A lot of people have heard of GNU/Linux (more commonly referred to as just "Linux") and are having trouble finding out what the differences are between different versions -- or distributions -- that are available. This article will outline the differences between several popular GNU/Linux distributions and similar operating systems.

I've never met anyone who genuinely liked Microsoft as a company, or felt that Windows was the best operating system on the market. I'm sure that such people exist somewhere, but for the most part, PC users seem more like they are stuck using Windows and MS Office and other Microsoft software programs. They feel like they have no choice. The explosive growth of desktop GNU/Linux software distributions and affordable GNU/Linux-based desktop computers has begun to change all that. And of course, for as long as there have been personal computers, there has been Apple. On the surface, Tony Bove's Just Say No to Microsoft seems to be a book that both points out Microsoft's problems and downsides, and suggests viable alternatives. Unfortunately it's poorly researched and appears to spread at least as much misinformation as it tries to debunk.

There was a huge rush to sign up for Google Analytics when it was first announced a few weeks ago. Online Web site traffic analysis services are not new -- search the Web for them and you'll turn up dozens, both commercial and free. But Web-savvy people have come to expect great things from Google over the past couple of years. The Google search engine is widely believed to be the best on the Web. Google Gmail was a smash hit that offered unprecedented storage space for a free email service. Froogle was a success, too. So why does Google Analytics suck?

Well, someone finally lost big on one of those infernal RIAA lawsuits because of an ignorant, technophobic judge. Cecilia Gonzalez has been ordered to pay US $22,500. I'm sure she rolled her eyes as her chauffeur handed her a checkbook so she could scribble out a draft right away. Oops! She's not rich? What will she do, then? Here's what I hope doesn't happen.

So Linus Torvalds doesn't like the GNOME project because of their attitude toward user interface development. He also says that GNOME has lost some functionality for the sake of simplicity; I agree that this is unacceptable, but it doesn't ruin GNOME completely. Even if it did, GNOME still encourages productivity over KDE because it uses screen space more efficiently. So in light of Linus' recent rantings on the GNOME usability mailing list here are three good reasons why you should stick with GNOME.

Adobe has now officially swallowed up Macromedia in an attempt to keep both companies alive a little longer in the face of growing competition from the two companies that you never want to mess with on their own turf: Microsoft and Apple. Both have been quietly threatening Adobe and Macromedia for a while, and this merger may be a (probably futile) effort to fend them off. You just can't compete with companies that make operating systems; they decide that they want to make more money on applications like yours, and either you're bought out by them or your products are history. Microsoft has proved this several times over the years. Why does Adobe think that things will be different this time?

After a few years of reviews, I've got a big pile of operating systems and other software that is either several versions out of date or otherwise unable to be used anymore. When I moved to another city, I didn't have the time to sort through them and consider their future, so I put them all in one big box and shipped them to my new house. Now I'm unpacking things and don't know what to do with old copies of such golden oldies as Red Hat Linux 9 and Xandros Desktop 1.0. Does it all just go into the garbage? Should I sell them on eBay? Give them to charity? What do you do with old retail box software? What about old computer books, manuals, and parts?