Will Linux Replace Microsoft Windows? by John Dixon
I've been working with computers since the mid-80s, initially using an Apple Macintosh and then moving to Microsoft Windows-based machines around 1991. The first version of Windows I used was version 2.x (I can't remember the exact number), which I seem to remember didn't do anything too special. ... I couldn't get my printer to work, but I know that a lot of hardware manufacturers only provide driver software for Windows, so unless someone has written a specific Linux driver for your bit of hardware, it won't work.

Printers - What is the Difference? by John Gibb
Something to consider, aside from initial purchase cost, is operation and maintenance costs. You can easily pickup an inkjet for $50, but take a look at the size of the ink cartridges. If it runs out every 100 pages, you’re going to spend much more on ink in the first year, than if you had... Your printer must either be the right type of printer, or it must emulate that printer, in order to speak the language. ... On the other hand, a good photo inkjet printer will give a good color laser printer a run for it’s money, in quality and cost.

Life without Windows by Chin Wong
Ubuntu, a user-friendly version of Linux, has been running so nicely on my home PC that I decided to do an experiment. I wrote down a list of tasks I normally do with Windows XP and decided to see how many of them I could do on Linux. Here’s what my list looked like: 1) Write this column; 2)... Even though Ubuntu detected my printer and said it was using the correct printer driver from a program called Gimp-print, my C50 kept spewing out garbled, unreadable text. ... I went to Ubuntu’s printer setup utility and told it to use that driver and – voila!—I was finally able to print.

Almost Famous by Chin Wong
The movie Almost Famous tells the story of William, a 15-year-old writer in the 1970s who bags an assignment from Rolling Stone Magazine to do an article about a rock band on the verge of stardom. The unlikely premise sets the stage for a road trip that’s all about being true to yourself and... “It’s just as much disruption—or as little disruption--to move to a version of Linux… So what we will probably see is that a lot of companies are going to very seriously consider...not switching to Vista but switching to a Linux-based platform instead.” None of these factors guarantees success, of...

Building a Computer by Jared Strop
Most people just assume that a new computer is a Dell or Gateway. Few people (other than the technically inclined) know that Dell and Gateway skimp on the parts inside the computer. What you're left with is a third-rate computer that costs much more than it should have. ... Well, that's all you need in order to build computers, but you still have the option to get an operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux), a CD/DVD Drive, Ethernet card, Floppy Disk Drive, Printer, Digital Camera, etc. ... 6.Monitor - I'd go with a 17" or 19" LCD monitor.

How to Buy an Assembled PC? by Paul Cris
Today PC is considered as the one of the most essential components of our daily life. We can’t imagine a single minute without the presence of a PC. From office to our home, everywhere it has a strong presence. But buying the right PC is not so easy as it sounds. ... In this printer you can take printouts, can scan and also photocopy. ... Windows and Linux are the two widely used OS. ... The latest category of printer is called all in one. ... · If you need to take printouts on a regular basis then go for a printer.

Three Times You Need to Consider "LAMP"--and the One Time That Nothing Else Will Do! by Mark Schumann
The combination of the Linux kernel, Apache web server, MySQL database engine, and a scripting language such as Perl, Python, or PHP--commonly known as LAMP--has well-known advantages over commercial software in terms of cost and flexibility. I give examples of projects for which LAMP is... Together with the legacy vendor, we worked to port the application to Linux. ... You’ll find that Linux can share files, printers, and network resources seamlessly with almost everything else. ... It might be just as easy, and far less costly, to outfit a commodity-priced PC unit with any Linux...

Refurbished Laptops Features Comparison Guide by M Johnson
Knowing what to look for when choosing refurbished laptops is important. Here is a list of certain features that you should compare when shopping for one. Let's begin with laptop basics- Processor Speed- This is the speed at which the laptop can retrieve data and information. ... The most common are Windows, Linux and Unix and Macintosh. ... Expansion Slots- Most laptops will have open slots like USB, serial, or ethernet slots which allows for multiple items to be added like a mouse, printer, external hard drive, modem and things like that.

3.5" FDD (Floppy Disk Drive) is Dead! Long live the USB Drive! by Akhilesh Singh
Do you remember the last time you used the FDD drive of your computer, and for what? Chance is if you have used it then it would be for some emergency booting of the computer, or for recovery of your broken OS. Meaning you would have not used it for data transfer using this medium. ... (Windows/Macintosh/Linux supports it natively out of the box). ... Initially it needed a specific driver to be installed on the earlier OS in order to be used, but later, due to its universally open standard and rise in use of the USB port, its support was provided natively in the OS.

The Hard Disk by Pawan Bangar
From throwing our unnecessary files, to defragmenting, from partitions to formats-learn how to keep your hard disk in top shape The hard disk is the place where all your programs and data are stored. If the hard disk Stops working you could end up losing all your data. ... 5- Keep handy the driver disks for your printer, sound card, CD ROM driver, modem or other devices. ... 3- Reinstall all drivers for the printer, modem or other peripherals. ... 2-Work on multiple operating systems-You may want to work on more than one operating system on your PC, for example Win98, Linux and Windows95.