Security, performance, support and package selection compared -- will your favourite flavour come out on top?
Massive 8GB double-sided DVD with distros galore: Ubuntu 7.04, Mandriva 2007 Spring Free, Debian 4.0 and SimplyMepis 6.5
We show you how to run Windows software on Linux, and bring open source goodness to the Mac
Will Google Docs and Spreadsheets spell the end for traditional desktop apps?
Tutorials on network security, file sharing, OpenOffice.org, JavaScript and more
Features
Distro showdown
If you look beyond version numbers, what are the real differences between today's top Linux distros? We look at security, hardware compatibility, performance, community, software selection and more -- and find the best all-round distro. (Nick Veitch, Paul Hudson, Graham Morrison) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Windows into Wine
Can't tear yourself away from a cherished Windows program? Wine may provide the answer, as we explain in the first of two cross-platform specials. (Mike Saunders) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
FOSS beyond Linux
It's still hard to fully avoid alternative operating systems. But even in the arid desert of a proprietary platform, we find that free software is flourishing. (Graham Morrison) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Putting Google to work
Web-based tools may be low on features and high on minimalism, but for collaborative work they're unbeatable. (Marcus Green) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Interview: Andreas Typaldos
He believes that not all businesses are willing (or able) to have a perfectly pure Linux setup. If Linux -- and his company, Xandros -- are to thrive, he tells LXF, they need to accept that it's a mixed platform world. (Nick Veitch) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Coverdisc
8GB double-sided DVD
Four distros: Ubuntu 7.04, Mandriva 2007 Spring Free, Debian 4.0 and SimplyMepis 6.5. Plus: Opera 9.2, Thunderbird 2.0, magazine PDFs, games and more (Mike Saunders) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
HotPicks
Semantik, Sylpheed, UADE, Gramps, Warzone 2010, Kwa, Fracplanet, Speedcrunch, MyMP3db, Viking (Nick Veitch) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Tutorials
System: How to share files
What do you want? Files. When do you want them? Now! We show you how to get your stuff no matter where you are... (Andy Channelle) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
OpenOffice.org Calc: Load data with macros
Tired of trawling through stock exchange data, only to find that you definitely won't be buying that yacht today? Here's how to make your life easier. (Mark Bain) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Wireshark: Capture network data
It's amazing what kind of information you can find flowing through your network. We use packet analysis to expose the insecurity of your data. (Graham Morrison) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Mono: Code with multithreading
Dual cores do more, or at least that's what Intel's marketing department tells us. Put that to the test! (Paul Hudson) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Canvas: A web graphics app
The new HTML canvas element gives you the ability to do real graphics programming in your browser. (Dan Frost) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Reviews
Dofus
Picking up his trusty axe, Andy sets forth to venture off into a new world. Should you follow him? (Andy Hudson) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
HP LaserJet 2700n
You wanted more hardware, so here you go: we put the latest budget colour laser printer through its paces... (Paul Hudson) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Free your music from the tired world of tracks and faders. Here's a piece of software where you create the signal path. (Graham Morrison) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Cedega 6
Graham has been obsessed with Oblivion for the last 12 months. Finally, he can now play it at work, thanks to the latest version of Cedega. (Graham Morrison) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Online backup
Services that store your data via the net. Rated: FilesAnywhere, FlipDrive, IBackup, IceBackup, Rsync.net, XDrive (Chris Howells) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
More
News: Students get hacking
Work begins on Summer of Code as Google increases sponsorship to 900 projects. Plus: Adobe opens up Flex; MS cuts another deal; Intel's Linux devices; Cedega runs Oblivion; Web 2.0 Expo; Dell chooses Ubuntu (Andy Channelle) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
Distrowatch: CentOS 5.0
Leading the field of operating systems built by recompiling the Red Hat Enterprise Linux recompilations. Plus: Linux Mint 2.2, Fedora 7, RHEL clones (Ladislav Bodnar) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
What on Earth: E
Is it a new class of programming language, or does it just follow the template laid down by C and D? (Paul Hudson) Available as a PDF to subscribers.
