Linux Format Archives

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Issue 159 (July 2012) - Ubuntu vs Windows

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Click here to get the just the source code used in tutorials

Ubuntu 12.04 vs Windows 8: we throw them both to our merciless testers.

We've been hearing from Canonical for ages about how Ubuntu is trying to attract new users to Linux, which is why the company doesn't seem too bothered to be losing ground to Mint: it figures that it will more than replace them with people who are new to computers and may not even have heard of Linux. So why not compare it with another operating system that's also had a renaissance: Windows 8? Let the battle of the reinvented desktop paradigms commence!

Also in the issue we talk to Allison Randal, technical architect of Ubuntu, about how the Unity experiment is going and how the HUD fits into Canonical's grand plan, and hear from the Ubuntu Community Manager Jono Bacon about how best to report bugs without making developers want to kill you. Choose the best package manager for your Linux system, take a trip back in time with our hands-on guide to emulating classic games consoles, and empathise with the late nights Graham had to put in to bring you the definitive viewpoint on MythTV 0.25. All this and more in your new Ubuntu Format! Er, Linux Format!

On the DVD: Our awesome Ubuntu 12.04 remix- featuring Unity, KDE and XFCE. Plus, Arch, Scientific Linux, Puppy Linux, Raspberry Pi Debian and more!!!

For a complete issue overview, and subscriber PDFs, take a look at our archives: http://www.linuxformat.com/archives?issue=159

Digital Editions: Linux Format is also available on both Apple's iPhone/iPad/Touch and Android devices through Zinio. You can also purchase individual copies from the Ubuntu Software Centre (this issue is available now!).

Features

Reporting Bugs

Get started with this fantastic way to contribute to the open source community. (Jono Bacon)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Turn Back Time

Do you long for the glory days of the Amiga? Fancy playing those old SNES games again? Then join us as we check out the best emulators in town. (Mike Saunders)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Ubuntu vs Windows

With Windows 8 bearing a striking similarity to Ubuntu, our testers pit the latest releases from both camps against each other. (Mayank Sharma)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

MythTV 0.25

Graham Morrison selflessly suffers a nightmare installation and hours of daytime TV so that you don't have to. (Graham Morrison)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Sysadmin

Esoteric system administration goodness from the impenetrable bowels of the server room. (Chris Brown)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Interview: Allison Randal

How do you get non-technical users to contribute to the success of free software? We met Allison Randal to find out. (Andrew Gregory)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Coverdisc

On The Disc

Try out Ubuntu, Scientific Linux, Puppy Linux and Arch today. (Ben Everard)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

The Best New Open Source Software On The Planet

Firewall builder, Impro-Visor, Sportstracker, Midnight Commander, LDAP Account Manager, Language Tool and more. (Nick Veitch)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Tutorials

File Ownership using ACLS

Manage who can modify files using access control lists. (Neil Bothwick)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Arduino: Write Some Libraries

In the last in the series, we show you how to write your own Arduino libraries and have more fun with LEDs (Nick Veitch)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Presentations

Graham Morrison distills some of the wisdom gleaned from a day on Damian Conway's presentation course. (Graham Morrison)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Raspberry Pi

If you're eagerly awaiting the delivery of your Raspberry Pi, let us get you up to speed with this diminutive device. (Jonathan Roberts)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Hacking: Make Your Site Safe

Get wise to hackers' tricks with WebGoat. (Ben Everard)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Coding Academy

Android: Local Databases

Create an SQLite database to build a to-do list. (Juliet Kemp)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Code Concepts: Compilers

We explain how a compiler does its magic, and the difference between compiled and interpreted languages. (Mike Saunders)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Python: Mastering Text and Strings

Discover that there is nothing plain about text, and find out how to use Unicode and ASCII with Python. (Nick Veitch)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Reviews

Calligra Suite

We take a look at the other open source office suite. (Shashank Sharma)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

CoreBreach

Race anti-gravity spacecraft to earn your freedom. (Ben Everard)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Ubuntu 12.04

It's Ubuntu's first LTS release with Unity as the default desktop, and they've got it spot on. (Jonathan Roberts)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Package Managers

Package management is the last big difference between distributions, but which is best for you? (Jonathan Roberts)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

News: All the latest news from the Linux universe

Google vs Oracle, Kubuntu, Steam Linux Client, Linus Wins Millennium Technology Prize, The Death of ACTA, OpenMama aids global capitalism and Mandriva lives on (Andrew Gregory)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

Distrowatch: This month's roundup of news from the vaults of Linux distro development

Rosa goes it alone, Slitaz reaches 4, Snow Linux leaves us cold, and Canonical announce Ubuntu Glasses ... or do they? (Susan Linton)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.

What on Earth: OStatus

We explain how the entire world wide web can become one open, interoperating social network (Marco Fioretti)

Available as a PDF to subscribers.