Free Software Linux

Gone are the days when the only source of linux distribution was the web. There were always very few small-scale distributors who would sell pre-installed linux desktop system, but the choices were few and the hardware options were very limited. Thanks to Dell, preinstalled desktop linux market is now mainstream. Today, we will look at some of the popular distributors/resellers, who are selling pre-installed linux systems for home users (not servers).

If the wine you drink, car you drive, food you eat, clothes you wear and even pets you have defines you as a person; does your choice of Linux Distro defines you too? If you use Ubuntu… You like to follow the crowd and do whatever everyone else does. No individualism. If you use Debian… You are a giver. You let the crowd followers be more popular with your ideas. If you use Gentoo… You are a perfectionist. While everyone is partying, you are still getting dressed. If you use Arch… You do it for the Lulz. 4Chan!

Compiz Fusion is the best thing that happened to Linux desktop user experience yet. In the world of Linux bashers who argue that Linux is not quite ready for home users; compiz is one of the few things that really set Linux apart from other OS with major market share. It can give you good brownie points when you are trying to compare desktop effects with non-linux user friends, and it is truly exclusive to Linux OS. However, as it is with most other fancy desktop user interface (Aero for Vista, Aqua for OS X), the excitement quickly wears off after the first week or so; and those nifty little effects are not so awesome anymore. I don’t know about you, but square 3D workspace or wobbly windows does not add any level of productivity to my daily computer usage.

Women in Linux (or technology in general) has always been a rare breed. I have been very unsuccessful trying to make my female friends or family members getting interested in linux. So in my quest in getting more women interested in linux I have made this list of women who have actively contributed in linux community. This list doesn’t include women in just open source community (like Mitchell Baker of Mozilla Foundation) but more specifically women with notable contribution in linux community. This list is in no particular order.