Issue number three, June 2005, of TUX is now available.  Subscribers, you can download this issue here or simply follow the Download TUX button on the right to download the current issue. If you're not yet a TUX subscriber, consider subscribing today for instant access to this issue and many more! 

A common anti-Linux argument is that Linux is different. That is, it just doesn't look or work the same as what you are used to. Well, what are you used to? Assuming the answer is some Microsoft platform, I assert that the differences between a KDE-based Linux desktop and your favorite Microsoft destop can be less than two different versions of Microsoft Windows.

Add to that the fact that you can customize the Linux desktop to act more (or less) like other systems and you have a pretty powerful argument to pick Linux, pick a Linux desktop environment (we tend to focus on KDE but Gnome is an alternative) and move forward.

This is the first article in a series on the advantages (and disadvantages) of Linux desktops over alternatives. While our magazine is all about how to accomplish things with Linux on your desktop, it is important that the why side is also addressed.

There are lots of studies of such issues as stability, security, performance, and reliability of Linux vs. Microsoft Windows. They can roughly be divided into two lists:

• Studies paid for by Microsoft
• Studies that conclude Linux wins

Now, before you get excited that I am about to trash the other guys, this is stuff I won't bother you with. Read what you want. Then, if you feel Linux will favorably address your issues, you are ready to start reading here.

Mango Parfait introduces herself and answers her own questions with astounding facility, and invites you to ask her your own questions. Don't be shy. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. [This article initially appeared in TUX, issue 2.]

Hi. My name is Mango Parfait, or Mango-Pafe in my native language. The publisher of TUX wisely hired me to answer any questions you have about Linux. Ask anything about using Linux, installing Linux, how to fix things when they don't work in Linux and anything else. In fact, feel free to ask me anything at all—except my age. That's not polite.

One of the new in the game Linux distributions is Kubuntu, the KDE-based version of Ubuntu which is also new in the game. I feel Kubuntu is very useful for the typical TUX reader.

I need to offer a bit of background before I can get into the details. Don't panic--we will get to the real info soon.

In the early days of Linux it was difficult to install new software because Linux was changing rapidly and the supporting software needed might not be available on your system. Package managers were developed to do the checking to make sure you had all the pieces needed before installing the new software. The two systems that have survived are the Debian Package Manager and the Red Hat Package Manager.

Issue number two, May 2005, of TUX is now available.  Subscribers, you can download this issue here or simply follow the Download TUX button on the right to download the current issue. If you're not yet a TUX subscriber, consider subscribing today for instant access to this issue and many more! 

Opera 8 Web Browser Now Shipping

Opera Software is shipping a new version of its web browser for desktops and devices. Opera 8 supports Linux and other OSes. A popular new feature is a unique security information field that indicates the trustworthiness of banking and shopping Web sites and voice interaction capabilities. The new version of Opera also introduces an advanced page-resizing function that adapts Web pages to fit the width of any screen or window. Download your Opera 8 web browser today.

Upgrading from Windows 98 to Linux

DesktopLinux.com features a tutorial-style article outlining a strategy to avoid costly upgrades from Windows 98 to Windows XP -- in terms of both hardware and software -- by upgrading to Linux instead. Read more here.

What’s bigger and more capable than a PDA but smaller than a desktop computer? Meet the Pepper Pad 2.

This article was originally featured in TUX issue number 1. For more articles like this, make sure to subscribe to TUX today! TUX issue number 2 will be released May 1, 2005.

So you’ve finished dinner and the family is enjoying a rare moment of downtime in the living room, and then it happens: “Does anyone know the weather for Saturday?

Kget is another of the little gems that are hidden within KDE. Like Kalarm and even Kruler, you aren't sure why you need them until you try them.

Kget helps you download files from the Internet. I didn't know I needed help until I tried Kget. We become very used to just clicking on links, having a dialog box pop up and waiting for a file to download. It's simple but it also means an instance of your browser is tied up with the work.

Think about what help might make sense. Here are some things that come to mind:

Whether you want to save disk space or create a CD with ten hours of music, KAudioCreator can help you out.

This article was originally featured in TUX issue number 1. For more articles like this, make sure to subscribe to TUX today!

KAudioCreator is the standard, KDE-based tool for ripping and encoding digital audio tracks from your compact discs. “Hmm, ripping and encoding are Greek to me”, you say? Let's put it another way then. KAudioCreator is a program that reduces the file size of CD-quality digital audio tracks up to ten-fold, using powerful compression technologies like MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and FLAC. Furthermore, it does this without a substantial loss of sound quality. Smaller files mean you can pack tons more music onto your digital audio player or computer hard disk.