
and yet so few of my closest friends have actually made the move.

One thing I've always hold to when going through a major software or hardware change is to have some other close friend who's already been there and could help answering my tech questions. Up until now, the closest my friends got to the Linux platform is to use it at work or at university. Non of them really installed or set it up, or even used it on a daily basis that will make them able to answer my tech quarries. Therefore, if I wanted to get to know Linux I would have to figure it out on my own.

About several months ago I first heard the phrase ubuntu. I had heard before of several other Linux versions, like Red Had, Mandriva and SUSE. This one, however, caught my attention.



The thing that always drove me away from installing a different OS to the ones I know was the complexity, or rather the lack of guiding tech friends to help guide me through the installation. I wasn't even thinking yet about getting help moving about with the new OS, just installing it.

One of the nice things I've found was that more and more info about ubuntu was coming in through various channels. I saw many ubuntu related posts at digg, which has proved to be a valuable source of tech-info. These posts directed me to several interesting articles about ubuntu, and I'd like to point to my favorite.

Since I was interested in learning to install a desktop, but also a server I found at the HowtoForge a great link to explain with pictures how the process is done. Guiding through the different screenshots of everything, I found it very useful and very interesting.

Another link I'm fond of is at the Free Software Magazine, an article which describes how to change the way the OS looks and feels. It is, of course, very useful and very important, since non of my friends could really help me with it. On top of that, I think that customizing you OS to your feel, your vibe, is the best thing to do when you install an OS. And it's also a lot more fun.

I am always on the lookout for more links of ubuntu and Linux related stuff. Though I have fiddled around with the ubuntu LiveCD, I have not yet installed it.