This week in our Linux page we have posted a review about the “test 2” version of the new PCLinux 2007. This distro is well built and we weren’t able to find any bugs. PCLinux 2007 is built on the Kernel 2.6.18.6-dev5 and has a good 3D graphics support. Moreover it contains more features than the previous one and it’s very easy to use and personalize. For these reasons we think that it really is one of the most complete and stable distribution we have recently found on the net!
During the last week, we received some comments about the difficulties that some users (Bob Titus, for example) have in using freewares on PC with Vista installed. Unfortunately, till now we have not found a possible solution for this matters. Somewhere on the web, we read that the architecture of Vista strongly limits the possibility to install “independent=not verified” software because the main goal of this new OS is the security; in few words Vista prefers not to risk with “independent” (not verified but often free) softwares. We are not experts so we prefer don’t tell you our personal ideas about Vista, we simply prefer to remind you that, for example, Apple “recommends, however, that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes which will be available in the next few weeks”. For this reason Apple launched the iTunes Repair Tool for Vista 1.0. We personally think (and hope) that in a couple of months new versions of the freewares we normally use (and introduce you) will be launched. Another possibility could be a multi task “repair tool” or a “passport” which will allow all us to continue using freewares and decide ourselves how and how often we want to take risks from “independent” software. If someone knows one or more solutions, please, let us know (at the moment, I am so disappointed that migrating definitively to Linux is the only solution I have in my mind)!
Update (21 Feb. 2007): We suggest to use Windows Vista Update Advisor before upgrading to Vista. This small Microsoft’s software allow you to know how many freewares (if any) will not be compatible with the new OS after the upgrading. The Update Advisor seems to work properly and it could represent a more conscious way to decide if and when upgrade to Vista.
Update (22 Feb. 2007): Today we found some extra information about Vista compatibility on the Microsoft website. Microsoft released an official list of compatible softwares for its new OS. The softwares are divided into two different categories: “Certified for Windows Vista” and a more generic “Works with Windows Vista”. Unfortunately these lists are dramatically short if we consider the huge amount of software (and freewares) we normally use everyday. Moreover, Microsoft released also the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 for users who want to check deeper the “impact of operating system updates” before upgrading to Vista.
We use Linux because the possibility of crashes is lower than in other OS but sometimes some programs decide to lock themselves causing different problems to our PC usability.. When it happens we usually decide to use ksysguard but it doesn’t end our program. Today, in our Linux Page we have added a post about another way to solve these kind of matters using the PID. The post is short but we think it could be very useful for many Linux users. In fact, using the PID to kill a program is less time waster than restart the pc. See you soon and thanks for your comments! 
This week, in our Linux page we posted some news about Click’R Run, the well known Linspire’s software (free in its basic version) to manage applications, libraries and packages. Soon (more or less 5 months), Click’N Run will be available also for Debian, Fedora, Freespire, OpenSUSE and Ubuntu. In its actual Linspire version, Click’N Run is very easy to use and has a library of 20.000 Linux packages so I think that it will be interesting to try when it will be available for the other Linux distributions.
Today, in our Linux Page we posted a useful review about Ubuntu Windows Installer. This software solves many problems (and fears) you have when decide to install Ubuntu, Kubuntu or Xubuntu on your computer. Ubuntu Windows Installer manages all the steps during the installation and it also modifies the original hard disk partition due to have two different OS on your computer. Ubuntu Windows Installer is very easy to use and I consider it as one the best practical solution for Linux beginners. Try it.. and let us know your comments!
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