Computers can be used for many things though for most of us, probably computer gaming, graphics design, internet access, music and software development are our primary uses.
Whatever their use, it’s always good to use the best tools for the task.
Operating Systems
Popular operating systems include:
Linux
A free (as in speech, and also as in beer) Unix-like operating system. It is fun but tricksy.
Not so tricksy any more if you get the right version - eonsim
Mac OS X
Sort of what you’d get if you gave Linux a post-graduate education in both business and design. Currently the most bling OS around, although most of us can’t afford the Apple hardware necessary to run it.
Linux has the most bling currently if you install beryl or compiz, some of the bling is a bit over the top though - eonsim
The pricing thing is less and less of an issue. Apple laptops start at ~$2100, and compare pretty favourably in their price range. âmattw
Windows
Brehaut is forced to use Windows at work. Nearly all computer games require this OS unfortunately which means many people keep it as either their primary or secondary OS.
Recent Apple computers are able to run Windows, either virtualised under Parallels or natively. âmattw
Internet
For the internet the best tools vary a bit but these ones are certainly recommended.
Web Browsing
- Firefox - is the best tool for Windows and Linux.
- Opera - Another nice one for Windows and Linux
- Safari - tends to be standard for Mac OS X.
Both Firefox and Opera can gain additional abilities via extensions. A number of good Firefox extensions can be found here: Firefox Extensions
Chatting
Chatting is the thing you do on the internet when you’re supposed to be working and have run out of websites to visit. Gtalk (Jabber) and MSN tend to be most popular.
- Gaim - good multi protocol program for linux and Windows
- Adium - the best free Mac OS X chat program {based on libgaim}
An online replacement for letter writing, with a far worse junkmail problem than real letterboxes.
- Thunderbird - is one of the more popular free email clients with reasonably good junkmail filtering. Available for all major operating systems. {Thunderbird 2b1 is rather nice, currently using - eonsim}
- Opera - is an email client as well as a web browser.
- Spamassassin - probably the best junkmail filter available, but can be hard to set up if using Thunderbird, or a number of non pop3 email providers {easy to set up on linux}.
