Most of us who have used and installed any of the many variants of Linux started off with a live CD.  These allow you to boot your computer up using the CD, and try out the operating system without having to install or configure it.  The CD can have whatever software the creator decides to install, pending available space.

I first used the Knoppix live CD, later Ubuntu, and now many other variants (including my current favorite, LinuxMint).

Mizstik has put together a live CD with Ubuntu server and an installation of the Koha ILS, calling it Koha LiveCD.

I think this is a fantastic idea, and it holds the potential for introducing many people to Koha, and giving them a better understanding of what the software can and cannot do for them.  This understanding will only help the adoption of open source library software.

My next wish at this point would be for a live CD of Evergreen.

found via What I Learned Today

I thought I’d try something new and summarize the software that I use on a regular basis.  I have been thinking about this, as I have recently switched from one software program to another in a couple of areas, and have been thinking about the evolution of the programs I have used over the years.  This may become an annual (or occasional) update, or this may be the only installment.  I also note which items have Portable Apps alternatives, as I use these a great deal.

Here they are:

• Operating Systems : Windows XP is still my primary day-to-day system at home, on my notebook, and at work.  I use Ubuntu linux on a regular basis (I am set up to dual-boot both at home and on my notebook computer), but haven’t yet made the jump.  Yet.  I use Mac OS-X (Leopard) occasionally on my wife’s computer (usually when setting something up for her).
• Web Browsers : Firefox (PortableApps) is my preferred browser (and has been since it was at version 0.6 or so).  I occasionally use Google Chrome, which is definitely faster, but my habitual use of certain add-ons (see below) keeps me from getting comfortable.  I use Internet Explorer 7 when I want to run Windows Update.  My only complaints are occasional memory hog problems with Firefox.
• Firefox Add-Ons : Zotero, Groowe Search Toolbar, Web Developer Toolbar, Operator, Cooliris, Add to Search Bar.  Learn them, use them, love them.
• E-Mail : Thunderbird (PortableApps) is my primary e-mail client, although I feel it needs a good updating (version 3, anyone?).  I use Microsoft Outlook 2003 at work, mainly because we use the calendar features quite a bit.  An add-on that makes Outlook worth using, however, is Xobni (“inbox” spelled backwards).  If you use Outlook, get Xobni – you will not be disappointed.  I am eagerly awaiting a Thunderbird version.
• Office Suites : I recently switched to Go-Oo from OpenOffice 3 (PortableApps).  It wasn’t too hard of a change, as it is an implementation of OpenOffice with some very intelligent add-ons and configuration.  It is very smooth and easy to use, and hasn’t given me any problems yet.  I still use Microsoft Office 2003 at work, but am rapidly switching to Go-Oo for everything but Access.  Even that may change, as MS Access lacks some desired report functionality that exists in the Sun Report Builder.
• Text Editors : I recently switched from SciTE to Notepad++ (PortableApp) when I needed better control over the encoding of the text.  Both are excellent for editing HTML and CSS, as well as editing a variety of text files.
• Web Design : I primarily use a text editor (see above), but when I want something more powerful, I use Amaya, or sometimes Aptana.  If you need a basic WYSIWYG designer, I recommend Komposer (PortableApps).  I use FileZilla (PortableApps) as my FTP client.
• Photo Software : I currently use IrfanView, but suspect that this may change in the near future, as my needs are changing.
• Online Software : I use WordPress for blogging; Gregarius as a blog reader; Gallery for photo storage and viewing; I am trying out OpenGoo for online applications (calendar, tasks, contacts, basic word processing); OpenBiblio for my church’s ILS; Scriblio and Drupal for OPAC replacements (just playing around with them); and TextPattern as a Content Managment System.
• Security : ZoneAlarm firewall; AVG Free anti-virus; Clean-Up!; and HijackThis.
• CD Authoring : I switched from CDBurnerXP to InfraRecorder (PortableApps) earlier this year.  I haven’t tried the newest version of CDBurnerXP, so there may be some switching back in the future.
• Odds and Ends : 7-Zip (PortableApps) for compressing and decompressing all sorts of files; PDF Creator; MarcEdit.

If you are looking for a common thread, there is this:  all of these, except for two of the operating systems, and the software on my work PC, don’t cost anything.  Much of it is Open Source (of which I am an advocate).  You can do a lot with an internet-connected computer, a sub-$100 per year web hosting service, and some trial-and-error experimentation.

I hope this list helps to inform, and perhaps even connects someone else with software that I have grown to enjoy using for everyday tasks.  It has been interesting to see just how much software becomes part of my daily routines, and how much value I get from the above programs.

Looking for a particular type of software, and thinking that you would like to see what open source options are out there?  openDesktop.org describes itself as “a network of portals and community websites for open source and free software projects” and is an excellent starting point for locating what you need for your task.

Note that much of the software is aimed at the open source community, meaning that much of it runs on linux.  I suggest two things:  1) you should be dual-booting linux (Ubuntu is a good place to start), if only to understand how it compares to Windows and/or Mac; and 2) you may discover that the dual-boot option coupled with the software you find will provide you with all that you need for your tasks.

Give it a try!

via linux.com

Ubuntu 6.10 has been released.  The latest version of this free and easy to use operating system is available for download to try out and/or install on the computer of your choice!

I have found Ubuntu to be the smoothest version of Linux that I have tried, and expect it to become much more common as time goes on.

from OSDir.com

There is a relatively new site for online learning called Open Of Course, which offers a variety of tutorials and such for no cost (except your time and effort).  Included among their offerings are tutorials on administering and using Linux (including Ubuntu), OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird.

Additionally, they have offerings on Web Design from Scratch and PHP, both of which could be beneficial for those tasked with designing websites.

from Open Access News

The Ubuntu Linux distribution has started a wiki aimed at new users, called the New Users Network (NUN).

I have been playing with Edubuntu, in order to see if it will be helpful for someone I know who is considering it for their middle-school classroom, and this site may be a good resource for them (and me, too).

No joke… the URI is http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/

Of interest here, and for many people, is that Ubuntu has come out with a Christian Edition of their operating system.  This, as with the Educational edition, marks a possible trend of customizing linux for specific groups and interests.  I can predict a library/research version, a geneology version, and perhaps even a blog-centric version, each with pre-installed software to support each of those activities.

from OSDir