Linux

My first post will have nothing to do with legal matters or law enforcement. I have dual booted my laptop with Windows XP and Linux. I have been running OpenSuse the free version of Novell Suse Enterprise Linux (10.2). Since I loaded Suse, it has become my primary operating system. It did take a bit of work to get it installed because I installed the updates during the instillation. I am a linux newbie, but I got the wireless card working using ndiswrapper (the wireless card is made for Windows and there is no linux driver). I also installed my Nvidia drivers, followed by the codecs that allow me to watch movies, and then mplayer so I can watch video on cnn.com and cycling.tv.

OpenSuse comes with compiz built in so it has fancy 3d effects. I have been using the multiple desktops when I search the web and have various documents open at the same time. Installing OpenSuse was more difficult than Ubuntu 6.10, but I like OpenSuse more. I am using the gnome desktop mostly because that is what I was used to with Ubuntu. I also loaded Opera (a free web browser) because I find that Firefox flakes out at times.

Overall, I think that Windows is in trouble. OpenSuse comes with AppArmor built in. This is a firewall. I went to a few security sites and it showed I had no open ports. OpenOffice Writer and OpenCalc seem to work well, but I also use the Google Spreadsheet because my needs are rather basic and collaboration is often more important. The games are rather limited, but I don't game much. The wireless connection with Network Manager (built in) is great. I can see all the available wireless networks with one click. The wireless card actually connects to my usual networks faster than it does in Windows. Beagle as a desktop search engine seems to work well, but I haven't thoroughly tested it.

The down sides are some of the tools I use. I use Google Desktop to search for files on my hard drive. I have many files from work and from school that I use Google to find for me. Normally, I can find them on my own because I remember the folder I saved it in, but I do like desktop search. Beagle seems to work well, but the jury is still out. I have also been using iTunes because it was my only form of TV while I was in school. I built up a fairly large iTunes library. I know that CrossOver office may be an option, but I can just boot into Windows if I want to use iTunes. iTunes has been the only reason I use Windows for the past two weeks.

If I ran a business (or a government entity) I would consider moving to Suse.