Mark R. Hinkle

Last Monday at the Desktop Linux Consortium Conference at Boston University’s Tyngsboro, Massachusetts Campus there was a lot of talk about a “UserLinux” distribution. The topic was sparked by remarks by Bruce Perens who voiced a need for a distribution that was designed to meet community needs for a desktop operating system based on the Linux community favorite Debian distribution. I contacted Bruce who has been kind enough to interject some comments to my own text. They are marked [thus]. The thought of UserLinux sparked my thinking. The thing I like about Linux is that it’s infinitely customizable to meet the needs of almost any situation. However, for it to be a viable desktop for the masses there seems to me that there has to be some common features that a large nu... (more)

Is Linux Desktop-Ready Yet...or Not?

Mark R. Hinkle: "Linux is ready for the desktop" In my view, Linux on the desktop is a viable operating system. It offers many features that are more innovative than commercial solutions. Virtual consoles, secure remote access solutions, true multi-tasking, and the ability to use robust journaling file systems all come to mind. Despite these advanced features, I have also noticed some paral... (more)

Desktop Linux: Think Thin

Thin-client computing is alive and well...and thriving in early-adopter environments. In this article, Dr. Migration explains why thin-client systems are showing up everywhere from POS applications to classrooms, and why you might want to consider a thin-client solution for your own organization. Almost every desktop computer user today is familiar with the PC computing model in which use... (more)

Guide to Linux on the Business Desktop Part 2 of 3

In Part 1 of this series (LWM Vol. 2, issue 4), Dr. Migration analyzed some common Linux distributions with the goal of helping you figure out which is right for you. This month, he takes a look at some of the major vendors' Linux desktop offerings and begins to explore the Linux laptop. I have been a loyal consumer of desktop PCs, laptops, and servers from one vendor for almost 10 years.... (more)

Live CD Linux Distributions

Many people feel that if they get something for free there is no real value in it, but that's not always the case. Free doesn't always equate to low quality or "cheap." Especially when it comes to open source and free software. I am often fascinated by the caliber of the many open source and royalty-free applications available and useful to a variety of organizations, from business to g... (more)