not seen these guys so vocal for a while.

http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/5...ok-las-s31e03/

the whole video is worth watching, but if you want the chrom\google bit, fast forward to 25min

im you dont answer, then you cant moan about Ubuntu
Just a quick survey from Ubuntu.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o5a...g3RWY/viewform

It is a shame someone don't produce software that can access then both and drop box.

Would not be too sure the cloud services would like to encourage that.

You could install some sync drive software, like conduit or dirsync or put all the files in a shared directory and point each cloud service to it, if they allow.

http://www.itworld.com/open-source/4...urity-problems
"I've learned to take media reports about Linux security problems with a huge grain of salt"

"It's just too tempting a revenue opportunity for some media outlets to pass up. So the distorted headlines will continue and readers will become more and more cynical as they realize that they've been deceived."

Considering W8 is purprosely designed to sell touchscreen hardware Linux is the obvious upgrade path for XP laptops and PCs.

Linux has also been doing touch screen for a few years now.

http://plasma-active.org/#prettyPhoto

Someone does.

http://www.storagemadeeasy.com/

According to a comment by Clem it looks like Linux Mint might be switching the base of their 6-monthly releases to the LTS version of Ubuntu.

I think it's a good idea and i've long wanted something like this (although i would have preferred a Debian Stable-based version).

What would be the point in having six-monthly releases then?
You might as well just bring out a new version every two years, to coincide with the LTS edition, and leave it at that.

They could surely make incremental improvements to Cinnamon, within the two year period, without needing a completely new version. Then make any major changes at the two year interval.
(unless this means they will allow upgrades - Ubuntu style, within the two years)

Dont know why Mint isnt commiting to Debian and dumping Ubuntu.
They realy do need to make there mind up.

Quite a few are moving over to Debian,or Arch and making them rolling releases.
Mints getting to reliant on Ubuntu, it will come back to bite them on the bum in the future, when they move to Mir.

Just trying Kingsoft Office 2013 on Mint 13, quite impressed.

http://www.noobslab.com/2013/05/micr...-kingsoft.html

However, the comments following that article seem to indicate that the Kingsoft Office package still has rough edges and needs to be further refined. In which case, LibreOffice and SoftMaker FreeOffice might make for better alternatives.

We use Kingsoft Office in work now on a lot of our machines (others use Google Docs), taken over Libre Office as it just works better in ever way, and so far it's been 100% compatible with MS Office. Not tried the Linux version though, will get that on my laptop asap!

I made an extensive review of Kingsoft Office here. I'll have to review the Linux version to see how it compares to the Windows version.

Mark

Fair enough, but some people might still want to try it anyway.

http://manjaro.org/

Yes, it's probably one of those areas where people have to try different office & productivity suites and find one that happens to work best for them. At least there's a reasonable range of free alternatives out there to paid-for office suites.

i like kingsoft office, but as other people have said, it is a bit rough, the one problem I have is the menus changing back to Chinese

Rolling releases is good, but i think the reason why Mint is staying with a ubuntu base at the moment is because it is easier for people to use, got more software on the software centre and more supported.

I like Manjaho, but sometimes it is a pain to get software for and simple things which is in ubuntu software centre is not in Majaho.

I know it is possible to get them via the terminal, but a lot of people would not want to touch the terminal.

Right, so I just installed openSUSE 13.1 on my old XP laptop. Installation went really well and it was really quick, but I have one problem - the wifi doesn't work. I entered our wifi key but still nothing. Is there a fix, preferably one that doesn't require me spending hours programming the thing?

That's on a full install or live DVD?
Is it just the WiFi.
Does network work if you plug a network cable in.
Did you manage to get it updated.
And as a last resort try ubuntu or mint just as a quick test. To see if its opensuse that's at fault.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YfnGxJM-lc

Yes, openSUSE has a known bug with WiFi when you first install it. It's a simple fix, which makes you wonder why the devs didn't fix it as it was present in the previous version.

I'm not running it myself at the moment so forgive me if the info is a bit choppy, but if I remember correctly, going into YAST and into Network Devices/Network Settings/Global Options and enabling the Network Manager should fix it. If this is already on then switch it to "ifup", and make sure you reboot after this has been applied.

If this doesn't work you may need a kernel module such as Broadcom etc, and at this point I'd say screw it and use Mint. OpenSUSE is great, it really is but it's not without these issues.

An even better XP replacement would be LXLE http://lxle.net/ which is an enhanced version of Lubuntu and which I am using as I type this on a netbook. Minimum requirement for LXLE is 500mb RAM. There appears to be no problems with Wifi on any machine I've used LXLE on.

It was a live DVD that I got with the latest version of Linux Format magazine. I bought that to get some tips on how to use Linux so I could replace XP with it. I don't use it as my day to day OS but it's no harm to give the old XP machines a new lease of life instead of consigning them to the tech scrapheap because of support ending. I can't plug a cable in as the only network cable I have is a really short one and I'd have to be sitting next to the router but one of dad's W7 laptops is next to the router and he uses the cable. Ubuntu wouldn't work on the machine as it only seems capable of 32-bit and not 64-bit and one of the versions I have is 64-bit. I don't know if there's a 32-bit version. I was thinking I would maybe try a more lightweight distro on the machines.

You can certainly get 32 bit versions of Ubuntu and Mint.
(be aware, they are both just about to bring out new LTS editions. Ubuntu at the end of this month, and Mint at the end of May)

As Kal_El says wifi on OpenSUSE can be a bit tricky. I seem to remember having to go into Yast and manually entering the network SID and password etc, and there was no network icon on the task bar, but wifi worked after that.
The OpenSUSE grub was also a bit tricky as well. It looked nice, but wouldn't pick up all of my other OSs
(for the record I was using the Gnome version of OpenSUSE 12.2, not the KDE version as in 1saintly's video link, so the settings were slightly different)

But give LXLE a look, as suggested by henm2.

Save youre money.
Best thing is to download and run a live dvd, or if youre not bothered about loosing youre XP, just install linux. (obviously using live dvd its a bit slower and you dont always get full functions) But it will give you a feel for it.
Play around with it, its not that difficult to find youre way around.
If not sure ... Google /youtube/or ask on here.

Only problem, if it is a problem is theres so much choice.

Look on this site for links on the right to the more popular releases.

http://distrowatch.com/index.php?dataspan=13

ubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7uI2DAOExY

mint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8F_1sdUeSg

kubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW4OtsAJb70

but for a old laptop, youre better of with Xfce
http://xubuntu.org/

or even lighter on hardware lxde
http://lubuntu.net/

This guy has his mum try out what seems like all the available distros.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4tGi8moXc