linux distributions

Today, June 22, 2010, The Open Invention Network (OIN) announced that Canonical, the company that owns and produces the Ubuntu Linux distribution, joins its ranks as the first Associate Member.

I've run across ten new Linux distributions inspired by current news stories. Some, of course, are better than others and a few just have no practical use or purpose whatsoever but still are worth a mention.

These ten distributions are in no particular order of my preference or relevance. Maybe you've run across some of them too in your Internet travels.

At my last, best count, there were over 550 individual Linux distributions. From the most generic, flat installs of the most common distros to ultra-specialized, multimedia-oriented to the eye-popping, fancy ones--they're all there for the taking.

I found ten distributions from among the 500 or so that I know about to spotlight these for some special feature or set of features that will dazzle you or entice you to try them for yourself.

Read on and get ready to download.

It's a fact of life that Linux distributions go extinct and it happens more often than our Linux fan base would like to admit.

At last count, there are approximately 50 individual distributions that are now extinct.

What happens to the poor unfortunates who adopt and use these defunct distros? Are they left in the cold or are there alternatives that are close enough that a relatively tech savvy administrator could migrate apps and dependencies to another distribution?

Ubuntu's CEO, Mark Shuttleworth fired one over Microsoft's bow with a statement that the soon to be released Ubuntu 9.10 is ready to go head-to-head with Windows 7 on Netbooks.

He also said that Windows XP is still hanging around on some Netbooks as a "ghost." Shuttleworth wants another shot at the U.S.

Does it seem to you that Linux distributions have fallen into to a well or other deep support chasm that defies the space-time continuum?

It seems so to me. Linux distributions are lagging behind Windows and Mac in significant ways. Well, it doesn't work for this chipset.

Well, it works but you have to tweak it. Well, it works but...is the common theme for many Linux installations.

This generates frustrations for users old and new. It's hard to convince someone to use Linux when it's even hard for me to do something that would be impossible for a newbie.

For example, yesterday I had heard...

Does it seem to you that Linux distributions have fallen into to a well or other deep support chasm that defies the space-time continuum?

It seems so to me. Linux distributions are lagging behind Windows and Mac in significant ways.
Well, it doesn't work for this chipset.

Well, it works but you have to tweak it. Well, it works but...is the common theme for many Linux installations.

This generates frustrations for users old and new. It's hard to convince someone to use Linux when it's even hard for me to do something that would be impossible for a newbie.

If I hadn't already known--or at least had some idea of the religious zeal I was about to face, I would have been more shocked at the response to my 2009's 10 Worst Linux Distributions post from the other day.

I now have definitive evidence that Linux is a religion--a religion that spans the globe, crosses all cultural boundaries, all languages and has as much power as any other "established" religion.

Today, 16 July, 39 AL (After Linus), I now officially establish The First Church of Linux. If you seriously analyze it, Linux has all the ingredients and meets all the requirements for a...

Any list of best or worst will have its opponents and proponents and I foresee that this list of worst Linux distributions will be no different.

There were, at last count, almost 300 Linux distributions and they all can't be great. But, this list of Linux distributions are, in my opinion, the worst of the lot.

Beginning with the least offensive at number 10 to the least desirable at number 1, this list is a compilation of my opinions and experiences with various distributions over the past 15 years but only current distributions are included. 10.

Security-enabled Distributions - If you want...

Perhaps it's my role as the family computer guy that's leading me in this direction today but it seems to me that there should be Linux distributions that are age-oriented and age appropriate.

Seldom do I see my parents-in-law playing a heated game of Quake or doing any kernel tinkering, nor do I see them downloading, untarring, compiling and installing some piece of software for their system.

No, Windows isn't the answer. I can't tell you how many times I've installed, reinstalled, reconfigured, de-virused, de-spywared and rebooted their computers over the past 10 years.