I really like OpenSUSE Linux, but the best distro is PCLinuxOS. If there was ever an OS that could help me 'throw Windows out the window,' this is it. Ive tried using Mac as an alternative to Windows, but I guess it just wasn't for me. At least Apple implores its users to 'Think Different,' Microsoft insists everyone 'be Genuine.' So what would be their catch-phrase be, 'Be Authentic?'
Although I like Vista very much, I'm turned off by the Orweillian efforts to ensure my 'authenticity.' Even worse than the feeling of being shaken down like a criminal every time I use my computer, is the irritating restrictions placed upon my use.
PCLinuxOS is a great alternative to Vista. I actually find myself favoring this operating system to it. I like the fact that when I am using it, I am invulnerable to attack. Thats a really cool feature. No viruses, adware, spyware, malware, intrusions, or verifications of authenticity. Some times I will surf into known attack sites just to thumb my nose at them. For security, nothing can beat PCLinuxOS, SUSE, Fedora, or any Linux distro for that matter.
I was ripping lossless flac with sound-juicer and its really cool. You will see in the screen shot that I was ripping 'Mozart's greatest hits.'
I don't know if the RIAA will hunt me down like a rabid animal and sue me for a trillion dollars for Mozart's lost royalties, (hes been dead for the last 200 years), but if they do, I agree to immediately remove my own files from my own computer at once!
Sound-juicer doesn't come with PCLinuxOS by default, but The package manager 'synaptic' does all the work for you. It will install whatever you ask with all the dependencies included. Amarok media player is the most powerful music app in the world. If you do end up putting together a Linux rig, its worth it just for Amarok alone.
As you can see in this screen, I'm playing the flac files that I had ripped with sound-juicer in Amarok.
All in all, I am very thrilled with PCLinuxOS. The possibilities for the future of Linux are very bright. Microsoft better clean up its act with its big brother policies or they will find themselves going by way of the incandescent light bulb, the 8 track tape, and the Whig party. I wont tolerate Microsoft's soldiers of Oceania marching across my computer!
