Eugene Computer Geeks Blog

List of the fastest Linux distros of 2012 (Picture from TuxRadar.com)

July 30th, 2012: There are many Linux distributions to choose from that vary greatly in look, speed, and functionality.  The Windows Manager is what controls the GUI and appearance of your Linux distro, and is responsible for the majority of speed on your Linux OS (Operating System).

The following is a list of the fastest Linux Distros of 2012. The list is based on boot-time speed, how light it is on system resources, and the load time for applications.  We also kept into consideration functionality and performance.

1. Xubuntu

Our top choice because Xubuntu is feature rich and lightening fast. It has an excellent reputation, easy to install, and has a very large following of users.  Out of all the different Ubuntu distributions, Xubuntu is optimized for older hardware, and was created to be as lightweight as possible.  Xubuntu uses GTK whenever possible for optimal speed.  Xubuntu also has a huge community for support, and is based on and very similar to the regular Ubuntu desktop edition.

2. Ubuntu/Xubuntu with IceWM

IceWM is a very minimalistic windows manager that is lightening fast.  Regular Ubuntu or Xubuntu running IceWM will be extremely fast, lightweight, and low on system resources.  The downside of IceWM is that it’s very limited in functionality and would not be an ideal choice for beginners new to Linux.  Some knowledge of how to use the command line/terminal is necessary, and IceWM requires some tweaking and configuring to get the menus and icons setup properly.

If speed is your primary concern, and you aren’t afraid of using the command line, IceWM can be an ideal choice. To install IceWm in Ubuntu or Xubuntu, open the terminal and type:  sudo apt-get install icewm

3. Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is very fast, and is the fastest Linux distro when running Live from a CD, DVD, or USB.   Like most Linux distros you can use Puppy Linux with no installation, and without using a hard drive by loading it live which runs from the RAM and CD, DVD, or USB you are booting with.  Puppy is lacking in some functionality that the Ubuntu based distros come with out of the box.

For instance Puppy can mount and read hard drives that are using NTFS, but can not save data to the drive.  I mainly suggest Puppy to users that are looking for a fast Linux experience without needing to install.  It can also be a good choice for older hardware, but I recommend Xubuntu over puppy for users that are looking for long-term users that are wanting to install Linux.

4. Lubuntu

Lubuntu is very low on system resources, but is about the same speed as Xubuntu.  Lubuntu uses the LXDE Windows Manager which is gaining a lot of popularity and might be preferred to XFCE (what Xubuntu uses by default) or IceWM.

5. Arch Linux

Arch is quick, and feature rich, but is geared more towards the advanced Linux user. If speed is a concern and you are an experienced Linux user, I highly suggest you check out Arch Linux if you haven’t already. Arch Linux does require some knowledge of using the command line, and some experience with bash scripting may not be necessary but would be an advantage if using Arch.

You should now have a better understanding of which Linux distro is the fastest for 2012.  Whether you have a very old computer and need a free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Windows, or maybe you just prefer an operating system that is as fast and lightweight as possible, Linux with a minimalistic GUI is the best option for most users.

PLEASE READ OUR ARTICLE ON THE “TOP LINUX DISTRO’S OF 2012“.

AUTHOR BIO

Article written by Eugene Computer Geeks, offering computer repair in Eugene, Oregon.

Please comment if you have any suggestions or critiques for this article.

With Microsoft Surface on the horizon (today’s date 7/22/12) and many people squeezing their buck to just get by, it seems likely that those who have their computers would rather keep them running.

Millions of opinions are bouncing off the internet walls condemning and hailing the new OS. Linux stage, on the other hand, is raising its stars, and truly beginning to take off as more heads are inclined towards acknowledging the true power of the “Linux system”1. Let’s not forget, however, that a virtue lies in the aptitude to favorably perform on any of them. In other words, if they tell you: “I prefer this system over that system”, you tell them: “I’m not limited in this way, I can pick any and still accomplish what I want”.

Linux is for those people who want to feel like they can drive. Using Windows can be compared to a passenger seat. You tell the driver where you want to go, and he’ll go there for you. On Linux, you have to sit behind the wheel. This brings more responsibility but also more control over your vehicle, and a bit more independence of the $$$ guy.

Many people who turn to Linux find themselves looking for the same software they used on Windows. Maybe in the future, the majority of software will be platform independent. As of now, it’s not quite that way. Also, every article focuses on “how can you keep your work productive” but there are also us, people who don’t use their computers for work. Some of us use our computers for simple things, like playing a game, checking email, chatting, downloading content, using social media, watching a movie, writing a small article, checking out YouTube or devouring news or ancient knowledge on some dug-out website.

To keep things simple, I’ll link you to a nice Wiki of LinuxQuestions.org, which concisely delivers the substitutions you could use while on Linux: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/ Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

WHAT IS LINUX?

Linux is an operating system that is 100% free and open-source. It is very commonly used for servers and powers most of the servers that run the world wide web.  Sites such as Google, Linux also powers ATM’s, cell phones, 91% of super computers, and millions of desktop computers worldwide.

The Linux Operating System is part of the open-source code movement which means you can see the original source code and you are free to use, share, or modify Linux if you please. When you use Linux, in a way, you own it.  Linux is made by the people, and for the people, and I like to call it “socialist software”.

Linux is known for being secure, safe, fast, stable, and have excellent out-of-the-box hardware support. Previously it was known for being difficult to use, and you had to learn code in order to use Linux. Nowadays this is not true. Linux has become very easy to use, and is very stable.  Linux for desktop use does NOT get viruses,, malware, or spyware, so say goodbye to antivirus software, and having to worry about getting nasty infections.

You can install Linux side-by-side Windows. For those new to Linux I recommend, Xubuntu, Ubuntu, or Linux Mint. Try Linux and you’ll see it’s an excellent alternative to Windows.

Enjoy total freedom from copyright restrictions and costs of any kind.  There is excellent free support from people around the world in chat rooms and message forums.

Making music isn’t as hard as it used to be. Nowadays, thanks to modern
technology, many would-­‐be musicians shy away from expensive studio time in favor
of their own in-­‐house recording setups. Whether you’re interested in producing,
beatmaking, mixing, recording, or just having fun, getting started making music on
your home computer isn’t as complicated as you’d think.

Fortunately for Mac users, all versions of Mac OSX come equipped with a
DAW (digital audio workstation) already installed – Garageband. Although it’s a
default program, Garageband offers a lot of useful options and features. Apple also
sells Logic, software similar to Garageband but with more versatile features (VST
support, a larger library of virtual instruments) for those more serious about
recording.

Windows users looking to start making their own music at home might want
to check out FL studio, formerly known as Fruity Loops. With it’s intuitive layout FL
studio offers ease-­‐of-­‐use for amateurs and extensive features for professionals.
Popular hip-­‐hop producer Hit-­‐Boy (In Paris, Goldie) claims to only use FL studio to
make his beats.

Producers who’ve got the basics down want to check out Avid’s Protools or
Steinberg Software’s Cubase. Both of these are industry standard programs for
tracking, recording, and mixing songs. Both are supported on Windows and Mac and
offer full VST plugin support.

Ableton Live (available for Windows and Mac) is perfect for would-­‐be DJ’s
and producers who are interested in playing around with loops and samples.
Ableton’s combination live/linear setup allows users to both record songs like a
normal DAW, and also to run loops in real-­‐time.

If you’re interested in home recording you may want to consider purchasing
MIDI equipment, which allows you to play notes on a physical keyboard or drum
pad that will trigger virtual instruments on your computer. MIDI keyboards are
supported on both Mac and PC.

To complete your home studio setup, invest in a pair of quality speaker-­‐
monitors. These special speakers are designed to give you the most accurate sound
response possible. Studio monitors are absolutely necessary for anyone looking to
get quality mixes. KRK Systems’ Rokit series is pretty reliable and often used.
Yamaha’s HS series are a viable alternative.

Below are the Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2012 sorted by popularity. Linux is a free Operating System and an alternative to Windows. There are many different types and flavors called “Distributions” or “Distros”.

1. Mint
Linux Mint is the most popular Linux distro for 2012 and is still rising in popularity.  Linux Mint is popular for a reason, because it’s easy to use, easy to install, and comes out-of-the-box with a lot of software / applications. Linux Mint is basically just a version of Ubuntu that is easier to install and use, and comes with much more. The DVD version comes with much more software than the CD version.  Mint can be slightly harder to properly put on a USB flash stick, and usually suggest burning to a DVD instead.

2. Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a solid distro, and was the most popular version of Linux for years. It’s been starting to lose popularity ever since they switched to the new Unity (Compiz) interface, which most people do not like. You can try a fully interactive online demo of Ubuntu here.

3. Fedora
Fedora is mainly used for servers and networking. Formely known as “Red Hat Linux”.  Fedora can still be used for desktop use, and is an excellent Linux distribution.

4. OpenSUSE
A German distro that is known for coming with lots of software and being excellent with drivers. Also has a reputation for being easy to use and versatile.

5. Debian
Debian is a lot like Ubuntu. (Ubuntu is actually based on Debian). Debian is known for having an excellent database of available applications and being lightweight.

6. Arch
Arch is more suited for the experienced Linux user, especially users that prefer to use the terminal (command line) and like to script with bash. Arch uses bash scripts to help easily configure and setup the system. Arch Linux is also known for  its FTP installation, and custom package manager called “pacman”.

7. Mageia
Mageia is basically the Mandriva Linux project, but developed by a non-profit community based organization.

8. CentOS
CentOS is developed by a community of contributors, which is based on the “Red Hat Linux” platform.

9. Puppy
Puppy Linux is a tiny distribution that is more geared for live use for computer repairs.  It fits very easily on a CD, and loads programs to the RAM instead of reading it off a disc, making it one of the fastest live copies of Linux.  Excellent for fixing a PC running Windows that won’t boot up.  Just boot to Puppy Linux which will bypass the password and let you easily back up your files.  You can even run Puppy without a hard drive.

10. PCLinuxOS
Known for it’s out-of-box support for graphics cards and wifi adapters, PCLinuxOS is an excellent choice for users that are transitioning from Microsoft Windows.

WHAT’S THE BEST LINUX DISTRO FOR A BEGINNER?

I highly recommend Xubuntu, which is a form of Ubuntu that is lightening fast and easy to use.  If you are installing Linux for someone that is used to using Windows 7, and wants to have a similar look and feel, Zorin OS is the Linux distro that looks the most like Windows 7.

WHAT IS THE FASTEST LINUX DISTRO?

There are several Linux distro’s that are very lightwieght and can run on very old systems.  Please see our article “The Fastest Linux Distro’s of 2012”

FREE LINUX SUPPORT

For any questions about Linux, please try our free tech support chat, a non-profit service provided by volunteer Geeks.  This article was written by Eugene Computer Geeks, offering computer repair services in Eugene, Oregon.  Eugene Computer Geeks is Linux based company that promotes open source software whenever possible.

Open Source software is 100% free and has no viruses, spyware, or ad-ware of any kind. The following list has the top 10 Open Source programs that you need to know about. 

These programs can replace your expensive software like Microsoft Office, PhotoShop, 3D Studio Max, and AutoCad, which combined cost thousands of dollars. With open source software you get the same features of expensive programs for FREE and support a community of people around the world. Open Source software is maintained by the public and non-profit organizations.

Some of the best programs are open source. A good example being firefox or 7zip, which are better than the commercial rivals.

Top 10 Open Source Programs That You Should Know About

1. Libre Office- Office suite that can totally replace Microsoft Office.  Libre-Office lets you open and save in any format including Office formats, and is fully compatible.  You can use Libre Office for school or work, and nobody will have any idea that you aren’t using MS Office.  Has all of the same basic features including a replacement for Word,  Power Point,  and Excel.  It does not come with an e-mail program, in which case I recommend Thunderbird.

2. VLC-  VLC Player by VideoLAN is simply the best media player of all time. It plays EVERYTHING, well every type of video or audio format known to man including codec videos. Never again will you have to use multiple players to watch a video or play an audio file. It even plays DVD’s, Streams, audio cd’s, MP3′s and weird video formats you’ve never heard of.

3. Mozilla Firefox / Thunderbird -

Firefox: An open source web browser that you can use instead of Internet Explorer. Personally I think it’s much better than IE because it’s less prone to Viruses and Malware, faster, more secure, and less buggy.  It also is known for having the best add-ons and toolbars.  You really can’t go wrong with firefox, but if you happen to not like it, I recommend checking out Google Chrome.

Thunderbird: A full features e-mail client from the same organization that produces Firefox. (Mozilla)  Has all the features of Outlook or Windows Live, but is much more lightweight, and in my personally I think easier to use.  Also has excellent plugins and add-ons.

4. 7zip - 7zip is an essential program for any computer user because it opens, extracts, and creates archive files and handles all formats including zip, rar, 7zip, iso, cab,ntfs,and more.  7zip is much better than its commercial rivals WinZip or Winrar and I recommend to everyone, because almost everyone will encounter a strange archive file and need 7zip open it.

5. GIMP- An image editing tool just like Photoshop. Fully featured and handless a very wide variety of image formats.   I recommend even if you aren’t a graphics artist or don’t plan on doing photo editing only because it handles every type of image format imaginable, and if you have GIMP installed you’ll be able to open even the strangest of images. For Vector Imaging I also recommend you check out the open source program Inkscape, which is like CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator.

6. Infrarecorder- Burn discs with infrarecorder a fully featured burning program that has all the major features commercial burning programs have.  Very lightweight and well done program.

7. Pidgin- Instant Messaging program that lets you communicate on all the top instant messaging protocols. Has ever instant messaging protocol you can think of including: AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, Yahoo, and more. Has excellent plugins and fully features. Talked on multiple instant message protocols at once.

8. Open Hardware Monitor-  Excellent program that detects various temperatures including CPU, GPU, and Hard Drive. Also shows CPU load time. Best temperature detecting program I’ve ever used including the commercial rivals.

9. VirtualBox- Virtualize an Operating System with Virtual Box. Install Linux or Mac inside Windows!  Really works, and is like installing a virtual computer within your computer.  Fully featured and works just like its commercial successor VMware

10. Blender- 3d Modeling Program just like 3D Studio Max.  Create 3d Movies or Video games. For an open source CAD program that is a lot like AutoCAD, try BRL-CAD.

Linux- Linux is not a program but a full open source Operating System. (An alternative to windows). Most of the open source programs from this list started on Linux  Linux is free from viruses and spyware, and almost all the software for Linux is free. It’s stable and easy to use. There are many different types of Linux to choose from, I recommend trying Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or Zorin OS.

LIBRE OFFICE  or OPEN OFFICE

Both are free, open source, take up way less space than Microsoft Office, and can open and save in any major word processing file, even in older formats.  Lets you easily save in the newer or older office formats, so you can use them to create documents for school, work, or friends that use Microsoft Office.  Both programs are feature rich and have software that is just Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.

Lately I’ve been preferring Libre Office, which is newer than Open Office, but both work great and are compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.   Why waste hundreds of dollars on Office software, when you can get the same type of software for free. I actually prefer Open Office and Libre Office to MS office!

OPEN OFFICE  http://www.openoffice.org/

LIBRE OFFICE http://www.libreoffice.org/

1) Open your Web Browser.
2) Click on this link-> http://camstudio.org/
3) Scroll down page and download Camstudio. (It’s free)

4) Load CamStudio. The software is very easy to use and has a simple interface. Just click the record button. There are pause buttons as well.

To see Cam Studio in action, please watch my video below.

Guide by Avery Bracher. Please like my video.